YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified with Its Growth and Develop ment From the Early Days to the Present S-W HISTORY BY GEORGE H. TINKHAM ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY I,OS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 1921 CONTENTS CHAPTER I Stanislaus County's First Inhabitants 33 Indians Everywhere Discovered. Indians Build Missions. The Chief Estanislao. Defeat of General Vallejo. Our Knowledge of the Indians. Classification of Indians. Physical Appearance of Tribes. Tribal Govern ment. Marriage. Indian Dress. Cost of Living. Religion. Indian Pestilence. A Night of Horror. Disposal of Their Dead. The Widow Mourns. Indian Wikiups. A Nearly Extinct Race. An Indian Beef and Flour Debt. The Indian Chief Jose Jesus. Old Manuel. The Indian Burial Ground. CHAPTER II The Advance of Civilization 39 Discovery of Stanislaus County. The Trapper Expeditions. The John C Fremont Party. Wild Animal Life. The Mormon Colony. Stanislaus City Founded. Mexico Declares Her Independence. Leading National Events. James W. Marshall Discovers Gold. Gold Found on the Stanislaus. Cali fornia Suddenly Populated. General Riley Calls a Constitutional Convention. Organization of a State. Creation of Tuolumne County. Origin of Name Tuolumne. Scheming for a New County. The New County of Merced. County Scheming Politicians. Opposition to a New County. Creation of Stanislaus County. First County Election. Unwise Legislation. A Slice of San Joaquin County. Stanislaus Annexes More Territory. Land Grants. Land of No Value. Stanislaus County Land Grants. Government Surveys. Stanislaus' First Settlers. Stanislaus County, Its Creation. Characteristics and Fertility. Area, Nature of Soil, Climate. Stanislaus Climate. The Pastoral Stock Rais ing Days. Sheep Raising in Stanislaus. Hogs, Horses and Cattle. Cattle Stealing. No-Fence Law Destroys Cattle Business. Cattle Men of Stanislaus. Wheat for the World. An Isolated County. An Immense Sown Acreage. The Banner Wheat Country. Raising Grain in Dry Climate. Primitive Harvest ing Days. Seed Time and Harvest. The Threshing Machine. The Harvest ing Crew. The Historic Grain Fire. The California Fear of Drought. The Drought of 1877. Hatfield, the Rain Maker. CHAPTER III The River, Pioneer and Mining Towns 59 Grayson, the Pioneer Town. Grayson's First Store. A Mexican Camp Scene. Grayson in 1878. Grayson's Distinguished Citizens. Tuolumne City. Booming * the City. First Court Trial. Township Officers. The First Marriage. An Enterprising Merchant. The Town Deserted. Tuolumne City in 1868. The Town Increasing. Tuolumne City Has the Smallpox. First County Fair. Paradise City. A Fine School Building. Free Ferry. Paradise Celebrates Washington's Birthday. July Fourth Celebration. The Paradise Flour Mill. Reuel Colt Gridley, Citizen-Patriot. Adamsville. The First Fourth of July. Empire City. The Enterprising Citizen, Eli S. Marvin. No Mail Nor Postal Route. The County Seat. . County Seat Removed to Empire. Empire City in 1868. Dr. Thomas Tynan, the Pioneer. Crescent City. Hill's Ferry of the San Joaquin. French Bar, the Golden Placers. The Foreign Miners' License Tax. La Grange, the Mining Town. Largest Town in County. Talbot's Flour Mill. The LaGrange Water Supply. Removal of County Seat. Knights Ferry. The Dent Family. Knights Ferry Flour Mills. Tulloch's S(ine Flour Mill. The Chinese, Miners and Gardeners. Stage Transportation. The Story of a Court House. Business Firms of Early Days. Abraham Schell, Enter prising Citizen. The Big Grain Fire, July, 1884. CONTENTS CHAPTER IV Ferry and Steamer Transportation 77 Stanislaus River Ferries. First Established Ferry. The First Three Houses. Ferry Competition. The Dickerson Ferry. The John D. Morley Ferry. County Bridges. The Modesto Toll Bridge. The $120,000 County Bridge. A Bridge Celebration. The State Highway Bridge. Transportation Now and Then. Knights Ferry the Gateway Station. The First Up-River Boat. The Pioneer Steamer. Efforts Made to Establish Trade. The Pioneer Freighters. Kinds of Merchandise Shipped. First Passenger Boat. The Stanislaus Navi gation Company. Clearing the River Stanislaus. Terminal River Points. The Shoaling Waters. The Height of the Grain Era. CHAPTER V The Railroad Era 84 Stanislaus Bonds for Railroads. Proposed Railroad for Stanislaus. Stockton Railroad Talk. The Oakdale Railroad. The San Joaquin Valley or Southern Pacific Railroad. The Modesto Branch, Southern Pacific. CHAPTER VI Early Organization of County 87 First County Court Transactions. County Brand and Seals. County Great Register. First County Fair. Stock Growers Association. The Stanislaus Agricultural Association. Patrons of Husbandry. The Stanislaus Granges. Cooperative Business Associations. Stanislaus County Militia. In the Camp and Spanish War. CHAPTER VII Modesto 91 Removal of County Seat. The County Court House. County Officials of 1871. Laying of the Town Site. The Name of the Town. The Exodus to Modesto. Modesto's Pioneer Business Firms. Pioneer Hotels and Prominent Buildings. Masonic and Odd Fellows Hall. Modesto's Water Works. Modesto's Gas Works. Modesto's Early Fire Department. The Destructive Fires of 1890. Terrible Death of Joel Clayton. Modesto's Golden Age. The Front Street Dens of Vice. An Ungoverned Town. Deplorable Condition of the Streets. Efforts to Organize a Town Government. A Mass Meeting Riot. The First City Election. Street Improvements. The Street Problem. The Post Office. Modesto Business Firms in 1880. The Nonpartisan Mass Meeting. The City Election of 1886. Waterworks and Sewers. The Court House Cornerstone. The Court House Annex. The Destructive Fire of 1901. The Political Boss, Barney Garner. He Slaps an Attorney's Face. A Fearless Marshal. A Commission Form of Government. Framing a Charter. The First Commis sion Convention. The Socialist Ticket. Election Day, 1911. Modesto's First Commissioners. Commissioners Elected to Date. CHAPTER VIII ( Churches of Modesto 112 The Westport Methodist Church. The Congregationalist Church. The Chris tian Church. The Methodist Episcopal Church South. The Baptist Church. The Catholic Parish and Church. The First Presbyterian Church. The Dan ish Baptists. The Episcopalian Parish. The Methodist Episcopal Church. Seventh Day Adventists. First Church of Christ, Scientist. CONTENTS CHAPTER IX Stanislaus County's First Newspapers. 119 The Modesto News. Moved to Modesto. Modesto Herald. Hanscom Shoots Himself. Brown Attempts to Shoot Editor. Hanscom Libels Judge Hewel. CHAPTER X Stanislaus County Schools 123 Earliest School Districts. Private Schools. First Public School. Legislative School Laws. Modesto's First School Building. The Public School Corner stone. Schools Overcrowded. The High School Organized. The Com mencement Exercises. The First High School Building. Graduating Class of 1890. The High School Alumni. The Graduating Class of 1921. School Day Memories. Teachers' Institutes. Teachers' Associations. CHAPTER XI Crimes and Tragedies of Stanislaus 130 Stealing by the Wholesale. The Murder of Sheriff Works. The Murder of Frank Lane. Hunting for the Criminals. Execution by Mob Law. The Murder of a Spaniard. A Mysterious Murder. Frank Bollinger Killed Mys teriously. The Rooney-Cockery Homicide. The Knights Ferry Murder. The Murphy-Rodgers Homicide. The Murder at La Grange. The Wood Chop pers' Quarrel. The First Execution. The Latter-Date Cattle Thief. The Fagan-Meneoman Tragedy. Murders His Friend. The Murder of James Connolly. The Trial of Dona. The Sentence of the Judge. Peculiar Efforts to Save Dona's Life. The Hanging of Dona. The Hill's Ferry Murder. The Second Legal Execution. Edward Bentley Murder. Barney Garner Shoots Jerry Lockwood. The Marshal Kills Garner. A Case of Poisoning. Suicide of Isaac Brinkerhoff. A Brutal Murder. Another Cowardly Murder. Black smith Murders Purcell. The Father's Revenge. The MacCrellish Family. The Robbins Case. Arrest of John H. Doane. The Comments of the Press. The Trial of Robbins. The Gamblers' Rendezvous. The March of the Vigilantes. Constable Spier Shoots a Disreputable Character. Drowning of the Baker Boys. Thomas Owens Suddenly Disappears. Vigilante Kills John H. Doane. More Threats of Hanging. The Famous Tynan Property Suit. Chinese Cook Murders Wife of Rancher. Dr. Horr Suicides. Disappearance of George French. CHAPTER XII Societies and Miscellaneous Events 152 Masonic Lodges. Laying the Cornerstone of Masonic Building. Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Degree of Rebekah. Grand Army of the Republic. Ancient Order of United Workmen. Knights of Honor. Native Sons of the Golden West. Native Daughters of the Golden West. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. The Modesto Choral Society. The Story of the Southern Pacific Depot. The Memorial Arch of Prosperity. Merchants' Association. The Silent City. The McHenry Memorial Library. Stanislaus Pioneers. Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Stanislaus County. Street Cars and Traction Lines. The First July Fourth Celebration. July Fourth at Tuolumne. July 4, 1861, at Knights Ferry. Modesto Society in the Eighties. The First Dramatic Club. Rodgers Hall. Plato's Opera House. Modesto's First Theater. Dedication and Destruction of Theater. July 4, 1890. The Woman's Improvement Club. Graceada Park. The Stanislaus Country Club. Modesto's First Republican Club. Remarkable Election of 1914. The Anti-Saloon License Victory. July 4, 1911. Modesto Labor Unions. July 4, 1917. Bone-Dry Prohibition Law. Loyalty Day. Modesto Home Guard. Off for the War. Welcome Home. CONTENTS CHAPTER XIII The Progressive Railroad Towns 172 Turlock. The Pioneer Settlers. A Rabbit Drive of '75. Trade and Traffic. The Great Fire of 1893. The Name and Post Office. Turlock Churches. Methodist Episcopal Churches. The Catholics. Newspapers of Turlock. Public Schools. Memorial Day Celebration. Great Fire of 1910. Turlock Fire Department. Turlock the First Dry Town. Turlock Lodges and Societies. The Woman's • Club. The Carnegie Library. Turlock's Banks. Opening of Carolyn Hotel. Crows Landing. Ceres. Denair. Hickman. Empire. Hughson. Newman. Societies. Religion. Newspapers and Library. Fire and Water Supply. The Patterson Colony. The City of Patterson. Riverbank. Oakdale. Oakdale's Founder. Pioneer Buildings. Fire Destroys Pioneer Buildings. Excursions to Oakdale. Oakdale Societies. Fraternal Hall. Masonic Lodge. Knights of Pythias. Native Sons of the Golden West. Woodmen of the World. The American Legion. Stanley L. Collins Post. Order of the Eastern Star. Woman's Improvement Club. The Dorada Club House. Carnegie Library. Newspapers. Grammar School. Laying of Cor nerstone. Union High School. Protestant Churches. First Church Dedica tion. City Government. City Hall. Heroic Volunteer Firemen. Oakdale Water Works. Sierra and Jamestown Railroad. Banks and Banking. Mexican Bull Fight. July 4, 1884. A Dry Town. The Hero Dead. Knights Ferry Societies. CHAPTER XIV Irrigation in Stanislaus County. 203 The Pioneer Irrigation Builders. The Diverting Watershed. First Irri gating Canal. First Irrigation Bills. The Preliminary Survey. The Irriga tion Prospectus. Farmers Petition for Water. The Modesto Irrigation Law. The Wright-Bridgeford Law. The La Grange Dam. Sale and Valid ity of Irrigation Bonds. Hardships, Taunts and Jeers. The Turlock Canal. Judge W. A. Waymire. Oakdale Irrigation System. Goodwin Dam Cele bration. Reservoirs and Dams. Irrigation and Its Results. CHAPTER XV Political Doings in Stanislaus 212 CHAPTER XVI Historic Reminders of Stanislaus 215 CHAPTER XVII Stanislaus County Farm Census '..... 228 INDEX A Abbott, Charles Stuart 568 Abbott, Cyrus H 568 Adams, Winther Gladwin 691 Ahlberg, Peter 1345 Ahlgren, Carl N. P.. ,_ 1361 Ahrendsen, August C 1 142 Albertson, Hans L 1071 Algar, Harry P 1386 Alquist, George E 1318 Amarante, Antone 1414 Anderson, Daniel S 846 Anderson, John Edward 1097 Anderson, Niels 1243 Andrews, Frank 763 Angelo, Michael E 1481 Anker, Alfred P 1465 Annear, Capt. Edgar H 564 Annear, William 1302 Anspach, George B 1373 Anthieny, John W 1454 Arakelian, Dick H 1 129 Arakelian, Harry 1135 Arbios, Edward Earl, Jr 1229 Arthur, James E 825 Arthur, William 648 Aspe, William J 830 Asquith, George 1350 Austin, Charles H 856 Avila, George M 1162 Avila, Joseph M 1151 Ayres, Ima W 1222 Azevedo, Manuel A 1474 B Bach, William G 1155 Baker, C. C '. 268 Baker, Mrs. Cornelia Frances 273 Baker, J. Walker 570 Bailey, Otis Zorah 733 Bangs, R. E 829 Bangs, Hon. Vital E 288 Barker, John Gue 704 Barmore, Warren Rosewell 1259 Barnes, Abner M'. 1378 Barnes, Siddall Yancey 1402 Barnett, James K 968 Barnhart, Jeremiah 1140 Bartch, Fred 537 Basso, Angelo 1160 Basso, Angelo Nicholas 1447 Bates, Edward L 603 Bates, Harry A 409 Bauman, Louis F 707 Bavaster, Peter 1413 Baxter, Edgar 393 Beach, O. W 1267 Beard, Elihu B 478 Beard, George K 1167 Beard, Herbert Lewis 936 Beard, Thomas K 344 Beard, Walter F 412 Beaty, John 928 Bechis, Enos 1425 Bechtel, Aaron M 756 Beckner, Thomas N 1225 Beery, P. H 753 Bellaman, Irvin Clayton 1199 Benoit, John W 1145 Benson, Hugh 755 * Bentley, Chesley 1 891 Bentley, Jefferson D 573 Berg, James C 1348 Berg, M. M 1366 Bergman, Nicholaus ¦ ¦ • • 1487 Berthold, A. F 1146 Bettencourt, Antonio S 1457 Bibens, Alex McCall 700 Biesemeier, Edward E 1335 Billdt, Rev. John 745 Bishop, Daniel B 373 Bladt, Peter, Jr 937 Blaine, Charles Duncan 947 Bledsoe, Willis 420 Blue, Jesse William 1300 Bock, Hans Henry 545 Boden, Rev. Jonas 0 596 Boeswetter, E. E 1200 Boggs, Alexander M 1456 Bohn, Emil Bernard 1380 Boies, Lewis W. .' 1141 Bomberger, John M 1059 Bontadelli, Charles 1313 Boone, Stonewall Jackson 898 Boothe, D. Power 1278 Borba, John 1445 Borba, John T., Jr 1415 Boren, James Henry 604 Borges, Jr., Frank 1484 Bortle, William H 595 Boss, Henry 1394 Bothe, William F 818 Bow, Charles N 1306 Bowles, George W 1480 Bowman, David 908 Bowman, Everett 1295 Brady, Mansfield W 1110 Bravo, Steve 1470 Brazil, Manuel V 1488 Brennan, James A 1098 Brichetto, Louis F 1122 Brinkerhoff, Isaac 507 Broden, Carl Victor 1354 Brodine, Andrew 1497 Bromley, Francis A 1197 Broughton, Miss Esto 485 Broughton, James R 335 Brown, Admer N 628 Brown, George A 1404 Brown, Harry Leslie 1047 Brown, William J 661 Brum, Manuel J 1488 Brunold, Peter 1152 Bucher, Jacob 1347 INDEX Burk, John E 1036 Busingdal, Carl H73 Butler, Charles D 425 Butler, Chester Llewellyn 1182 Butler, J. Wesley 425 Byrum, Mrs. Margaret E 312 c Cadwallader, E. J 1364 Callander, Everett L 973 Calkins, Mrs. Veda Hatfield 1340 Callnin, James A 1450 Camp, Charles E 857. Campbell, Donald E 877 Campbell, John F 496 •Campbell, William E 1097 Capaul, Valentine *. 1472 Cardoza, Frank A 1185 Carlson, Abel 987 Carlson, Alfred 1141 Carlson, Carl C 776 Carlson, Charles John 1001 Carlson, Emanuel V 1292 Carlson, Fred 1352 Carlson, Gust 942 Carlson, John D 958 Carlson, Paul W 1476 Carmichael, T. J 343 Carson, William Thomas 852 Casey, William E 457 Caswell, Thomas 725 Caulkins, William O 907 Cavill, Henry ' 236 Chapman, Frank Carpenter 401 Chase, Willis S 431 Cheney, Florence V., M.D 862 Cheney, Thomas W 862 Church, Luke A 402 Chute, Rev. Elbert 831 Clarin, Mrs.' Anna 1430 Clark, Col. Cy N 1116 Clayton, Edgar E 1326 Cleven, John 1378 Coffee, Henry J 851 Coffee, Stockard W 670 Cole, Clary W 1060 Collins, J. L., M.D 768 Commercial Bank of Turlock 1260 Conneau, Frank Ernest 294 Conner, Jasper Newton 1440 Conner, Lynn H 1171 Conron, Calvin H 968 Cornwell, H. E 786 Correa, Serafein S 1475 Correia, Joe D 1478 Corson, John P 1274 Costner, Earl William 1234 Costner, William S 1439 Cotta, Valentine 1473 Cottle, Francis Marion 303 Cottle, Mrs. Harriet L 303 Cox, Frank 1 149 Cox, John Dunlap 242 Cox, William W 363 Crabtree, Henry Francis 1464 Craig, Robert 585 Crane, Horace S 1150 Crane, Stephen H ,520 Crawford, Mrs. Mary Jane 560 Cressey, Albert L 265 Cressey, Calvin J 292 Cressey, Frank A ". 267 Crigler, Walter Millard 1219 Crispin, Harry E 1396 Crispin, Thomas J 783 Crouch, Roy A 1373 Crossmore, James L •- ¦ • • 1 129 " Crow, Charles F 1448 . Crow, Henry T 912 Crow, Ralph B 686 Crowell, Arthur G 856 Crowell, Charles C ' 845 Cruse, Robert ..*... 1392 Curtis, David T 784 Curtis, James 538 - Curtis, James Lee 538 Curtis, Jonathan Bird 849 D Dalby, Mrs. Reca 707 Dalby, Savillion Cook 1260 Dale, Valentine B 639 Dallas, Robert L 332 Darr, Phillip 986 Date, James V 1339 Davis, Drua J 1384 Davis, Edward C 899 Davis, Edward Nelson 821 Davis, Mrs'. Franklin C 339 Davis, George Thompson 554 Davis, James Alfred 378 Davis, Loren W 145 1 Davison, James William 534 Deardorff, Jacob Warren 1245 De Diego, Rev. Emeterius 1191 Delbon, Rev. A. G 802 Demarest, Merton W 861 Dennett, Hon. Lewis Lincoln 523 De Yoe, Lawrence E 648 De Yoe, Nathan Emory 440 Dias, Frank C 1327 Dickinson, John F 978 Dickow, August 1246 Dingley, Samuel 251 Dinkelman, William August 1074 Doolittle, Ralph C 1399 Dorsey, Edward Worthington 1130 Downer, Willard A 489 Drake, Mrs. Eunice 368 Drake, Homer A 368 Drake, Lemuel Earl 359 Drake, Zachariah E 364 Drouillard, B. G 1347 Ducot, Mrs. Henrietta 1030 Duffy, Owen 750 E Ealey, Edward j2ig Eastin, C. C 035 Eastin, C. C, Jr gl5 Eastin, Lucius 0 933 Eastin, Marion G 938 Eckford, Carl F ,392 Edison, Charles H 916 Edwards, John jqqj Edwards, J. H 1192 Eklund, Lars 137,, Elfers, Charles D 720 Elias, Solomon Philip 34Q Elholm, Christine M 595 Elliott, John S 964 CONTENTS Ellsburg, Charles Emil 1355 Elmore, Albert Gordon * 368 Elmore, Benjamin T 1073 Elmore, Emmett Lee 1071 Elmore, James Gordon 331 Emanuel Hospital 1441 Enos, Antonio 1486 Enos, Emanuel Edward 1018 Enslen, Simon 248 Erickson, Andreas 1358 Erickson, Mrs. Anna C 1341 Erickson, Charlie 1415 Erickson, David G 1354 Erickson, Erick A. . .' 1462 Erickson, Gilbert 1203 Erickson, John 0 850 Erickson, Philip O 850 Ervin, Mrs. Ella McCabe 691 Erway, Charles H 1375 Etcheto, Joseph 1438 Etcheto, Martin 1438 Eustice, Henry 1329 Evans, John Henry 1013 F Fahey, William D 677 Falk, E. V., M.D 742 Falk, Jacob W 922 Fargo, Leon K 1378 Farley, Anthony A 1281 Faulkner, H. J 1446 Fay, John J 1299 Fellows, Francis Marion ' 1491 Fellows, Herbert D 1286 Fellows, Orrin R 1395 Ferguson, Arthur P 948 Ferguson, William W 742 Fernandes, Joseph F 1320 Fernandes, Mary L. A 1320 Fetterman, Harry Oscar 1160 Filippini, Walter C 1372 Fine, Mrs. Mary J 370 Finley, Jesse M 888 Finley, John Milton 708 Fippins, Charles A 1314 First National Bank of Salida 871 First National Bank of Turlock 1260 Fisher, Orville Devilla* 1394 Fitzpatrick, Sylvester 1239 Fleshman, C. E 841 Flux, Arthur 1165 Foletta, Harry 1369 Ford, Henry * 1395 Ford, James B 422 Fordham, Free Deibert 1362 Fosberg, Axel P 1463 Foster, Arthur . ¦ ¦ 1253 Foster, Harry R 1155 Foster, Samuel E 658 Fowle, William H : , 1467 Fowler, James F 662 Fowler, Robert R 1112 Fox, John .' 615 Fox, Joseph W 1406 Frago, Manuel J 1478 Franzen, Ehler 1431 F'razine, William H 530 Frederick, James Wesley 767 Freeman, Elza E 394 Freitas, G«o"rge H 755 Freitas, John E 1407 French, Levi 1423 Fries, H. C 1442 Frisvold, Knut K 1249 Fritts, Joseph F 1248 Fuentes, Eugene A 1412 Fulkerth, Asa Shinn 1339 Fulkerth, Loren W 486 Furtado, Manuel 1336 G Gabaig, Jean 1435 Gabel, William 1422 Gaddis, Thomas R 419 Gaffery, John 439 Galeazzi, Joseph 1454 Galvin, Rev. James W 1117 Gambini, Tony 1421 Gandy, Clarence W 1010 Gant, Alonzo W 1009 Garcia, Manuel 1473 Garrison, William Henry 988 Gasner, John 1250 Gates, Laud C 421 Geckler, Robert Charles 790 Geer, Fred A 682 Gibson, James 956 Giddings, Ralph P g68 Giddings, William Warren 5]2 Giles, Rev. Michael Joseph 624 Giovanetti, Albert H 1343 Giovanetti, Angelo noi Giovannoni, Mrs. Geneva Maria 1126 Glass, Omer C 829 Godley, James 1494 Goeffert, Victor V 952 Gomes, Frank J 1039 Gomes, Frank P 318 Gomez, Benj 1420 Gondring, John M 985 Gorham, John 821 Gortari, Pio 1486 Gotobed, Joseph C 1365 Gotte, Theodore J iii2 Grannis, Rev. G. W 887 Grant, W. W 1427 Graybiel, William N 1305 Green, Oscar 1247 Grider, Clayton K 1050 Gridley, Reuel Colt 241 Grischott, Jacob 1 194 Grollman, William 554 Gronquist, Joseph 1371 Grossman, John 1403 Gross, M'ilton A 1054 Grothmann, William 1334 Grundy, Dan 1177 Gulart, John 1482 Gustafson, August 849 Gustafson, Charles 1254 Gustafson, John E 1464 H Hackett, Dennie ' 715 Hackett, Daniel M 651 Hackett, William J 726 Haldeman, Frank C 1244 Hale, Charles C 822 Hale, Ernest A 1368 Hall, Erick 1428 Hall, John D 1319 Hall, Leland A 1271 INDEX Hall, William Edgar 1401 Hallner, Rev. Andrew 607 Halset, J 1305 Hamilton, George Washington 432 Hammett, Melvin 1053 Hammond, James A 577 Haney, Free 946 Haney, William Francis, D.V.S 832 Hanscom, George Tyler 647 Hanscom, N. C 872 Hansen, Christian H 1044 Hansen, Peter R 665 Hansen, William C 1273 Hanson, John H 1428 Hardie, James J 719 Harding, Richard 1327 Harman, Bion V 971 Harper, Homer 1324 Harris, Claude F 591 Harris, Mrs. Lottie 1431 Harter, W. A 1490 Harve, Anthon G 1351 Haslam, Earl F 1074 Hatton, William H 516 Hawkins, Robert Timothy 553 Haynes, Clarence T 992 Head, Mrs. Hugh 1240 Hedman, Carl B 1416 Hedman, Martin ' 797 Heier, Gunerius 1174 Heinzle, Frank L 1408 Heisel, William C 1481 Henshaw, Mrs. Charles 945 Herr, William H 1468 Hewel, Judge A 239 Higbee, Robert Oran 644 Higgins, William W 1489 High, Mrs. Katherine McCabe 1031 High, Willis Russell 385 Hilton, Charles A 495 Hindman, Jay A 458 Hintze, Prof. Herman 405 Hirst, Ralston S 873 Hocking, Thomas C 352 Hodges, George A., D.D.S 1336 Hodges, LA 805 Hogin, Oscar 1035 Holder, Garett W 1296 Holeman, John W 546 Hollingsworth, Mrs. Roma J 1375 Holmquist, John A 1450 Holt, Charles F 1057 Holt, John H 891 Holt, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Carl 920 Holveck, David W 1199 Horsley, Charles Chester 600 Hoskins, J. H 681 Hosmer, A. Walter 1096 Hosmer, F. W 519 Howell, Wade Hampton 759 Hubbert, Wallace H 1382 Huber, Henry 1460 Hudelson, Arthur McClellan 932 Hudelson, John Robert 377 Huff, Jonathan B 1264 Huff, Martin Luther 1247 Hughson, George H 1029 Hughson, Hiram 415 Huls, Howard H 1062 Hultberg, Nels 0 1204 Hunt-Jewett-Bontz Company 1272 Hunt, Roland C 1301 Hurd, William H I296 Hurlbut, O. Scott 1380 Hussey, J. W 1345 I Ingebretsen, Karl J 1410 J Jacobsen, Louis C 1049 James, Capt. Henry George 678 Jarrett, Charles L 1207 Jarrett, Mrs. Laura E 779 Jenkins, George W 760 Jennings, J. B 921 Jensen, John D 1 132 Jensen, Marie 1443 Jones, Al W 1446 Jones, Prof. G. F 958 Jones, Levi J 669 Jones, Percy F 995 Johnson, Abraham 1492 Johnson, Albert L 473 Johnson, Albert William 1363 Johnson, Andrew 636 Johnson, Clarence 1494 Johnson, Claus 382 Johnson, Frank G 1328 Johnson, George W 1208 Johnson, Henry Theodore 952 Johnson, Ingevall H18 Johnson, James 320 Johnson, James F 1220 Johnson, Jesse W 1221 Johnson, Mrs. Justine E 981 Tohnson, Norman E 1095 Johnson, Otto 1357 Johnson, William 858 Johnston, Andrew 798 Johnston, Guy 1427 Jons, Hans n02 Jorgensen, Christen P 1310 Juncker, Peter A 1444 K Kane, Peter C 639 Kaiser, Arnold 1409 Keast, Rev. Fred A 4iq Keith, Edward ^77 Keith, George Sidney 755 Kelley, Frank S 1255 Kennedy, Charles Thomas 367 Kerr, Charles S 1379 Kerr, Judge James M 386 Kerr, Mrs. Margaret E 879 Kewin, Thomas Henry 347 Kewin, William E 880 Kidd, Mrs. Josie 681 Kiernan, Edward 71 j Kiernan, Edward 5 j j Kiernan, Miss Frances 1354 Kiernan, T. Frank 511 Kilburn, Charles L 1136 Kilcher, Arnold i458 King, Charles J jqsi King, Nathan Harvey 1342 Kinnear, Samuel P 377 Kinser, James B 502 Kinser, Zearle A 1 374 Kinsman, John K u 94 INDEX Kirby, Charles H 640 Knapp, John F 1062 Knorr, Albert J 1050 Knowles, Ansel Litchfield 1237 Knox, George A 412 Knutsen, Fred 1436 Knutsen, K 444 Knutsen, Capt. Peter 1159 Knutson, George H. .• 1255 Knutson, Walfrid 1472 Koehn, William C , 1121 Kounias, S. George 1161 Krigbaum, Henry S 806 Krigbaum, Capt. Lowell G 734 Krogh, Hans, Jr 1456 Kumle, Hubert G 1479 Kyne, Patrick C 599 L La Bree, Charles A 1433 Lacoste, Etienne 1267 Ladd, Albert H 282 Lafranchi, Joseph 1411 La Grange Gold Dredging Company 1342 Laird, David Terry 1277 Langdon, Mrs. Myrtie 281 Larsen, Lauritz P 643 Larson, Andrew ¦ 1115 La Source, Guy Nelson 1402 Latz, Philip 1497 Latz, Sylvain S 801 Laughlin, Earl Victor 1229 Laughlin, Guy 1238 Laughlin, Julius C 508 Layman, Mrs. Edith M 941 Lear, Edmund J 1172 Lee, Charles S 1461 Leedholm, Charley J 1320 Leek, William L 959 Leoni, Albert G 604 Lesnini, Tobia 1115 Leverton, Joseph 0 1256 Lewallen, Wilson W 1352 Liberini, Peter 1414 Linden, Emanuel M 1324 Lindwall, John A 1433 Litt, George W 812 Little, Charles Richard 369 Lock, George Mills 900 Long, Joseph Johnson 1014 Long, Joseph N , 406 Long, M. P 745 Longis, Frank 1424 Longmire, Sylvester 1451 Love, Lewis A 1040 Lucid, Daniel D 871 Lucksinger, Frederick 1256 Lundborg, K.* M., D.D.S 978 Lundell, Henry J 967 Lundgren, Arthur C 1357 Lundgren, Carl John 1271 Lundgren, Gustaf A 852 M Macauley, Hector E 1178 Machado, Manuel D : 1409 Manning, Judson W 1387 Marshall, Fred J 1405 Matlock, C. Wilfrid 1349 Maze, Mrs. Birdie G 336 Maze, Charles George 867 Mazurette, Albert J 972 McAlister, James W 771 McAllen, Daniel Joseph 620 McAllen, Mrs. Mae Josephine 623 McBride, Samuel Nelson 803 McCabe, George T 455 McCabe, Eugene 398 McCabe, John W 1077 McCabe, Thomas F 627 McCabe, Owen 398 McCormick, James Edward 754 McCready, Arthur C 1215 McDonell, Michael Leo 1432 McGee, Michael Joseph 1334 McGeorge, A 1328 McGill, A. L 466 McGinn, Thomas W 612 McGinnes, W. T 466 McHenry Brothers, Ine 447 McHenry, Oramil 233 McHenry, Robert 234 McHenry, Robert A 447 McHenry, Albert H 447 McLaughlin, William 1131 McPheeters, Earl R., M.D 903 McPherson, Emmaline 295 McPhetres, Daniel Morton 1182 McVey, Frank 1325 Mead, George D 1043 Medford, Alvin D 1212 Medlin, Carl H 1484 Medlin, David G 1173 Medlin, Ora T 1295 Meier, Henry Charles 1443 Meikle, R. V 1366 Meily, A. P 674 Meinecke, Edward 1389 Mendes, Joe 1488 Mendosa, Joe P 1356 Mendonza, Jesse 1470 Menghetti, Charles L 1172 Mensinger, William R 549 Mermann, Peter 1313 Mettler, Ernest 1349 Michael, Thomas Benjamin 764 Millard, David Anderson 789 Miller, Frank C 1264 Mills, Harry Edgar 1121 Minniear, Ore N 1291 Minto, John H .' 1193 Mitchell, John W 489 Modesto Milk Company 1384 Moffet, Fred W 816 Mondo, Sebastian C 1425 Monk, Albert C 1453 Montgomery, Samuel 1398 Moore, Jacob Curtis 616 Moore, Oliver Stanton 481 Moore, R. R 481 Morehead, James T t ¦ ¦ 1156 Morgan, Antony 741 Morgan, James Wooley, M.D 666 Morganti, Epi l18^ Morris, John 1391 Morris, Nat P 879 Morris, William 1487 Morse, Charles L 1058 Morse, Howard Henry 1390 Moulton, Albert Wellington 465 Mullally, Mrs. Lizzie 926 Mullin, Douglas Francis 304 Muscio, Oliver Joseph 1032 I'N-D EX N Nazareth Swedish Lutheran Church 964 Neece, George F. . . . . 874 Needham, Hon. James Carson 261 Nei'll, Lester J 1376 Nelsen, Eric A 1416 Nelson, George C 712 Nelson, George G 1254 Nelson, Martin ." 1263 Nelson, Nels P 1468 Newman, Louis J 817 Newman Steam Laundry 1430 Newman, Simon 503 Newsome, William G 1145 Nickelsen, Nickels 1350 Nickert, Chris 1288 Nicolaisen, James M 1440 Nielson, George 1483 . Nylin, Andrew Peter 685 O Oberg, Clarence E 894 Oberg, Gustaf A 883 Oberkamper, William Adolph 1022 Ohlsson, Erick W 1344 Ohmart, Jacob L 1455 Olds, Jake M 1398 Oldenhage, Horace Walter 919 Olesen, Andrew J 1168 Oliveira, Antonio A 1166 Olsen, Martin 1408 Olson, Mrs. Caroline 1371 Olson, George P 928 Olson, Ole 1329 Olson, O. G 1226 Olson, Oscar H 942 Olson, P. N 1318 Olson, Theodore R 635 O'Neal, Fred L 948 Orr, Jacob 1219 Orvis, William Snow 1449 Osvald, Mrs. Julia K .' 592 Owen, Thomas Alonzo 470 P Paioni, Joseph 1455 Pallesen, Peter 1234 Palmer, Harry Eugene 628 Patchett, Franklin A 991 Pearson, James 1469 Felucca, Henry '. 1465 Perkins, Amsbury 496 Perley, George 348 Perry, Harry 0 1374 Persson, Albert W 1091 Persson, Andres 1314 Peterposten, Erminio 1477 Peters, Rollie R 1166 Petersen, Hans N 992 Peterson, Albert T 1330 Peterson, Arthur W 1287 Peterson, Axel 1434 Peterson, Charles O 1274 Peterson, Chris E . 1178 Peterson, Edwin A 1287 Peterson, Erick G 1356 Peterson, J. Edward '••¦.¦'' 1299: Peterson, Louis H 960 Peterson, Peter 1.317 Pettit, Alvin David ¦ 1362 Pfarr, George N 90* Philbrick, Cyrus J •' ' • • °99 Philipps, Rev. Charles. 1M1 Pike, George K •' ¦ 809 Pinckney, J. H .- -•••¦'¦ U39 Pitts, Edgar L 10° Pitts, M'erideth R ¦ 612 Podesta, Louis A '• ¦ • ¦ • • 1399 Pollard, Oliver L ¦¦¦••' 1091 Pool, Chauncey E 837 Porter, Mrs. Florence Lander 296 Price, Thomas Jefferson 846 Prickett, George Washington 1208 Prien, John H ;¦¦ 1444 Prouty, Mrs. Alice M • ¦ • 1476 Purvis, Mrs. Jennie Phelps 436 Purvis, Richard Benjamin 436 Q Quinley, John Winson 1377 Quirke, Rev. W. J 1060 R Radavero, Felix ,. 1469 Rafter, James O _.'. 1244 Ramazzina, Innocente 1471 Ramont, Herbert W 951 Ramos, P. D 1448 Ramsey, Francis A., M.D.C 567 Randolph, J. L 451 Ravelli, Rocco 1473 Rebman, Harvey W 1066 Reed, J. Wilson, M.D 1435 Reed, William M 1029 Reeder, Edward C 657 Reeves, James D 835 Reitz, Jacob 967 Repass, William M 1386 Reynolds, David Lee 1388 Reynolds, Roy F 894 Rezendes, Antonio D 1483 Rice, Eugene 899 Rice, Judge William Horace 542 Richards, James H 1393 Richardson, Ephriam 452 Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. Pearl C. . . .' 737 Richardson, Thomas 302 Richina, Leonard Anton 1109 Rickenbacher, Lewis H 1282 Rieger, Fred 1423 Roberts, Alfred Jackson 291 Roberts, James S .'...'. 1372 Roberts, Dr. James W ..' 974 Robinson, John 374 Roen, John . . .' 935 Roessler, Mrs. L 1461 Rogers, Mrs. Serena Coleman , 911 Roguet, Peter J 1171 Rohde, Arendt H 1013 Rohde, Andrew H 987 Rollo, J. M 1495 Root, Mrs. Mary J 563 Rose, Joseph V ' 1485 Ross, Mrs. Almina J J 49c Ross, Robert Jackson 1211 Rossi, Isidoro P 1203 Rossini, Silvio 1*424 Rousse, Dr. A. J 1268 INDEX Rousseau, Mrs. Leonora V 692 Routh, Elie L 1061 Rowe, Richard Henry 435 Rushing, William Henry 775 Russell, John Coleman 1496 s Sachau, Wm '. 1495 St. Clair, Milton L 1082 St. Joachim's Church 1191 Salber, Carl F 1111 Samson, Mrs. Jean Marie 730 Samuelson, Joseph 749 Sandberg, A. E 1237 Sanger, Samuel F 926 Sawdey, Earl Francis 696 Saxer, John 1092 Scanlon, John C 1022 Scerpella, John 1282 Schaf er, George P 323 Schafer, Peter J 481 Schell, Abraham 256 Schell, Adolph Edison 669 Schell, Herrick R 252 Schenone, G 1330 Schmitz, Lambert 1397 Schuller, Frederick 1421 Schultz, Frederick Anton 1453 Scoon, Walter T 1 149 Scott, James W 397 Scott, Thomas Blake 570 Scott, W. P 397 Search, Jackson W 716 Search, James H 560 Sears, Henry W 963 Seely, Dell M 955 Service, Hubert E 996 Service, John 235 Service, W. Roscoe 996 Shanahan, C. 0 1412 Shannon, Carl W . . . : 897 Shannon, George W 946 Sharp John W 738 Sharp, Willis Dalton 1 198 Siem, Fred W. N 1479 Signorotti, Felix 1000 Sikes, Charles H 1105 Silva, William J 1466 Silverthorn, Miss Bessie B 729 Sisson, Benjamin 1273 Sjc-strum, A 1495 Smith, Armour B 1067 Smith, Frank Eugene 794 Smith, Percy Merwin 1006 Snedigar, Mrs. Clara H 319 Snedigar, Thomas F 318 Snedigar, William M 351 Snyder, Chester G 1346 Snygg, John P 957 Soares, Manuel B 1448 Soderquist, A 1361 Sollars, Albert Edward 793 Sorensen, Mrs. Anna 1366 Sorensen, Charles C 1323 Sorensen, Hans J 1230 Soria, Archie M 1181 Souza, Alvaro M 1469 Souza, Antonio M' 1291 Souza, Manuel M 1471 Spencer, Hon. J. D 257 Spencer, Rev. John M 804 Spenker, Joseph C 1048 Sperry, Charles A 1136 Sperry, Charles Edwin 359 Sperry, Louis Nelson 977 Sperry, Willard E 977 Sprowl, Walter M 1212 Spyres, Silas 884 Squire, George W 855 Stadie, Martin Henry 1222 Standiford, Admer Nelson 293 Starr, George H 1058 Staudenmaier, Leonard 1452 Stelck, Richard Detlef 1452 Stevens, Walter A 1021 Stevens, Walter E 1493 Stewart, John Ferguson 500 Stone, Buryl Foster 1192 Stone, Roy E 1434 Strader, Ulysses Grant ¦ 619 Strandberg, C. O 1359 Summers, Hartwell 1426 Sunderland, Roy 1065 Surryhne, Benjamin F., M.D 515 Swan, C. Leslie 1 383 Swanson, Charles G 935 Swanson, Otto E 1467 Swanson, P. J 1417 Swedish Evangelical Mission Church 1429 Sweeney, Archie L 1388 Swensen, Swen 1288 Sylvan Club 872 T Talbot, Allen 746 Talbott, M. C 1072 Taylor, Carl R 1397 Taylor, Lon J 1167 Tell, Carl G 1188 Thompson, David B 708 Thompson, Harrison H 708 Thompson, Howard G 780 Thompson, Irving Boyd 1005 Thompson, James 426 Thompson, John E 356 Thompson, Luther D ' 842 Thompson, Richard Grant 767 Thompson, Walter Oregon 632 Thompson, William H 836 Thornburg, Delwin C 1310 Thornburg, Glen E 1309 Thornburg, Lamott E 652 Thornburg, Mrs. Oresta S 524 " Thornburg, Ray H 1309 Thorsen, Andy 1368 Threlfall, George A. ." 878 Tienken, Emil H 1018 Tobias, John 1462 Tombaugh, Ira S 1401 Tomlinson, Nathaniel Lenox 558 Toomes, William D 1066 Torgenson, C. L 1351 Tornell, C. A 1367 Tornell, Charles 1198 Torvend, Ole 1026 Townsend, Travis B 1017 Trask, Edward O 925 Trask, John Byron 826 Trumbly, Warren L 1376 Trueblood, Harry A 1445 Tucker, Lewis 1410 Tucker, Mrs. Martha E 251 INDEX Tupper, Jerome B 1088 Turlock Ice & Fuel Company 712 Turner, Arlo V 1344 Turner, Charles C 533 Turner, Mrs. Christiana Van Norman 529 Turner, Garrison and Elizabeth Jane Starr.. 274 Turner, George D 1285 Turner, Henry G 759 Turpen, Addison Edgar 443 Turpen, Major A. M 443 Twiggs, Marcellus D 1420 Tyrrell, Robert S 892 U Uhi, Edward A 1405 Ulch, Mrs. Allura E. Averill 287 Ullberg, Edwin 1360 Ulrey, Silas Everington 1406 Ulrich, George J 1106 Updike, Samuel il 355 V Vanatta, Sidney C 1430 Van Bebber, Philip 1418 Van der Plaats, Volkert 1233 Van Vlear, William R 931 Van Wagner, Ralph 1381 Varley, Edwin Lincoln 1417 Ventuleth, Jack 1442 Vetter, John W 1400 Vieira, Antone R 1477 Vincent, Joe F 1278 Vincent, Joseph M' 1036 Vivian, John 301 Vivian, Stephen 405 Voight, August H 1221 Voight, Henry 1419 Volkman, F. D 1025 Vollstedt, Herman 1411 Voorheis, Mrs. Mary Ann 669 w Wade, Seth 1436 Wafer, Mrs. Estella Byrum 878 Waite, William E 674 Wakefield, S 1122 Walden, Miner 390 Wallace, S. G 1459 Wallin, Jonas S 858 Walthall, John Madison 81 1 Walther, Clarence J 1117 Walti, Fred William 1333 Walton, Dana J 776 Ward, John L 673 Ward, Joseph R 1385 Warner, James 410 Warner, James F 410 Washburn, Francis M 9" Watson, Arthur M '. l37? Watson, Ralph E 1043 Webb, Walter H 982 Weichert, George P 1390 Weilberg, Christopher Robert 9^7 Weiss, Henry H26 Welch, Charles Edwin 310 Welch, Mrs. Sarah E 557 Welty Brothers 1437 Westrope, Abner James 611 Wheeler, William Floyd 1078 Whitmore, Clinton N 477 Whitmore, Daniel 235 Whitmore, Richard Keith 1385 Whitworth, George H 327 Wickstrom, G. E 1353 Will, Foster A 973 Willeford, Edward 1493 Williams, Humphrey Lincoln 504 Williams, Joseph S 1447 Williams, O. D 1358 Williams, Thomas L 504 Willms, John R 389 Wilson, John Benjamin 1186 Wilson, Mrs. Sarah E 1 186 Wilson, W. Lester, M.D 1306 Winklebleck, Levi 893 Witmer, Jacob 1101 Witten, P. W '. 1292 Wolfe, John S 1187 Wood, Amos Addison, D.D.S 581 Wood, William Henry 586 Woods, Frank P 1457 Woods, John H 785 VVoodside, Charles LeRoy 915 Woodside, Mrs. Emeline 311 Woolsey, A. C 1404 Woolsey, Eugene D 838 Wootten, Denver M 1009 Wren, George J 324 Wright, Claud 1353 Wyant, William Swickard 1393 Y Yates, James D 1207 Yeram, Aram H 1403 Young, James A 280 Young, J. Audley, M.D 1087 Young, Shruder 393 Young, William Franklin 1068 Young, William N 138I Yrigoyen, Gregorio 1492 z Zacharias, Charles R 1453 Zimmerman, H. E 1382 HISTORICAL HISTORY of STANISLAUS COUNTY By GEORGE H. TINKHAM CHAPTER ONE STANISLAUS COUNTY'S FIRST INHABITANTS INDIANS EVERYWHERE DISCOVERED From whence came the first inhabitants of Stanislaus County ? No man knoweth. Columbus in 1492 landing at the island of San Salvador, and later at Cuba, discovered a new race. He believed that he had reached the East Indies and so believing he named the people Indians. When Fernando Cortez sailed from Spain in 1519 with a small army and several horses, he also landed at Cuba, and then sailing westward to Mexico, he there found Indians. They were quite intelligent and were ruled by King Montezuma whom they loved and honored. The Spanish soldiers married the women of the tribe and from thence came the Mexican people. Leaving Mexico in 1542 Cabrillo sailed along the entire coast of Cape Mendocino, and at every point the navigator found this strange people. They worshipped the white men and believed them gods. Sir Francis Drake sailing along the Pacific Coast in 1579 discovered the harbor that now bears his name. He landed and the Indians came crowding around him as he held the first Protestant religious service on the Pacific Coast. Capt. Gaspar de Portola, in his famous march from San Diego to San Francisco Bay in 1769 found Indians all along his route. They were a peaceful, fairly intelligent race and they brought the soldiers many gifts. Indians Build Missions Then came the Franciscan Fathers founding missions all along the California Coast. In their work of building missions the Indians performed all of the work. They cultivated the soil in the raising of wheat, corn and vegetables and they herded and cared for the sheep, horses and cattle that roamed over a thousand hills. The good priests taught the Indians much useful knowledge and they were in most of the Missions kind and gentle rulers to these, the children of the Church. In some Missions, unfortunately, the Fathers were harsh and cruel taskmasters. This treatment caused in the neophytes a spirit of hatred and revenge and they endeavored to escape from the Mission at the first opportunity. The Chief Estanislao One of the Indians who succeeded in escaping was a neophyte named Estanislao. He was a man naturally bright, of far more intelligence than the most of his tribe and he had received a good education in the Mission. Burning with hatred against the Fathers and all of the Spanish race, he began a propaganda among the Indian tribes, inciting them to rob the Missions and kill the "sons of Castile." Succeeding in his object the Indians began harassing the Fathers of the San Jose Mission by driving off their horses and killing them for food. Then on every possible 34 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY occasion they would meet the Christian Indians and persuade them to run away. To check this work so far as possible the government sent out military expeditions. They were commanded to punish the culprits and bring in as prisoners, the men, women and children. In this manner the Fathers repopulated their Missions, for the Mission confinement caused them to quickly die. It was in one of these expeditions, that of 1829, that Estanislao defeated the famous Gen. Marino G. Vallejo, previously having routed Lieut. Alfred Sanchez. The Lieutenant was sent out from San Francisco May 5, with a company of forty soldiers, a few drawing swivel guns or cannon. He soon arrived at a locality where he found the Indians fortified in a thick wood on the bank of the River Laquismes, as the Stanislaus River was then called. As soon as the soldiers came within distance the Indians opened fire with a shower of arrows and a few old muskets. The firearms were harmless, however, as the Indians had no shot nor bullets. They fired the muskets, hoping to frighten the Spaniards. Sanchez attempted to use his swivel gun but finding it out of commission was compelled to rely on his musketry. The parties fought throughout the day, apparently with none killed or wounded. That night Sanchez camped after retiring some distance from the enemy. The following day the fight was renewed without success and as Sanchez's ammunition was exhausted he was compelled to return to San Francisco. The fight was a victory for Estanislao. Two soldiers were killed and eight wounded, and eleven of the Christian Indians were wounded and one was killed. The Defeat of General Vallejo A week later a second expedition was organized against the brave chief. General Vallejo was placed in command. He had just returned from an expedition to the "tulares," where with a company of forty-five men only he had fought and killed forty- eight braves. Vallejo's company crossed the San Joaquin River on a raft and they were received immediately with a cloud of arrows. Vallejo soon learned that the enemy could not be driven from their stronghold and commanded that the woods be set on fire. This was a movement Estanislao had not anticipated and the Indians were driven out by the smoke and fire, several of them being killed. The fight, however, was carried on throughout the day, and three more soldiers were wounded. That night the Indians abandoned their stronghold. The following morning Vallejo's men entered the woods and found a series of pits and ditches skillfully arranged and barricaded by trees and brush. It would have been an impossibility to have driven out the Indians except by fire. The following day the Indians again challenged the soldiers to battle from another thicket near the Rancho Arroyo Seco. Vallejo tried to parley with them, but they refused either to compromise or surrender. The soldiers then made an attack and brought into use their small cannon. The Indians slowly retreated to their new trenches which they had thrown up, in the meantime wounding eight soldiers. In a short time the ammunition of the militia was all gone and they were compelled to cease fighting. The following morning the company left the field to the enemy. This was a second victory for the brave Indian Chief, Estanislao. It is said that dating from that fight the Spaniards dared not invade the territory north of the San Joaquin River and that they named the river where the battle took place, Stanislaus. Later the county took its name from the river. Our Knowledge of the Indians It may be of interest, perhaps, to many persons to know something of the customs, habits, religion and life of those who first lived in the "sunny Stanislaus." The knowledge that we have of the race is limited. It is obtained only from the trappers and travelers who visited the coast in early years and from those pioneers who saw the last of the tribes in the '50s. The first account we have of the number of Indians in the territory of Stanislaus is the record of the old trapper and hunter, James J. Warner. Writing of. the year 1832, he said, "There were a number of Indian villages on King's River between its HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 35 mouth and the mountains; also on the San Joaquin from the base of the mountain down to, and some distance below, the great slough. On the Merced River, from its junction with the San Joaquin, there were no Indian villages, but from about this point on the San Joaquin (Hill's Ferry) as well as the principal tributaries, the Indian villages were numerous and many of the villages contained from fifty to a hundred dwellings. On the Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers there were Indian villages above the mouth, as also at or near the junction with the San Joaquin." Mr. Warner then pays a tribute to the wonderful fertility of the territory by saying: "On no part of the Continent over which I had been or since have traveled was so numerous an Indian population subsisting upon the natural products of the soil and waters as in the San Joaquin Valley." Classification of Indians The Indian tribes of California were so many in number that it is almost impossible to classify all of them. The Coast Indians alone, according to Boscana, numbered over a hundred different tribes and spoke that many different languages. Powers, who made a study of Indian life, called the Indians living in Tuolumne and Stanislaus counties under the general name of Modocs. They were subdivided into four classes, the Wallas, Wallalshumnes, Potoancies and Yachichumnes. The tribe first named lived in the mountains between the Stanislaus and Tuolumne rivers, the second tribe dwelt in the valley, the third tribe lived in the region between the Tuolumne and the Merced and the fourth tribe lived on the west side of the San Joaquin River. The entire race were called by the people in general "Walla Wallas" or "Digger Indians" because of their custom of digging in the earth for edible roots. Physical Appearance of Tribes In their physical appearance the Indians were very much alike. They were scarcely more than five feet eight in height, and a man over six feet was a rarity. They had low, retreating foreheads, black, deep set eyes, thick, bushy eyebrows, high cheek bones and a nose depressed at the roots and wide spread at the nostrils. They had large mouths, with projecting lips, large white teeth and large ears and hands and large flat feet. "This," said a well-known writer, "was the prevailing type. The description agrees fully with the Walla Wallas, both men and women, as I saw them around Stockton in early days." Tribal Government Their government, if such it might be called, was very simple. Each tribe had a "captain chief" and his authority and commands were absolute. Considerable dignity was attached to him and his family and they were treated with the greatest respect. His widow and daughters, after his death, were considered as persons of nobility and they were not compelled to labor as were the women of the common people. In fact, among the tribes there was a certain degree of aristocracy. The family and their relatives were governed by a chief. He was subject to the authority of the captain chief. The chieftainship was hereditary along the male line and the eldest son suc ceeded the father at his death. Sometimes, however, the son would be deprived of his rightful authority. A favorite of the captain chief would be appointed to office because of some exploit or bravery in a horse-stealing expedition. Marriage When a young brave wished to marry he observed carefully the young maiden who was the most industrious in digging roots or herbs and could carry the heaviest load. The women were the slaves of the men, and they collected the firewood, built the fires and performed all of the drudgery of the wikiup. When the young Indian had made his selection of a strong and industrious maiden, he informed the chief that he desired the girl for his "helpmate." The chief almost always gave his consent. This was all the marriage ceremony that was necessary. The girl could refuse to live with the young man, but the penalty of refusing was severe, as she then became public property. If an Indian wished to divorce his wife all that was necessary was to drive 36 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY her out into the cold world. A female could have but one husband, but on the reverse an Indian could have as many wives as he could feed and shelter. In their wild, un civilized life, adultery on the part of the woman was always a cause of divorce by the husband. When, however, the Indian came in contact with the vileness and corruption of the white man, he frequently sold his wife for a short period of time. The girls frequently married at the age of fourteen years and gave birth to children at the age of sixteen. A marriage of May and December was not prohibited among the Indians and often there would be offspring. Powers relates a case within his knowledge where an Indian child of ten years gave birth to a babe, her husband being a white man of sixty summers. At childbirth no physician or midwife was necessary, for Nature provides for its own. If the tribe were traveling the woman would lag behind for an hour or more. Then she would overtake the tribe carrying upon her back a newborn babe strapped with deer sinews to a homemade cradle. Marrying so young, they quickly aged and a woman of thirty would have the appearance of a grandmother of sixty years or older. Indian Dress Dame Fashion ne'er held sway in an Indian rancheria. Their dress was as limited as that of Mother Eve, when a covering made of fig leaves adorned her body. The Indian women had no fig leaves, but in summer they wore as a substitute a short apron suspended from their waist made of tules or grass. In winter for additional warmth they wore over their shoulders a short fur cape made of rabbit skins. During the warm weather the men wore Nature's garb only. In winter they also wore a mantle of rabbit skins or that of some wild animal. Cost of Living The high cost of living was no cause for complaint among the forest tribes, for Nature provided for all of their wants. In the spring of the year they lived on a species of clover. It was soft and fine, and, when mixed with roots gathered from the river bottom, contained sufficient nutriment to sustain life. When the grass was no longer fit for food, they subsisted on the young tule roots, seeds, bugs, frogs, non- poisonous snakes, grasshoppers and small edible roots. Grasshoppers were considered as quite a delicacy. In summer they would roast and mash them into a paste and then mix with other edibles. Their main reliance for food was fish, grass seed, and acorns. The food last named they ground to powder in their mortars and made it into bread. When the river waters were low they obtained their supply of fish. They shot them with arrows, speared them with a long, sharp-pointed pole and were quite expert in catching them by hand. Although usually too lazy to hunt and kill large game, the men would occasionally go out and kill birds, rabbits and squirrels, and sometimes a deer or antelope, with their bow and arrow. A grizzly bear they would never molest and Carson says so frightened were they at the sight of a grizzly they would quickly run away. The fish and acorns were most plentiful in the fall of the year. Then they would hold a jubilee which continued for several days. During this period of feasting they would gorge themselves until they became almost torpid. Religion The Walla Wallas' ideas of religion were exceedingly vague, according to one writer, who says they had no idea of a supreme being and when questioned upon that subject would grin and shake their heads. "The only faith in which they believed was necromancy." Any mysterious act was regarded by them as something supernatural. On the other hand, another writer says that they had the belief that the good would inherit eternal life and that the bad would forever die. They believed a good chief was especially honored, and that after death his heart "went up among the stars to enlighten the earth" and that the heavens were ablaze with the hearts of departed great Indians. Indian Pestilence In the present memory of my readers a terrible disease raged throughout the United States which for want of a better name was called "Spanish Influenza." Not- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 37 withstanding the best of medical treatment thousands died. What must have been the fatality of a similar pestilence, when it attacked the ignorant, superstitious Indians. It frequently attacked them when they became over populated and this seemed to be Nature's method of the "survival of the fittest." De La Mofras, the French traveler arid scientist, says that in 1824, 12,000 of the Indians of the Tulare died of cholera and in 1826, 8000 in the Sacramento Valley died of intermittent fever. Colonel Warner tells of a pestilence that raged among the Indians of the Stanislaus and San Joaquin section in the spring or summer of 1833. He says he returned to the territory in the fall of that year and found the country almost depopulated. "From the head of the Sacramento to the great bend of the San Joaquin River we saw only six or eight live Indians, w4iere the year previous there had been hundreds. Skulls and dead bodies, however, were seen under nearly every shade tree, near the water, where the uninhabited and deserted villages had been turned into graveyards. On the banks of the San Joaquin River we found not only many graves, but evidences of funeral pyres. At the mouth of the Kings River we encountered the first and only villages of the stricken race that we had seen after entering the great valley." A Night of Horror In describing a scene while in camp, Colonel Warner wrote : "We were encamped near the village one night only and during that time the death angel, passing over the camp ground of the plague-stricken fugitives, waved his wand, summoning from the remnant of a once numerous people, a score of victims, and the cries of the dying, mingled with the wails of the bereaved, made the night hideous, in the veritable valley of death." The pestilence which swept down the valley was believed to be a most acute and violent form of remittent fever and it presented many of the symptoms of cholera. Many of the trappers caught the disease and Colonel Warner was left behind to die, but he recovered and caught up with the party. Disposal of Their Dead The Indians of Stanislaus County and the region round about invariably practiced incineration in the disposal of their dead. As writers declare, they had no tools for the digging of graves, not even knives. James L. Carson, in describing one of the funeral ceremonies and incinerations which he witnessed, wrote : "The first of these funerals which I noticed was on the Consumnes River. The rancheria to which the deceased belonged was a large one, situated in a beautiful valley, from which arose tall pines, whose spear tops formed a canopy above; around it arose high and rugged hills that gradually rounded until their tops were capped by the everlasting snows, and through it moved the crystal waters of a fine creek. The scene in all was beautiful. On a clear piece of ground a vast heap of dry wood was placed on which the dead was to be laid and consumed- The sun had set and night was drawing her sable mantle o'er the earth, when the entire tribe began chanting unearthly incantations around the fires of their huts, and they so continued until darkness had completely enveloped the scene. Then arose a hideous scream out of the hut of the departed that was answered by every one in the camp, torches were lighted and by their glare the corpse was borne to the funeral pyre. The body was placed on top of it and more dry wood heaped around. Then came the wild chant and incantation for the dead. The chief applied the first torch to the pile and in a moment it blazed forth in a hundred places. The forked flames that enveloped the body shot up among the tall pines and lighted up the shadows. When the body had become charred by the fire Indians with sharp-pointed poles would stir up the body to aid the fire in its work of destruction and amidst the howling of the Indians the work was continued until the body was consumed." L. C. Branch, who also witnessed one of these funerals, says in his history: "The funeral of a chief was attended with more ceremony than that of the common people and the whole village was thrown into mourning which continued for several days. In preparing the body for burning, it was decorated with feathers, beads and flowers 38 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and after remaining in state a few days, was conveyed to the funeral pyre. Ine flowers, feathers and beads, the weapons, in fact, everything belonging to the dead chief was burned with him amidst the howls and lamentations of the tribe." The Widow Mourns The only indications of mourning for a deceased person were those made by a squaw for her husband. This mourning consisted of daubing the cheeks, forehead and breast with a mixture of coals and pitch from the funeral pyre. The stuff was allowed to remain upon the body until it wore off. During the period of mourning the widow's person was held sacred and she was exempt from all manner of work or drudgery. Pitch pine was brought from the mountains and taf was made of it for mourning purposes. An annual dance of mourning was held at which time the most lamentable groans were kept up by the whole rancheria. Mr. Branch, who lived near Knights Ferry, says: "We have heard them frequently clear across the river, and it seems as if they kept it up all night at a time." At this time they mourned the loss of deceased friends and relatives. The Indian Wikiups According to Carson, the Indians, during the summer season, lived in "huts con structed of the boughs of trees placed in a circle, deep in the earth with their tops drawn together and fastened into a cone of wicker work." In these they lived until the frosts of winter drove them into their holes, where they lived until the congenial sun of spring drew them out again. Their winter holes are made by digging circular holes in the earth and placing over them a frame of poles which is covered with bark or grass over which they throw earth to the depth of nearly two feet. An opening left in the side of the hut, large enough to admit the body of a man, served as a door to the hut. They are built without any uniformity of size. Each family has a tepee and it is built in accordance with the size of the family, be it large or small. Con venience or cleanliness .was not taken into consideration in building the tepee and a family of ten or twelve would be crowded into a hut not large enough for half that number. There was this advantage, however, they were kept warm by the crowding. The chief of the tribe had a wikiup larger than any of those surrounding him, and it was usually in the center of the circle. v A Nearly Extinct Race Although the Indians were so many in number, the coming of the white man soon sealed their doom. The whites shot and killed them upon the slightest provoca tion, often making them a target, shooting them down in cold blood. They outraged their women and children and taught them the white man's vices but none of his virtues. They maliciously killed the game, the Indians' only food, and drove them from the land. Driven out of the valley where they had lived for centuries, the lords of creation, they retired to the mountains and as early as 1852 the only Indians in Stanislaus County were twenty at Bonsell's Ferry and about 250 at Knights Ferry. Only a few remaining members of the tribe are now left. The Government made no attempt to punish the criminal white men for their outrages and cruelty to the Indians, but they compromised the matter by rounding up the Indians and compelling them to go to Government reservations. There, through neglect and the rascality of many of the Indian agents, the Indians gradually starved to death. One of these reservations, in Stanislaus County, was near Knights Ferry and a second reservation was on the "West Side" of the Stanislaus. An Indian Beef and Flour Debt The state agent of Indian affairs was Col. O. M. Wozencraft, a prominent Democratic politician. During the years 1851-52 Dent, Vantine' & Company of Knights Ferry, under contract with O. M. Wozencraft, furnished the Indians of the "West Side" reservation with beef and flour. The company fulfilled their contract with the understanding that they were to receive cash for their supplies. Instead of HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 39 cash Wozencraft gave them orders on the Government for the amount of $33,080. The debt was unpaid in 1854. That year Assemblyman A. C. Bradford of San Joaquin, presented a petition to the legislature in behalf of the company, praying the legislators to memorialize Congress for the payment of the debt. The Indian Chief Jose Jesus After the death of the brave Chief Estanislao, an Indian named Jose Jesus became chief of the Stanislaus tribes. He is described by those who knew him as a man over six feet in height, cleanly in his habits, proud in spirit and dignified in manner. He had been a Mission Indian, was fairly well educated and at one time alcalde of San Jose. Although friendly with the Americans, he made it very uncomfortable for the Fathers of Mission San Jose, frequently making raids upon their stock. At one time he drove off a "marada" of over 1000 horses which his tribe killed for food. Jose Jesus was a life-long friend of Captain M. Weber, the founder of Stockton. When, in 1844, Mr. Weber obtained a grant where Stockton is located, he believed it good policy to make a friendly treaty with the Indians. Captain Sutter had carried out this policy successfully in his settlement of New Helvetia (now Sacramento), in 1839. Captain Weber sent for Chief Jose Jesus, and they immediately made a peace treaty, which the Indians faithfully kept. The chief was very friendly with Captain Weber, but like many a white man of that day he would go and "booze up" on the white man's firewater. Once while drunk at Knights Ferry he got into a fight and was shot and severely wounded by a white man. He survived the wound, however, Captain Weber paying out $500 for his medical treatment. "Old Manuel" Probably the last chief of the Stanislaus Indians was the Walla Walla, Old Manuel, whom Branch described in 1881. "He was a large, fleshy Indian, had rather an intelligent look and taken, all in all, was much superior to the average among his tribe. He had several wives and a rather pretty daughter. She was decorated with feathers and beads, had a pleasing look and always carried a plate which she passed around and took up a collection." By this device the Indians were enabled to gather together enough money to buy sufficient whisky to keep them drunk for a week or two. They all drank and when the law prohibited the selling of liquor to Indians and the whites refused to let them have it, they managed to procure it from the Chinese store keepers. When drunk they would fight amongst themselves and beat the women unmercifully. The Indian Burial Ground At Knights Ferry a portion of the reservation, that on the hillside, was set apart many years ago as an Indian burial ground. There from time to time as his spirit departed for the "happy hunting ground," "poor Lo's" body was laid to rest. The graves, now numbering over 250, are being trampled out by cattle grazing over the ground. The Indians believed that their sacred soil should be protected, and they made complaint to their priest, Father Maher. He called the attention of the Oakdale Parlor of Native Sons to the matter, and it being historic soil, they proposed taking up the subject with'their Grand Parlor. However, no action was taken in the matter. CHAPTER TWO THE ADVANCE OF CIVILIZATION It is a peculiar fact, that of the immense territory north and east of the San Joaquin River, Stanislaus County and the land adjacent was the first discovered. The man to whom the honor belongs is Lieut. Gabriel Moraga, a soldier of the Spanish King. In writing of him Prof. Charles F. Chapman of the State University says: "He was one of the most distinguished men of the era of Dons." This man, who was the son of Jose Joaquin Moraga, the founder of San Francisco (Yerba Buena), was the greatest Indian fighter and explorer that California produced. 40 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY DISCOVERY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY On the twenty-first of September, 1806, Moraga started out with a band of twenty-five men from the Mission of San Juan Bautista, accompanied by Padre Pedro Munoz, with the purpose of exploring interior lands for suitable locations for Missions, and to gain information about the Indians and establish friendly relations with them. The company traveled to the east and reached the San Joaquin River just about where Merced and Fresno counties now join (Dos Palos). When the party crossed the San Joaquin, they turned to the north and were obliged to march for about a league through an area of thick, high tule, among which some well-grassed clearings were visible. On the twenty-eighth of September the Merced River was discovered and named the following day. Passing the Merced River, the expedition went to the northwest and discovered other rivers. On their return they came again to the Merced River, and the chronicler once more remarked upon the site as good for founding a Mission and presidio (military post). No action was taken as a conse quence of this expedition, but another was led by Moraga in September and October of 1808, still for the purpose of seeking a good site for the founding of a Mission, if provision .for one should be made. After exploring the northern tributaries of the San Joaquin River, Moraga turned south and reached the Merced on October 18, exploring the river from the Sierras to its junction with the San Joaquin. The Trapper Expeditions Fourteen years later, 1820, a company of American trappers entered the valley, who that year hunted and trapped beaver throughout the season. They were followed by the famous hunter and trapper, Jediah Smith, who had been at work previously in the Rocky Mountains. Crossing the Sierras in 1825 he entered the great valley through Walker's Pass and trapped along the San Joaquin and Tuolumne rivers, catching beaver and many other fur-bearing animals. He remained until 1827, and, said the writer, "the streams abounded in beaver and salmon." After Smith, came the expedi tion led by Ashley, another well-known hunter and trapper. His expedition was fitted out in St. Louis in 1823. They entered the valley in 1826 and trapped all along the Stanislaus, Merced and San Joaquin. In 1829-30 the leading trapper, Ewing Young from Tennessee, came into the valley by the way of Walker's Pass and trapped along the rivers. In his company was James J. Warner, well-known pioneer, who later wrote of the Indians of Stanislaus. The John C. Fremont Party We have no further record of travelers over the land until 1841. In that year Capt. John C. Fremont left Washington with a company of sixty expert riflemen, on a presumed exploring expedition to the Far West. Fremont, having accomplished' the work for which he had been sent out, started homeward by the southern route. Riding down the valley, he wrote in his diary, on March 27th : "Our road was now one continued enjoyment; and it is a pleasure, riding among assemblage of green pastures and scattered groves and out of the warm green spring, to look at the rocky and snowy peaks, where lately we had suffered so much. Emerging from the timber we came suddenly upon the Stanislaus River where we hoped to find a ford, but the stream was flowing by, dark and deep, swollen by mountain snows, its general breadth about fifty yards. We traveled five miles up the river and encamped without being able to find a ford. Desirous as far as possible, without delay, to include in our examination the San Joaquin River I returned this morning down the Stanislaus for some seventeen miles and again encamped without finding a fording place. After following it for eight miles further the following morning and finding ourselves in the vicinity of the San Joaquin, we encamped in a handsome grove and several cattle being killed we ferried over our baggage in their skins. Here our Indian boy began to be alarmed at the many streams we were putting between him and the village, and deserted " HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 41 Wild Animal Life In the valley at this time and for a quarter of a century later thousands of wild horses roamed the plains, and immense herds of deer, elk and antelope were seen upon the high land and the river-bottom lands. Grizzly bears were also plentiful and J. C. Forbes stated that he had seen from twelve to fifteen bears at one time. That grizzlies were numerous is evident from the fact that as late as 1852, two men caught five bear in traps upon the Stanislaus. One of them was taken to Stockton and matched in a fight against a bull. The ground was covered with geese and the lakes with ducks, while myriads of fish swam in the waters. The Mormon Colony The first wheat raisers and settlers in Stanislaus County were a number of Mormons. Under the leadership of their prophet, Samuel Brannan, a company of Mormons, men and children, left New York in February, 1846, bound for the Mexican territory of California. They left New York hoping to find on Mexican soil a place where they could worship unmolested. Judge of their surprise and disap pointment upon reaching San Francisco to again find themselves on American soil. It is said that upon seeing the Stars and Stripes floating over the custom house, Brannan exclaimed: "There's that damned flag again!" Making the best of the situation, however, they broke up into parties. Some remained in Yerba Buena, others went to San Bernardino and a few traveled to Sutter's Fort. Stanislaus City Founded About thirty of the Mormons, under instructions from Brannan, sailed up the San Joaquin River in a little schooner and landed at a point near Mossdale, the Southern Pacific railroad bridge. They brought with them in the vessel, provisions sufficient to last for two years, a wagon, agricultural implements, and various kinds of seed. Traveling overland across San Joaquin County they located on the east bank of the Stanislaus about one and a half miles above its mouth. There they founded a city called by some Stanislaus City, by others New Hope. Setting up a small saw mill they sawed out shingles and floor timbers from the large oak trees in the vicinity and built a log cabin. Then, enclosing about eighty acres of land with a fence built of oak logs and covered with brushwood, they planted the ground to wheat. The land was all sown in wheat by January, 1847. They also raised a considerable variety of vegetables and irrigated the soil by means of ditches, drawing water from the river by the primitive method of a pole and bucket. "They also sowed," says Carson, "a red top grass, the best that the farmer can sow in the Tulare valley, as it forms excel lent pasture during the year and when cut equals the best red clover. It can now be seen where it has spread from the Stanislaus to French Camp above Stockton." Their only provisions were whole wheat, coffee and sugar. They had, however, a small hand mill and any man if he so desired could grind his wheat to coarse flour. They also had plenty of ammunition and firearms and there was plenty of game for the killing. Each man was compelled to do his own cooking. Samuel Brannan in writing to a friend in January, 1847, said: "We have com menced a settlement on the Stanislaus River, a large and beautiful stream emptying into the Bay of San Francisco." His settlement, however, did not long continue. Some say the Mormons were there only a year, others three or four years. Their manager was a man named Thomas Stout, who was disliked by all the party. Quar reling with him one day, the colony later voted to leave the place. One of the last Mormons to leave the locality was a man named Buckland, who later built the Buck- land House in San Francisco. Mexico Declares Her Independence During this period the Mexican war was fought, a war in which Stanislaus' dis tinguished citizen, Jefferson D. Bentley, was engaged. In 1821 a revolution was started in Mexico by the Tory party against the government of Spain. Two years later, in 1823, they won their fight and declared themselves a free and independent nation. In their victory, Mexico took from Spain all of the territory extending 42 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY from the Isthmus of Panama and the Gulf of Mexico to the Oregon line, with the Rocky Mountains as their eastern boundary. It was a kingdom, you will observe, equal to one-third of the present United States. While the Mexicans were fighting for their freedom, the South, with over two million of slaves, was fighting for an extension of territory. Leading National Events The congressional decree that slavery should not be extended north of Mason and Dixon's line prevented any further extension of slavery in that direction. The slaves were increasing in number. The profits from their labor were immense and the South longed for the Mexican territory beyond the Rockies. At that time the Democrats were in power at Washington and the South held sway. Because of a slight provoca tion, the United States declared war upon Mexico. In the treaty of peace signed in February, 1848, Mexico was compelled to cede to the United States all of the territory acquired from Spain except her native country, Mexico and Lower California. James W. Marshall Discovers Gold One of the commanders in the California department of the Mexican war was John C. Fremont and in his battalion was a soldier named James W. Marshall. He crossed the plains with his family in 1846 and soon after the close of the war he traveled to Sutter's Fort looking for work. Captain Sutter gave him employment, as he was a good mechanic, and in December, 1847, the Captain sent Marshall into the mountains to find a good location for a sawmill. He found a good site at a point now known as Coloma and the workmen began erecting the frame work of the mill. In digging a mill race, January 24, 1848, Marshall found some pieces of gold. The workmen, many of them Mormons, immediately left their work and began digging for the golden nuggets. Gold Found on the Stanislaus The land on which the gold was found belonged to Captain Sutter, who had obtained the grant from Micheltorena, the Mexican governor. The land now be longed to the United States and to hold it Sutter sent two messengers to Monterey carrying with them gold specimens with the request that Governor Mason confirm Sutter's claim. On their way the couriers stopped at Tuleburg (Stockton) over night. They had been instructed by Sutter to show the gold to no one nor tell of their mis sion to Monterey, but they disclosed their secret and showed the settlers the pieces of gold. The hunters and trappers were wild with excitement. A company was organized under the direction of Captain Weber and they started for Coloma to dig gold. This was in March, 1848, the news not having reached Tuleburg until that date. Accompanying the party were twenty-five Indians of the Jose Jesus tribe, Weber having requested the chief to furnish the Indians as laborers. Captain Weber was a shrewd business man and early that year he had established a general mer chandising store at Tuleburg. It was his object to instruct these Indians in gold mining, so that they could prospect along the Stanislaus and Tuolumne rivers for gold. If it were found in paying quantities then there would be a rush of gold seekers for the Stanislaus. As a natural result Tuleburg would become a big trading depot for the miners, as it was the nearest navigable point to what was later known as the southern . mines. Learning how to look for gold they were sent back to Stockton with instruc tions to prospect in the Stanislaus and Tuolumne rivers. They found gold everywhere in the Stanislaus and they brought in specimens to their "major domo," as Captain Weber was called. This gold, in all probability, was found not lower down than Knights Ferry. California Suddenly Populated The news of gold at Coloma traveled slowly over the territory, but it flew with lightning speed to every part of the civilized earth. In less than two years 100 000 people inhabited California. Two-thirds of the number sailed through the Golden Gate, so named by Captain Fremont, while thousands came down the northern Sierras HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 43 or up by the Santa Fe route. The first arrivals by the ocean route sailed up the river to Sacramento, then on to Coloma. In the meantime parties began searching for gold south of Coloma. They found the golden nuggets at Murphy's Camp, Mokelumne Hill, Angels Camp, Sonora, Knights Ferry and as far south as Mariposa. Then the human tide of gold seekers broke away from Sacramento route and tens of thousands began their march to the southern mines by the Stockton route. General Riley Calls a Constitutional Convention The chaotic condition of society, the need of some form of government, the neces sities of laws for governing trade, and for punishing the criminal element compelled the citizens to request Gen. Bennett Riley, the military governor, to call a constitutional convention for the organization of a territory or state. For some length of time he refused to comply with their request. He gave as his reason that he had no instruc tions from Washington to organize or give permission to others to organize a state government. As it was an emergency case for which no "red tape" had been provided, he finally complied with their request. For the purpose of electing delegates to the convention he divided the territory into seven districts. Each district was to elect as delegates a certain pro rata of the population of their district. It was a guess, the number of population in each district. The San Joaquin district, which included the entire territory east of the Coast Range and south of the Consumnes River, elected eight delegates. One of the number was Ben S. Lippincott, later of Paradise City. Organization of a State The convention assembled September 1, 1849, at Monterey. There were in that convention men who later became famous in state and nation. Among them stood William S. Gwin, later a United States Senator; Rodman M. Price, who became governor of New Jersey; Henry W. Halleck, a famous California lawyer and general in the Civil War, and Lewis Dent, then elected a delegate from Monterey, and two years later a resident of Knights Ferry. The convention framed a state constitution and called an election for state officers. The election took place November 13, 1849, and 12,064 votes were polled. The San Joaquin district elected and sent to the Legislature six senators, among them Ben S. Lippincott, and six assemblymen, two of them were R. P. Heath, who established a ferry on the Stanislaus River, and J. W. Van Benscroten, the founder of Grayson. Creation of Tuolumne County The Legislature divided the state into twenty-seven counties, and one of them they named Tuolumne County. Its boundary, as defined by the Legislature, was as follows: "Beginning at the summit of the Coast Range at the southwest corner of San Joaquin County and following in an easterly direction the southern boundary of said county to the summit of the Sierra Nevadas; thence in a northeasterly direction, following the summit of the Sierra Nevadas to the dividing ridge between the Tuolumne and the Merced rivers ; thence following the top of said ridge down to the plains at a point-equally distant between the said rivers ; thence in a direct line to the San Joaquin River at a .point seven miles below the mouth of the Merced River ; thence up the middle of the San Joaquin River to the mouth of the Merced River ; thence in a due southwest direction to the summit of the Coast Range, and thence in a northwest direction following the summit of said range to the place of beginning." Origin of Name Tuolumne The Legislature having divided the state into counties and given a name to each county, appointed a committee to learn the derivation of the names. One of the committee appointed was the native-born Spaniard, General Marino Vallejo. As most of the names were of Spanish or Indian origin, no more competent person could have been selected. The committee in their report said that Tuolumne was a corrup tion of the Indian word "Talmalamne," pronounced Tu-ah-lum-ne and meaning in English, " a cluster of stone" wigwams. We may question the adaptation of such a 44 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY name. Mrs. Nellie Van de Grift Sanchez, however, in her "Spanish and Indian Place Names of California," says, "Some persons may doubt the belief that the Tuolumne Indians were 'cave or cliff dwellers,' but Father Pedro Munoz, who accompanied the Moraga expedition into the San Joaquin Valley, wrote, 'On the morning of _ this day the expedition went towards the east along the banks of this river and having trav eled about six leagues, we came upon a village called Tautamne. This village is situ ated on some steep precipices inaccessible on account of the rough rocks. The Indians live in their "sotanos" (cellars or caves) ; they go up and down by means of a weak stick held by one of themselves while the one who descends slides down.' ' Scheming for a New County The Legislature of 1849 declared Stewart, later known as Sonora, as the county seat of Tuolumne County. About this time small settlements had been made along the Tuolumne River and farmers began taking up land and sowing grain. It was a long journey across the valley, a day's journey at least, which the farmers were com pelled to travel in answer to any summons from the court or to pay their taxes. And before many months had passed there was an increasing discontent against having a county seat so far distant from the center of the population. The politicians and the office seekers, sizing up the situation, began the agitation of a new county with a. more advantageous county seat. As the proposed new county was sparsely populated they schemed to take in a large part of Mariposa County, now known as a part of Merced County. There resided a large number of prosperous farmers. Between the politicians, the real estate owners and the discontented tax payers, the plot was well planned, and they petitioned the Legislature of 1854 to create a new county. The New County of Merced Evidently wishing to rush the bill through as quickly as possible in the first week of the session, B. D. Horr, an assemblyman from Tuolumne County, introduced a bill "to create a new county to be called Merced, out of portions of Tuolumne and Mariposa counties." The bill was referred to the committee on county and county boundaries, of which Assemblyman Horr was a member. The boundary lines of the new county were as follows: "To commence at Knights Ferry on the Stanislaus and run across Tuolumne County, crossing the Tuolumne River at or near French Bar to Phillips Ferry on the Merced River in Mariposa County; thence down said river to the mouth ; thence along the southern line of Tuolumne County, to the northern boundary of Monterey County ; thence along the Coast Range to the eastern boundary line of Santa Clara County, to the southwest corner of San Joaquin County; thence to the southern boundary of San Joaquin County to the place of beginning." County Scheming Politicians The consideration of the bill was considerably delayed by two important meas ures that took up the entire attention of the Legislature, namely, the Capital removal bill and the Broderick election bill. The Capital was then at Benicia. Many legisla tors, however, were dissatisfied with the location, especially after Sacramento citizens appeared among them with gold in their pockets. Sacramento wanted the Capital seat. David C. Broderick, then the leader of the northern wing of the Democratic party, had sprung a sensation by introducing a bill to elect a United States Senator one year before the usual time. The Sacramento Union surmised that one object in creating a new county was to obtain more votes for the Broderick bill, for the contest for and against would be very close. In a short time the two questions were settled. The Capital was removed to Sacramento and the Broderick bill was defeated. Opposition to a New County It was this legislative fight in all probability that caused the exclusion of the proposed part of Mariposa County and blocked the rapid progress of Stanislaus County for many years. The editor of a San Joaquin County newspaper which circu lated in the proposed new county said on January 27 : "There seems to be a strong probability that Dr. Horr's bill will pass. The Tuolumne press is silent upon the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 45 subject although it is of the greatest importance. The farmers and other settlers on the Merced River seem to regard the measure in a favorable light and we believe that a petition for its passage will soon be sent to the Legislature. The country em braced in the proposed new county is thickly settled by an industrious and thrifty population whose interests will be substantially served by the change." Was the editor hypnotized by Dr. Horr, who was a warm personal friend, or was he in the political scheme, a Democratic paper advocating the creation of a new Democratic county? His opinion was not concurred in by all of that "thrifty popula tion," for a few days later a correspondent wrote : "It will be readily seen that quite a slice of territory is being carved out or lopped off from the county of Mariposa and upon the surface of the amputated limb resides a quite extensive population who wish to be understood distinctly as being down on that bill. We flatter ourselves that our Legislature will oppose that measure until we can petition them adversely." The Creation of Stanislaus County The opposition now made a lively protest, the Mariposa legislators strongly opposing the annexation of any part of their county to the proposed new county and, in March, Assemblyman Horr introduced a new amended bill which declared: "There shall be formed out of the western portion of Tuolumne County a new county to be called Stanislaus." The bill which passed both houses of the Legislature and was signed by Governor Bigler, April 1, 1854, reads as follows: "Commencing on the Stanislaus at the corner of San Joaquin and Calaveras counties; thence running in a southwest course to Spark's Ferry on the Tuolumne River; thence to the boundary line between Tuolumne and Mariposa counties; thence west along said line to the San Joaquin River; thence up said river to the Merced River; thence in a due south west direction to the summit of the Coast Range; thence in a southwesterly direction following the summit of said range ; thence to the southwest corner of San Joaquin County ; thence northeasterly along the line of said county to the place of beginning." First County Election In the original act and in the amended act it was declared that George D. Dickerson, John W. Laird, John D. Patterson, Eli Marvin and Richard Hammer should act as a board of commissioners to designate the election precincts of the new county. Assembling at Dickerson's Ferry, May 26, they named the following precincts : Arroyo, Orestemba, Graysonville, Keeler's Ferry, French Bar (La Grange), Empire City, Burneyville, McHenry 's, Tuolumne City, Hill's Ferry, Oatvale, and Turner's Ferry. From the press correspondents we learn of the campaign. One correspondent wrote on May 25 : "We are enjoying high old election times in this county and candi dates are as numerous as the stars, if not so luminous. Our mutual friend, Ben Shipley, is out for the office of sheriff, and in a speech the other night he said: 'Boys, I want you to vote for me. If you don't — you can just do the other thing.' One of the candidates for the office of judge advocates his election on a reduction of salary. What do you think of that ? No party organizations were created, but political meet ings were held and Judge Marvin made a good speech and an effective one." Among the candidates were H. W. Wallis, John G. Marvin and H. G. Leggett for county judge; S. P. Scaniker for attorney; W. D. Kirk and Ben Shipley for clerk; William L. Dickerson, surveyor; T. J. De Woody and Silas Wilcox, assessor; John Bradley and E. B. Beard, treasurer; J. J. Royal and William H. Martin, public administrator, and Heth Williams, coroner. The election was held June 10, 1854. There were 495 votes polled in the county and the following county officers were elected: James W. Coffroth, joint senator with Tuolumne County; C. W. Cook and J. Colbreth, assemblymen; H. W. Wallis, judge; William D. Kirk, sheriff; Robert McGarvey, clerk and ex-officio recorder; S. P. Scaniker, district attorney; W. H. Martin, treasurer; Silas Wilcox, sur veyor; J. J. Royal, public administrator; Heth Williams, coroner; E. B. Beard, asses sor and superintendent of schools. 46 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Thomas Leggett, the opponent of H. W. Wallis for county judge, was very much dissatisfied with the vote for judge. He was defeated by two votes only, and in August contested the vote, claiming that Wallis was illegally elected. The case was tried in the district court, Judge Charles M. Creanor of Stockton presiding. Wallis was represented by Henry A. Crabb, then the state leader of the Whig party, and two years later beheaded in Mexico while a prisoner; he was the leader of a filibustering expedition there. Leggett was represented by John G. Marvin, and after the trials the case was dismissed. Unwise Legislation At the time of the proposed creation of Stanislaus County the Stockton Times said, editorially: "The bill will receive the strength of their counties provided that they could be convinced that the number of inhabitants in the territory set off, is suffi cient for that purpose. Both of these counties (Stanislaus and Merced) may be set off for the convenience of the people, but it may not be pecuniarily profitable at the present time. However, the people are presumed to know what they want." Six years later, 1860, the people had learned that the creation of their county was not "pecuniarily profitable," as they had anticipated, and a petition was presented to the Legislature which was approved by the county committee asking the legislators' permis sion to introduce a bill annexing the eastern part of San Joaquin County, about 140 square miles, to Stanislaus county. The annexation would include Knights Ferry with its 400 population. The claim was made that Stanislaus County was completely disorganized. There was but one qualified justice of the peace in the county and he was soon to leave for a more populous locality. There was no court of sessions nor constable. The county polled 500 votes only and one-half of the number were voted at La Grange. The county had assumed a part of the debt of Tuolumne County, amounting to something like $12,600, and they had not been able to pay even the interest on the debt. A Slice of San Joaquin County The approval of the Legislature was obtained and January 24, 1860, Assembly man Miner Walden and his associate, S. P. Scaniker, introduced in the assembly an "Act to annex a portion of Calaveras, Tuolumne and San Joaquin counties to Stanis laus County." The bill was so strongly opposed by the legislators from the two mining counties that Assemblyman Walden withdrew the original bill and substituted an amended bill annexing a part only of San Joaquin County. For some reason that does not appear the citizens of San Joaquin did not strongly oppose the bill, probably be cause of the social and trade relation between the two counties. The act passed both houses and April 1, 1860, was approved by Gov. John G. Downey. The act declared that "So much of San Joaquin County as is embraced in the following lines shall henceforth be a part of Stanislaus County: Commencing on the Stanislaus River at the corner of Tuolumne and Stanislaus counties; thence running along the boundary line between San Joaquin and Calaveras counties to McDermott's bridge on the Cala veras River, where the range line between ranges 9 and 10 intersect the eastern boundary of San Joaquin County; thence along said range due south to the Stanislaus River ; thence up said river to the place of beginning." The law declared that George E. Drew and P. B. Nagle, surveyors of San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, are hereby appointed commissioners to locate the boundary lines and complete their survey by June 1, 1860. For the purpose of adjust ing the affairs of the two counties on a just basis the board of supervisors of each county shall appoint one commissioner to meet in Stockton, February 22, 1860 and ascertain the amount of the indebtedness due to San Joaquin County. For some reason the citizens of San Joaquin County made no determined effort to prevent the annexation of Knights Ferry to Stanislaus County. The two counties at that time were quite closely connected, as there were families, a part of whom lived in San Joaquin and a part in Stanislaus County. The farmers did their principal trading in Stockton, and the moneyed men banked in that city. Some of them were directors in the Stockton banks. Socially, even to this day, there are blood and marriage relationships between the families in the two counties. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 47 Stanislaus Annexes More Territory It was at this time that the southwest corner of San Joaquin County, which in cluded Grayson, was annexed to Stanislaus County. The boundary line between the two counties was not definitely settled until 1868. In that year the board of super visors of Stanislaus County ordered their surveyor, A. G. Stakes, "to establish that portion of the line between Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties west of the San Joaquin River. In June it was reported that Surveyor Stakes and John Wallace, sur veyor of San Joaquin County, had surveyed the line and set monuments one-half mile apart the entire distance." In that year, in April, the Legislature fixed the boundary line between Stanislaus and Merced counties as follows: "Beginning at the monument established by A. G. Stakes at the southwest corner of Tuolumne County and the southeast of Stanislaus County; thence in a straight line to a point on the San Joaquin River, seven miles below the mouth of the Merced River ; thence up the center of the San Joaquin River to the mouth of the Merced River ; thence in a due southwest direction to the summit of the Coast Range Mountains." Land Grants The Mexican Government, soon after its independence from Spain, passed a law giving free of cost grants of land to Mexican and naturalized foreign citizens. Many foreigners took advantage of the law. They became Mexican citizens, married native- born wives and took up large tracts of land. None of these tracts were less than 1000 acres and in most cases they ran up into thousands of acres. The land then was of no value, it was believed, except for the grazing of stock. This was true. But when the territory came into the possession of the United States then immediately the grants became valuable, those along the coast especially, or near the centers of population. In the articles of peace, signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848, our Government agreed to recognize and respect all Spanish or Mexican grants of land, within the territory, and protect the owners in possession thereof. As a rule, these grants covered the cream of the land in the districts where land was considered by the Mexican settlers as worth holding. In many cases the boundary lines were poorly defined and much litigation followed in after years when adjoining property became valuable, and it became necessary to establish new lines. Then there were some grants which proved of fraudulent origin and there was more litigation to establish the fact. To straighten out these titles and confirm if possible all of the genuine grants, in 1854 the Government sent a board of land commissioners to California. They held sessions in San Francisco and confirmed hundreds of grants. The secre tary of that commission was the young attorney, Henry M. Stanton, later Secretary of State under President Lincoln. Land of No Value The lands, as I have stated, were of little value for several reasons. First, therr- was scarcely any population outside of the pueblos or towns, and it takes population to make land valuable. There were no transportation facilities anywhere along the coast, no wagon roads, bridges or ferry boats across the rivers. Then there was danger from the attacks of wild animals and perhaps attacks from Indians. So of what value was the land? As one immigrant of 1849, John Doak, said to Captain Weber: "I wouldn't give you ten cents an acre for all of the land between here (Stockton) and Sutter's Fort (Sacramento)." Stanislaus County Land Grants In the taking up of these land grants, each man was his own surveyor. Mr. Walthall, for illustration, would select some tract of land that he fancied. It would be near some lake or river or some point where water was available. Then he would proceed to measure off the land he wanted. There were two methods of measurement, first, by the reata or rawhide rope plan, and second, by the time method. By the first plan, accompanied by a friend, he would start from a given point horseback, and measure the land by a fifty-foot reata, dragging it behind them. After traveling 48 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY several miles in one direction, marking the end of the line by a certain tree, rock, brush wood, or perhaps distant mountain peak, they would travel on thus marking the four lines. By the time plan they would walk a horse by the watch along the line, noting , the time it took to travel the distance. In this manner they would survey the grant. Then going to the Mexican governor they would make application for a certain grant, naming the general location and giving the grant a distinguishing name. Then Zl™g the Governor a little money, which he pocketed, in time a deed would be given to Mr. Walthall signed by the Governor and his secretary. In Stanislaus County -it seems there were but five grants of land taken up and these were of some size, a total of 113,135 acres, or over forty-four square miles of territory. The grants confirmed were the Orestimba, 16,500 acres, to Sebastian Nunez; El Pescadero, 16,148 acres, to Hiram Grimes & Son; Rancho del Puerto, 13,340 acres, to Reed & Wade; Rancheria del Rio Estanislao, 36,300 acres, to Pico and Castro, and the Thompson Rancho, 30,852 acres, to A. B. Thompson, after whom it was named. The three grants first named are located on the west side of the San Joaquin River and include the towns of Grayson, Patterson, Newman and Crows Landing. The two last named are on the north side of the Rio del Estanislao or Stanislaus River, and include the territory segregated from San Joaquin County in 1860. The Thompson grant in early days was owned by Lieutenant William T. Sherman, a lieutenant under Governor Mason and later a Civil War general, Frederick Billings, and A. C. Peachy, well-known lawyers of San Francisco, and Henry W. Halleck, lawyer and later war general. Most of the Estanislao Rancho was later owned by Abram Schell. Government Surveys The first survey of the county was made by Lieut. George Derby, of the U. S. Topographical Engineers. He was known to fame as the most brilliant wit of his day and the author of "Phaenixia." His survey, which was merely a cursory outline/ was made in 1850. Four years later, in 1854, the county was surveyed and sectionized by a surveying party in charge of Surveyor-in-Chief Schmidt of San Francisco. A set tler wrote he will "complete it by fall." . . . "It is to be hoped that the land will soon be brought into market, as we have all of the elements of wealth and prosperity in the county and if any of your citizens (Stockton) desire a preemption claim, let him come to Stanislaus." Many of the San Joaquin citizens wanted preemption claims and the writer knew of hundreds who located thereon. Stanislaus' First Settlers Although it was not possible to take up land under the preemption congressional law, a large number of persons located along the river bottoms and took up land. In 1853 Congress extended the preemption law over California. It authorized the settlement on any public lands not yet surveyed, if made within one year. The persons must be citizens of the United States and over twenty-one years of age. They could preempt not over 160 acres of land at the government price of one dollar and twenty- five cents per acre. Stanislaus County — Its Creation The geologist tells us that the soil of the valley is the debris that was washed down from the Sierras in the eons of time; that period when mammoth reptiles crawled and gigantic animals roamed the earth. In writing of this soil, John Muir, the well-known California naturalist, said: "God's glacial mills grind slowly, but they have been kept in motion long enough to grind sufficient soil for an Alpine crop, though most of the grist has been carried to the lowlands, leaving the high regions lean and bare." At one time of the valley creation, it was an immense lake with the Sierra Nevada as its eastern and the Coast Range its western bounds. Then there came terrible volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. There is an Indian tradition "that the mountains burned red. They split asunder at the Golden Gate and the waters rushed out to meet the sea." Along the base of the mountains there are many indications to a trained eye that this was once an inland sea. The washings of the waves are clearly HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 49 seen. Oyster and clam shells have been found, and upon some rocks imprints of fishes. "If a person goes from Knights Ferry to Dry Creek," says Branch, "he will observe along the hillsides three water marks at different heights, just as if it had been a lake. Those marks can be seen for many miles. When in early days the ground had not been plowed up, the soil was covered with little knolls of sand just as may be seen in the bottom of lakes." In corroboration of this fact, E. L. Flower, a native of Knights Ferry, said, "The cobble stones are all polished by water action and no rough-edged stones are to be found. Fish imprints have been found and at one time when a pebble stone was broken open, the imprint of a crab was seen." The Soil — Its Characteristics and Fertility The soil of the county is of three different kinds, that known as bottom land, the upland and the foothill or "hog wallow" lands. The land first named lies just above the river waters. It is the richest of soils and is frequently overflowed in the spring freshets. The upland is high above flood mark and for the past twenty-five years has shown extreme fertility under irrigation. The foothill land is good grain land with sufficient moisture. The wonderful fertility of this land was known as early as 1850. The legislative committee on county boundaries said in their report when giving the origin of county names, "Tuolumne City is just springing up and it is believed will shortly be a sort of 'Jauja,' the golden city of the fabulous region where rivers of milk and honey flowed, and farinaceous fruits grew spontaneously." This was certainly a future prophecy of Stanislaus. James C. Carson, less poetical but more practical, said in 1852: "The traveler crossing this valley or traversing it in any direction during the dry season would judge from its parched appearance that it is a barren waste unfit for any of the purposes of man. This was my opinion on my first visit, but being a practical farmer I had a curiosity to examine the soil, and the inducements offered by the general aspects of the country to agricultural pursuits. There is no portion of the valley from the head of Tulare Lake to Suisun Bay but is all that the agriculturist could desire when aided by means of irrigation." Carson then describes the rivers and says of the Stanislaus River: "Its waters are sufficient to irrigate the entire plain lying between it and the Calaveras River." Then looking into the far distant future, as if in a prophetic dream, he wrote : "As we look on this — the garden of California — the pride of an American heart makes our mind to people it with the hardy farmers of our country. We can imagine their neat cottages peeking out from amidst growing grain. We can see the neat village with its church spires marking the march of civilization and hear the lowing herds that browse on the luxuriant grass around." Area — Nature of Soil — Climate The county, according to the official figures, contains 1486 square miles or 951,040 acres. It is larger than the state of Rhode Island, nearly as large as Dela ware and one-third the size of Connecticut. These acres are sectionized into thirty- seven townships. Each township has its peculiar characteristics. Regarding the soil, a writer said in 1878: "On the east side of the San Joaquin River, which intersects fhe county from south to north, the land is sandy for many miles, verging to a loamy character as the foothills are approached. The soil of the west side is of a light sandy character and of indefinite depth. It is easy of cultivation and although not so prolific as the soil of the east side, on account of the dryness of its nature, twice the land can be cultivated with the same amount of labor required on the more tenacious soil." A citizen who lived in the north end of the valley said in 1876: "A person cannot contemplate the magnitude or the characteristics of the great valley nor appreciate the vastness of the country, its great wealth of fertile soil, and the grand possibilities in store for it in the future, by traveling by rail. I consider myself tolerably familiar with the general features of the valley, but since I returned from a trip to the 'West Side' I confess that I knew comparatively nothing. I was greatly surprised at the 50 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY quality of the soil. The bulk of the land is of a deep, loamy surface, easily mellowed by the plowshare, while for miles it stretches away to the horizon, as level as a house floor, but with sufficient slope to make it easy of irrigation." Said another writer in 1878, in speaking of the West Side: "The land between the ferry (Hill's) and the mountains is the richest in the state. It is the deepest rich soil in the valley and is apparently of the same quality at a depth of from fifty to 100 feet, as at the surface." Stanislaus Climate The climate of the county is of that temperature most beneficial to the growth and maturing of fruits, vegetables and cereals and hence healthful and agreeable to man. They call it the "sunny Stanislaus" and truly they speak, for it is sunshine three-fourths of the year. There is scarcely any cloudy or rainy weather from May to November. The thermometer in the warmest days scarcely reaches 104 in the shade, with an average of 80 degrees. Irrigation since 1900 has played an important part in cooling the air. In winter the thermometer seldom goes below the freezing point and heavy frosts are unusual. Said Secretary George T. McCabe in writing of stock: "The long warm summers and the mild winters in which ice and sleet are absent are beneficial to the breeding of fine stock." The Pastoral Stock Raising Days Beef, mutton and pork are now exceedingly high in price. There are several causes for these high prices, but the primary cause is a greater demand and lesser supply of the two foods first named, because of an ever increasing number of popula tion and a decrease of pasture lands. In the days before the "gringos" came, the good old Mexican days, the horses, cattle and sheep roamed over the millions of any man's land. Then cattle were of no value except for their hides and tallow and thousands were killed annually for that object alone. Their carcasses were left upon the plains, food for the coyotes and the vultures. If any person wanted a choice cut he could help himself free of cost. Horses then were cheaper than a song. In years of drouth they were slain by the hundreds to save the pastures for the cattle. There were only a few sheep and a few hogs, these being bred by the Mission fathers. Then the popu lation was about 10,000 and grazing lands everywhere. Now the population far exceeds 2,000,000 and not an acre of free pasture land in the state. Even the Sierras are fenced in with a claimant for every acre. The biggest claimant of them all was Miller & Lux. Wise in their day, they saw the pasture lands rapidly passing and the crowding of the stockmen from the state by the farmers, and they purchased thousands of acres. These same two men constructed the first irrigation ditches. This we will write up in a later chapter. Sheep Raising in Stanislaus When the gold seekers arrived there was a great demand for horses, and saddle, pack and harness animals arose in price from five dollars to fifty dollars and even $100 for any kind of a horse. Beef now became valuable and henceforth it was sold by weight. There was, however, a large amount of unclaimed territory on the upper San Joaquin, Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers and there the stockraisers located, raising sheep, cattle, horses and hogs. Sheep raising became one of the principal industries of the country for the first twenty-five years. The sheep at first obtained from the Mission fathers were scrawny, small in size and with short coarse wool. In a short time, however, the breeders began importing better grades and A. J. Patterson of the West Side is credited with an importation of French Merinos as early as 1858 The sheepmen soon learned that the climate of Stanislaus was particularly con duc.ve to the health and growth of sheep. The winters were mild, permitting them to grow throughout the year, and at two years of age they were as large and heaw as those in the Atlantic States at three years of age. y The business of sheep breeding increased from 3,384 sheep in 1856 t-n 5 4.8H (1857), 16,295 (1858), 11,280 (1860), 118,460 (1870), 44,448 (1880) 23^52 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 51 (1900) and 23,253 (1910). It will be noted that the record year was in 1870, from that time they gradually decreased in number; one reason was that the farmers were taking up and cultivating the pasture lands. And then came in 1872 a legislative prohibitive law against the encroachment of sheep upon any grain lands. Away up in Shasta County, as early as 1857, sheep were there encroaching upon preemption lands, and that year the Legislature passed a law prohibiting sheep from being pastured on such land under penalty of being impounded and sold, unless by the property owners' consent. This law was amended in 1872 so as to include Stanislaus County. It may be interesting in a local history to name some of the pioneers in the sheep business, many of them continuing in that profitable occupation for many years. First comes John Vivian. He had 4,090 acres, mostly pasture land, and a flock of 3,000 sheep, 200 head of cattle and 250 hogs. John Carpenter located on the San Joaquin River lands in 1857, and his flock of nearly 1,500 sheep grazed upon the river bottom lands. A. J. Means on his 2,000-acre pasture had 2,500 sheep. Alfred Stonesifer in 1865 removed from Napa to Stanislaus County and gave his entire attention to the breeding of fine, blooded sheep. His stock was from the French Merinos, imported in 1857 from Vermont by Samuel Brannan. He had 3,000 acres of land, over which his 5,000 Merinos grazed. William Snow was a San Joaquin County farmer, but in 1859 he became a Stanislaus cattle and sheepman. In Calaveras and Stanislaus counties he had in one body 5,000 acres of land on which he pastured his cattle and 5,000 sheep. Richard M. Wilson, who lived near Hill's Ferry for twenty-five years, became one of the wealthiest sheepmen in the county. He owned 16,000 acres in Stanislaus and Merced counties. His sheep ranch, which was known as "Quinto" ranch, was in Merced County and pastured 7,500 thoroughbreds. Even as late as 1897 men engaged in the sheep-raising business. Thomas Wheeler, who up to that time had been in the cattle business, took up sheep breeding. He had 7,000 sheep and one acre of land to each sheep. These men, alike with the cattlemen, had their trials and troubles, losses by flood, drouth, trespassing and no-fence laws. These we will notice in the succeeding paragraphs. Hogs — Horses — Cattle Stanislaus County contained in 1860, according to the Federal census, 5,039 hogs. It held at about that figure until 1870, when the number was increased to 14,595. In 1880 there was but little increase, 14,995 ; but in 1900 the number of swine domesticated and of valuable breeds numbered 23,327. The pioneer breed of swine were long-nosed, slab-sided "porkers" with long, sharp bristles, and known as "razor backs", because of their sharp backs. They were never fed, but were turned out to roam at will and "root "hog or die." They fed on tules, seeds, grass and roots and such stuff as they found in the river bottoms. The boars had long tusks and small, wicked-looking eyes,, and feeding in the thick brush, woe to the unarmed footman who crossed their path, for attacking him, they would soon gash him to death. The sows and pigs traveled over the plains and when the settlements were formed they became a daily nuisance. In Modesto they wandered through the streets and alleys, feeding upon garbage, uprooting plants and flowers, upsetting refuse barrels and sometimes entering open doors in search of food. Sometimes the cook would throw hot water upon them and they would run off squealing, but would soon return. At last they became an intolerable nuisance and the Legislature in March, 1878, amended the hog law of 1856 including within its provisions the town of Modesto. The law permitted any property owner or town constable to impound hogs running at large and advertise their impounding. If no owner came forward to claim the swine and pay the dam ages, they were sold at auction, any surplus money being turned into the school fund. Another source of income to the stockbreeders was the raising and sale of the wild horses of the county. The original breed were the Spanish horses brought over from Spain in 1519 by Hernando Cortez. They were small, wiry animals, weighing not over 700 pounds, nervous and high strung, but exceedingly tough and endurable. In their wild state they would viciously kick, bite and strike with their fore feet, when caught and approached by man, and yet when broken to saddle or harness and not 52 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY abused they became the gentlest of animals. They made splendid work horses and as vaquero saddle animals these "mustangs" or "bronchos" were indispensable to the cattlemen. They were the only animals used in business for many years. The stage lines made use of them and hundreds of these wild mustangs of the plains were in use in the overland stages of 1858-60. In the drawing of heavy loads the teamsters used mules. It is true, hundreds of horses were driven overland by the pioneers, and even bands of horses were driven across the mountains, but these domesticated and high-blooded animals made no great showing until the late '60s. The horses of Stanislaus numbered 2,320 in 1856 and there was not much of an increase until 1870 when the census reported 100,136. The number dropped back to 21,345 in 1878 and it was only 5,908 in 1880. Then the free pasture was all cut out, the no-fence law in force and the railroad crossing the country made the horse less necessary. How ever, with three lines of railroads and automobiles by the score, the census of 1900 shows 14,374 horses in the county, valued at over half a million dollars. One of the most profitable occupations of the county in pioneer days was that of cattle breeding, as they fed over the vast acres, costing not one cent for feed or care. They were scarcely ever seen by their owners except in the spring of the year. Then the annual rodeos took place. The cattle were all rounded up in that section of the county and the calves branded with the owner's brand. These rodeos, as they were called, were the gala days for the vaqueros, or cowboys. Sometimes as many as half a hundred would be assembled in the selected "round up" and they would have great sport riding wild "bronchos," trick riding and expert rope throwing. At times these men would perform wonderful feats. A description of these rodeos is unnecessary, as in the "wild west" shows, so often staged, there can be seen fair representations of the original. In writing of this business a writer in 1854 said: "Between the Tuolumne and Merced (rivers) are large herds of cattle, American and Spanish, there being many thousand of them. The country is well adapted to the raising of cattle, which is the exclusive business of many stockmen. They have made large profits but hereafter their profits will decrease because of the increase of herds and the importations across the plains." That it was not very safe to travel on foot across the country at this time was proven by the experience of Thomas K. Wallis. In relating his narrow escape from death he says: "On my arrival at Stockton (from San Francisco, April, 1865) I found there would be no steamer up the San Joaquin River for two weeks and as no stage or teams were going that way (to his brother's ranch), I concluded to walk. There were no houses on the plains and wild cattle roamed everywhere. While walking across the plains between the Stanislaus and Tuolumne rivers I saw a band of wild cattle coming towards me shaking their heads. I immediately lay on the ground and then crawled a long distance from bush to bush until they lost sight of me. They were infuriated because they had lately been caught and branded." Cattle Stealing Each cattle owner was compelled by law to have some kind of a brand with which to brand his stock. This brand was registered in the recorder's office of each county and to duplicate this brand or endeavor to mutilate the brand upon an animal was a state prison offense. It was difficult to prove the act of mutilation upon any one indi vidual and hence thousands of cattle were stolen and rebranded over the original brand ; on the stolen cattle the markings were changed, others again were stolen regardless of brands, and it was a common custom to catch and brand the calf of a cow before the annual rodeo of the owner of the stock took place. Hundreds of cattle were stolen in the night, hid the following day and then rushed to some slaughter pen, quickly killed and the brand destroyed. Both white men and Mexicans were among the cattle thieves and cattle stealing was a common joke among the stockmen. It was a friendly game, very much like bribery among politicians. Said a cattleman one day in my hearing: "Oh, you are an honest man until you are found out." Woe, how ever, to the Mexican who was caught with the goods. And says William Grenfell: HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 53 "Hanging by the mob was then a frequent and richly deserved punishment and many a" poor wretch met his doom at the end of a rope. In 1855, eight or ten men, mostly Mexicans, were hung mainly for cattle stealing by the 'Vigilantes' of the San Joaquin." No-Fence Law Destroys Cattle Business The number of cattle in the county in 1856, as given by the California Register, was 12,065; in 1857, 16,735; 19,000 in 1858, and 18,562 in 1860. The census report for 1870 was 2,277 milch cows and 4,299 other cattle. The sudden decrease of the long-horned, gaunt cattle that could run like a quarter horse was due to the passage of what was known as 'the no-fence law. The law had been in force in the northern counties and in March, 1870, it was amended so as to include all of that portion of San Joaquin County lying south of the Calaveras River and west of the San Joaquin River, and to Stanislaus County and all of that portion of Merced lying east of the San Joaquin River. It compelled all stock owners to inclose their stock and they were liable for damages if their stock trespassed on the farmers' grain fields. The law caused considerable excitement and much hard feeling between the stockmen and the farmers. Regarding this law the Stockton Independent in February, 1871, quoting from the Tulare paper, said: "The Visalia Delta draws a comparison between the two counties* of Tulare and Stanislaus, as shown by the late census report. In 1860, Tulare stood ahead of its neighbor in the production of wheat, the number of sheep, and agricultural productions generally. Stanislaus then had 37,952 acres of land under fence, and Tulare but 20,313. In 1870, Stanislaus yields 3,060,000 bushels of wheat and Tulare but 62,500. This extraordinary increase is as 135 for Stanislaus to 1 for Tulare. At the same time Stanislaus has increased the number of her sheep twenty-five per cent more rapidly than Tulare. Stanislaus has now 62,000 acres under fence and Tulare 30,000. In 1860 each county raised one acre of wheat for every twelve acres under fence. Tulare still maintains the same ratio, while Stanislaus raises 195,000 acres of wheat, or three times as many acres aS she has under fence. Tulare land yields twenty-four bushels of wheat per acre and Stanislaus sixteen bushels. Tulare yields six bushels of wheat per head for every person in the county, including Indians and Chinese. Stanislaus yields 470 bushels per capital of its popu lation. A large portion of the flour consumed in Tulare bears the brand of the Stanis laus, Stockton or Merced mills. Most of the wheat of Stanislaus has been raised on the open plain without the expense of fencing. The wheat stubble proves to be worth two or three times as much for sheep pasture as the cultivated land and the $3,000,000 worth- of wheat shipped by Stanislaus is set down as clear gain. In Tulare, the fence law prevails and in Stanislaus, the no-fence law." TheDelta argues that for such counties as Stanislaus and Tulare the no-fence law is the true policy, and owners should be compelled to take care of their stock. It says, "It is evident that to depend upon inclosing land for the production of wheat is to adopt a stand-still policy." Cattle Men of Stanislaus Among the first cattlemen of the county we find James, William, Beniamin and Alfred Crow who located on Orestimba Creek. Their father, Walter Crow, came to California with another son, Lewis, in 1849, to investigate the conditions for stock raising. He found them very favorable and, returning to Missouri, came back with the four sons first mentioned, driving overland 500 head of cattle. The father died just after entering the state, and the sons drove the cattle into Stanislaus County. Two years later, 1852, E. Lodtman, who later located at Knights Ferry, and F. Meinecke, later a ferryman on the Stanislaus River, went East and returned with a band of cattle. They wintered at Salt Lake in 1851-52. On arrival in Stanislaus the cows of the band were sold from $100 to $150 each. In 1854 William Rutherford crossed the plains with a band of cattle and turned them out to pasture on the grassy plains of Stanislaus. Along about 1865 cattle de creased in value from forty dollars to less than ten dollars per head, so selling his cattle, he began raising hogs. 54 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Another stockraiser who crossed the Sierras in 1852 driving a band of American cattle was William J. Kittrell. He located first near Stockton, but a few years later removed to Stanislaus. Miner Walden, arriving in California in 1851, first kept a hotel near Sonora. In 1853 he engaged in the cattle business in Stanislaus County, his ranch being at the confluence of the Stanislaus and San Joaquin rivers. Some of the losses of the cattlemen may be noted in the experience of William K. Wallis, who located in the county in 1855. He learned the great value of the Stanislaus pasture lands while he was engaged in the butcher business at Sullivan's Creek. In time he and his brother had about 2,000 head of cattle. In 1860 they concluded to dissolve partnership, but before the dissolution was completed they lost nearly 1,500 cattle by the flood of 1862 and the drouth of 1864. They recovered from their losses, however, and then came the no-fence law to completely put them out of business. Mr. Wallis, in speaking of those days, said: "During this time (1870) a great change had taken place in California. The land was bought for ranches and stockmen found it necessary to buy land on which to enclose their stock. Before this their cattle ran wild over the whole face of the country, the whole San Joaquin Valley being one immense pasture. It was a serious time for stockraisers. Having more stock than pasture they were driven at their wits' end to know what to do." Wheat for the World Never before in the world's history was wheat so valuable as it has been during the past three or more years. Valuable, not as a market commodity but as a food for the starving millions of Europe. The nations of the old world were at war. There was a clash of arms. The four greatest nations were engaged in the contest. There was neither time nor men for seedtime and harvest. They must have food, how ever, to sustain life, and they called to the United States. Nobly she responded and the farmers seeded every available acre of land. They harvested immense crops and ground into flour it was shipped to Europe. In the production of these immense crops Stanislaus County had no small share. An Isolated County As a wheat-producing county Stanislaus did not claim any particular attention until 1868. Then Ceres, the goddess of agriculture, seemed to have sprung into being, full-fledged. Giving as a reason why the county's growth was so long delayed, a writer said : "The progress of settlement had been delayed for many years by the difficulty of reaching it, except by the slow, tedious route of overland travel. The route was over treeless plains, pathless wilds, rough, broken country, across unferried streams and only the direst necessity compelled any one to travel it. Hence the settler gave the country a wide berth, for, however fertile the soil or salubrious the climate, he could hope to market none of his products and was isolating himself and family from the world be yond, and making himself a home with the prospects of having no other neighbors than elks and grizzly bears." A few years later there was a decided change and another writer then wrote, "That the population is increasing is evident from the fact that the sales of land at the Stockton land office aggregated 1,017,913 acres up to January." An Immense Sown Acreage In February, 1868, a traveler up the San Joaquin River wrote to the press: "On my trip up the river a most exhilarating sight was that of large teams engaged in plow ing in all directions, attached to huge gang plows, turning over hundreds of acres of soil daily. It also did my heart good to meet with such signs of life in a new country. Over 20,000 acres of wheat have been sown on the west side of the river. The Para dise farmers have also sown a large acreage this year and many of the farmers cultivate the soil on an extensive scale, among them Capt. John Schrieke, Capt. John Greer, Timothy Paige and Louis M. Hickman of Stockton, who has in 10,000 acres and is still plowing. Other large land owners and extensive farmers are Stephen Rodgers and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 55 John W. Mitchell, the last named having in 17,000 acres in wheat, all of which has a fine appearance. You may not know that Stanislaus is the grain-growing county of the state." Another astonished person was L. C. Branch, who wrote in his history: "The writer was last season (1880) traveling through one of the immense wheat fields of Stanislaus County. We say immense, as we had been traveling for hours through a vast field of wheat. In every direction was wheat, not a house, tree or object of any kind in sight for a long time — only wheat, wheat." The No-Fence Law was the reason of such vast, unbroken fields of grain and the only dividing fence between lands was narrow, unplowed strips of soil. Measuring these wheat fields by miles instead of acres, Henry E. Turner wrote an article saying: "The wheat ranches reached from the San Joaquin River to the foothills. We have not gone out of the grain business by any means. There is a strip twenty miles long and five miles wide west of the San Joaquin and another from five miles north of the Merced to about five miles north of the Stanislaus, containing about 200,000 acres that will be a grain area for a long time to come." The Banner Wheat County Naturally, plowing and seeding such a large acreage of land, the farmers would reap immense crops, if all the conditions were favorable. There were, however, many dry years and no crops, as we will later note. The yield was very heavy in good years and Stanislaus deserved rightly her title as the banner wheat county of the state. Again quoting from press correspondents, for we are dependent upon them for much of the earlier history, we read that in May, 1868, "the. prospects are for the largest crop ever gathered in this section. Farmers, seeing the necessity of a better cultivation of the soil, are giving attention to scientific farming. The consequence is that where before twenty or thirty bushels were raised to the acre, now the yield is forty, fifty, sometimes seventy bushels to the acre. That part of the county between the Stanislaus and the Tuolumne Rivers, an area of 125 square miles and known as 'Paradise,' is one unbroken field of grain and will yield a crop of over a million bushels." The entire county wheat crop of that year was 2,317,652 bushels. The barley crop was 859,860 bushels and the hay crop, 1,500 tons. It was a very heavy increase over the crop of eight years previous, 1860: 22,597 bushels of wheat, 33,897 bushels of barley, and 6,238 tons of hay. The sweet and the bitter was ever present with the farmers, especially those of the West Side, and in June, 1872, a farmer writing from Grayson declared, "Up to this time only 6.06 inches of rain and the prospects for a crop are rather gloomy. In 1870 we had 6.34 for the season and there was not a head of grain raised in these parts." Notwithstanding this gloomy report from the Grayson farmer, it was the banner year of the county, the soil producing 5,000,000 bushels of wheat. Then followed three dry years, 1873-74-75, absolutely nothing, said the record, but in 1876 there was an im mense crop. We quote from a newspaper which said : "Some idea of the large amount of wheat raised on the west side of the San Joaquin the present season may be learned from the following correct figures up to August 5; 176,886 sacks have been shipped from Hill's Ferry and there remains in the warehouse 20,875 sacks. There has been shipped from Salt River 12,000 sacks. From Crows Landing there was shipped 50,175 sacks, with 16,000 in the warehouse and 2,000 sacks to arrive. From Upper Grayson landing 60,000 with 2,000 in storehouse, and Lower Grayson landing 20,251 sacks with 11,218 in store. From Patterson's Landing 100,000 have been shipped. The figures foot up all told 236,393 tons, the value at present prices being $1,000,000. This is only about two-thirds of the amount raised south of San Joaquin City. The whole amount will foot up 1,500,000 sacks for a district that. had absolutely nothing for the past two or three years. At the same time (1876) there was shipped from the railroad station at Salida 16,216,251 pounds, from Modesto 20,365,103 pounds, from Ceres 7,057,050 pounds, from Keyes 4,130,955 pounds and from Turlock 115,152,948 pounds." The year 1878 was another year of fine crops and the Modesto News said on August 12: "Our town for the past two weelcs daily has presented a lively appearance 56 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and around the warehouses and city front all is life. However, the rush has not yet begun, but threshing will commence in earnest next week and for many weeks to come large amounts of grain may be expected." The record yield of the county for wheat seems to have been in 1881, as the rains came timely for a big crop and the farmers the previous fall had seeded an immense acreage. Henry Cavill said that was the banner vear and it is estimated that the county produced nearly 7,000,000 bushels of wheat. The crop of 1884 was also a bumper and said Henry E. Turner in 1914: "There are some who remember the past glories of the days of grain in Stanislaus County and well they may, for Stanislaus was the banner wheat county of California, raising in 1884 no less than 125,000 tons (tons, not bushels, mind you) which was a tenth of the total crop of the state." From this time on there was a decrease in the production of cereals, for many of the farmers had engaged in horticulture and dairying. Taking the census of 1900, we find the county producing only 258,121 bushels of wheat, 828,628 bushels of barley and 137,214 tons of alfalfa. Raising Grain in Dry Climate Among the pioneers who arrived in California in 1849-50 there were many farmers who disbelieved that the state was a grain producing state. They came from the farming lands of the Middle States and they laughed at the idea that grain could be produced in a country rainless from May until October. They declared that the climate was too dry and hot and if the grain grew it would never mature, as it would wither up and blow away. Other farmers said, "The Mission Fathers raised grain all along the coast. Captain Sutter raised grain on his ranch, the New Helvetia on* the Sacramento River, and grain has been raised at Weberville, now Stockton ; why not in other parts of the valley?" James C. Carson was not at all doubtful regarding the production of grain in the valley and he stated in 1852: "I saw in 1850 a crop of barley raised on the Tulare plains equal to any I ever saw in the country. It was grown on a barren-looking spot where there never was any water except during the periods of the rains. It was sown in December and harvested in June." By 1854 the doubting Thomases had all become believers, for there was undoubted proof at the locality now Oakdale and Empire City that grain could be profitably raised. Writing from French Bar (La Grange) a correspondent said: "Two miles below the mining camp agricultural developments begin ; fields of grain exhibiting their carpets of rich, dark green, are seen for miles in extent. Some farms have 700 to 800 acres in wheat. With a good crop and the advantages of Talbot's grist mill to grind their wheat, farmers in this section cannot help reaping a rich harvest." In June the farmers at Empire City began harvesting their crops, estimated at not less than 600,000 bushels, and a large amount of corn and garden vegetables. Primitive Harvesting Days The Mission priests in plowing their land used the same kind of a plow as the Egyptians on the banks of the Nile. When the grain was ready for the harvest it was cut with short sickles, by the Indian converts. Then a hard spot of ground was selected and around it was built a circular fence. The grain was then piled in the enclosure and a band of horses were driven round and round over the wheat, tramping it out. On a day of heavy wind the Indians would then gather the wheat and chaff in large shallow baskets and, tossing it up, the chaff would be blown from the wheat. Seed Time and Harvest Reaping and threshing grain by such primitive methods as this would be impossible where there were thousands of acres of land sown, and certain men of inventive ability invented agricultural implements that would plow the land and thresh the grain in a short period of time. The Stanislaus farmers first used a single plow to turn the furrow. Then came the double plow, following by the gang plow that plowed a furrow three and more feet wide. In time of harvest, in place of the reaper and binder used in the Eastern and Middle States they used a header propelled by six horses, the header running in front of the animals. The machine with its sickle bar rapidly running cut a swath of grain twenty-four feet in width. It fell in a continuous HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 57 shower upon an endless draper which lifted the grain into a header, barge running along side of the header. The grain was then taken to a selected spot and lifted by derrick forks on to a huge stack, there to await the harvesting crew. These headers were used on the West Side in the harvesting of the crops of 1869, for said the re porter, "Al Bronson has just commenced harvesting his wheat crop on the West Side. He has bought and shipped a twelve horsepower steam engine, a Baxter self-feeder and self-measuring separator and three thirteen-foot Haines headers, and will run eight header wagons with the three headers." The Threshing Machine The threshing machine was invented by Cyrus Hall McCormick along in the early '50s. It was too expensive for a small farmer to purchase and individuals would obtain a machine and travel over the country threshing grain by contract at so much per bushel. The thresher was first run by horse power, four or six horses walking in a treadway. Then came the steam power, and with it at times terrible accidents. The steam was produced by burning wood, but in time a California genius invented a straw burner thresher, which was a great saving to the farmer. Before this time many farmers had been wasteful of their straw and destroyed it by fire. These thresh ing machines did splendid work and in 1878, Thomas Young, using a Hoadley straw- burning engine and a thirty-six-inch separator, accomplished one of fhe greatest harvesting feats on record. He threshed in one day 1,535 sacks of wheat, or 3,435 bushels, each sack holding two bushels and a peck. The Harvesting Crew Each harvester was managed by a single individual and he employed all of the laborers. The men before these days of high wages received from two dollars and fifty cents to six dollars a day, according to the work in which they were engaged, together with board. Lodgings were not counted in, for each man was expected to turnish his own blankets and sleep out ; as Turner states it, "your bedroom was as broad as the ranch and canopied by the stars." The men labored from sunrise until near dark, and it was all hard work. The women did the cooking then and they had their hands full. Women and children got nothing until after the men were fed. Eight hours ? Sure ! Eight hours before dinner and eight after. After a time this was changed and the harvesters had a cook wagon, which went with them from place to place with a Chinese cook. Henceforth there was no more dinner at the ranch house in harvest time and the women had a rest. The men worked from sun to sun and it was hard work. Paid off on a Saturday night, they would visit the nearest town, Modesto or Hill's Ferry, and as a rule gamble and drink until their money was all spent, or they were as "drunk as a lord." Monday morning came and many of them failed to show up for work ; then the boss would start for town and if possible gather up his crew. Finding those partly under the influence or dead drunk he would throw them into the header bed, and away he would drive for camp, the horses on the run. But the time came when the farmer was not so much dependent for help on this "floating population," as the politician styles them. The combined header and har vester was introduced into the grain field, and drawn by thirty-six animals and operated by six or eight men, it cut and threshed the grain, leaving behind a long trail of filled grain sacks. Now these machines are run by their own power. The Historic Grain Fire From various causes the county during the past years has lost by fire thousands of dollars. In none of these fires, however, was the loss as great as in the West Side fire of July 7, 1906. It broke out near Newman late Saturday night, and before it burned itself out, it destroyed over 2,500 acres of standing wheat and barley, 20,000 acres of pasture land, together with stacks of hay, farming implements and ranch buildings. The farmers and citizens turned out en masse and with wet sacks, water wagons, gang plows, and by back firing, endeavored to check the flames, but the fire ran before the wind with the speed of a race horse and they were powerless. The fire 58 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY extended along Jorgias and Orestimba. creeks on both sides and then ran along the foot hills into Merced County. It burned for nearly ten days and the smoke was plainly seen from the house tops and high lands around Modesto. The loss was over $50,000 and the insurance was about $20,000. In stating the losses the Newman Index said that C. P. Eachus, Getfrge Sparks, H. P. Peterson, each lost 160 acres of wheat, W. A. Dunning and Allen Brothers and Frank Snyder each lost 200 acres of wheat. The Brown brothers lost 320 acres of wheat, .4,000 new sacks, farming implements and ranch buildings. The Newman Company, Howard estate and Taft Brothers, the Middletons, Jason Pennell and Peter Miller lost thousands of acres of good pasture land. At Crows Landing, by a singular coincidence, another grain fire broke out Satur day evening, July 11. The entire populace turned out to fight the flames. They Were successful, but not, however, before it had destroyed over 1,000 acres of wheat belong ing to Ora Munson, Charles Nicewonger and Messrs. Throm, Baker and Van Winkle. The wheat and barley promised a record-breaking crop, hence the loss was heavy. The Californian Fear of Drought The greatest fear of the Californian is the fear of a drought. It affects alike the laborer, the mechanic, the merchant, the banker and the manufacturer, for all classes and all conditions of life are dependent upon the farmer and his growing crops, and the horticulturist and the products of his orchard. Hence during the months following September to March, we watch and ofttimes pray for rain, if the timely showers have not fallen upon the thirsty earth. Never but once, however, in the history of the state, has there been a complete failure of crops throughout the state. This was the year following the flood of 1861-62. At that time business was at a standstill, merchants were compelled to give credit to their customers for an unknown time, and men of money were compelled to curtail every expense. The fear of a rainless season is less dreaded than it was feared thirty years ago because of the large manufacturing interests and the abilityto irrigate grain lands from mountain streams and orchards by means of one of the most helpful of inventions, the gas engine. The Drought of 1877 Stanislaus County was not affected to any great extent by the "hard times" of 1863 because of her small population. Four years later there was an abundant crop, it verifying the oft-repeated saying, "that the West Side gets a crop only once in four years." Then came the year 1877 in which the crop was a complete failure and there was much suffering among many of the farmers. Many of them had located on the West Side without any capital, under the misrepresentations of unscrupulous large land holders, and as they had invested all they possessed in agricultural implements, seeds, etc., the drought impoverished many families. The cry of despair was first heard in January, 1877, a writer then saying: "It is dry weather with no prospects or signs of rain and as a consequence the merchants are closing down on the impecunious. God help our people unless it rains shortly. The poor will suffer terribly." The Herald in its issue of January 13, flippantly said, "The farmers are growing bluish and the weather is dryish and the local barometer heralds no approaching storm, outside of the whisky shop." Another writer, a passenger later in the season traveling from Banta's to Hill's Ferry, said, "In the forty-two miles there is not a spear of green grass nor a blade of wheat to be seen. The isolated farmhouses presented an aspect of hopeless poverty. Many of them are deserted and the farmers and their families have gone to other places to find employment. Some of the farmers, more fortunate, have wells of water and their farms are quite thrifty around their dwellings. A German colony south of Banta's are doing well, as they are thrifty and depending not on wheat alone, but raise chickens and vegetables, sell eggs and make butter." Hatfield, the Rain Maker In the meantime, the West Side had its ups and downs, its lean and its fat seasons, pending the irrigation of the Miller & Lux canal. Crows Landing, it seems was not in the canal district and in 1905 Charles Hatfield, the so-called rain maker HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 59 made a contract with the Crows Landing farmers to draw from the clouds a certain amount of rain, enough showers to insure a crop. "Hatfield's method of operating to produce rain by artificial means," says Charles A. Byers in Sunset, "is based on the use of certain chemicals, the character of which constitutes his secret. These are con tained in large vats elevated on towers approximately thirty-five feet high and are evaporated by a system of heating. Their evaporation and escape into the atmosphere creates, he claims, tbe influences which attract the air's stored-up moisture to that particular locality, and at the same time result in its being condensed to the precipi tation point." Late in September he drew rain from the air at Grass Valley. The press laughed and scoffed at his assertion and said the rain was only a coincidence of his work. In December he began work at Crows Landing and was successful. The farmers of that vicinity were so pleased with his work that a third contract was made with him in 1907. He contracted that year to produce twelve inches of rain in that section of the county between November 15 and April 15 of the follow ing year. If he produced that number of inches of rain he was to receive $3,000, which they figured was three cents per acre. If he failed to bring the stated amount he received not a cent. It was a bargain in which the farmers could not possibly lose a penny. Hatfield, with a positive belief in his ability to produce the required amount of rain, doubled the capacity of his rain towers, constructing four towers instead of two, with which he made his former success. As he predicted, he fulfilled his contract in February, six weeks before the time limit expired. The following clipping is from a local paper: "Feb. 15. — Anxiety over the continued drought this winter has induced farmers and merchants on the West Side to engage the services of C. M. Hatfield, the 'rainmaker,' in a final effort to secure a drenching for their crops before the warm weather begins. Hatfield has signed an agreement under which he will be paid $1,000 for each two inches of rain, provided, however, that he shall receive no pay for all rain over six inches. The agreement further stipulates that 'he must produce at least two inches of rain before April 10.' " CHAPTER THREE THE RIVER, PIONEER AND MINING TOWNS The pioneers, as a rule, were the most hopeful and buoyant of men. They were a band of adventurers, young, ambitious and of undaunted courage and with full faith in themselves they expected to accomplish great things in the new state, California. Some of the Argonauts did accomplish great things. They founded cities, erected great manufactories, established banks, builded railroads and formed great corpora tions of industry, but the tens of thousands were disappointed in the realization of their dreams. Among the disappointed were the town builders of Stanislaus County. They founded towns on the banks of the San Joaquin and Tuolumne rivers, each man believing that his town was the head of navigation, that the people would there locate, and that it would become a big flourishing city outrivaling in wealth and popu lation the town of Stockton. There was a mania for town building. Robert Semple had founded Benicia, Col. Jonathan D. Stevenson, New York-of-the-Pacific, Captain Weber, Stockton, and John A. Sutter, New Helvetia (Sacramento); why could not they found towns in the new county. They believed that they could, but in less than two years their dreams were shattered. They found that the Tuolumne River was not navigable more than eight months of the year and the tide of population and of travel came not their way. GRAYSON, THE PIONEER TOWN On the west bank of the San Joaquin River, eight miles above the mouth of the Tuolumne, lies the town of Grayson, or Graysonville as it was oft times called in early days. By the early writers it was described as "a beautiful site and not subject to overflow." The town was founded in 1849 by a company of seven men, including John Westley Van Benscroten and Andrew J. Grayson. The burg was named after Grayson, he being the oldest member of the party. The first house, later known as the 60 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY "Grayson House," was erected from lumber shipped around Cape Horn. The peo ple of that vicinity assembled in February, 1850, and elected a peace officer, called by the Mexicans an alcalde. In March of that year, the scribe tells us, "three wooden buildings and a few tents constituted the town." A ferry was established and for a time the ferryman did a banking business, receiving from tolls across the river $3,500 in eleven days. Travel, however, soon decreased and the town was dead until small stern-wheel steamers began plowing their way up the San Joaquin with freight and passengers as far up the river as Firebaugh's Ferry. The up-river trade began in 1868, just a year previous to the death of A. J. Gray son, who came to California in 1845 overland. He was a skillful bird painter and a careful student of bird life. After many years he went to Mexico, and during his leisure hours there devoted his time to the study of Mexican birds. He was an acknowl edged authority on the history of birds. He died at Mazatlan, August 17, 1869. Grayson's First Store The firm of Grayson & Stephens was first established in San Francisco in 1848. The following year they removed to Stockton and in the Stockton Times, March 18, 1850, they announced that they had moved their business to Grayson. They stated that they were prepared in the new and flourishing town with a full stock of goods from their Stockton and San Francisco stores, comprising groceries, provisions, crockery, glassware, blankets, stationery, firearms and ammunition, on as reasonable terms as the town below, and with a line of eight mule teams running daily between Stockton and Grayson. They also announced that the steamer Georgiana, D. A. Thompkins, master, would make regular weekly trips from the town below to Grayson. A Mexican Camp Scene An excursion party up the river in March, 1850, to Grayson, "were much delight ed with the Mexican life on the plains. Far and near at sundown the campfires of many hundreds of persons blazed, lighting with their reflections the hillside of the Coast - Range. There was a fandango, singing, the serapes were spread upon the earth's carpet for the players at monte and all went merry as a marriage bell." These Mexican camps of packers, bound to and from the mines, were very common sights for the first few years in the "Days of gold, the days of old, the days of '49." Grayson in 1878 The rush of travel and of business died as quickly as k came and in 1852 the town was deserted by all except the ferryman. The extensive travel through the pass had ceased and the miners traveled direct from Stockton to the mines. Time, however, changes all things. In 1860 mining was practically dead. The West Side had become a vast feeding ground for cattle, sheep and horses. Late in the '60s there came another change. The stock had been relegated to the mountains and "the wide plains were covered with the cottages of farmers and fields of waving grain." Grayson had again come to life. In that year it was laid out as a town. Ten years later it boasted of five saloons, a livery stable, two restaurants, a butcher shop, a Grange hall, one school, with Mrs. R. B. Purvis as teacher, a temperance lodge, a large warehouse and two large merchandising stores. One of these stores was owned by Louis Kraffman, who had moved up from Banta's, the other by J. R. McDonald, who, it was said, supplied the country around with goods. There were also two stage lines, one running to Hill's Ferry, the other to Modesto. Both lines carried passengers and did a rushing business during the summer season. For several years Grayson was an important shipping point for wheat, but eventually the railroads absorbed all of the business. Grayson's Distinguished Citizens John Westley Van Benscroten was the "father of Grayson." He came to Cali fornia in 1846 with Captain Fremont. His occupation in New York, his native city, was that of butcher and he made a contract with Fremont to supply his command with meat. After the gold discovery, Mr. Van Benscroten located in Jamestown and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 61 engaged in the mercantile business, the firm name being Coindreau, Marsis & Van Benscroten. At this time he was elected as assemblyman from that district, and taking his seat February 14, 1850, resigned four days later. He then came to Stockton and took part in the first dramatic performance, later going to Grayson, where he built the Grayson House, and during the wheat shipping seasons he entertained his friends in sumptuous style, it being a favorite resort for the up-river grain buyers. During all of this time he continued operating the ferry and January 12, 1886, he was accidentally drowned, losing his balance in some manner while crossing the river. One of the most honored men of Stanislaus County was James R. McDonald, who lived for over thirty years at Grayson. He came to the state in 1850 and in 1869 he and W. J. Tilley purchased the Grayson mercantile store. Tilley withdrew in 1874 and McDonald conducted the store alone, he also being the Wells Fargo Express agent. He farmed over 3,000 acres of land, raised sheep and several good trotting horses. In 1878 he was the district canal commissioner and wrote several valuable articles descriptive of the West Side canal. In 1890 he was nominated by the Republican party as state treasurer and elected. He died October 14, 1902. TUOLUMNE CITY Across the San Joaquin River but three miles distant from Grayson was Tuolumne City. It was founded, said N. W. Wells, by a man named Paxton MacDowell. He expected to make his embryo city a rival to Stockton. The town was situated on the north bank of the Tuolumne River about five miles from its junction with the San Joaquin. MacDowell selected that location, as he believed it the head of navigation as "the river is navigable for whale boats and other small craft full sixty miles during the winter and early spring months." The proprietor claimed the following advantages for his town : "That it was six feet above high water mark, vessels drawing six feet of water can anchor alongside of the banks and there were good roads to the mines both summer and winter. These roads extend along high and dry ridges, which are nearly parallel with the river and are not crossed by sloughs or marshes. Consequently, under no circumstances can freight reach exorbitant rates, which is of equal value to the pack mule owner and the people living in the mines. It was also believed that if Tuolumne City became a town of importance there is no doubt that Sonora, Jamestown, Sullivan's diggings and all the rich gulches along the river tributaries will draw their supplies from that town." Booming the City Tuolumne City, embracing some 160 acres, was surveyed by that well-known pioneer politician of the Democratic school, Richard P. Hammond. He was a major in the Mexican war, the surveyor of Stockton, later port collector of San Francisco, and the father of the world-renowned civil engineer, John Hays Hammond. The town- site which he laid off on the banks of the Tuolumne grew rapidly, and a traveler visiting the place in 1850 "was surprised to see the progress the new and flourishing city had made. Several new houses had gone up and a quantity of lumber for other buildings was lying at the landing. We judge from the large number of pack mules that we saw that a brisk trade is carried on with the mines. There is an extensive arrival of goods in the town, one gentleman alone having $11,000 invested in staple articles. Large numbers of persons travel through the place every day, Tuolumne City lying on the direct route from Pacheco's and Grayson to the Sonorian mines." Many of the travelers were Mexicans, passing through by the hundreds ; they did considerable trading, the miners also buying many goods. First Court Trial Having elected an alcalde a court of justice was established. It was christened before it was completed by the trial and conviction of a Mexican for stealing a horse. When the jury brought in their verdict the crowd present demanded that the prisoner be severely whipped. That was a common custom often practiced as a punishment — to tie the man to a tree or post and give him thirty lashes upon the bare back. More 62 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY merciful punishment prevailed and the Mexican was fined $150. At the time they had one other prisoner, but they had no jail. Under the conditions, the culprit was furnished with meals with the county officials. It was a bailable case and the prisoner could have given bail, but he was sharp. "If I was out on bail," he said, "I would have to pay for my own meals and now the county pays for them." Township Officers Although in 1850 Tuolumne City was not the county seat it seems to have been the centering point of the valley settlers. Hence the local elections were held there. The first township election was held May 18, 1850. The township comprised the towns of Grayson, Crescent City, Empire and Tuolumne City. The officers elected were W. F. Swansey, alcalde; George Huntling, coroner; Comfort Barker, constable; and John G. Marvin and Gustavius Swansey, justices of the peace. The two justices, as soon as elected, started for the county seat, Sonora, to qualify for their office and be sworn into office. The First Marriage Probably the first marriage in the valley section of Tuolumne County was that of N. W. Wells, a resident for many years at Tuolumne City. He married January 16, 1851, to Miss Fanny, the eldest daughter of Asa Grunell. Mr. Wells in 1881 related the story of his marriage and he told it as a joke on himself rather than from any other reason. There was no minister in any part of the territory at that time and Mr. Wells sent a messenger to Rev. James Woods, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Stockton, requesting the pastor to come and perform the marriage. The happy young man of twenty-two years provided the messenger, John Leggett, with money and two saddle horses, one of them an iron grey, his best vaquero horse. The unfaithful John came to Stockton, delivered the letter to the pastor and then, keeping the money, "lit out" for parts unknown, with both horses. After the marriage, Wells was so hot over the loss of his iron grey that he started on a hunt for the robber bold. He recovered both animals, but was compelled to come to Stockton and prove his prop erty before Judge E. G. Weir, later a resident of Stanislaus County. The sequel to the story is: "Born October 4, 1852, to the wife of N. W. Wells, a daughter, Fanny." She was the first-born child in the present county of Stanislaus. She married in early womanhood and was living in the county in 1881. An Enterprising Merchant MacDowell, expecting to make a fortune in his new town, began selling lots and among the purchasers was Benjamin Lippincott, a young lawyer; George Swansey, the justice of the peace; Maj. T. M. Lane, John Gallagher and N. W. Wells, who in vested $1,300 in real estate. Mr. Wells was an enterprising citizen and merchant. He had great faith in the future prosperity of Tuolumne City. Visiting San Francisco, he chartered the steamer Georgiana to transport an assortment of general merchandise to the new town, paying the captain $6,000 for the service. The Town Deserted The little side-wheel steamer now began making weekly trips between San Fran cisco, Stockton and Tuolumne City. In a few months, however, the steamer was compelled to discontinue her trips because of low water. Then the bubble burst. But before the news was generally known, the lot owners succeeded in unloading over $60,000 worth of real estate on innocent victims. "It is hardly necessary to say this was the last of Tuolumne City." All of the inhabitants deserted the place except the three families of B. M. Shipley, Asa Grunell and John W. Laird. Some time later, said a writer, notices were posted around Empire City that "All of the lots in Tuolumne City belonging to the proprietors of that city who 'vamoosed' several years ago are to be Fold February 13, 1854, to satisfy a mortgage on the place. I understand that one man is willing to buy the entire city at twenty-five cents per lot." Tuolumne City in 1868 In the early '60s farmers began plowing and seeding the rich and fertile lands along the Stanislaus and Tuolumne rivers. This gave new life to Tuolumne City and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 63 it soon became an important grain shipping point. Steamers were then plying the rivers and a passenger visiting the town in February, 1868, wrote: "Tuolumne City, where we tied up our boat for the night, is a flourishing place and represents almost every branch of the mechanical trades. At the time I am writing, Mr. John B. Covert's new brick building is filled with pretty misses and their gay cavaliers dancing merrily to the music of a good band. New buildings are being erected and before long many business places will be established. Dr. McLean, formerly of Stockton, but later of Copperopolis, has lately arrived here with his family and will open a first-class drug store. The Ross House has been open for some time, but its proprietor, C. W. Bailey, died last evening. Next week a paper will be issued by J. D. Spencer, to be called the 'Tuolumne News.' " The two pioneers of Tuolumne City of whom the correspondent writes, John B. Covert and Dr. Samuel M. McLean, were pioneers of the state. In fact, Mr. Covert was here long before California became a state. He came to California with Fremont in 1844. Locating in Tuolumne City, he engaged in the mercantile business. In time Madison Walthall wooed and won his daughter, Emma Covert. Their offspring was a bright boy whom they named John M. Walthall, after his grandfather. Graduating from Hastings Law College in 1898, the week following his graduation he was nom inated for district attorney of Stanislaus County by the Democratic county convention, and elected in November. The Town Increasing — Prosperity "The town continued its growth although, in September, lumber was very scarce, it being shipped in by steamer. At that time Capt. H. G. James had just completed a large brick building for a meat market and packing house, as he intended to cure considerable bacon that fall. Mr. James was an extensive cattle and hog raiser. Julius Dettlebach and H. M. Covert have two fine mercantile stores. Alden & Grenfal have a well-stocked livery stable and John Grollman can supply them with fine harness. He has an excellent assortment of harness and saddles. J. H. Hayes keeps fine boots and shoes. D. S. Husband is conducting a saloon and Mr. Goodrich, an opposition hotel to the Ross House. Mr. Munson has just finished a large two-story house and Judge Griffin will soon move into his fine residence on Front Street. The survey of Griffin's addition to the city was completed last week, and the sale of lots was rapid. The price of real estate has advanced over 200 per cent in six weeks. The town had not only water communication with Stockton, but stage communication as well. A weekly line of stages ran from Stockton to Visalia, passing through Tuol umne City, Empire, Hopeton, Snelling and Millerton." Tuolumne City Has the Smallpox It will be remembered by old-timers that in 1868 the smallpox was raging throughout the state. There were several cases of the disease in Tuolumne City and business was completely demoralized. It was soon brought under control. This was partly due to the medical treatment of Dr. McLean, who had charge of many cases in his Stockton hospital in 1850. The Tuolumne News, in its issue of January 9, 1869, said: "Some weeks since we promised our readers that we would give from time to time a true report of the ravages of the smallpox at this place without fear or favor of public opinion. It is our pleasing duty now to announce that the disease has disappeared from our midst. The yellow flags have all been taken down from our buildings. Feeling confident that there is no further danger in inviting persons to our town we extend a public invitation to all to visit our city." First County Fair In September, 1869, probably the first county fair was held. It continued in Tuolumne City for three days, commencing September 22. The pavilion exhibit was in Covert's Hall. It consisted principally of the handiwork of the ladies and samples of wheat and barley. There were no big pumpkins, squashes or other vegetables, I surmise, as the News thought it strange that the people bought all of their vegetables of peddlers from Stockton, when they had such fertile soil at their very doors capable of 64 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY furnishing all kinds of garden truck. There were several trotting and running races at Judge Walden's race track two miles from the city. Bartholomew's Circus played the town for two evenings. The special feature of the fair was the ladies' festival given for the benefit of the schoolhouse fund. A visitor who was present said that Stanislaus' beautiful daughters were present in large numbers. The festival netted the ladies fifty dollars. PARADISE CITY John W. Mitchell, the wealthy landowner, founded Paradise City. He owned several thousand acres of land in that vicinity. The town was located four miles above Tuolumne City and rival towns they were until the Southern Pacific Railroad put them both out of commission. The town evidently was not founded until 1867-68, for a description of the place, written in May, 1868, said: "A store and postoffice has gone up and another building, the foundation of which is ready for the brick, which is in the kiln cooling. A hardware and tin store is going up and soon will be stocked with goods. There is also a saddle and harness manufactory and a wheelwright arid wagon shop in connection with a header manufactory, all of which are doing a thriving busi ness. There is also a blacksmith shop which runs two forges. A large livery stable has been established and it is well stocked with horses and buggies. There is a hotel and the inevitable saloon, in fact, two of them. Steamers run weekly between this place and Stockton and a tri-weekly four-horse stage runs to the same place. A kiln of 250,000 brick has just been burned and the yards cannot keep up with the demand." Spencer declared "the place presents a thrifty appearance and must from its location be a fine starting point for a large and rich section of country. The buildings are nearly all one-story and show from the river to a good advantage." A Fine School Building A visitor in February, 1869, spoke highly of the town's future prospect and said, "In addition to their fine commercial houses and handsome homes, the citizens have erected the best schoolhouse in Stanislaus County. It is built of brick, 28x40 feet, and hard finished. The ladies gave an impromptu party and realized $305 for the school- house fund. Captain Ward, a former river captain, located in Paradise City and was surprised at the city's progress in less than three months. During that time old houses have disappeared and new and costly buildings taken their place. Among the new buildings, there is a big fine hotel owned by Mr. Hendricks, and W. J. Houston, mov ing into a fine two-story brick building, has a large well-stocked assortment of goods." Free Ferry There was great rivalry for business between the merchants of Paradise and Tuolumne and every inducement was made by each town to attract the farmers of the vicinity to their city. There was a ferry near Paradise City, but it was a toll ferry. Two enterprising citizens of Paradise, W. J. Ross and Stephen Rodgers, purchased the ferry and said in their advertisement, "We not only propose to make the Paradise ferry free of charge, but the best crossing for teams and loose stock. It is on the direct line of travel to Ward's Ferry, Snelling, Hill's Ferry and the whole Paradise country." Paradise Celebrates Washington's Birthday Paradise was a wide-awake city, the antitype, no doubt, of the present city of Modesto. They were not only alive, but patriotic, and they celebrated February 22 1869, by a ball in Hendricks' Hotel. The hotel was the best in the valley and Mr.' Hendricks and his wife "were just the persons to entertain and please the public." The hotel had a spacious room, large enough to admit forty couples dancing at one time About one hundred of the "angels" of Paradise were present and about an equal number of gay cavaliers. At midnight, during the hour's intermission, they sat down to a sumptuous repast furnished by the host. The dance began at eight o'clock and the writer, paraphrasing the old song, said : "We'll dance all night until broad day light, and go home with the girls in the morning." The dance broke up at five a m GRIDLEY MONUMENT HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 65 July Fourth Celebration The residents of Paradise City celebrated the National holiday in 1869, and they were joined by the citizens of Empire and Tuolumne City. There was also quite a large delegation present from Stockton, as the orator of the day, Warren S. Mont gomery, was a Stockton attorney and joint senator from Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties in 1868. The exercises were held in the afternoon, as the orator during the morning delivered a two-hour address at Stockton. The program began with a selec tion by the band, followed by the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Tames Aull. The president of the occasion then introduced the orator, who was loudly applauded throughout the address. The oration concluded, the entire crowd sat down to a free dinner prepared by Mr. Hendricks and his wife. The citizens then amused themselves until the evening, when the day's enjoyment closed with a ball. The Paradise Flour Mill One of the enterprises of Paradise City was its fine flour mill, constructed by Herron & Company. It was a brick building, four stories in height, and could be seen for several miles from the surrounding country. Its massive machinery was propelled by a sixty-five horsepower engine and the capacity of the mill was 150 barrels of flour per day. Its construction was begun early in the year and completed in time for the harvest of 1868. The flour was sold throughout the southern counties and I have seen it on sale by the Stockton grocers. It changed hands quite often and its senior partner, Joseph Knowles, died March 16, 1891, at the age of seventy-six years. The mill is four stories in height, walls at the base twenty inches in thickness. The engine room is 25x44 feet, with an engine with a sixteen-inch bore and a thirty- inch stroke. The boiler is sixteen feet long, with a diameter of fifty inches and with a capacity of eighty pounds steam pressure. There are two run of stone and a barley mill on the second floor. Reuel Colt Gridley, Citizen-Patriot One of the honored citizens of Stanislaus County, a resident of Paradise was Reuel C. Gridley. He is also one of the highest honored patriots of the state, because of his patriotic labors during the Civil War, in behalf of the Sanitary Commission fund. At that time, April, 1864, he was living in Austin, Nev., engaged in the grocery business. A city election was held that month and Gridley, who was known as a war Democrat, made a wager with Dr. Herrick that if the war Democrat for Mayor, David Buel, was defeated, he, Gridley, would carry a sack of flour on his shoulder from Clifton to Austin, a distance of a mile and a quarter. A band was to lead the procession and the band would be ordered to play, "John Brown's Body." If Buel was elected then Dr. Herrick was to carry the flour, the band playing "Dixie," the good old southern tune so loved by the Democrats of the olden days. Charles Hol brook, the anti-war Democrat, was elected mayor. True to his wager, Gridley appeared to carry out his part of the wager. He carrjed on his shoulder a sack of flour from his grocery, neatly trimmed with flags and red, white and blue ribbons. The pro cession was formed. It comprised the newly-elected city officers and escort of thirty-six horsemen, Gridley and his sack of flour and the Austin brass band. As they marched the band, playing the famous old war song, some of the crowd sang the chorus : "Glory, glory hallelujah, and his soul goes marching on." while others shouted: "Go to it, Gridley, stick to it, old man," "Never say die!" On arrival at their destination, the party visited the saloons and liquor flowed like water. Gridley, although a strict prohibition advocate and member of the Methodist denomination, enjoyed the fun with the boys. He quietly listened to their good- natured jokes, regarding his "being the goat." Finally some one shouted: "What shall we do with the flour?" Then came to Gridley the inspiration that was to make him famous. "This crowd of people," he said, "has had their fun at my expense; let us see now who will do the most for the sick and wounded soldiers. We will put this sack of flour up at auction with the understanding that the buyer is to return it to be again sold for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission." The novel proposition was 5 66 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY quickly approved by the crowd who anticipated more fun over the sales. Then and there $4,400 was realized for the fund, one man alone bidding it in at $350. It was then the "flush times" of the Nevada silver mines. The flour was then taken to Gold Hill, and Thomas Fitch, the silver-tongued orator, made a ringing speech which brought the fund $5,850. It was then taken to Silver City, the Sacramento State Fair, throughout the large cities of California and along the eastern coast. The Sani tary Commission received from the repeated sales of this sack of flour $270,000 in gold. Mr. Gridley, paying all of his expenses, accompanied the sack of flour on all its travels through the United States. The task for him was too great and as the result he returned to Austin, Nev., completely broken down in health. His business was almost bankrupt. Believing that in a lower altitude where the air was less rarefied, he might regain his health, he sold out his business at a great loss and with his family removed to Stockton. There he opened a grocery store. In 1868, however, he removed to Paradise City and again engaged in the merchandising business. He died November 24, 1870. He now lies buried in the Grand Army plot at Rural Cemetery, Stockton. Over the green mound stands a beautiful memorial erected in his honor, for his splendid service in the cause of freedom. The memorial, erected by Rawlings Post, G. A. R., comprises a granite base and marble column, about ten feet in height, surmounted by a statue of the patriot. He stands, his right hand resting upon the sack of flour, a table its support. The memorial was dedicated September 9, 1887, by a parade of the Grand Army and the military, with instrumental and vocal music, an oration and a poem composed for the occasion. ADAMSVILLE Named after its founder, Dr. Adams, in 1849, the embryo town of Adamsville was located on the south bank of the Tuolumne River about three miles above Tuolumne City overland, but nearly seven miles by water, the "river being broad and deep but very crooked." It was about ten feet above high-water mark and a very favorable place for the shipment of grain by river boats. The town figures in history only because of the fact that for a few months it was the county seat of Stanislaus County. At that time it had a fine hotel conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. After the removal of the county seat to Empire the town was deserted and did not again claim rmv public attention. The First Fourth of July Independence Day, 1854, was celebrated at Adamsville by a ball given by the pro prietor of the hotel. The dancing floor was a platform beneath a large oak tree and inclosed by upright boards on the north and east ends. It was the future court house under construction. The ball was given that night and it was lighted by whale oil lamps hung in the tree. At ten o'clock a fine supper was served and the happy couples danced until 2 :30, then the party retired to rest. The ladies were given accommo dations in the hotel. The men slept in the open, in their blankets, their saddle their only pillow. In the morning the Democrats held a county convention. Seneca Dean was chosen chairman. They passed a series of resolutions, eulogizing the Democratic party and advocating William M. Gwin for United States Senator. It was ordered that the resolutions be printed in the San Joaquin Republican and the Columbia Gazette. EMPIRE CITY ¦Empire City, now quite a flourishing little village settled principally by Dunkards, was in early days a very important place. It was for a season the county seat and the head of navigation. Its founder, a man named Townsend, was what we would call today a land promoter or a booster of real estate. He had dreams of fame and fortune to be won on the bank of the River Tuolumne. He saw in the near future a pros perous city arise, the work of his brain, a city government and he the mayor. Town- send had a map drawn of his city in the "land of somewhere" and actually sold lots to the business men of San Francisco. Accompanied by E. Conway, a surveyor, Mr. and Mr. Jenkins, and a purchaser of real estate, the writer from whom these facts are taken, the party left San Francisco, April 16, 1850, by boat for Stockton. They took with them a four-horse wagon and a good supply of provisions. On arrival at the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 67 steamer's destination they climbed into the wagon and started for the Stanislaus country by the way of Heath & Emory's ferry. "We arrived at the place," says the narrator, "fatigued and hungry. A large number of travelers were stopping there for the night. We were treated with marked attention because there was an American woman ( Mrs. Jenkins) in our party. She was the first white woman to cross the ferry and the first to travel over Stanislaus County." They were again on their journey soon after daylight and in a few hours they expected to reach their destination. They had no idea of their location and at midday they concluded that they were lost. They saw a small band of Indians and for a time were terror stricken but the Indians were also in fear and quickly skulked away. In order to find their position the surveyor unpacked his compass and soon discovered their location. That evening they arrived at the point selected, a spot about six miles above the present city, Modesto. Townsend, before leaving San Francisco, chartered a vessel and loading it with supplies and building material, ordered the captain to sail with the cargo up the Tuolumne River. The vessel arrived some time before the party, having on board "several adventurers, men who had purchased lots." The men went to work and put up tents and before night, the entire party were housed. Thus Empire City was founded. In course of time several buildings were erected. These buildings included three stores, a hotel, two boarding houses, a blacksmith and a harness shop. It was then the head of navigation and all Government supplies were shipped from Empire by team to Fort Miller. The Government also had men there engaged in breaking mules to harness for the Government wagons. They did not know until nearly ten years later that steamers could ascend the San Joaquin River to Firebaugh's Ferry. During the winter of 1851-52 the town was almost destroyed by the January flood, as the flood water had washed away every vestige of activity, says Branch. Not only that, but the tide of travel had changed. Because of the foreign license law and trouble with the Mexicans all travel had ceased through Pacheco Pass and the miners, taking the shorter route to the mines, traveled directly from Stockton to Knights Ferry. The press declared in January, 1852: "There are five cities about us containing in all five inhabitants. A traveler passed through San Joaquin City near the mouth of the San loaquin River, but it was as silent as the tomb. We believe that a ferryman still lives at Graysonville. Tuolumne City is in the same languishing condition. Crescent City has been converted into a cabbage patch and as for Empire City, the last inhabitants left it two months ago." The Enterprising Citizen, Eli S. Marvin At the time of the flood, John G. Marvin, a former Boston, Mass., lawyer, an owner of real estate in Empire, was in the East. He returned to California accom panied by Eli S. Marvin and his wife. On arrival at Empire they found the town deserted. The buildings not washed away by the flood had been moved to higher and less dangerous ground. Eli S. Marvin was a man of considerable wealth and he concluded to take his chances in the town. Building a large and comfortable "wayside" hotel, he named it the "Travelers' Home" and awaited results. "It was the only house in that section," says the writer, "being twelve miles from the Stanislaus River and twenty miles from Hill's Ferry." Marvin in our day would have been a million aire, for he not only saw things, but he did things. Among other things he worked for and finally succeeded in making Empire the county seat. This event created a new life and interest in the town and in the winter of 1854 it was reported "the place is being rapidly built up and there is a great demand for carpenters and other mechanics. Mr. Ziegler has opened a store on Main Street. The court house, a fine and capacious building, and eight other buildings have been erected. A few weeks ago not a drop of alcohol could be found in the place but now whisky shops are everywhere. Our town has improved very much during the past ten months and before long our popula tion will be twice the present number. What we greatly need is mail facilities." 68 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY No Mail Nor Postal Route We never appreciate our many blessings unless we have been long without them or have lost them. The people of the county at this time were very anxious for Uncle Sam favors, and a writer declared, so hungry for news were they that a copy of the San Joaquin Republican two weeks old caused a sensation. It was believed that a mail route would soon be established throughout the county, as through Judge Marvin an application had been made to the postal department for post offices at Grayson, Hill's Ferry, Clark & Toombs Ferry on the Tuolumne River, and Empire City. The section was thickly settled with farmers and they had no communication with the large cities. "The only way," said the correspondent, "that we can get our mail is by riding thirty-two miles to Stockton or waiting an opportunity to send by ox team. In many cases the letters are ten days in the Stockton post office before we receive them. I believe that there are at least 2,000 people on the Stanislaus, Merced and Tuolumne rivers who would be benefited by a mail route through this section." The County Seat It was asserted in early years that the state capital was on wheels as it was removed to six different cities within ten years. It was also true that the county seat of Stanislaus was on wheels, for the county seat was removed no less than five times in fifteen years. One of the most important local questions to. every citizen is the location of the county seat, as every citizen, tax payer and voter and juror must at some time during the year visit the court house. As we have noticed when the Legislature in 1850 created the county of Tuolumne, they named Stewart, later called Sonora, as the county seat. When the legislative body in 1854 set apart the county of Stanislaus, they decreed that fhe people of the new county by a majority vote, should declare their place of location of the county seat of the new county. When the time of election came to hand there were but two locations that desired the honor, Adamsville and Empire City. LaGrange at this time apparently did not want the county seat. Her people were too busy digging gold. Eli S. Marvin and Dr. Adams worked hard in the interest of their home towns, as they had property interests and knew that the selection of their particular town would greatly increase the value of their property. Marvin was so anxious to have the people vote for Empire City that he filed a bond with Judge Dickerson, with good security, and agreed if Empire City were selected, to build a court house for the county, free of cost to them, and that he would erect the building within six months after the election or forfeit $10,000. Empire City was supposed to be the people's choice. Some disgruntled citizens, however, were not satisfied with either location. They said Empire was too far east and Adamsville too far west. Dr. Adams, shrewder than the Boston lawyer, knew how to use money to the best ad vantage, and when the votes were counted by the supervisors they found that Adamsville was the people's choice for county seat by a majority of thirty votes. As the time approached for the sessions of court, as there had been no building provided, court was held under an oak tree, a wooden platform serving as the floor. A short time later, it is stated that the county officials erected a shanty of a court house, putting up the build ing during the official hours. County Seat Removed to Empire The selection of Adamsville as county seat was quite a surprise and many of the citizens were dissatisfied. They wanted a change and in October of the same year two- thirds of the voters petitioned Judge H. W. Wallis to call a new election for a county seat. Under the state law as then existed, he was obliged to comply with their request He named October 21, 1854, as the day of election. Again there were but two places seeking the honor, Empire City and Davis Ferry. All of the other contestants had withdrawn by mutual consent. We have no details regarding the election. Em pire City was the choice over Davis Ferry by twenty-nine majority. "The site of the new county seat," said a writer, "is a delightful one, and taking it all together a better more central or more healthful locality could not have been selected in the' county " Judge John G. Marvin also was delighted and he said he expected to "see Empire wake up from its long sleep." HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 69 Empire City in 1868 We regret that we cannot fill up the gap of these cities from 1854 but of records there are none, and the actors — they have played their part upon the stage, and the curtain is rung down. The removal of the county seat from Empire City to La Grange in 1855 caused a decline in the prosperity of the town and it became almost deserted until 1868. Then the revival of the river trade brought the town to the front. Spen cer, writing of the town in April of that year, said : "The business that is done here now in the way of shipping would lead a casual observer to believe it had been carried on for years. Ons of the shipping firms, Hughs & Keyes, established there a branch of their Stockton house. The land is rapidly advancing in value. Less than a year ago it could be bought for two dollars and fifty cents an acre, now it is worth ten dollars an acre. Immigrants are constantly corning in and settling on the plains in this vicinity while others go farther south where land is cheaper." Dr. Thomas Tynan, the Pioneer One of the families that remained in Empire City in 1854, long after all others had deserted it, was Dr. Thomas Tynan, his wife and two stepdaughters. In Decem ber, 1860, Eli Marvin died. He left behind a widow and two bright girls. Across the river lived Dr. Tynan, who had located on the land in 1852. Ten years later he was married to Mrs. Marvin, and moving into Empire City practiced his profes sion until 1874. In that year he engaged in farming, but continued his residence in Empire City until 1881. Later he moved into Modesto, erected a fine hotel and created a sensation in October, 1891, by suddenly disappearing from sight. CRESCENT CITY In the fall of 1849 Crescent City was founded on the south bank of the Tuolumne River by Benson & Byers. They laid off the town one mile square, had a lithographed map made in New York and furnished the real estate dealers in the cities with copies of the growing town. The proprietors advertised the town as thirty miles above the mouth of the Tuolumne River. "The town has been accurately surveyed and laid out and several large buildings are about to be erected." Many lots were sold, said a visitor, but no improvements were made and the proposed city comprised a long cabin covered with canvas. The only inhabitants of the place were the proprietors and about a dozen hunters and boatmen. The proprietors also advertised that arrange ments had been made to establish a steamer line between Crescent City, Stockton and San Francisco. The steamer Etna made a trip between Tuolumne City and Crescent City. She encountered no difficulty in the navigation and a hopeful correspondent stated, "It can be truly said that between Crescent City and Tuolumne City the river is well adapted for steamers." Two months later, however, the little steamers tried to steam up to the town, but failed. It was the finishing blow to Crescent City. HILL'S FERRY OF THE SAN JOAQUIN In 1886 the railroad from Banta's to Fresno, passed by Hill's Ferry a few miles to the south. There was a sudden exodus of inhabitants from the ferry and soon the old town was a thing of the past. The town was founded in 1850 by Jesse Hill, on the southwest bank of the River San Joaquin. It was nearer the Merced County line and a part of the old Mexican grant, which was known as the Orestimba Rancho. Hill in time sold the ferry and adjoining lands to Dick Wilson, along in the '70s, and traded the ferry property to Charles G. Hubner for a good paying property on Main Street, Stockton. Hubner, who was a wagonmaker by trade, worked at the business until the coming of the Cental Pacific Railroad ruined all of the wood and iron work ers' occupation. Mr. Hubner, after purchasing Hill's Ferry, removed there with his family and began many improvements. He erected a large warehouse, homes for families and stores for merchants. In fact, it was said that Hubner owned the town. It was the head of navigation, a fine shipping point for grain and often there would be from four to six river steamers with barges waiting to load with grain. The town grew rapidly and with its 500 population was the largest town in the county. In 70 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1881 in contained two hotels, "The West Side" and the "Russ House " ten saloons two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, a tin store kept by tj. C. w» > , stables, two drug stores, two barber shops, a photograph gallery, a shoemaker a c and watch repairer and two large mercantile stores, each store carrying a heavy stoac of goods. One of the stores was run by the Kuhn Brothers. The second store that of Simon Newman, carried a $35,000 stock of goods. Newman was quite wealthy^ as he owned a large herd of sheep and a one-fourth interest in the steamer Centennial, which ran between Stockton and San Francisco. The town also contained a public school and a Masonic building. Among the prominent men were Constable Mc&wain, Attorney Gulterson and two justices of the peace, John P. Newsom and J. r\ Alien. Two lines of stages carrying mail and passengers ran between Banta s, connecting with the steam cars, and Hill's Ferry, one line continuing on to Modesto. During the harvest season, they were overloaded daily, but during the winter they lost money. The town was supported and maintained by the agricultural interests of the West Side, and during the seasons of good crops the town was "wide open." Each harvesting crew would have from thirty to fifty men, and when paid off on Saturday night they would visit Hill's Ferry for a good time. The gambling tables would be patronized by men knowing that they would be robbed, liquor flowed freely and the girls of the saloons made plenty of money. Gamblers from the same place made it a common practice to visit Hill's Ferry every summer and return late in the fall. Drunken men would lie around the street, quarrels were frequent in which often deadly weapons were used, and frequently there would be a man stabbed or killed. "The play went right on, that made no difference," said a son of Charles Hubner in telling me of the scenes of those days. When Monday morning came many of the harvest crew would fail to report for work. "Then," said Hubner, "the boss would come to town with a header wagon and rounding up his men, drunk or half muddled, lie would lift or throw them into the wagon and away he would go for camp, the horses on the jump." FRENCH BAR, THE GOLDEN PLACERS We are today, as we have been for fifty years past, denouncing the foreigners, and yet along certain productive lines, they have done as much or more in developing the country than have the Americans. So it was in early da5S. The Americans were continuously harassing and often maltreating the foreigners, and yet, the rise and growth of La Grange was due, in part at least, to the little band of Frenchmen who located on the bar of the Stanislaus -River sometime in 1852. They came in there and began prospecting for the golden nuggets about a mile below the present town. As soon as they satisfied themselves that the diggings were paying, they informed their friends and soon several hundred of them had located upon the spot. The locality took the name of French Bar. They continued to find gold in large amounts and in 1854-55 there was a great excitement in that vicinity. Mines were staked out all along the river above and below the town and extending into the surrounding hills, says Branch. That year the Sierras yielded the largest amount of gold for any one year, $69,433,512, and French Bar produced no small amount of this immense sum. The Frenchmen were religiously inclined and at La Grange erected a small building of worship. It was the first church building in the county either Catholic or Protestant. It was known as the St. Louis Catholic Church. Mass was celebrated occasionally only by a traveling priest, and it is said that the Frenchmen assisted at the Mass. After the founding of Oakdale, stated services were held by the Oakdale priests. It is now in the parish of Father Nevin. The Foreign Miner's License Tax The history of the foreign miner's tax is a topic of state, rather than local, history, but as it applied directly to the miners in the southern mines, and its baneful effects were felt there more than in any other locality, mention should be made of it here. In 1850 the Legislature, in order to raise money to carry on the state government', levied a tax of four dollars per month on every foreign miner. Collectors were ap pointed in each mining district and if the foreigner refused to pay the tax he could be HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 71 arrested, and his mining implements, baggage or blankets taken from him. There was Jt the time a hatred far greater than there is today against the Chinese and particularly against the Mexicans, the Chilenos and the Frenchmen. The Americans said thev were taking all of the gold from the country. The levying of this tax was one cause of the decline of the river towns, for hundreds of Mexicans left the state, v/hile other foreigners remained and opposed the tax. A writer of the time declared, "We are going from bad to worse, and we are in a state of transition. The miners are up in arms beyond endurance and there is an unusual hatred against the foreigners." At Mormon Gulch the miners passed a series of resolutions demanding that all foreigners leave the country within fifteen days or they would be driven out by force. At Sonora a similar set of resolutions were passed, and all foreigners in Tuolumne County, unless of respectable character and engaged in business, were required to leave the country within fifteen days, unless they obtained a permit to remain from the proper authori ties. They were also required to turn over all firearms and deadly weapons to the officials of the county. The resolutions were signed by a committee of seven citizens, and four of them were from the present Stanislaus County, namely, A. B. Perkins of the Tuolumne River, John G. Marvin Qf Empire City, R. H. Hill of the Stanislaus River and Samuel Crow of the same river. At French Bar the miners refused to pay the tax and resisted the officers of the law. A large number of deputies were then sworn in, and fifty of the Frenchmen were arrested. They were taken before Justices of the Peace C. D. Salter and I. D. Morley and heavily fined for resisting Officer Kelley. LA GRANGE, THE MINING TOWN Nestling in the foothills of the Sierras lies the town of La Grange, from whence flow the waters that fertilized the vast valley below. The town, at one time the county seat, glories not in its history of the present or the future, but in the history of the past. Then it was a busy, lively camp, and from its shelter have gone forth stalwart pioneers who were prominent in the activities of the valley towns. In most cases, now their memory only remains and their sons and their daughters are carrying on the splendid work began by the pioneer fathers and mothers. The memory of the writer's father and mother will ever be his most sacred gift. The first settler at La Grange was Eli Dye, who in 1852 located a rancho. The place was of no importance until the Americans began flocking into the rich diggings of French Bar in August, 1854. Then things began to boom. "Since that time the town of La Grange has been steadily on the increase, in point of mining importance, and the population within two months has taken a rapid rise. A plot of ground was laid off, substantial houses were erected, numerous mechanics and storekeepers came to the place and last, but not least, a fair sprinkling of the fair sex have arrived." The correspondent, then giving a description of the new town, said, "It boasts of ten stores, three boarding houses, three butcher shops, four blacksmith shops, two restaurants, a livery stable, a barber shop, a billiard saloon and post office. Two sluicing companies are preparing to bring water onto the lower level for mining purposes and a steam engine has been put into operation calculated to afford water for eight or ten sluices. The extent of the mining region cannot be less than twenty miles square and within those limits there is more gold than can be taken out in twenty years." The camp bar was worked more and paid better than any other bar in that vicinity. They even found gold under the town, and, said Walter Kerrick, "The town is honeycombed with tunnels made by the miners." Largest Town in County From 1854 to 1858 La Grange enjoyed its greatest prosperity and "loomed up as the biggest town in the county." Its merchants included George Buck, Isaac Amsden, Goshen Clapp, Ben Cohn, George R. Davis, Wm. B. Farwell, A. R. Davis, Cohn & Co., R. M. Green, G. Goldsmith, J. W. Geist, Harris & Co., Charles Holineans, Michael Harris, A. Jacobs, Vincent L. Coop, Geo. L. Murdock, Uriah Nelson, Pasche & Cousins, J. B. Peck, J. Simon, Levi Silverman, Edward Tichenor, Peter Thobard, and John Vongero. Albert Elkins and John Willis were justices of the peace, S. P. 72 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Scaniker, H. H. Allen and Wm. M. Stafford were attorneys. The physicians included L. M. Bath, N de la Tourette, Geo. W. King, Thomas Payne and A. G. White. The population at this time, 1858, was estimated at 1,000 whites and about the same number of Chinese. The population consisted largely of young men, ranging in age from seventeen to forty years, with very few women or children. For transportation there were three lines of stages running daily except Sunday to Stockton, these lines including La Grange, Knights Ferry, Sonora, Columbia, Don Pedro's Bar, James town, Chinese Camp and Fox's ranch. Talbot's Flour Mill Talbot's mill was located on the Tuolumne River, four miles below French Bar, says one description of it, and another writer located it about five miles above the Mariposa road where it crossed at Dickerson's Ferry and about a half mile below the George C. Branch Ferry. It was erected by John Talbot & Company in 1854 and was capable of running four run of stone and turned out some very superior flour. It was said to be a good mill in a desirable location, a great convenience to the ranchers, grinding their wheat into flour, and a source of profit to the proprietors. In the big spring freshet of 1856 the mill was washed away. It was a great loss to the farmers, as they were obliged to take their wheat into Sonora for grinding, or to Stockton. The La Grange Water Supply Flour is an essential article for food, but water is equally necessary for irrigation, domestic purposes and mining. Without plenty of water the miners could not have obtained the gold. In the earliest days the families obtained the water for drinking and household use from springs under the bluff near the river and they afforded an inex haustible supply. Then M. A. Wheaton constructed a dam across the river about a mile above the town, and the water was used for irrigation. This proved a great convenience and benefit to the owners of orchards, gardens and vineyards in that neighborhood. Water was all important to the miners and in 1856, under the leader ship of Mr. Pine, a company was formed for the purpose of supplying the miners with water. About two miles above the town they constructed a rough dam of logs solidly bolted together and firmly fixed to the sides and bottom of the canyon. It was twenty-three feet in height and the water was conducted to the miners in long flumes or troughs. For hydraulic mining, that is, using the water through hose under a heavy pressure, the water wTas brought from a dam constructed at Indian Bar, sixteen miles above La Grange. After La Grange lost the county seat the town rapidly lost its business and population, and in order to encourage the people and give the town new life, says Branch, a company was organized in 1871 to bring the water from the Tuolumne River on to the auriferous mines back of the town. It was a big enter prise for that day and the company represented some $5,000,000 and was known as the La Grange Ditch and Hydraulic Mining Company. They purchased nearly all of the claims owned by the miners and a large number of town lots. These lots were dug out, looking for gold, and a great portion of the town nearest the river was washed out by hydraulic mining. In 1889 the Wheaton Dam was blasted out, survey made and a large dam constructed. It was the beginning of the present Modesto and Turlock District irrigation system. Removal of County Seat There are times when a town does not realize its power and strength until it awakes from its lethargy and starts to do something. When Empire City obtained the county seat by a very small vote, La Grange evidently was asleep regarding the benefits to be derived from that honor. The population in that vicinity was the largest in the entire county and the principal activities of the county centered around the camp. La Grange found out a few months after the election that the county seat was a good thing for the town. Again they went through the performance of getting signers for the removal of the official town to La Grange. The required number were easily obtained. The petition was presented to Judge Wallis, and he called an election on December 20, 1855. There were but two aspirants for honors, Empire City and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 73 La Grange. As a result the little valley town was swamped as by a tidal wave, receiving only 139 votes and La Grange 585. It was the mountains against the valley and a nice little Christmas gift for La Grange. A few weeks passed. Then by order of the court the county officials packed the county records and their household goods in wagons, Then away to the mountains, where careless and free, They could dance on the meadow and skip o'er the lea. La Grange then had no fear of a rival in Knights Ferry, the little mining town to the north, because it was in an adjoining county, San Joaquin. It was both a min ing and an agricultural town. It contained many men of wealth and enterprise, considerable of a population and had considerable taxable property. The citizens were not particularly interested in county seats until 1861. At that time Knights Ferry had been removed into Stanislaus County and they began seeking official recognition. The election for county seat took place at the time of the presidential election, in November, 1860. La Grange made a hard fight for the honors but Knights Ferry out voted them, 422 to 383. The county seat remained at Knights Ferry until 1871, when it was again moved back to the valley, with Modesto as its home. KNIGHTS FERRY Knights Ferry, directly east of Stockton and abput forty miles distant, was founded in 1849 by William Knight, a hunter and trapper. He came to California in 1844 as a guide to the Fremont expedition. He was familiar with the contour of the country and the mountain passes and he foresaw that Knights Ferry was Nature's pathway through the mountains. Locating there, he established a ferry across the Stanislaus River, built a hotel and store, and commenced business. The tide of travel turned his way and thousands of anxious gold seekers crossed the ferry, and lodged over night in the hotel. It was the midway stopping point between the valley town and Sonora, "the queen of all the mines," and then, as we remember, the county seat of Tuolumne County. In the early days of the town the Captain died and in the little cemetery on the summit of the hill, his burial was the first. The Dent Family Famous in American history is the name of the Dent family, because of the marriage of their daughter, Julia, in 1848 to Capt. U. S. Grant, later General and President of these United States. John and Lewis Dent, coming to California in the first rush, located at the ferry, and in 1854 they laid out the town. Two years previous a third brother, George W. Dent, arrived in California with his family and he also settled at Knights Ferry. His arrival caused a great sensation, as his young and pretty wife was the first white woman in the town. Regarding the families of the brothers Branch says: "One of the families lived in the 'long house' on a slight eleva tion facing the public square, and the other lived in the 'round house,' on the bluff which faces the road entering the town from Stockton." Like the story of Cain's wife in the Bible, Branch does not record from whence or when the second wife and family located in the camp. Presumably it was after George W. Dent's family arrived. The Dent brothers in their time were quite notable citizens. They managed the ferry, conducted the hotel, one was postmaster and a justice of the peace, and the other the appointed Indian agent of the Walla Wallas. Along about 1858, Lewis Dent went to Stockton and began the practice of law, his brother-in-law, A. C. Baine, being a judge in that county. In 1862 Lewis Dent went east to join General Grant's staff. In 1869 he received the appointment as minister to Chile. Knights Ferry became quite notable in California and was mentioned by some of Grant's biographers because of the fact that Captain Grant visited that town while his brothers-in-law resided there. When Grant, as ex-president, arrived at Stockton, September 30, 1879, on the last leg of his tour around the world, several persons met him saying: "I knew you in Knights Ferry in '49." This incorrect statement seemed to annoy the President and he declared : "As I was never west of the Rocky Mountains except as a soldier in the Mexican War until 1852 I think I must have been impersonated by some other person. 74 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY I was in Knights Ferry three times, once in '52, once in '53 and once in '54. I think I never remained there at one time longer than one week." The Knights Ferry Flour Mill The most prominent industry of Knights Ferry and one that made it famous throughout the mines was the Stanislaus Flour Mill, constructed in 1854 by Locke & Dent. The mill and the wooden dam just above it were washed away in the flood of 1862. The proprietors of the mill at that time were Hestres & Magendie, two French merchants of Stockton, who lost $30,000. The history of the mill dates back to 1850. At that time David J. Locke, a shrewd, enterprising Yankee, visiting Knights Ferry, noticed the fine location for a mill site, and he suggested to the old trapper the building of a sawmill. Knight knew nothing about sawmills and he said to Locke: "You stake out a claim and put up a mill. I will furnish the money." As Knight did not show any coin, Locke went his way, as he was not a man to trust anybody's "promise to pay." He returned again to Knights Ferry in 1853. The old trapper then lay at rest for all time. Captain Dent, taking from his safe a long, buck skin bag well filled with gold, said to Locke: "When Knight told you he would put up the money for a sawmill, he had two of these bags filled with gold under his bunk and several more in other places. " A partnership was formed between the two men. They built a dam made of logs in the Stanislaus River just above the mill site, and erecting a sawmill, it was ready for work in June, 1854. Four months later a flour mill constructed of wood, was ready for the grinding of wheat. Tulloch's Stone Flour Mill Some years after the flood had washed away the old mill, David J. Tulloch, a millwright by trade, who had been engaged in mining since 1858, at Knights Ferry concluded to engage in his former business. At this time there lived in Chinese Camp a first class stone cutter and brick mason, an Englishman named Thomas Vinson. "He erected nearly all of the brick buildings in Chinese Camp," said an old resident, W. H. Hosmer, "and built the old abutments for the 'old bridge' across the Stanislaus River, which was swept away by the flood of 1862." Tulloch engaged this man to construct a stone dam in the river and erect a flour mill of the same material. A large new water wheel was set up, the water turned on and again the mill began grinding the wheat into flour. Tulloch employed some of the Indians around the ferry to assist him in his work. In 1884, however, he had the assistance of his son, Charles. Tulloch did an extensive business throughout the mines and his sixteen- mule teams traveled as far south as Mariposa. One of his employees engaged in teaming was George Webb, now a Stockton resident. The removal of the county seat from Knight Ferry, the increasing emigration of the people from the mines, the coming of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the strong opposition of the Valley Flour Mill made the Stanislaus Mill unprofitable and it was closed. In time Oakdale became a thriving little town with an increasing population and wealth and in 1899 the mill was removed to the new town. The latest flour making machinery was in stalled and electricity used as the motor power, the mill turning out 150 barrels of flour per day. The motive power came from the power house located in the old stone mill at Knights Ferry. The Chinese, Miners and Gardeners The Chinese were among the first miners of the Sierras, coming there from Hong Kong as early as 1851. There are now at Knights Ferry a few Chinamen who have been there for the past sixty years. As miners they were of considerable benefit to the state, as satisfied with small "pickings," they dug for gold in the claims aban doned by the white men. In this way they obtained thousands of dollars in gold dust that would have been lost. A large number of Chinese' lived upon the hillside in low, adobe hovels. In the rear of each house was a garden of flowers and vegetables. These gardens, it is said, supplied the town with vegetables and other garden truck. The water for these gardens and for household purposes came from Six Mile Bar, above the town. It was conveyed along the upper side of the hill and a small ditch supplied HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 75 each house. The best class of citizens had large barrels or cisterns through which they filtered the water over charcoal. Later the Stanislaus and San Joaquin Ditch Com pany built a reservoir on the summit of the hill and the water was conducted to the homes in pipes. As the reservoir was some 300 feet above the town it gave a high pressure to the fire department in case of fire. Stage Transportation Knights Ferry from its first existence has always been more fortunate in the way of transportation than the other river towns, as she has had daily transportation, Sun days excepted, with the seaport cities. It was, as has been recorded, on the highway to the mountain camps. At first individual conveyances were run from Stockton. Then came the M. J. Dooly Company with its splendid four-horse coaches, running on schedule time. They left Stockton at six o'clock, after the arrival of the steamer from San Francisco ; a second coach returning connected with the four o'clock steamer for the bay. The fare to Knights Ferry was somewhere around four dollars. Some times there would be an opposition line started. It would run for two or three months and then the fare would -come down to two dollars the trip. After Dooly's death, Charles H. Sisson continued the line. Then came the railroad to Milton and the big lines of staging went out of business. Then the Southern Pacific road came to Oakdale, 1872, and this destroyed completely all systematized stage lines. Lewis Voyle, however, who owned a livery stable at Knights Ferry, put on a two-horse line between Modesto, Oakdale and the mountain camps. The Story of a Court House One of the relics of Knights Ferry, perhaps the most interesting, was the old :ourt house. It was a large two-story brick building erected in 1861 as a hotel by a man named Fisher. When the people voted Knights Ferry the county seat, the board of supervisors, P. B. Nagle, Thomas H. Leggett and E. D. Giddings, purchased this building for the holding of the county court, jail and county offices. The only judge of the Superior Court holding sessions in that building was Judge A. Elkins, as rhe county seat was again moved at the expiration of his term of office. During two- rhirds of the time this building was used as a hotel and court house. When Knights Ferry became of official importance, Major Lane, a well-known citizen, opened a large hotel at the entrance of the town. The building in 1864 was destroyed by fire. The supervisors, thinking it a good business proposition, rented the first story of the court house to the Major as there was "plenty of space for a court room, jail and offices for the various county officers." After the removal of the county seat the building was sold to Adolphus L. Hewel, who had been the county clerk in 1865. In later years the building was deserted and probably set on fire, was destroyed, the walls crumbling and falling to the ground. Business Firms of Early Days The cost of transportation is always a very important item with business men and the cost of transporting goods to Knights Ferry was high, especially in the winter season. All goods were transported from Stockton, arriving there by steamers. Each merchant had in Stockton a commission agent to receive the goods or place them in storage until later called for. In the earliest days the goods were taken to Knights Ferry and other points on the backs of mules. These mules would be handled by Mexicans, from thirty to fifty in each pack team. Then followed the big mule teams, each team carrying about five tons and hauled by from sixteen to twenty-four mules. Some of the merchants who received these goods at Knights Ferry were Hestres & Magendie, merchandise; Charles Mooney, boots and shoes; Bartlett & Jamison, saddlery goods ; French & Matthews, tinware ; J. E.Coleman, furniture ; H. Lind, cloth ing; S. Honigsberger, merchandise; C. S. S. Hill, merchandise; Connor & Dakin, black smiths, and Lodtman & Brother, saloonists. McLean & Brother kept the Placer Hotel; Robert L. Gardner, the Gardner House, and N. Buddington, the Central House. J. E. W. Coleman sold wall paper, paints and oils. Dr. John Coleman con ducted a drug store, and L. C. Van Allen had a book store. The express business was 76 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY represented by John H. Everett. He traveled through the mountains to the various camps on foot, carrying on his back mail matter, packages, newspapers and such other articles as were entrusted to him. He made regular trips from Knights Ferry twice a week, passing through Two Mile Bar, Spanish Bar, O'Brien's Ferry, the Crimea House, Scorpion Gulch, Ramsey's Flats, Green Springs and Salt Spring Valley. One day the express messenger failed to return. Search being made for him, he was found near Two Mile Bar, drowned in an old mining shaft half filled with water. Abraham Schell — Enterprising Citizen It may be well, perhaps, to close this account of Knights Ferry's history with a brief sketch of its most enterprising citizen, Abraham Schell. I knew him well when a little shaver and saw him daily. He was then engaged in the grocery business at Stockton with H. O. Matthews, the Farmers and Merchants bank building now stand ing on the site. He removed to Knights Ferry in 1856 and loaning the San Joaquin Water Company money to complete their mining ditch, lost $25,000 in the speculation. A lawyer by profession, he and Adolphus Hewel entered into partnership in 1866 and continuing until 1872. Then Judge Hewel removed to Modesto and Judge Schell retired from practice. In the late '60s he built a beautiful home on the hillside just beyond the bridge and there he entertained many distinguished guests visiting or passing through Knights Ferry. At this time he was one of the town bankers and interested in school work, libraries, secret societies and any progressive measure help ful to the camp. He purchased three and a half leagues of the Rancheria del Rio Estanislao — the ranch on the River Stanislaus — in 1866, and setting out vines, fruit and orange trees, he began cultivating the wonderful vineyard and establishing a winery that made Knights Ferry famous down to the present time. He interested George H. Krause, a German from the Rhine Valley, in the possibilities of grape culture. Grape cuttings were imported and 10,000 cuttings were planted in the foot hills below the town. At a cost of $20,000 the two men built a wine cellar that was a marvelous piece of work. It was a tunnel eighty feet long cut through the solid rock of the side hill. In this cellar were stored thousands of gallons of wine awaiting shipment to New York. Indians were employed in the vineyard and the winery. After Mr. Schell's death his nephew, H. R. Schell, took charge of the place and still resides at the famous "Red Mountain Vineyard" and ranch. The following clipping from a local paper is of interest : "The dry wave has already put out of existence one of the famous old wineries of California, the Red Mountain Vineyard, near Knights Ferry. This vineyard, oper ated for many years by H. R. Schell, has made no wine for several years, and is now shipping out the last of the liquors which have been stored in the historic spot for many years. The wine grapes have been uprooted and the rich land is being planted to alfalfa and other crops. This winery was established in 1866." The Big Grain Fire, July, 1884 r ?rTa'" fi0r" foorT1™3 but Perhaps one of the lareest in financial loss was the hre ot July 20, 1884. It occurred near the Burnett railroad station and fully 5 000 acres of grain were destroyed, involving a loss in insurance figures of over $100,000, with only $22 000 insurance How the fire started is not known; it was first noticed in a corner of Colonel Caleb Dorsey's ranch, and as a heavy wind was blowing it spread rapidly. Two men from the McHews' harvesting crew going into Oakdale filled up on liquor and returning to the thresher stopped at the corner and lighted their pipes. Carelessly they threw their matches away and this probably started the hre. w. C. Carmichael says he saw the men smoking, indifferently looking at the name. He ran to them and commanded them to assist him in putting out the fire He soon saw the danger and running to Colonel Dorsey's house phoned in the alarm In a few minutes hundreds of men from Oakdale and other points were hurrvine to the scene carrying with them wet sacks, pieces of blanket and sticks to beat out the names H b. Reynolds, on his ranch three miles distant, says the flames at times lilted by the wind would leap thirty or forty feet into the air. He hastened to the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 77 fire with his water wagon filled with water to assist in keeping the sacks wet and provide the men with water to drink. Another farmer while trying to get his thresh ing machine out of the range of the fire was encompassed by a whirlwind of flame and the two horses were so badly burned that one of them was shot to put him out of his miser)'. In a short time dozens of men were seen about Oakdale with their arms blistered or badly burned and several of them with the hair burned from their heads. The fire was finally checked by back firing and a long strip of plowed land. The losses as computed by insurance exceeded $100,000. Caleb Dorsey's loss was $30,000 on grain, besides losing a Shippe combined header and thresher and a steam threshing machine. Robinson and Carey lost $20,000, insured, $7,000. H. Graney, $4,000; Isaac Watson, $16,000; Paulsell and Muncey, $16,000. Some of the grain was insured at seven dollars per acre, but as the yield was very heavy the insurance did not cover twenty-five per cent of the loss. CHAPTER FOUR FERRY AND STEAMER TRANSPORTATION STANISLAUS RIVER FERRIES In the hopeful days of gold mining, wildcat schemes and frenzied finance there were a few men in the territory who believed that they could quickly make a fortune by establishing ferries along the rivers of the state. In Stanislaus County there were over a dozen ferries established within six months, these including the George Islip, the Heath & Emory, the Bailey and the William Knight ferries on the Stanislaus, the Adams, John W. Laird, Jackson & Horr ferries on the Tuolumne and the Jesse Hill Ferry on the San Joaquin. Each man believed that he had the best ferry location on the river and each ferryman believed that the tide of travel would turn his way. But alas for human hopes and bright dreams, the tide of travel moved from Stockton to Knights Ferry direct, and then through the mountains, south. Only a few of the gold seekers went as far south as Mariposa and they, following the stage route, crossed the Stanislaus River at Leitch and Cottle's Ferry and the Tuolumne River, high up at the Dickerson Ferry. The ferryman in his day was as necessary as the locomotive engineer, the chauf feur or the sky pilot in 1921. Surrounded as was the county, on three sides by water at least eight months of the year, it would have been impossible to have entered the county or traveled out of it during this period. Indeed, even with the ferry boats, there were times during the highest flood tides when it was impossible to cross the rivers because of the swift running current. At that time also it was impossible to reach the ferries because of overflowed lands. The ferryman of that day was not only a necessity but he was also a jolly good fellow. He always had something to drink, was a good landlord, a good story teller and always posted in regard to the news of the day. He was, so to speak, the news gatherer of his time. Newspapers then off the regular state routes were few and far between, and as John G. Marvin said, "a newspaper two weeks old was a sensation." The ferryman's location was such, that meeting hundreds of travelers daily coming and going, he heard all of the current news and naturally he repeated that news to others. First Established Ferry The Heath & Emory Ferry was the first established ferry in Stanislaus County. It passed through several hands and was known in 1868 as the Meinecke, and in 1881, as the Taylor Ferry, situated twenty-seven miles from Stockton and about six miles above the mouth of the Stanislaus River. It was on the direct line of travel between Sacramento and San Jose passing through Pacheco Pass. The proprietors as early as March, 1850, advertised their ferry in the Times and in giving a descrip tion of their boat said: "It is thirty feet long and nine feet wide and enclosed for wagons and mules. It will be kept in the cleanest and most perfect order," they de clared, "and there is every accommodation offered for the traveler in the tent adjoining 78 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY the ferry." The enterprising partners expended over $3,000 in improving the road lead ing up to the ferry. This so pleased the travelers and farmers of the vicinity that in a published card they praised the ferrymen "for the enterprise they have manifested in the great improvement they have made in the public road, for the new road avoids the much-dreaded cut-off." The first woman to cross the ferry was a Mrs. Jenkins and her husband, two of a party of five on their way to Crescent City. The party reached the ferry about sundown, having left Stockton that morning. In honor of the occasion the obliging host gave the party at supper time a separate table and served them with a bottle of wine and an oyster stew in addition to the regular fare of pork, beans,* coffee and bread. The First Three Houses At this time, September, 1850, there was but one road or highway to the ferry. It was what was later known as the Mariposa or stage road. The road became a well- defined public highway through the shrewdness of Dr. Chalmers, a Southerner, quite intimate with the Government officials. Chalmers had settled on the road in San Joaquin County, at what was later called "Eight-Mile Corner." There he built a house, and opened a wayside hotel. As he was anxious to induce the public to travel on that road, he visited his friends, the Government officials, and succeeded in having the Government wagons pass his way on their trips to Fort Miller. Thus was estab lished a Government road. At the time there were but three houses on the highway, Dr. Chalmers' home, the George Kerr place, known as the Fifteen-Mile House, and the house at the ferry. As it was impossible to travel this road in winter because of the deep mud of the adobe soil, a winter road was established to the ferry by the way of French Camp. The soil was of a sandy nature and a fine road in winter time. On this road there was but one stopping place, a little zinc house, 12x16, which had been brought from New York. This was also the stage station. Ferry Competition There was considerable competition and rivalry among the ferrymen and each man proclaimed his ferry the shortest and best route to the southern mines. They also advertised other exclusive advantages to the traveler. George Islip announced his as the "lower ferry, six miles below the Heath & Emory Ferry." He stated that he had just completed "a splendid ferry boat, the banks have been cut down to a level with the river on the south side, which affords an easy landing. Brakes have been affixed to the boat to avoid any difficulty to wagons driving on or off. The ferry house is built for the accommodation of the travelers. The table will be furnished with the best the market affords and the bar will be well stocked with assorted liquors." George W. Keeler told where his ferry was located, namely, thirty-five miles from Stockton by the way of the Twelve-Mile House on the "lone tree" road and from there to the hill on the Stanislaus River known as the "jumping off" place. The road, he declared, was an admirable one, "having along it an abundance of good water and grass." The ferry boats were rudely constructed and were navigated across the rivers by means of a large manila rope anchored on either side of the stream. In time these ropes became worn from constant use and liable to break, even in the middle of the river. After a time wire cables were manufactured and in April, 1869, John W. Laird advertised that at his ferry on the river at Tuolumne City, he had "put on the first wire cable and the road had been graded, making it easy of access to the ferry." The highest ferry on the Tuolumne River was the Indian ranch ferry owned in 1850 by Alden Jackson and Benjamin D. Horr. They claimed to have the largest boat in California and in one trip it would "cross eight mules and their wagons with safety and despatch." Their ferry "was the nearest road to Sonora, Mariposa and the southern mines, and they had a large supply of groceries and provisions on hand and' sold to the wayfaring emigrant and miner at reasonable rates." The Dickerson Ferry The Dickerson ferry on the Tuolumne River, about ten miles above Waterford was the most popular of all of the ferries. It was established by one of the Dickerson HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 79 brothers, all of them being popular men. Like the most of this kind of property, it passed through many hands in a short period of time. In 1862 it was owned by C. O. Osborn ; that year he sold out to. John W. Roberts, who had formerly been engaged in the butcher business. As the ferry was on the principal route of travel, the ferry and hotel was a money-making occupation. The hotel, a large building capable of accommodating some 200 guests, caught fire about midnight, February 22, 1865, and was entirely destroyed, Mr. Roberts saving only one bed. The ferry was a relay station for the Stockton and Mariposa stages, the passengers there getting their noon day meal, and as the saying goes, the landlord was "up against it." His Yankee pluck and inventive genius was put to the test, but the following day he fed fifty passengers. The tables were spread under a large oak tree adjacent to the destroyed building. Shortly after the fire one of Mr. Roberts' most distinguished guests was Schuyler Colfax, speaker of the House of Representatives and founder of the Rebekah degree of Odd Fellows. He was on a visit to the Yosemite Valley. Before the close of the year a fine two-story brick hotel was erected, and Christmas evening it was dedicated by a grand ball. It was the event of that day. Several members of the Legislature were present, and the proprietor cleared over $1,000 from the sale of tickets. The John D. Morley Ferry John D. Morley, who located in Stanislaus County in 1854, established his ferry about three miles below La Grange. He also had a very profitable ranch from which he made more money than from ferryage. This ranch of about 700 acres, enclosed by fences and ditches, produced in a single year 7,000 bushels of wheat, 900 bushels of barley and 60 tons of hay. He also raised sheep, cattle and chickens and found a ready sale for his entire product almost at his very door. County Bridges These ferries were for the time being the bridges of the county, for they bridged the streams and made travel and trade possible. They were also great benefactors to the county, for they did for the commonwealth that which it could not do for itself, because of the lack of money. The first bridge in the county was at Knights Ferry. It was washed away in the flood of 1862 and subsequently the present bridge at that point was built. In 1858 John Lovall, who had a ferry on the Lower Stanislaus, built a bridge across the stream at a cost of $12,000. This bridge went out on the flood tide of 1862. The Oakdale bridge was built by the supervisors in 1883 at a cost of $14,739 and the Record said October 12, "and the people will no longer have to pay toll." The Modesto Toll Bridge Three enterprising citizens, George Perley, Thomas D. Harp and John McCarty, seeing the necessity of a bridge at Modesto, applied to the Legislature of 1878 to build a bridge. The Legislature on March 28 authorized these parties to build said bridge. It was stipulated that the bridge must be erected within two miles of the railroad and opposite Modesto, within three years. The franchise was for fifty years and they were permitted to charge reasonable tolls. The $120,000 County Bridge Among the progressive improvement of Stanislaus County, none are of more benefit than the handsome concrete bridge over the Tuolumne River just south of Modesto. The supervisors, surmising the fact that the highway would soon become state property, concluded to construct a bridge that would be not only a credit to the county, but one of solid worth and permanence. The county surveyor, Edward Annear, was consulted and he recommended the supervisors to adopt a bridge design patented by John C. Leonard, the San Francisco bridge architect. His bridge design was selected by the supervisors, but unfortunately Edward Annear did not live to see it completed. He marched to the front in the Allied war, was taken sick and returned to New York and there died. The supervisors June 13, 1916, opened the bids for the construction of the bridges, sixteen in number. All bids were rejected. On the second call for bids the lowest figure was Ben E. Cotton of San Francisco. His bid was $110,278, he also 80 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY being the lowest bidder the first time. As this road was one of the main highways to the south, the supervisors constructed a temporary bridge over the lands of G. B. & P. Podesta and Mrs. M. D. Ingle, the supervisors paying them $183 per month for four months. The contractor, tearing away the old drawbridge through which many steamers had passed in the early days, immediately began the consrtuction of the new bridge. After scarcely two months at work, he found in September that it would take longer to complete the bridge than he anticipated, and unless he worked his men longer hours the spring freshet might come and cause him thousands of dollars loss. The con tractor was then working his men only eight hours in compliance with the state law. There was a proviso in the law, however, that in case of emergency a contractor could increase his hours of work on a state job, provided he obtained the consent of the supervisors. Their consent was obtained, and the bridge was completed on the evening of March 16, 1917. A Bridge Celebration St. Patrick's Day, March 17, was a memorable day in the history of Stanislaus County, for on that morning the bridge was formally accepted by the supervisors. Its acceptance was acknowledged by the supervisors in a body crossing the structure. The bar was turned aside and in an automobile, with John Clark acting as chauffeur, Supervisors Johnson, Vaugh, Little and Whitmore, together with the contractor, Ben E. Cotton, slowly rode across the bridge. Returning to their starting point, they again crossed over, followed in line by about thirty citizens in automobiles. Thus was for mally opened the Tuolumne River bridge, one of the handsomest and most substantial bridges in California. It was the intention of the Business Men's Association of Modesto to have a grand celebration, but this was indefinitely postponed because of the washing away of the temporary bridge February 22. This accident caused a long delay in the completion of the bridge. It also caused a detour of travel through Empire City, this causing a loss of thousands of dollars to the Modesto merchants. Therefore, they concluded to have no further delay in the blocking of business. The State Highway Bridge There was a long discussion in 1 899 by the supervisors of San Joaquin and Stanis laus counties over a bridge across the Stanislaus River. Two locations were under consideration, Burney's "and Bailey's Ferry. County Surveyor Quail of San Joaquin County, still in office, was requested to report to the San Joaquin supervisors the cost of a bridge at either point, and the cost to each county. He reported June 7 that a bridge at Burney's Ferry would cost, pro rata, San Joaquin $7,655 and Stanislaus County $5,310, while a bridge at Bailey's Ferry would cost, respectively, $11,275 and $3,945. A bridge at Bailey's Ferry would accommodate the greater number of people, as it was a direct route to Modesto and Merced and a bridge was there built. Now, I have no means at hand of knowing the exact cost or the length of said bridge. It was not a very substantial structure and after a few years was superseded by the present bridge, for we read, January 21, 191 1 : "The Bailey Ferry bridge three miles south of Escalon will be completed in the near future at a cost of $30,000. The bridge has two eighty-foot spans, one 200-foot span and 500 feet of trestle." It is now a part of the State Highway, having been taken over by the state and strengthened and replanked during the present year. Transportation Now and Then Safe and rapid transportation is the life of trade. The merchant of Stanislaus County in the present time receives goods from the seaport within forty-eight hours. In other days it took from a week to ten days, frequently a longer time, to receive mer chandise from the same port. Today the East and the West Side of the county import and export their goods and products by railroad, but for twenty years the East Side was compelled to wait the slow-moving pack train or mule team, while the West Side was dependent altogether upon the unreliable river steamers. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 81 Knights Ferry the Gateway Station The imports and exports to all points of the county, except Knights Ferry, were of little importance because of the smallness of the population and the out-of-line of travel. To the ferry, however, the imports were enormous, thousands of tons each year. At first the goods were transported upon the backs of mules. Each animal would be loaded with an average of 300 pounds, and driven to the mines in bands of from thirty to fifty in each band, the drivers being Mexicans. These mules would be loaded with all kinds of merchandise, from barrels of flour to baby buggies. The pack train, led by its bell mule, soon gave way to the sixteen-mule team, with its jingling bells, six bells to each mule, the entire team being driven by one line or rein. The wagons were usually called prairie schooners because of the immense loads they carried, varying from five to ten tons. The First Up-River Boats The earliest record of boating on the rivers of Stanislaus County was in the winter of 1849. At that time a number of gold seekers, bound for the mines, loaded about twenty whale boats in San Francisco with groceries, mining implements, etc., and started out. Rowing across the bay up the San Joaquin and the Tuolumne rivers they landed at Crescent City. From that point they transported their goods overland to the mines. By traveling with their goods by water as far as possible, they made quite a saving in freight money. At that time the price of freight from Stockton to Sonora was seventy-five cents per hundred pounds and to Mariposa one dollar per hundred ppunds. In December, '49, and the spring of 1850, "whaleboats were con stantly plying between Stockton, Crescent City and Jacksonville." Other tributaries of the San Joaquin were not considered navigable under any circumstances. The Pioneer Steamer "The first boat to sail the upper rivers was the little side-wheel steamer Georgiana, of perhaps thirty tons register. She had on board a party bound for an excursion to the up-river towns and the question was asked : "Is the river navigable to Tuolumne City?" The steamer left Stockton on the afternoon of May 1, 1850, one of the excur sionists being the editor and proprietor of the Stockton Times. "After leaving San Joaquin City that night," wrote the editor, "we cast anchor to a tree and picking out the softest plank on the deck, wrapped our blankets about us, but the myriads of mosquitoes buzzing about us made sleep almost impossible. At sunrise we steamed up the river to Grayson City. After spending an hour there running down stream we headed up the river to Tuolumne City and were met on our arrival by about 150 per sons, with loud and prolonged cheers." Efforts Made to Establish Trade Finding the river navigable, the captain of the steamer Georgiana advertised that he would make weekly trips to Grayson and Tuolumne City during the season. The "steamer will leave Stockton on the arrival of the John A. Sutter from San Francisco." At Tuolumne City the steamer Georgiana was to make connections with the steamer Etna for points higher up the river. The steamer Maunsell White was another little craft advertised to carry freight and passengers. The desertion of the river towns, as already recorded, killed the river trade and for a period of eighteen months not a steamer made the trip. In 1852 the captain of the Erastus Corning concluded to run up river. He had been making tri-weekly trips between San Francisco and Stockton, but as there were six other boats making the- same trips he believed there was more money for him up-river. It was said great changes had taken place in the amount of travel between Stockton and Mariposa and that a boat might pay. The captain adver tised, August 15, that he would run to Empire City during the winter and would stop at all intermediate points. These steamers were all independently managed. The captain, pilot and engineer usually owned the boat and handled all the business, hence there was a possibility of making money. The boat was run up at a loss, however, and we hear no more of up-river traffic until 1860. 6 82 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY The Pioneer Freighters The first of the line of steamers that ran up the rivers for at least twenty-five years was a little stern-wheel craft called the Eureka. She had a carrying capacity of about fifty tons and was built by the Ling brothers, two Stockton jewelers. Then came the "Christiana," named after a daughter of John Schreck, the owner. He had formerly been a teamster on the road between Stockton and Sonora, then a commission merchant, and owned large quantities of land on the West Side. The third was the little steamer Visalia, built in Sacramento and named after the up-country town. This boat came steaming into Stockton July 3, 1860, from the up-river, having on board sixty sacks of wool from the San Luis Rancho. The following day she started up-river again for Fresno City with a consignment of 60,000 pounds of barley for the Overland Stage Company. The Esmeralda, built in 1864, ran that year up to Sycamore Slough. Kinds of Merchandise Shipped In 1866, J. D. Hamilton, formerly proprietor of the twelve-mile stage station and hotel on the Sonora road, and Joseph Ward, engaged in the steamboat business, built a steamer called the Alta. Even up to that year there was but little grain raised in Stanislaus County, and the trade was with the Mexican settlers and vaqueros who had located along the bank of the river. The steamer would carry up groceries and such other supplies as were used by the Mexicans, and return with a steamer load of hides, pelts, tallow, wool and sometimes sheep for the markets. In 1868 there came a remarkable change. The farmers began settling in the county by the hundreds. They began the raising of -grain and this caused a quick change in the kinds of articles trans ported. At this time also they learned that larger steamers could ascend the rivers. Still the means of transportation was too limited, and then big barges were built and loaded. They were towed up stream with a long tow line fastened to the tow post of the steamer. This was in April, 1870, and in that month the steamer Tulare, with barge, took up river 200 cords of redwood posts, 6,000 feet of lumber and 160 tons of merchandise, from flour, sugar, bacon and beans to agricultural implements. Six years later came the crowning event for big loads, when the steamers Harriet and Clara Crow brought into Stockton 16,000 sacks of wheat, each sack averaging 120 pounds. The Harriet brought down the largest load, 9,000 sacks. First Passenger Boat In the middle sixties the river passenger trade was of considerable importance and in 1867 Capt. J. D. Hamilton built the Tulare. She was fitted up with a cabin and staterooms and had all of the passenger conveniences of that day. At one period she made regular trips from Tuolumne City to San Francisco direct, touching on the way at Stockton. The passenger list, of course, was not large, but the Harriet on one of her down trips carried forty-nine passengers. It was quite a number for a small boat and fifteen of them were on their way overland by rail. The Central Pacific Railroad track at the time, July, 1869, was within a few miles of Stockton. The Stanislaus Navigation Company In 1868 a number of citizens of Stanislaus County incorporated and formed what was known as the Tuolumne and Stanislaus Navigation Company. Their -capital stock was $7,000, with shares at seventy dollars each. The directors for the first year were John W. Laird, Henry Covert, F. Meinecke and Henry James. The company was formed for the purpose of running a steamer between Tuolumne City and Grayson, carrying both freight and passengers. They made a contract with Stephen Davis, a shipbuilder at Stockton, and he built them the steamer Tuolumne City at a cost com plete of $9,000. The steamer was ninety feet in length, twenty-nine feet in breadth and four feet deep. Her engine was made at the Globe Iron Works in the same city. Clearing the River Stanislaus All of these rivers were very dangerous to navigation. Through the floods of ages past the river bottoms were filled with snags, the limbs of old trees deep buried HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 83 in the shifting sands, with sharp projecting points, and the low branches of trees liable at any time to carry a steamer's smokestack, so the pilot had to be on his guard at all times. To remedy this evil the Legislature, in April, 1868, authorized the formation of a company "for the purpose of clearing the Stanislaus River of overhead trees, snags from the stream, and purchasing a boat for the trade." They were also authorized to collect such tolls as were permitted by the supervisors. The company began work at Burneyville and cleared the Stanislaus of all obstructions to its mouth. Having completed their work, in May, 1869, they invited the supervisors, Caleb Dorsey, T. T. Hamlin and Henry G. James, to meet them at Stockton and sail up the river to inspect the work. Only one supervisor appeared, Col. Caleb Dorsey. With him as their guest the company left Stockton at nine o'clock, May 1, and that night they tied up at Taylor's Ferry. The following day the steamers touched at Gibson's landing, Henderson's Store, Murphy's and Bailey's Ferry, Cady's Rancho and on arrival at Burneyville they were welcomed by a large crowd of citizens. Terminal River Points The first steamer to run up the Stanislaus River as far as Burneyville, now called Burney, was the Clara Crow, transporting from that point forty tons of grain. The following year she ran up as far as Dallas ranch, now called Hickman, and obtained a cargo of wheat. The little boat of forty-five tons register was built by J. W. Crow and J. W. Smith, his brother-in-law, the Crow family being among the earliest settlers. In May, 1868, the steamer Fresno, then under command of Joseph Ward, ran up the Tuolumne River as far as the J. D. Morley Ferry, twenty-five miles above Paradise City. This was the highest point ever reached on that river, and this was only accom plished during the highest tides. The largest steamer ever running up the Tuolumne River was the Empire City, 125 tons, running as far up as Paradise. This steamer has the credit of making the run from Paradise to Stockton in seven hours. She was transporting at this time 150 sacks of grain, and was towing a barge containing 1,220 sacks of wool weighing 336,000 pounds. It was the most valuable cargo ever brought down the river in a single trip, February, 1869. At this time, 1893, the merchants of Fresno were trying to reduce their freight bills by shipping by steamer instead of by rail, the scribe saying, "It is the intention of the Fresno merchants to save freight charges by shipping it by river as far as possible and freight it to the Raisin City." With this object in view the Empire City took on board at Stockton for Fresno and ran up the San Joaquin as far as Firebaugh's Ferry. This steamer was running up the Tuolumne River as late^as 1893, and in March of that year she landed 200 tons of cast-iron pipe at Modesto for the new waterworks. It was the first steamer to go up the river as far as Modesto since 1869. On April 1 of the same year she again ap peared at the town, landing with a load of freight. The largest steamer up any of the rivers was the 400-ton steamer Centennial, built in 1876, Simon Newman, then of Hill's Ferry, was one of the largest stockholders. She made her trial trip up the San Joaquin River and steaming up as far as Hill's Ferry took on a load of 6,000 sacks of wheat. The Shoaling Waters The up-river navigation usually commenced in January and ended in August or September. Gradually the wate* of the rivers would shoal and by the end of September it would be impossible to ascend the streams and bring down any profitable loads. The highest waters usually were during June, July and August. Then there would be a rush of business, all of the farmers would have their wheat harvested and begin hauling it to the points of embarkation. Along this line the editor of the News wrote in September, 1868, "Nearly 3,000 tons of vheat is stacked up along the river banks above Tuolumne City awaiting shipment from different points to market. If the water falls rapidly much of it will have to be stored in the warehouse until next year." The fol lowing year the same paper stated, July 4, "The streets of our little town are perfectly jammed with wagons and teams hauling grain for shipment. Much of this rush is due to navigation being discontinued above this point, which compels the farmers to ship from Paradise- City. Steamers as large as '".le Empire City can land here, as the water 84 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY is not less than four feet, that being the lowest point." "It is a singular fact that in years of great crops on the West Side, navigation seems to close earlier," said a writer in 1878. In 1872, the heaviest crop year known in that section, nearly all of the boats were compelled to draw off before the last of August because of the lowering of the streams. The crops were later that year and scarcely two-thirds of the crop was got out. Every farmer was anxious to get his crops into some seaport warehouse so that he could sell on the highest market price. The transportation facilities were limited and in seasons of tremendously heavy crops it was almost impossible to ship out all of the grain. "On one occasion," says H. J. Corcoran in his stories of the San Joaquin River, "there was a very heavy crop and each farmer demanded that his grain be first shipped. The steamer Clara Crow, with a barge, landed at Crows Landing to take on a load of grain. Every farmer at the landing insisted upon his grain being trucked on board. The captain, J. W. Smith, a brother-in-law of the Crow family, was a very obliging gentleman, but he was in a quandary. Finally he hit upon the plan of premium rates for the transportation of 300 tons of wheat. The rate was three dollars per ton, and the highest bidder over that rate would have his wheat shipped out. The farmers began bidding against each other, but one farmer sitting 'way back on a pile of grain outbid all others. His bid was so high that Captain Smith and James Crow felt quite happy, as they would get $1,000 more than the regular freight charge. Imagine their disappointment, however, when they learned that the successful bidder was the foreman of one of the Crow brothers' ranches." The Height of the Grain Era In the early '80s Stanislaus County began harvesting heavy crops of grain and this was particularly true of the West Side. In order to transport this grain, larger steamers were built. Then the Crow brothers, who were large landowners and grain raisers, built two barges, each barge carrying 300 tons. They continued increasing the capacity of the barges until finally Captain Hamilton and his partner, Jack Greer, built a barge which they named the Alta. It was 230 feet in length, 40 feet in width and so constructed that it would carry 18,000 sacks of wheat and float in five feet of water. The transportation of wheat was immense and over 1,000,000 tons have been shipped down stream and stored in warehouses in a single season. The handling of so much wheat required many buyers or agents. Some of these agents represented com mission men in Stockton, some big buyers in San Francisco, among the latter Isaac Friedlanger, in his day the "king financier" of wheat. These agents at one time had their headquarters at the Grayson House, Grayson, and were royally entertained by "mine host," John Westley Van Benscroten. It is said that they would sit daily upon his commodious porch, smoking fine Havanas and drinking rare old wines, and watch for the signs of their various steamers. Each boat called at Grayson on her way up stream and the captain received his orders regarding the loading of his steamer and barge. From their second-story positions the agents could see the smoke of the steamers, five miles distant by land and ten miles by water, as it arose above the trees that lined the river banks. And from experience they learned to tell the name of each steamer from the manner in which the smoke arose from her smokestack. After dark, they could tell the name of the steamer by its whistle. Those are days of the past. In time the railroads absorbed all trade and the steamboats of the West Side, like the stages and mule teams, were compelled to give way to the quicker mode of transportation. CHAPTER FIVE THE RAILROAD ERA The_ railroad is the greatest of builders of town and county. Were it not for the construction and maintenance of four railroad lines through Stanislaus County, the county in all probability today would not have been much wealthier or with a much larger population than in 1870. Oakdale, Modesto, Turlock, Newman and various other smaller towns would have had no existence, and Empire, Paradise, Tuolumne HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 85 City and Hill's Ferry would have been thriving little towns. But the locomotive whistle was heard and the river towns, almost in a day, were deserted and became cities of history only. But the towns first named came into life, and growing, ever growing, wonderfully assisted during the past fifteen years by irrigation, will mark another century in the calendar of time. STANISLAUS BONDS FOR RAILROADS The pioneers, even as early as 1863, gave encouragement to railroads by voting their willingness to purchase bonds. In February of that year, through their repre sentatives, Assemblyman J. W. Robinson and Senator George McCullough, the Legis lature passed a bill authorizing the supervisors, J. H. Newsome, Stephen Bishop and N. McFarlane, to call an election and submit to the electors the question of subscribing for $25,000 in Stockton & Copperopolis railroad bonds. The election was called and a surprisingly large vote was given for the bonds — yes, 239 ; no, 29. The railroad project which had been promoted was abandoned because of its heavy cost. Again the Stockton & Copperopolis railroad question came up in the Legislature in March, 1866, and they passed an amended bill increasing Stanislaus County's subscription to $50,000, provided the road ran to Knights Ferry, at that time the county seat. Twelve miles of the road were graded. The value of copper fell to less than the cost of production and trans portation and thus ended the story of a railroad to "copper" town. Three 'j'ears later, 1869, the Legislative body enacted a law, approved by Gov. Henry H. Haight, authoriz ing the supervisors of Tulare, Fresno, Merced and Stanislaus counties to subscribe for the bonds of the Central Pacific Railroad, if the electors of said counties so declared. Proposed Railroad for Stanislaus At this time the entire northern part of California had "gone wild" over the question of railroads. Stanislaus County had caught the fever and the Tuolumne News declared, March 17, 1869: "Rumors are afloat, which are pretty well substantiated, that a company is being formed in connection with other parties, men of wealth, to build a railroad from Paradise City to Mossdale, on the San Joaquin, to connect with the Central Pacific; $100,000 has been subscribed, provided our citizens put up a like amount of money." Stockton Railroad Talk In that year the Central Pacific incorporated a railroad under the name of the San Joaquin Valley Railroad. It was capitalized at $15,000,000 and had as its object a road down the valley to connect at Mohave with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, then building westward from New Orleans. Many of the citizens of Stockton, believ ing the Stanford road would greatly injure the trade of Stockton, planned to build an opposition road and head off the Southern Pacific. With this object in view, they in corporated what was known as the Stockton & Visalia Railroad. The capital stock was placed at $5,500,000, with shares at $100 each. The company proposed to construct a railroad through Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno and Tulare to the town of Visalia. The directors of the company were Stockton citizens, and two of them, Louis Haas and John Schreck, were large landowners in Stanislaus County. A public meeting was held to obtain subscriptions, and Thomas J. Keyes and W. S. Montgomery, former residents of Stanislaus, strongly favored the building of the road. The capitalist would not subscribe for the stock, fearing that there was a "nigger" in the fence, and so there was much talk but no action. This called forth a sharp rebuke from the Stanislaus Neivs and September 25, 1869, Spencer wrote: "We see that the people of Stockton are getting excited over the question of a railroad through this valley to terminate at Tuolumne City. There has been so much talk and so little accomplished that we hesi tate giving any credence to even reliable reports or propositions emanating from that quarter. We do not wish to flatter our farmers with the hope that a railroad will soon be built through our valley by Stockton influence." The Southern Pacific Railroad Company were strongly fighting the scheme. The Stockton & Visalia Company, find ing they could make no headway, sold out in August, 1871, to the California Pacific, the road having been graded as far as Peters. The road last named built the road to Milton, in Calaveras County. Then they sold out to the Southern Pacific. 86 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY THE OAKDALE RAILROAD The whys and the wherefores of any railroad are past finding out, but almost im mediately the Southern Pacific, commencing at Peters, so named after the well-known grain buyer and buhach grower, Joseph D. Peters, began building a branch road to Farmington and on to the Stanislaus River near Burneyville. The work was in charge of Capt. W. L. Moulton, who had been interested in the two former projects, the Stock ton & Copperopolis and the California Pacific roads. Moulton had 400 men and 200 horses at work and he laid the rails three-fourths of a mile per day. Within two miles of the river, Moulton was compelled to await the completion of the bridge. Ihe work on the bridge was hurried along and September 25, 1871, the reporter wrote: "Soon the whistle of the iron horse will be heard in the grove of gigantic live oaks among which is situated the new town of Oakdale, the most pleasant and inviting pleasure ground in the whole San Joaquin Valley." Passenger trains were running to Oakdale, commencing September 9, and from the end of the line they took stages for Burnett's Station; Sisson's stage line connecting at Burnett's for Knights Ferry and other mountain camps. There was but one train a day. It left Stockton at 7 A. M. and arrived at Oakdale at 8:35 A. M., left that point at 2:38 P. M., arriving at Stockton at 4:10 P. M. THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY OR SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD While the Stockton & Visalia Railroad was hanging in the balance, a second road known as the Stockton & Tulare Railroad was incorporated by a company of Stock- tonians. The president of the company, Timothy Paige, was a large landowner of Stanislaus' West Side. The company appeared before the common council of Stockton in September, 1869, with a proposition that the council subscribe to $100,000 worth of bonds, the bonds to be delivered after ten miles of the road had been built. At the same meeting a second proposition for a railroad was read. It was signed by Leland Stanford, president. "It has been rumored," the paper declared, "that Stockton has $100,000 to invest in bonds in some valley railroad. The company will accept the offer and build seventy-five miles of railroad down the valley before the delivery of the bonds." The Stockton city council favored the proposition and sent for President Stanford. On arrival, he was introduced to the council by the mayor, Louis N. Hickman, after whom Hickman, in Stanislaus County, is named. During the con versation, Councilman George S. Evans inquired: "Mr. Stanford, at what point on the Tuolumne River will the proposed road through the valley cross the Tuolumne River?" "I cannot say exactly without a map, but it will be somewhere near Empire City, perhaps a little above and it may be a little below that point." Mayor Hickman then inquired of Mr. Stanford, "What do you intend to charge for freights and fares?" "None of your damn business!" replied the railroad president, and taking his hat he immediately left the council chamber. THE MODESTO BRANCH— SOUTHERN PACIFIC The San Francisco Alta, in September, 1869, published the statement that the Southern Pacific would soon build a branch road down the San Joaquin Valley. Theii prediction was soon verified. The company soon commenced work at Wilson's Station on the Overland route, but later changed the line to Lathrop. Working from the last- named point, the surveyors ran a line straight for Murphy's Ferry on the Stanislaus River and November 20, 1869, began their survey for a bridge. "Yesterday," said the News, "they moved to the Tuolumne River and are to examine a point near Empire City. They will connect with the Western Pacific between French Camp and Shep herd's Ferry." The final route was quickly selected and the graders and track layers following closely after the surveyor, completed the track that year to a point neai Murphy's Ferry. A month later the News reported: "The Southern Pacific have resumed operations down the San Joaquin Valley branch of their road at the Stanislaus River. They will cross about one-half mile below Murphy's Ferry, a distance at that point being about 1,200 feet from bank to bank, a large portion of which is covered by water in the winter time. This will be trestled and the bridge proper will be about 300 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 87 feet in length. It is expected that the road will cross the Tuolumne River about three and one-half miles above Paradise City, to which point numbers of the business men of Tuolumne and Paradise City propose moving their buildings and establishments to the new town as soon as the point is fully ascertained, as in their opinion a considerable business may be expected at that place." The work of track laying was hastened, for the Southern Pacific were anxious to run down the valley as soon as possble, first to connect with the Southern Railroad and second to be ready to haul the wheat crop of that season. The locomotive entered Modesto May 8, 1870; and the first time table, published February 26, 1872, read as follows: Leave Stockton 7:35 A. M., Lathrop 8:20 A. M., Modesto 9:45 for Merced, the track having been laid to that point January 25, 1871. The train left Merced the following morning, arriving at Stock ton at 10:20 A. M. CHAPTER SIX EARLY ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY FIRST COUNTY COURT TRANSACTIONS That we may so far as possible bring this history up to date in compact form, let us notice briefly the judicial organization of the county. It will be remembered that Stanislaus County was organized in 1854, cut off from Tuolumne County. An organi zation of county government was necessary and first of all the formation of county townships. That work was conducted by the court of sessions, as it was called. Each county had a court of sessions, corresponding to the present superior court, and above •t a district court embracing two or more counties. The court of sessions had a presid ing judge and two associate judges. The court assembled at Adamsville, the county seat/July 3, 1854, Judge H. W. Wallis presiding. All of the judges were present and Eli S. Marvin and James Burney were elected associate judges of the court of sessions of Stanislaus County. The judges then created the townships, defined the boundaries of each township, and named as district supervisors of the townships the following citi zens: Burney, D. B. Gardner; Oakville, F. Scocke ; Branch, Gallant D. Dickinson; Marvin, John G. Marvin; Orestimba, John M. Newsome; Grayson, John Westley V^n Benscroten. COUNTY BRAND AND SEALS As Stanislaus County was for over twenty years a large cattle-raising county, it was a class of property constantly changing hands and frequently sold at sheriff sales to settle unpaid debts. In order to protect the buyer in his purchase it became necessary for the county to mark its stamp or brand upon the animals "sold under execution." To iccomplish this result the court selected a brand. The design was' "SC," signifying Stanislaus County. Could any dishonest person mutilate or destroy this brand? Cer tainly, but the state law required every cattle owner to place his brand on record in the county recorder's office, and to disfigure a brand or to change it was a state's prison offense. The court also adopted a set of seals for each department of the court and the ;lerk was ordered to have them made. The designs at the present time may seem quite amusing. The seal of the county court was the usual device, with the Coast Range Mountains as a background and a man lassoing a cow. The probate court stamp was the usual device, and an elk. The court of sessions seal was the usual device, the Coast Range, and in the foreground a grizzly bear, while the district court seal was the Coast Range in the background and in the foreground a mare and colt. At the time the seals were very appropriate, as they typified the horse and cattle industry and two of the animals that then roamed the plains. COUNTY GREAT REGISTER Every voting citizen knows that under the state law once in every four j'ears at least he must register in the county clerk's office his name, age, place of birth, occupa tion and politics, but since women have become electors the age record has been 88 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY stricken out. A. E. Ketchin, while rummaging among a lot of old papers three years ago, in the garret of his home at Roberts Ferry, found an old Stanislaus register dating from 1867 to 1877. It was a valuable find, and it shows that in 1867 there were 2,665 voters, all white, except two colored men, George Clark, who lived at Knights Ferry, and Felix Grundy at La Grange. J. L. Crawford, in registering, gave his occupation as that of hog thief, and Mike Curran, age fifty years, said he was a sheep doctor. John P. Dennin and John Little, in 1876, registered as "gentlemen.'' Theo dore Turner, Modesto, first mayor, in 1868 was a school teacher near Empire City. J. S. Wootten, at the age of twenty-one years, was registered as a farmer and later a teacher in Modesto and still later principal of the Stockton high school. Jefferson D. Bentley, in 1866, then thirty-nine years of age, was registered as residing at Buena Vista, and he was present and saw the mob take the cattle thief from the Knights Ferry jail and hang him. Henry Cavill was in the teaming occupation and lived in the Washington precinct. Thomas D. Harp was a young man of thirty-one years and farming near Modesto in 1868. Charles Harter, in 1871, was a Modesto blacksmith. In 1870, George Perley, then a young man of twenty-two years, had just arrived in Modesto from New Brunswick and had accepted a position as clerk, while A. L. Cressey, thirty-six years of age, in 1876, was farming near Modesto. THE FIRST COUNTY FAIR In 1860 the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Society was organized at Stockton, the organization including the four counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Stanislaus. The Governor appointed its directors from the four counties and it re ceived yearly appropriations from the Legislature. For some reason Stanislaus pre ferred to hold a county fair and organizing, the officers in June, 1869, were H. G. James, president; Stephen Rodgers, vice-president; L. B. Walthall, secretary; S. M. Gallup, corresponding secretary, and H. K. Covert, treasurer. The directors were Miner Walden, James McHenry, J. C. Ayres, Samuel Dingley and J. D. Morley. The fair was held in Tuolumne City and opened September 22, continuing three days. The pavilion show was very poor, also the stock exhibition, for the farmers would not take the trouble to make any exhibits. The ladies, however, exhibited some beautiful needlework and some creditable oil paintings were exhibited. The horse racing at Miner Walden's track, two miles west of the town, was a success and the gamblers and track saloon did a big business. On the second day of the fair the ladies gave a festival for the purpose of raising money to build a brick schoolhouse. Roanoke, the Independent's traveling correspondent, said, "The festival was a grand success and Stanislaus' most favorite daughters were present in large numbers. The ladies made $250 clear of all expense." Bartholomew's circus gave performances during the fair and on Wednesday evening the circus band serenaded every one of the fair sex. The "Thunderer," a correspondent in the Stanislaus News, much disgruntled over Roanoke's criticism of the fair, said: "Roanoke appears to have got matters terribly muddled. He had evidently spent the most of his time on the race track and imbibed too freely of the ardent or else had been betting on the losing nag. He appeared anxious to ridicule the whole affair save the excellent work of the ladies. Even in that he mis quoted, and if some of them had him by the scalp he would feel as if he was standing on hot coals of fire barefooted." In reply Roanoke said: "Keep cool, Spencer, and don't tear your linen. The article is costly nowadays and printers aren't overstocked with the needful." THE STOCK GROWERS ASSOCIATION Another fair was held in Modesto in 1875, commencing September 28, and was as the News stated, devoted exclusively to horse racing and the exhibition of stock. Its officers were Frank Ross, president ; Colonel Caleb Dorsey, vice-president, and George Buck, secretary. The feature of the horse races was that a reporter of the San Fran cisco Bulletin was present and each day's races were published in the press dis patches. That year the county fair association collapsed and the Stock Growers Asso ciation was organized. In October they gave four days' racing, and purses amounting HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 89 to $1,450. "The races," declared the press, "will make the town assume a more than ordinary lively appearance." It did. Gamblers, sports and women flocked there from every quarter and Modesto was soon to be known as the "sporting town of the state." THE STANISLAUS AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION By the adoption of the new constitution in 1879 every fair association in the state went out of existence and new associations were organized. Under the new agricul tural district laws Stanislaus County was included with San Joaquin County in the fourth district, but in 1891 the county was classed in a district by itself, Agricultural District No. 38. In the previous year, on May 3, 1890, the citizens organized the Stanislaus Agricultural Association, with a capital stock of $30,000, of which amount $18,000 was paid in. The directors of the association were L. A. Richards, L. M. Wilson, John J. Dolan, A. J. Cressey, J. W. Davidson, L. B. Walthall and Thomas Wallace. They obtained a tract of land one and one-half miles west of Modesto and laid out a fine one-mile track sixty feet in width and eighty feet wide on the home stretch. They also built a grandstand at a cost of $10,000, the total cost being about $23,000. In the following year they gave four days of horse racing, the racing begin ning October 15, 1891. It was a good winter track for racing, but it was not a success. The track was plowed up many years ago and used as a vegetable garden, as it was too valuable for racing purposes. PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY The Grange or Patrons of Husbandry was a secret organization composed of farmers only, and their wives and daughters. It was formed for the express purpose of demanding laws beneficial to the farmer and protecting him against the middlemen and the railroad corporations. It came into life about the time of Newton Booth's aspirations to become governor of California. He campaigned the state denouncing the Southern Pacific and enlisting everywhere the farming interests, succeeding in electing himself governor and then U. S. senator. It was not in itself a political movement, but the Democratic and Republican parties quickly noted its importance as a political factor and for the first time they recognized the farmer in their platforms. The move ment had its inception in the farmers' clubs of 1873. They held public meetings in the counties of the state in which subjects of interest were discussed. The meetings soon became of interest, however, to politicians as they discussed questions of railroad freights and fares, public expenditures of money and many other leading subjects. In a short time the club system was abandoned and they organized a secret organization known as the Patrons of Husbandry, with an auxiliary women's organization. "The first grange," says Winfield J. Davis in his "Political History," "was the Vacaville grange, organized August 26, 1873. They adopted a set of resolutions, which in sub stance were adopted by all of the granges in the state. Briefly, they declared, 'We will support no men for law makers or for any position of public trust whose character and integrity for honesty of purpose and whose fidelity to the true interests of the farmer are not beyond doubt. We wage no war against railroads or grain buyers only so far as their treatment of the farming interest is manifestly unjust or aggressive. But when they form rings or odious combinations to oppress, cripple and crush out the farming interest, then we may be compelled to declare war and go after the common enemy.' " The Stanislaus Granges The Patrons of Husbandry was a national organization with national, state and county officers, each county having its local granges. The first grange in the county was Stanislaus Grange No. 4, which was organized April 15, 1873. It was organized by Deputy H. W. Baxter and located at Modesto. J. D. Spencer was elected master and James McHenry, secretary. Late in the year, December 23, the delegates from the seven local granges assembled in Odd Fellows Hall for the purpose of forming a county council. The delegates meeting in the afternoon were called to order by Theodore Turner. For chairman of the meeting they elected J. D. Spencer ; Vital E. Bangs was elected secretary. The committee on credentials, comprising Theodore Turner, A. S Fulkerth and C. H. Heining, reported that the following delegates were entitled to 90 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY seats in the convention : W. B. Harp, John Service and John M. Henderson from Ceres Grange; George H. Copeland, R. B. Smith and J. W. Van Benscroten from Grayson Grange; Adam J. Lucas and William J. Fisher from Bonita Grange; C. H. Heining, Benjamin Parks, Harvey Chance and A. G. Carver from Salida Grange ; J. D. Spencer, J. V. Davis, Theo. Turner, Vital E. Bangs, Mrs. E. J. Turner and Mrs. Frank H. Ross from Stanislaus Grange; Samuel Crane, Jacob Hayes, A. S. Fulkerth and J. A. Henderson from Turlock Grange. The council continued its organization until 1876. Then by authorization of the national council the local organization was reorganized and was henceforth known as Pomona Grange, with farmers and their wives as charter members. The new council included the following granges and charter members: H. W. and Mrs. L. J. Brouse, Ed Hatch, John Service and Mrs. Julia Service from Ceres Grange ; C. R. and Mrs. M. Calendar, Oakdale Grange ; J. D. and Mrs. Rey- burn, B. F. and Mrs. B. A. Parks, J. F. Kerr and A. H. Elmore from Salida Grange; Vital E. and Mrs. M. G. Bangs, John D. and Mrs. M. A. Spencer, Stanislaus Grange ; A. S. and Mrs. C. Fulkerth, W. L. Fulkerth and Ed McCabe from Turlock Grange; R. R. Warder, S. M. Gallup and Mrs. M. A. Gallup and James Kinkead from Waterford Grange. COOPERATIVE BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS Five years passed and in 1881 the local grange was a defunct organization. In fact, the pioneer organization, Stanislaus Grange, died a natural death in 1879, and the only tangible object of the local movement is the Grange store and warehouse company. The council of 1873 declared that its object was to facilitate "the trans actions of business in buying, selling and shipping and for such other purposes as may seem for the good of the order." "Its main object," said Vital E. Bangs, "was to establish a business agency, but no such agency was established. In place of it, inde pendent local associations were created and chartered, whose leading business was buying, selling and storing wheat." At least two of these have proved successful ventures, The Grange Company of Salida and that of Modesto. The last-named com pany passed into the hands of a business board of directors years ago and remains a Grangers' business in name only. THE STANISLAUS COUNTY MILITIA Hundreds of pioneers who immigrated to California in '49 had seen service in the Mexican war and early in the history of the state they organized military companies in the valley and mountain camps. When the Civil War broke out these companies were greatly increased in number and formed what was known as the "Home Guard." Stanislaus had one such company. It was located at Knights Ferry and was known as the Knights Ferry Mounted Rifle Company. They wore the U. S. regulation uni form, the officers wearing a dark blue coat and dark blue trousers and the privates wearing dark blue jackets and dark blue trousers with a buff stripe. The companj', numbering about forty men, appeared on parade in Stockton one July 4th, having ridden from their home town the day previous. They were in command of John Dent, who later went east to join the staff of his brother-in-law, Gen. U. S. Grant. Without his inspiration the members lost interest and soon disorganized. The next company of which we have any record is the Modesto Cadets. It was an infantry company of young men organized June 18, 1885, with Fred Case as cap tain; James Casserly, first lieutenant; John Weatherod, second lieutenant; William Standiford, orderly sergeant, and J. C. Rice, second sergeant; H. S. Manning, first cor poral ; Jack Kane, second corporal ; W. S. Chase, third corporal. The executive officers were W. S. Chase, president; H. S. Manning, vice-president; George A. Beecher, secretary, and D. S. Freeman, treasurer. A committee appointed to drum up members succeeded splendidly and they soon had the number required by law. Being an inde pendent company, they received no state aid and were obliged to go into their pockets to pay all the necessary expenses. The following year, however, they made application to the adjutant general of the state for admission into the National Guard. Their application was accepted and October 29, 1887, they were mustered into the National HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 91 Guard by Capt. T. W. Drullard. They elected the following officers: Captain, T. W. Drullard; first lieutenant, R. K. Whitmore; second lieutenant, C. E. Brain- bridge. Their name was changed from Modesto Cadets to Company D, and they were assigned to the Sixth Regiment, Third Infantry Battalion, N. G. C. They received from the state a monthly allowance, ammunition and rifles for target practice and uniforms. They were required to hold target shoots, annually parade in full dress on each Fourth of July and attend state encampment when so ordered. The uniform issued them comprised a full dress suit and a fatigue cap, navy blue blouse and trousers. IN THE CAMP AND SPANISH WAR Orders were issued for the state militia to encamp at Santa Cruz and July 1 1 , 1890, Company D marched to the train en route for the seacoast town. Rank and file, they numbered thirty-two men, one-half of the company not being able to leave their busi ness. First in line was Capt. R. K. Whitmore, who later became a major, Lieutenants W. H. Wood and P. H. Medley, Sergeants John Kane, W. L. Canfield, George Good win, W. H. Bartii and H. J. Stevens; Corporals D. W. Morris, P. A. Peterson, George Freitas, John B. Zimdars, Carlton Zandes, Sol Elias; drummers, Charles Jones and Thomas O'Donnell; privates, A. A. Jackson, E. Bishop, F. L. Simon, Bardo Whittle, William Kingfield, Harry Vogelman, Isidore Loventhal, Joseph Jones, Alonzo Convoy, Thomas Jones, S. D. Stone, S. B. Bailey, George Day, Thomas Harp, Eugene Harker and Mark Andrews; chaplain, Rev. J. C. Webb. In the great railroad strike of July 4, 1894, Company D was ordered to Bakers- field to protect the railroad property. In the Spanish War of 1898, the Sixth Regiment were ordered to the coast points, expecting to be sent on to the Philippine Islands. The companies from Bakersfield, Fresno, Merced and Modesto boarded the train for Stock ton and were then crowded like cattle on board a steamer en route for San Francisco. Company D, stationed at San Francisco, was mustered into the U. S. Army July 11, 1898. They were mustered out the same year, December 15, and marched home. In recognition of the faithful services of the state militia the citizens had struck offj handsome bronze medals. The Native Sons and Daughters were given full charge of the medals, one to be given to each honorably discharged soldier. Company D received their medals late in the year. The time set was Sunday afternoon, December 10, 1899. It was a public event and Armory Hall was crowded. Company D appeared in full uniform and the medals were presented in an eloquent speech by Judge Conley of Madera County. - The company had just moved into their new hall from the skating rink, their former place of drill and assembly. In their new hall, the second story of the Woods & Turner building, the company gave many social and other entertainments. The youngest member of the company, Roy L. Walthall, saw service in the Philippine Islands and later, entering West Point, graduated with high honors. Usually no students are admitted to West Point except upon the recommendation of the congressman of their district. Young Walthall, however, was admitted without any recommendation because of a law passed by Congress. This law admitted to West Point all of the lieutenants within the age limit who had seen service in the Philippine Islands. Walthall was one of the thirty lieutenants who had thus served. CHAPTER SEVEN MODESTO REMOVAL OF COUNTY SEAT The citizens of Tuolumne City and Paradise began agitating the removal of the county seat from Knights Ferry to a more central location long before the exact site of the new railroad town of Modesto was known. The Tuolumne News, hinting at a more suitable point for the county seat, declared November 25, 1870, "As the town will be nearer the center of the county than Knights Ferry the embryo town is expected to be made the county seat of Stanislaus County because the most important place in this portion of the valley." Knights Ferry citizens opposed the removal with all their 92 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY power, but it was the power of a declining era, that of gold. As an evidence of this declining power let us look at the vote of two mountain counties, Tuolumne and Cala veras. These two counties border Stanislaus County, and at that time contained very few women or children, hence the vote of the counties will give a fair idea of its popu lation. In 1860 Calaveras County polled 4,418 votes and in 1868 only 2,192 votes. During the same years Tuolumne County polled, in 1860, 5,592 votes and in 1868 but 2,109 votes. Thus it will be seen that over one-half of the population of those two counties alone left their mountain homes in less than ten years. Wheat, not gold, was king, and Modesto was the most reasonable location for the county seat. It was the center of a section rapidly being settled by farmers, merchants, and their families, not for a day, but a century. It was in the midst of a splendid agricultural and horti cultural country. It was in a locality where the citizens from any part of the county could easily reach the town in a day, transact their official business and return home. And last, but not least, it was in quick communication by rail with any part of the state and on the highway to Southern California. It is said, and no doubt true, that the Southern Pacific was very favorable to the change and that a heavy vote was polled by the colonization of railroad laborers and mechanics who were engaged in building the passenger and freight depot, the Tuolumne bridge and laying tracks. It was a good thing for them, for Modesto as the county seat would bring increased travel to the town, and its growth and prosperity would rapidly increase the value of their town lots. There was no doubt as to the result of the vote and but two contestants for the vc-Vicr. The contest took place on the same day as the state election, September 6, 1871. It may be interesting to know how the various towns of the county voted. The vote of each individual was influenced by his own self interest and that of his friends. The ballot when counted by the supervisors sitting at Knights Ferry was reported as fol lows: For Knights Ferry — La Grange, 75; Grayson, 11 ; Empire Dntrict, which in cluded Modesto, 11. For Modesto — La Grange, 45; Tuolumne City, 48; Grayson, 33; Modesto, 130. Scattering votes — For Oakdale, 17; Waterford, 3; Hill's Ferry, 1 ; Grayson, 1. The total vote on county seat was 1,324, Knights Ferry receiving 340 and Modesto 893 votes. As the vote for governor, Henry H. Haight, Democrat, was 817, and that of Newton Booth, Republican, 527, it will be seen that the contest for county seat brought out nearly every vote. The supervisors of the county, H. G. James, Caleb Dorsey and Davis Hartman, assembled at Knights Ferry, September 30, 1871, to count the vote for state officers and for the citizens' choice of county seat. Tabulating the result, they ordered that "When suitable buildings had been provided for the public officers, the county seat and the records of the county be removed to Modesto between the 10th and the 15th of October, 1871. That each officer superintend the removal of the records and furniture to the county seat and that the county clerk and sheriff repair to the building now erected on lots 14-15, block 42. After October 15 the county seat shall be at Modesto." The county clerk was located in a one-story frame building at the corner of I and Eighth streets, later occupied by John C. May. The building in 1881 had been removed to Thirteenth Street near the Methodist Church and fitted up as a residence. A brick vault was hastily constructed for the county records' safe keeping. The sheriff's office was in an adjoining frame building. Somewhere in that vicinity the other county officers were located. Several attorneys' offices were not far distant, Schell & Scrivner having an office next to Tregea's harness shop, and Judge Hewel an office on the alley in the rear of H. J. Houston's store. Two other lawyers, Thomas A. Coldwell and H. A. Gehr, had offices near the court house. One of the houses, ten years later was occupied by W. K. Walters as his tailor shop and residence. Without losing much time the supervisors rented the second story of the Eastin building, the brick structure now known as the D. S. Husband building. It was fitted up for a court room and offices, the supervisors paying eighty-three dollars per month rent. Below was the Eastin saloon, where the judge and jury could get refreshments. The County Court House Every county takes considerable pride in having as its county building a magnificent structure of brick or granite built along the modern architectural lines. Stanislaus HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 93 County has no such building, for its court house, a fine structure in its date, 1872, has long since passed its usefulness or beauty. The first county building, at Adamsville, was nothing more than a wooden platform, under the shade of a large oak tree. Later, however, "the county officials," says a correspondent, "taking off their coats, enclosed the platform with upright boards and put on a roof, between ten and six o'clock P. M." At Empire City the court house was a small frame building, nothing more than a shack. Eli Marvin agreed to put up a fine court house at Empire City without any cost to the courity, provided the county seat be located there. He put up a bond of $10,000 with Judge Dickerson and agreed to have it completed within ten months. But, as we remember, the citizens gave a majority vote for Adamsville and later voted for Empire City. When the county seat was removed from Empire to La Grange in 1855, the supervisors purchased at cost of $1,700 a frame two-story building from John Meyers. Like many of the buildings of that day the entrance to the second story was by stairs placed upon the side of the building. The court house at Knights Ferry wa's quite a substantial brick structure, comfortable, and with plenty of light and convenient in every way for county offices and a courtroom. The supervisors, having in view the erection of a fine building in Modesto, called upon the Legislature for authority to act. That body declared February 1, 1872, "the board of supervisors shall, at their first meeting in February, 1872, or as soon thereafter as possible, advertise in a weekly paper for plans and specifications for a court house and jail, the architect to be paid not over $500 for his accepted plans." To obtain the money to construct the building, the supervisors were authorized to issue bonds, not exceeding $50,000, payable in monthly installments at nine per cent per annum. The supervisors advertised in the San Francisco Examiner and the Stanislaus News for bids for a court house and jail, the bid not to exceed $40,000 if for one building and not to exceed $45,000 if the jail be a separate building. No bids were received for some reason unknown. Again they advertised in the local paper, the Neius, and in the Bulletin, San Francisco. Eight bids were sent in from Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose and Stockton. The lowest bids were J. H. Sullivan, Sacramento, $47,937; Robinson Brothers, Stockton, $47,894; J. H. Neal, Sacramento, $47,492; and Meany & Peck, Snelling, $44,300. All bids were rejected as being too high. The following day, however, Supervisors H. G. James and James F. Davis, rescinding their previous vote, gave the contract to Meany & Peck. Supervisor J. T. Hamlin refused to reconsider his previous vote as being unfair to all of the bidders. A contract was drawn up June 8, 1872, binding the successful firm in the sum of $88,600, twice the amount of their bid. They refused to sign it and they assigned their claim to the Robinson Brothers, Stockton. Both men were mechanics such as today one will seldom find. Concerning the woodwork, they could build a house complete, framework, walls, windows and doors. A. A. Bennett, the architect, received $500 for his plans. The supervisors had previously declared that a courthouse should be built on Block 82, Modesto. In a little less than a year the building was completed. It was accepted by the supervisors July 7, 1873, and the following week they ordered the sheriff to procure conveyances for the removal of the records to the new building. The grounds and courthouse site were surveyed by the county surveyor, George B. Douglas, and the square was graded by W. S. McHenry on his bid of $1,582. Branch said in a note in his history, 1881 : "The present house is a beautiful building, situated in a square, well laid out with walks and shrubbery." Today, the trees, tall and stately, have grown to magnificent proportions, an ever-inviting, restful spot to citizen or visitor. County Officials of 1871 In the new and beautiful building, who were the first county officials to enjoy its comforts and conveniences? They were elected September 6, 1871, and for the pur pose of showing the political complexion of the county at that time, which, by the way, for forty years was strongly Democratic, I give the names and vote for each party nominee. The Democrat is the first named : Senator, Thomas J. Keys, 735 ; A. S. Emory, 565: Assembhymen, J. R. Seabough, 820; W. H. Turner, 814; Stephen Rodgers, 805 ; L. O. Brewster, 834. Clerk, George A. Branch, 806 ; C. A. Post, 818 ; 94 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Treasurer, George W. Toombs, 551; C. S. S. Hill, 463. District Attorney, J. J. Scrivner, 840; A. S. Peasley, 495. Surveyor, George B. Douglas, 814; J. S. Cope land, 495. Assessor, A. H. Jamison, 858; W. H. Moyle, 470. Coroner, Dr. J. H. Lowe, 833 ; J. M. Koon, 510. Administrator, M. S. Duncan, 814; C. O. Moore, 508. Superintendent of Schools, J. M. Burney, 789; E. M. Street, 503. Laying of the Town Site Why the Southern Pacific selected as a townsite the present location of Modesto probably will never be known. Possibly the finding of a landowner in a good location willing to sell his land at a reasonable price was one reason. The contract and finance committee of the Southern Pacific in April, 1870, purchased of John J. Atherton 160 acres of land, the site of the original town. They paid him $3,200 for the tract. Atherton had bought a part of the land from Robert Kirkland, who had purchased it in September, 1869, at $2.50 per acre of the Government. The railroad surveyor now laid off the proposed town into blocks, streets, and alleys, a fifteen-foot alley running north and south through each block. The blocks, 300 by 400 feet, were laid off in conformity with the lines of the railroad track. The streets, eighty feet in width, were laid off along the same lines, and as the railroad runs northwest and southeast, it made a very awkward geographical position. The principal street, I Street, is 100 feet in width. The streets running east and west were alphabetically named and those run ning north and south are designated by numbers. The original town was one mile square, but with nurnerous additions, including Branch's, Ripperdan's and Griffith's, the city is nearly two miles square. Its western boundary is the Tuolumne River and the west irrigation ditch forms the northern boundary of the town. In all of the additions the blocks are 300 feet square, the street lines running north and south and east and west. The Name of the Town The Southern Pacific selected as the name of the new town that of Ralston, in honor of William C. Ralston, president of the Bank of California, San Francisco. The name was printed upon the maps and it is stated "that the name took well and pleased the people highly." Mr. Ralston, however, had not been consulted in the matter and through excessive modesty, it is said, refused to permit his name to be given to the new town. Because of this refusal the company changed the name to Modesto, a Spanish word, its English definition being "modesty." The Southern Pacific, foreseeing the immense traffic of the future at Modesto, reserved for their own use a strip of land about 300 feet in width and two miles in length for main and siding tracks, freight and passenger depot. Considerable of this space is already in use and quite a vacant space near the passenger depot is at present set apart for public, open-air exhibitions. The balance of the reservation is leased to private parties for business purposes. The Exodus to Modesto As the News intimated, the merchants of Paradise, Tuolumne City, Empire and Westport began moving their business, and nearly all of their buildings to Modesto. Sol Elias vividly described the event when he wrote: "When it became generally known where the new town was to be located, there was a general stampede from the three towns of Empire, Tuolumne and Paradise to the new site. For months the high ways were thronged with buildings being moved to Modesto and it looked as though Tuolumne and Paradise were on wheels. It was indeed an odd sight to see these two towns^ furniture and people, traveling at a rapid rate to be first to locate in the railroad town." Many of the oldest wooden houses in Modesto were hauled from Paradise, while the brick buildings in those towns were torn down and rebuilt in Modesto. An excursion party from Stockton, visiting the town November 20, 1870, found twenty- five buildings located and being constructed. J. D. Spencer, the News editor, coming up from Paradise in February, 1871, counted seventy-five buildings, "many of which may be classed as imposing structures." Among these buildings, the first on the ground, was a little frame building, 18x24, owned by James McHenry and W. G. Ross. TENTH STREET, MODESTO, LOOKING SOUTH FROM SITE OF .,„„™^0 THEATER HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 95 Modesto's Pioneer Business Firms In compiling this list the writer has endeavored to obtain the names and locations of the leading firms for the information of the rising generation. Some have been learned through an article published by Sol P. Elias, others from correspondents, news papers and various other sources. Let me call your attention to Front Street, the corner of J Street. There a two-story frame building was located, the lower story being occupied by W. B. Wood and J. A. Brown as an agricultural implement store. The upper story was used as a hall in which, it is said, the first temperance society was organized; it was the "Band of Hope," a children's society. Moving south, the adjoining building was that of I. E. Gilbert, who subsequently removed to Front' and H streets, now the Turner building. Then came the photograph gallery of William Brown, and a general tinware store adjoining. Mr. Brown was the pioneer photog rapher of Modesto and later erected a brick building, corner of I and Front streets, opposite the Ross House. Adjoining the Brown building was a little fruit store kept by "Judge" Hunt, then Schell & Scrivner's law office. Next was William Tregea's harness store; he retired from business in 1904. The Modesto House, managed by D. S. Husband, was next in line and adjoining was the W. J. Houston general mer chandise store, He hailed from Paradise, he and John J. McEwen being the first merchants in town. In 1896, says George H. Bertram, this Front Street block was occupied by warehouses. A photograph of that date shows the Huffman warehouse, on the corner of I and Front. This became one of the historic places of Modesto in later years; it was afterwards known as the Brown and Alexander warehouse and later became the Garrison Turner property. Tradition has it that it was in this building that the Vigilantes met in 1879 and in 1884. The famous Ross House stood on the southeast corner of I and Front, and adjoining on the south was Dettlebach Bros.' store and the Davies & Medley stationery and book store. Next was the post office, John J. McEwen being the first postmaster; he was also the Wells Fargo Express agent. Next in line was the "Golden Sheaf" saloon, owned by John B Brichman, one of Modesto's prominent citizens. Then came the "Marble Palace" of Barney Garner, and following along we passed the saloons of McCIure & Aulich, Ducker & Casebolt, and the "White Oak" saloon of D. S. Husband. At the lower end of the block Jake Woolner sold tobacco and notions, next was the Lane & Williams drug store, and then the tin and hardware store of John J. Chapman, who came up from Paradise. A few years later he erected a two-story building on H, between Ninth and Tenth streets, the lower story being occupied by Dr;. J. T. Sur- baugh as the Model Drug Store. The corner of H and Front streets was occupied by L. B. Farrish as a general dry goods store. In the block below, between H and G streets, B. F. Jones carried on a poultry business. H was then the principal business street. On the south side between Ninth and Tenth was the boot and shoe store of J. H. Hayes and the undertaking parlors of Cleveland & Hardesty. Cleveland was the first worthy master of the Stanislaus Lodge of Masons. In 1884 this block was destroyed by fire. On the north side of the block stood the St. John House, the three- story Tynan Hotel, its successor in 1890, and the shoe store of James Johnson. On a high knoll at Tenth and H stood Modesto's first district school. A famous resort was the "Old Corner" saloon, in the one-story building on the corner of Tenth and H streets, later rebuilt for the Farmers ahd Merchants Bank. On the opposite corner south was a brick building, the first floor occupied by small stores. In the second story in 1890, the Herald was published by the irrepressible Hanscom. To the south, Mike Braun's brewery manufactured beer. Up the street between H and I on Tenth Street was the livery stable of Frank Ross, which ex tended through to I Street, completely surrounding the building of W. W. Eastin, a two-story brick, rebuilt from Paradise at the corner of I and Tenth streets. Eastin's saloon was in the first story, with a hall above at one time occupied by the Farmers' Journal, with Attorney W. E. Turner as editor. . Where now stands the Modesto Bank stood the blacksmith shop and home of Mose Freeman. James Harter, Modesto's first "smithy," was located just north of the Grollman building on this block, his home adjoining. Another blacksmith was a Mr. Ollrich. North and across the 96 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY street from Freeman's shop was a two-story frame building on the corner occupied by I. H. Maddux as a grocery store. Schafer's store now occupies this site. On the northwest corner of Tenth and I streets, Henry Ross conducted a livery stable, after wards known as the Patterson Stables. On I Street between Ninth and Tenth streets, Valentine Pitoff managed his bowling alley and saloon. Thomas Wallace conducted a large stable on Eleventh Street between F and G. While under lease to Sontag and Evans, the train bandits, it was destroyed by fire in 1891, following their holding up a train at Ceres. Will Claypool, presumably possessed of knowledge of their depreda tions, was burned to death in this fire. The other early general merchants were Robert Phillips, R. C. Gridley, of Civil War fame, and Cressey Brothers. Walden and Grenfall were liverymen, subsequently selling to Thomas Wallace. George Buck and Henry Covert were in the commission business, the former from La Grange and the latter from Paradise. Barnett and Daly, Charles Beauchamp, H. G. James, and John Robinson were the first butchers of Modesto. John B. Covert removed from Paradise. Dr. Samuel McLean, the first druggist of Modesto, Dr. W. C. Saunders, Dr. Barry Dorr, and Dr. J. E. Howard were the early physicians. John D. Spencer moved his newspaper plant and family to Modesto and located on Eleventh and I streets in December, 1870. J. Leet had one of the first harness shops, and Bob McClanathan one of the first liverymen. H. Christ was the first baker, and E. H. Wagoner the first wagon maker. James McHenry and W. G. Ross had the first saloon, the "Pioneer Exchange," at J and Eighth streets. Eagelson & Campau were another early firm. Pierce was the first lumberman, fol lowed by the Modesto Lumber Company. The early lawyers were Judge A. Hewel, S. P. Scaniker, B. F. Haislip, G. W. Schell; J. J. Scrivner, still living in San Fran cisco; T. A. Coldwell and A. H. Gehr. W. H. Spencer was an early dentist. Pioneer Hotels and Prominent Buildings On the west side of the railroad track near the court house, a Mr. Trollinger opened the Modesto Restaurant, in the building put up by James McHenry. George Keith also conducted a restaurant a little north of the Trollinger place. The land lord of the Covert House in Tuolumne City was D. S. Husband. He engaged in the same business in Modesto, possibly managing it in connection with his Front Street saloon. Another well-known hotel was the Mose Duncan House, later called the Stanislaus Hotel. It was not a paying proposition and in 1875 it was for rent, all furnished at forty dollars per month. Roanoke, in writing of this hotel, said: "Hotels cannot flourish in Modesto with every third family keeping a private board ing house." The Modesto House on Front Street near I was under the management of Thomas F. Garner, who came from Empire to take charge. In less than four j'ears he sold out to Dr. M. H. Hall. The famous Ross House opposite the depot was for many years the leading hotel of the county. It was a long, white, two-story building, hard finished throughout, with a history of many social events and financial losses to managers and owners. It was built in Paradise City by Frank Ross and retained its original owner's name until destroyed by fire. In 1869 it passed into the management of James Cole, who had formerly kept the North American, a stage station on the Sonora' Road. Cole immediately made arrangements with the Stockton house movers, Hyram Fisher & Sons, to remove the big frame structure to the railroad town. So large was it they were compelled to move it in two sections. The first half was in its new location by November 20 ,1870. The second half was moved a week later. Cole now refitted and refurnished the house at considerable expense and in the press advertised it as a house of large, commodious rooms, well adapted for families. The 22nd of February, 1871, was celebrated with a grand ball, the first, perhaps, in Modesto. Good music was furnished by Condy's orchestra from Stockton and it was, said the report, largely attended and was in all respects one of the most pleasant and well-conducted balls of the season. The supper was particularly mentioned, the princi pal meat being roast pig. Losing considerable money, Cole retired in less than two vears, for it was then "hard times, no crops," and took charge of the Yosemite House, Stock- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 97 ton. He sold his interest to E. P. Block of Stockton. He was an auctioneer of ability, but no landlord, and during the year 1875 he retired. Then Ross himself took charge of the hotel and managed it for three years, conducting his livery stable at the same time. Ross then leased the hotel to J. P. Trainor. That gentleman had a grand opening and ball, on February 22, 1878, so stated the press dispatches. "The hall and dining room were tastily decorated and the guests served with a splendid supper." As Modesto increased in population the Ross House might have been a paying propo sition, but now competition sprung up. The Prentice Hotel was erected and is still standing at the corner of H and Eleventh streets. The hotel was managed by J. W. Prentice and it was opened for business January, 1880. It was an ideal location, on a quiet street away from the dust and confusion of railroad cars and the drunken revelry of gamblers and saloon men on Front Street, and directly opposite the court house and square. Prentice believed, however, he would be compelled to seek patron age and it was the first hotel to run a bus to the trains. There was a second bus soon running, for about the same time, the Merry House was opened by L. Merry. This also was and is a two-story frame building, corner of Twelfth and H streets. The Rodgers Hall building, a two-story brick on H near Front Street, was erected in 1877 by Stimpson P. Rodgers, a progressive business man, son of Stephen Rodgers. The post office was moved to this building from Front Street soon after its completion, this having become the main business street. The post office window and the boxes were in a hallway leading to the Wells Fargo Express, they occupj'ing the rear of the building facing on the alley. The first story was also occupied by the Mechanics cash store, S. Greenfield, jeweler, and A. J. Spindle, barber. Between these two stores was a second hallway which led to the Gem saloon, J. W. Stuart, proprie tor. The second story had been fitted up as a public hall, where took place the dramatic performances of theatrical companies that visited the town, school exhibi tions and other social events. Masonic and Odd Fellows Hall Two years previous, 1875, William Grollman, a prominent Mason, erected a fine two-story brick structure on Tenth Street between H and I streets. The first story was occupied by Mr. Grollman as a harness store and by S. Schonfield. gen eral merchandise. In the front portion of the second story, Dr. A. A. Gilmour and Dr. Wilhite had offices, the rear portion being occupied by Stanislaus Lodge of Masons. They removed to the hall which was fitted Up for them from Odd Fellows Hall, corner of H and Tenth streets. The Odd Fellows building was the first two-story building erected in Modesto from first-hand building material. It was built in 1875, just previous to the "hard times" that hit the town. Roanoke, in describing this building in October, 1875, wrote to the Stockton Independent : "The times are very hard, but fortunately the Odd Fellows got their splendid two-story building nearly completed before the twenties and small coin had entirely disappeared. Our mutual friend, R. A. Hatha way, the druggist, escorted me? over the building. The lower floor contains two stores with deep cellars. The upper floor will be used for lodge purposes. The main or lodge room is 32x50 feet and when covered by Brussels carpet will be the equal of any lodge room in the state. The ceiling is twenty feet in height. There will be ante-rooms for paraphernalia, and on the third story there will be a banquet room 16x50 feet and a kitchen. The cost will be about $17,000." Modesto's Water Works The "old town pump" seems to figure in Modesto's history as well as in the history of other towns. It was a Douglas pump and with its clear, cool well of water stood in front of the St. John lodging house, now the Tynan Hotel site. It supplied, no doubt, the neighborhood with drinking water, also the district school on the corner. There were many other bored wells about town, for water was easy to obtain at a depth of eighty or 100 feet, and these wells supplied most of the inhabitants with water until 1876. In the previous year, Assemblyman J. J. Scrivner 7 98 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY introduced a bill into the Legislature "granting the right to lay down water pipes in Modesto, to supply the inhabitants thereof." A second bill was introduced three days later, December 15, "also granting Charles S. Levenworth and his assignees the right to supply water to the town of Modesto." Both bills passed both houses and were approved by Governor Booth. In the following year L. C. Branch and C. L. Levenworth selecting a lot fronting on the alley, now the rear of Shackelford- Ulman's store, between I and H streets, built a high two-story building and boring a deep artesian well, installed an engine and Holly water pump. The water was forced to the top of the building into two large wooden tanks, each tank with a 5000-gallon capacity. In a short time the Modesto Water Company was incorporated, the principal owner being Stimpson P. Rodgers, who owned four-fifths of the stock. The fire of 1884 showed conclusively the need of better fire protection and in January, 1890, the company began laying pipes for hydrant purposes. The pipes laid at that time were exactly in the shape of the letter H. One pipe was run along I from Front to Tenth and a second pipe from Knowles' warehouse along H to Tenth. They were connected with the water works by a six-inch pipe running north and south through the alley. Seven hydrants were set in the most essential places. Shortly after this the company laid 1,500 feet of pipe in the northeast part of town. The price of water to families under the Branch ownership was $1.50 per month, water for irrigation extra. The corporation increased the price, the usual custom of corporations, to charge all the traffic will bear. Evidently the people were dis satisfied and complaining, for November 19, 1891, by a vote of 385 for and only 113 against,' they approved of the council issuing bonds to the amount of $60,000 for the purchase of waterworks. Wise unto their generation were the citizens of Modesto. At the same election they approved by a vote of 414 to 113 to bond the city for $25,000 for sewers. They believed that sewers were the greater necessity and well they might so believe, for the foul, unhealthy cesspools were a menace to health and life. Two years later, in 1893, the city established its own waterworks and the Rodgers waterworks was dismantled and the tanks removed from the roof of the building. The city purchased a lot on Tenth Street south of G Street and erected a neat pumping station and building a large concrete cistern forty feet in depth, sank an artesian well through the floor. A large Hollaway engine was then installed, it being necessary to draw the water only four feet. From this pump the water was forced into a large iron tank 100 feet in height and from there distributed to patrons. In case of fire the water was pumped directly into the main, thus putting 180 pounds pressure on the hose. The pump is run by electrical power and six reserve tanks were located in different parts of the city, in case by any means the electrical power was lost or for a long time suspended. At this writing another tank is to be erected and a second story added to the pumping station for the use of the city engineer. Modesto's Gas Works Modesto was fortunate in having gas almost in its infancy through the enter prise of the young citizen, Leonidas C. Branch, then but. twenty-three years of age. Few towns the size of Modesto had gas and it certainly was quite a project. The Herald, in noticing this progressive movement, said : "For the first time in the his tory of Modesto, coal gas was used and pretty generally, too, on Tuesday evening, July 3, 1876. Gasoline heretofore has been the only luminator that Modesto could boast of, outside of candle light and kerosene, but now we can say we have a real, genuine, live, coal gas works. For this enterprise we are indebted to Mr. L. C. Branch, a young gentleman of enterprise who has grown with the town and who evidently understands and studies the wants of young communities." The works were located on G and Tenth streets under the direction of a San Francisco coal gas expert. The houses illuminated Tuesday evening were really brilliant and when compared with the kerosene light put the latter quite in the shade." Promi nent among the notable places supplied were Ducker & Casebolt, the "Golden Sheaf " Barney Garner's, D. S. Husband Saloon, The White Oak, Farrell & McCIure George Aulich, J. Dettlebach, Davis & Medley, John J. Chapman, Samuel R Clayes FRONT STREET, MODESTO, BETWEEN H AND J, 1873 EARLY FIRE DEPARTMENT, MODESTO HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 99 Drug Store, Nathan Brothers and Odd Fellows Hall. The price for gas was $6.00 per 1000 cubic feet the first year, with a rate of $1.00 per 1000 the second year. The building erected by Edward Hanks of Stockton was 40x60 feet, with an iron roof. Included within the building were two retort rooms and two retorts, a purifying room with two purifiers and a room for the gas apparatus. The gasometer had a holding capacity of- 2,500 cubic feet of gas. "There was a fine garden in the rear and the place resembled more a private residence and handsome private grounds than a gas works as usually kept." Mr. Branch, failing to receive sufficient encourage ment to enable him to incorporate the works, proceeded to the management of the property himself. In time, however, an incorporated company purchased the works and Frank Cressey became the president and manager. Electricity later became the popular light. At this writing the city will soon purchase the gas and electrical works, paying for them on the installment basis. Modesto's Early Fire Department The men whom I most honor are the volunteer firemen of a city or town. They give their time, their money and ofttimes risk their lives in the saving of property from the flames. They hastily leave their work or perhaps their bed at the midnight alarm and quickly run to the engine house and "man the ropes" of hook and ladder or hose cart and speed onward to fight the flames. And their only compensation or reward is that which comes to every man who does a good deed. All hail, then, to the firemen of Modesto who in early days "ran with the machine." They are staid men now, men of families, and some of them the leading men of the town. They were in the '70s the leading men, judges, lawyers, mechanics, merchants, clerks and occasionally a clergyman. Modesto today has a good fire department and it had its origin away back in 1875. In the telegraph dispatches of that year, October 5, we read that the "Modesto Hook and Ladder Company, Ben Ducker, foreman, had just received from the city their new hook and ladder truck." It seems a company had been organized and subscriptions obtained from citizens to purchase a second-hand fire truck. It was one of the usual style of that day, propelled by man power, with twelve leather buckets on each side used for the purpose of throwing water upon the flames. The company also had a number of long spears broadened at one end. Their purpose was to shove inward the walls of a half-burned building, to keep the fire from spreading to an adjoining building. It also lessened the danger of other buildings from flying embers. The fire truck was housed in a small shed on the railroad reserva tion just east of G Street. The company gave parties to obtain funds for their maintenance and one occasion, September 25, 1879, they had the Eurekas of Merced as their guests. A hook and ladder, no matter how efficient the company, is of no earthly use in extinguishing a fire, and, said Branch in 1881, the "town maintains a hook and ladder company and needs a fire engine." Some years later the Modesto hose company No. 1 was organized with Stephen Rodgers as foreman and J. E. Ward as secretary. The citizens had purchased a second-hand, two-wheeled hose cart and the cart was housed in the Rodgers' waterworks. The company numbered among its members Stephen Rodgers, J. E. Ward, G. P. Schafer, John Hamilton, George D. Pleats, Enos Horn, Martin Sorenson, Walter E. Bacon, Stephen Girard, J. W. Briggs, Fred Morton, L. W. Fulkerth and W. E. Daunt. The company had a dress parade uniform of caps, red shirts and dark trousers. They were in the parade on every important occasion and were in line in the Fourth of July parade of 1890. The hose company were put upon their mettle in the big fire of 1881, probably the largest and most destructive of any in the history of the city. It was discovered shortly after midnight Friday morning, November 11, in the shooting gallery of Cyrus Hanscom on Ninth Street near I Street. The wind at the time was blowing heavily and the flames spread rapidly in every direction. "There was no way of checking the flames save by carrying the water in buckets," the Herald saying twenty- five years later, "the company's worthless old fire engine was disabled." A corre- 100 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY spondent writing of the fire the following day said, "There was a hook and ladder truck but it was late getting there and of no use after it got there." Nothing could be done to put out the fire and all they could do was to prevent its spreading. On Ninth Street were all of the leading business houses of the town and all of them were destroyed. The Ross House was saved by the firemen covering the roof with wet blankets "and water dashed on the side of the building,'.' the water being carried from the railroad tank a hundred yards distant. The Modesto House, owned by C. W. Dawson, and the Arendt House, owned and conducted by Mrs. Sarah Arendt, were a total loss. The lodgers, fleeing for their lives, saved neither baggage nor clothing. A sheep herder going to bed drunk in the Modesto House was burned to death. His body burned to a crisp was found the following morning. The heaviest loss was that of George Gross who was located in the Brown Building at the corner of Ninth and I streets. He had a large stock of china ware, crockery arid glass ware, much of the stock being in the cellar. His loss was estimated at about $50,000, partly insured. The total loss was $100,000 insured for perhaps a quarter of that amount. Among the losers was The Modesto and Arendt House, Charles D. Patter son's livery stable, including a large, quantity of hay; Henry Buckner, general mer chandise, including powder and cartridges, which constantly exploding prevented the people from saving considerable property; Wm. Tregea, the harness maker, who saved much of his stock; Brown & Woods, agricultural works; De Yoe & Riggs, fur niture; Dr. J. N. Wood, dentist; Grangers' Hall and the homes of several families. The fire practically cleaned out the block bounded by I and J, Ninth and Tenth streets. Another destructive fire was that of July 8, 1884. It broke out about l.:30 o'clock in a house of ill-fame kept by a woman named Lizzie Darling. It was one of three shanties in the middle of the alley bounded by Ninth, G, Tenth and H streets and owned by Morris, a five-cent beer saloon keeper. The cry of fire startled the sleeping citizens, and in a few minutes bells were ringing in all directions. The first person to reach the fire saw another man running half dressed and yelling loudly, "My arm is burned." He was immediately followed by several women very scantily clothed. Before this time the firemen were at work with their streams of water, but they were badly handicapped by the frequent bursting of the rotten hose. The water pressure was very light, so light, in fact, the stream at times would not carry across the street. The firemen and citizens worked heroically, however, as the flames at times threatened to destroy the entire business portion of the city. In the crowd at work endeavoring to check the flames were seen firemen, clerks, book keepers, lawyers, judges, bankers, county officials and two members of the Legislature. The "bucket brigade" was quickly formed and by using their leather buckets did good work. The Chinamen received great credit for their work in saving the Chinese laundry from the flames, as the saving of the laundry also saved the Ross House and the Western .Hotel fronting on Ninth Street. Like the fire of 1881, it was very de structive, burning nearly every building in its pathway. The buildings saved were the Odd Fellows brick building in which Greenbaum & Company were located; Gobert & Company, general merchandise ; the Western Hotel and the Ross House ; a Spanish restaurant ; the Chinese laundry ; Knapp's soda works and a couple dwellings on G Street. The buildings destroyed included Cleveland & Hardesty. undertakers on H street, who saved their coffins; Jack Hayes, boot and shoe store; Thomas Dun can, tin store; I S. Loventhal, merchandise; Muncey's saloon and home; Felix Anayas blacksmith shop; C. W. Perley's store and Coffin & Berry's place The following day a subscription list was opened for the purchasing of new hose for the fire department, and Dr. Tynan headed the list with a $100 subscription. The Destructive Fires of 1890 Early in the morning of July 26, 1890, a fire started in the shed of W B Wood on H Street between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. It crossed the alley and set on fire the Methodist Episcopal Church, damaging it badly. The fire then spreading north along the sheds of the alley set on fire the Congregational Church on I Street and it was in a short time a bed of hot ashes. It was then in use by the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 101 German Lutheran congregation, and they succeeded in saving the seats and pulpit. The Modesto water company put in a few water hydrants in the business district in January, 1890, as we remember. These hydrants gave the fire department plenty of water to check the fire that broke out on Front Street, December 1, 1890. It also, no doubt, led to the heavy vote polled by the citizens for better fire protection. This fire of December 1 started in the saloon of F. Jacobson on Front Street and in a short time it spread to the adjoining saloons of Barney Garner, Harner & Pflagis and George Hallen's shooting gallery. The brick building of John B. Brich- man stopped the fire from extending further north and for a time the Ross House was thought to be doomed. The fire department performed splendid work in saving the Brooklyn House, which was badly charred, the Louis Cummings saloon and H. J. Severn's bakery. The buildings destroyed were among the first erected in the city and soon after were replaced with fine brick structures. Terrible Death of Joel Clayton Life is of greater value than property and from this standpoint the greatest dis aster up to' this time was the horrible death of Joel Clayton in the fire which destroyed the Thomas Wallace stable on the night of January 7, 1891. The stable was on Eleventh Street between F and G, and the alarm was first given by the bell and the fire whistle on the waterworks. In a few minutes the big stable was enveloped in flames and although the firemen played heavy streams of water on the fire it failed to have any effect in extinguishing the flames. The fire enveloped the stable so quickly that young Joel Clayton, about sixteen years of age, was burned to death, or possibly smothered by the smoke. He was the son of Jacob Clayton and had been given permission to sleep in the barn loft while out of work. His body was discovered the next morning wrapped in his blankets, which were only partly burned. Modesto's Golden Age "The livest mining camp," says Sol Elias, "possessed no edge upon Modesto in the j'ears from 1879 to 1884. The wealth that was garnered from the virgin soil poured in to the city as though the famed mines of Ophir had been tapped. From the offices of the warehouses, from the vaults of the banks, even unto the tables of the gambling saloons, the counters of the bar-rooms and the parlors of the gilded palaces, money permeated every avenue of communal activity. Money was spent with a recklessness and prodigality that baffled understanding. Modesto was in its golden age. The Front Street Dens of Vice "Down the block from the Ross House there was a string of saloons and on upper Front Street between I and J there were several saloons. The main business district was located on H Street between Front and Tenth and on either side it con tained the usual number of saloons among the commercial establishments. While the main saloon district was on Front Street, these establishments were not averse to occupying a location close to the homes of the citizens and a notorious dance hall C Sullivan's) was running at full blast on Tenth Street near the corner of I Street. Another dance hall provided entertainment at the corner of Eighth and H (John son's). Both sold hard liquors, possessed their retinue of painted women and provided the nightly dance for the ranchero, vaquero, farmhand and the motley crew that' infested the 'Front.' Nor was it deemed improper for youth or old age to go slum ming among these dimly lighted, ill-smelling purlieus and dance and mingle with the diverse and variegated Bohemia to be found there. Drunken carousals with the female contingent of these gay and festive places, from which the male participants emerged with a broken head, a contused face, and always minus his bank roll, were not infrequent. The 'Front' was run wide open. It was the rendezvous of the most daring sports, gamblers and saloon hangers-on that could be gathered together in the state. Gambling and drunkenness were rampant. Hardly a night passed but some farmhand was fleeced in a game of cards, robbed and beaten up, plied with liquor or doped, until he became insensible and his pockets picked by the. light-fingered 102 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY gentry. Carousals made the night hideous. So many were the murders the town had the reputation throughout the state of being a place in which there was literally a man served for breakfast every morning." An Ungoverned Town The big fire of September, 1884, the acts of the Regulators, the so-called "bridge riots" and other illegal acts awoke the better class of citizens to a realizing sense of the deplorable condition of affairs in the town. The fire department had no adequate apparatus, no hose and an insufficiency of water in case of fire. The lawless class were running the town, so to speak, and life and property were unsafe. So powerful was the criminal class, Elias says, "that the workmen and frequently the farmer from the country would go to the sheriff's office as soon as he reached the town and deposit his wealth with the officers of the law for safe keeping, Other wise neither his money nor his life would be safe from the harpies on the front or in the bawdy houses." Deplorable Condition of Streets The same writer in describing the condition of the streets of Modesto at that time declared "that the town presented the appearance of the typical village that just happened to come into life without any reason for such existence. There were no sidewalks in the town except in the business quarters where the merchants had put down planks in front of their stores. The main streets of the town were dirty and at times were cleaned by private enterprise. In summer they were covered with knee deep sand, and in winter with" mud and slush to the same depth. Pigs, cows, horses and cattle roamed them at will. Owing to the lack of illumination the pedestrians piloted themselves homeward at night by the aid of a lantern — in sum mer to see the way and protect themselves from thieves and thugs, and in winter for the same purpose and to avoid the ruts and mud holes." Efforts to Organize a Town Government There was no local town authority, no graded schools, and considering all of these conditions the citizens concluded to get busy and organize a town government. Early in the year efforts had been made to organize a local government but for some reason the movement was a failure. The politicians were in the field early planning their work, and the Democrats nominated a straight ticket. By so doing they hoped to rush measures and elect a complete Democratic local ticket. If successful it would not only give them full control of the city but also the county offices and spoils. Behind the movement stood the hungry office seekers, and not the least among them was John J. Townes, who was forever and eternally bobbing up for some "fat office." Another seeker of office was Barney Garner, a saloonkeeper and a leader in Democratic county politics. Barney "has always been in politics," said the News, "and three times sought the office of sheriff." A Mass Meeting Riot The best interests of the embryo city would be endangered by the election of a partisan ticket, either Democratic or Republican, and if possible to avoid that mis fortune several of the leading merchants and citizens proposed to nominate a Citizens ticket. A meeting for the nomination of a nonpartisan was called. The assembly met in Rodgers Hall, and there the Democrats had gathered to a man ready at the moment to rush through a straight Democratic ticket. George Perley, one of the leading citizens, was elected chairman, and Isaac Loventhal, a strong Republican, was selected as secretary of the meeting. / As soon as the meeting was ready for business, Robert McHenry, the banker, jumped upon a chair and moved the endorse ment of the Democratic ticket. The plot was cut and dried and immediately Isaac Perkins, a merchant, seconded the motion. It was a direct slam against the Republi cans present, it being the object of the Democrats to force their ticket upon the meet- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 103 ing. Immediately, A. E. Wagstaff, a partisan Republican and then editor of the Herald, jumping to his feet, moved "that the meeting do now adjourn." At once there was an uproar and a babble of voices and in the confusion the meeting was broken up. It was the best thing that could have happened for the success of the Citizens' ticket. The American spirit will not stand bulldozing, and the attempt of any party to override a meeting, serves to strengthen the opposite party. The First City Election Unfortunately we have no details regarding this interesting event — the first elec tion — for the birth of a city or nation is always interesting. However, a city election was held August 1, 1884. For several weeks previous to the election the question of government or no government was hotly discussed. Those favorable to the measure declared that a municipal government was necessary for the growth of the town. Under a city government, they said there would be police protection, good schools, an efficient fire department, street lights, a supervision and full control of streets and many other benefits and advantages. The opponents of the measure argued that it would increase taxes without any correspondent benefit, that the saloons would con tinue to control politics and that lawlessness would increase rather than decrease. On the day of election the excitement was quite tense. Business was almost entirely sus pended and the merchants got out and worked hard for the success of the Citizens' ticket. Every vehicle in the town was engaged carrying voters to the polls. Those opposed to local government were badly handicapped, as they were working a criss cross game. They wanted to defeat the measure and yet if it carried they wanted to elect all Democrats to office. Those favoring the movement had a straight fight, a local government and well-qualified citizens in the various offices. The citizens won out by a handsome majority. Under the state law for the incorporation of cities, towns having less than 4,000 inhabitants could incorporate under the fifth class and elect as city officers a board of five trustees, to serve two and four years, the trustees to determine the length of term by lot, a clerk, a treasurer and a city marshal. The trustees elected were Theodore Turner, of the firm of Wood & Turner, James Johnson, a boot and shoe dealer, John B. Brichman, a saloonist, C. D. Payne, lumber merchant, and John F. Tucker, an abstract and real estate dealer; a dry goods merchant, Charles E. Marriott, was elected treasurer; a druggist, W. W. Granger, was elected clerk, and A. K. Pritchett, a carpenter, marshal. On August 15, the trustees met in the courthouse super visors' rooms and elected Theodore Turner president of the board of trustees and C. W. Eastin was appointed city recorder. James Johnson and John B. Brichman secured the long term lot, serving until April 21, 1888. The design selected for a seal was quite unique. The background represented a field of grain and in the fore ground was a combined header and thresher and a long team of horses hauling grain. Previous to the election, the only policing protection of the town was a constable named John Clark. He was known to all the citizens as "old John Clark" and was entirely incompetent for his position. "He was called a good man, but incom petent because of lameness, neglect of duty, and he had no desire to arrest a malefactor, especially if he be a friend, much less stop a fight or disturbance." While living at La Grange, his former home, he was elected constable, and during his term of office he had a rather unusual experience. This was in 1853 when William D. Kirk, the sheriff of the county, passed away, and for a day Constable Clark was sheriff. The day following John Myers was appointed sheriff by the supervisors. Street Improvements About the first work undertaken by the city trustees after completing their organ ization was the improvement of the principal streets of the city. The Modesto Herald in commenting on this work in December, 1884, said: "The city fathers are doing a good job in regrading the streets. The original population spent several thousand dollars in grading the streets and left them in good condition. But the dirt from 104 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY cellars put in the streets to raise the grade in front of the lot owners' property left depressions (on either side) and the rains made the streets muddy, dirty and sloppy." During the same month the trustees purchased lots 21-22-25 on Eleventh Street for the erection of a city jail. The citizens strongly protested against a jail within the business district and the "calaboose" was erected on G and Eleventh streets. The Street Problem The improvement of streets is a problem and a heavy cost to every local govern ment, and not until macadam and asphalt became available by reason of its quantity and comparative cheapness with other material, were cities able to make any perma nent improvements. It is not surprising therefore that the" Modesto citizens who opposed a city form of government, sneeringly smiled when they saw an increase in taxes, but no great improvement in the streets. Upon this subject in January, 1889, the Modesto Herald and the San Francisco Chronicle were at loggerheads. The Chronicle at that time, with its solicitors for subscriptions canvassing the town, reported that Modesto, "the county seat of Stanislaus, has a population of 3,000, is incorporated and well officered, its streets are wide, clean and dry." The Herald in reply said, January 3: "We wish the above were true, but it isn't; with the exception of the night watchman, Modesto hasn't a good officer. The old, decrepit and rascally city marshal spends his time in playing poker, in the various dives that curse our town, while the trustees with two exceptions are always drunk, with one exception are always dirty, and with no exceptions are always stupidly ignorant as to the welfare of the town. The streets are not clean, but on the contrary are a foot deep with rotten slimy mud, from which arises a sickening odor that only requires time to inaugurate a plague." This is not a pleasing picture. But to-day, under a commis sion form of government that eliminates all politics, how different the scene. The police force is all that may be desired. The streets are well paved, clean, and well lighted. The public schools are the equal, and its buildings are as handsome as any in the state. The saloons are gone and with it prostitution, and the people in their religious assemblies, clubs of culture and amusement, and beautiful homes, are pros perous, contented and happy. The Post Office Stanislaus County, as we have noted, had no postal facilities previous to 1868. In that year Congress established a post office at Paradise City, and the stage proprietor, L. H. Sillman, received the contract to carry the mails between Paradise and Stock ton. He also transported passengers, and Stanislaus County for the first time, aside from Knights Ferry, had daily communication with tidewater. For two years Sillman carried the U. S. mails. He was then superseded by the Southern Pacific Railroad. At that time Charles O. Burton, the Stockton postmaster, received word from Wash ington, D. C, December 7, 1870, that the name of the Paradise City post office had been changed to Modesto, and John J. McEwen had been appointed postmaster. The Stockton postmaster stated that as soon as the Modesto office was ready for business he would dispatch the mail at that point. A post office was fitted up in the two-story brick building on Front Street belonging to John B. Brichman, and as a curious inci dent, once only has it been removed from that block. The post office in early days followed the bulk of business. There were no carriers and the office was located in the most convenient locality for the business men. From 1872 to 1881 it was on Front Street, then it was removed to the Rodgers building on H Street, again on its travels it was in the Johnson building on I Street between Ninth and Tenth, then on the south side of the same street, and next to its present quarters on the west side of I enth Street, between H and I Streets. When the office was in the Rodgers building, S. H. Finley, a Democrat, was post master. ^He was succeeded' as postmaster December 15, 1885, by John E. Ward. "Ward," said the News, "was a good Democrat, a young man who had served in the sheriff's office and lately as a clerk in the National Bank." This was during President Grover Cleveland's term, the President who strongly persisted in carrying out the civil service act. Cleveland, running the second time, was defeated in November HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 105 1888, by Benjamin Harrison. Just before the expiration of his term of office he named in January, 1889, I. S. Loventhal, a Republican, as postmaster. For some reason the senate failed to confirm the nomination, and March 4, 1889, Harrison was inaugurated as President. It then became necessary to again send in Loventhal's name to the senate for confirmation. In the meantime there was a very active opposition by members of the Republican party, led by S. L. Hanscom, to Loventhal's appoint ment as postmaster of Modesto. The senate refusing to confirm the nomination of Loventhal as postmaster, the Republican county committee of Stanislaus County endorsed and sent in the name of C. D. Post for postmaster, it being a Republican administration. President Harrison sent in the name of Charles D. Post as psstmaster and the senate confirmed it. The new postmaster took charge of the office March 7, 1890, S. H. Finley having held over until his successor took charge. Mr. Post appointed as his deputy Miss Josie Gridley and he retained in office Miss Tillie Conneau, who was a deputy under Finley. William McKinley was elected President, November 6, 1900, and in 1902 David W. Morris, a prominent Republican, was appointed as Modesto's postmaster. He held the office from 1902 until 1914, at which time he was superseded by Wade Howell. During Postmaster Morris' term many changes took place in the office. At first he had one deputy and one assistant, only. Later the office force was increased to five assistants because of the growth of the city and the surrounding country. The rural system of delivery was established in 1904. The longest route, twenty-five miles, was Waterford and 100 families were served daily with their mail. Five rural routes had been established in 1910. The city free delivery system was established in 1906 with three carriers, one on the west and two on the east side. After Wade Howell's appoint ment in 1914 he held the position as postmaster until January 15, 1920, at which time he resigned. The office was temporarily filled by C. H. Conron, a former deputy, the permanent position being held in the air for some unexplainable reason until April 30, 1921, when the ex-postmaster and ex-mayor of Modesto, David W. Morris, was again appointed postmaster. The office at this time pays a salary of $3,200 per annum. Modesto Business Firms in 1880 Modesto in 1880 was credited with the following business places: three butcher, two tinware, five barber, six blacksmith and wheelwright shops, four drug stores, two furniture, four paint, two hardware, two jewelry, five millinery and dressmaking, a harness, a hat and boot and shoe and twenty general merchandising stores, a broom, a candy and a soda factory, a flour and barley mill, two breweries, a foundry, four livery stables, two lumber yards, a gunsmith, two photograph parlors, two under takers, a vegetable market, two bakeries, three restaurants, six hotels, two newspapers, six laundries, five large warehouses, a wholesale liquor house and fifteen saloons. The professions were also well represented, including two dentists, six ministers, a half dozen physicians, fourteen lawyers, several music teachers and a brass band. The religious denominations were represented by the Baptist, Catholic, Christian, Episcopal, Methodist, Southern Methodist, and a Liberal League. The benevolent orders were Druids, Knights of Honor, G. A. R. Post, Good Templars, Masons, Odd Fellows and a Temperance Society. In 1890 the city had less business houses, less population and, strange to say, twelve instead of fifteen saloons. What was the cause of this decrease in business and loss of population in both city and county? The Herald in explanation of the cause said : "Years of litigation over the irrigation laws had drained her (the county's) resources and those who remained there did so largely because they could not sell out to get away. She had a prosperous crowd before that of 3,000 population (the city) when she was the center of business for the West Side and in the other direction as far as the southern mines." But there was a brighter life for both city and county. It came after the opponents of irrigation had been forever quieted and through irrigation the earth began to blossom and put forth an abundant harvest and prosperity reigned. 106 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY The Nonpartisan Mass Meeting In a previous chapter we recorded the first city election, August 1, 1884, and the turbulent mass meeting preceding it — a mass meeting in which there was an attempt to nominate a nonpartisan ticket. The meeting broke up in a row. As the time drew near for the second city election, another nonpartisan meeting was held March 18, 1886, in Rodgers Hall. The News declared it "one of the liveliest meetings ever held in Modesto. The hall was packed long before John A. Worthington (the attor ney) stepped upon the platform and called the meeting to order. P. J. Hazen, another lawyer, and George Perley, both Democrats, were nominated for temporary chairmen. Hazen was elected amidst the greatest excitement and confusion." L. J. Maddux was elected temporary secretary and these officers later were elected the permanent officers of the meeting. Perley's motion was adopted and a permanent committee on organization was appointed. The chairman appointed the following committee: George Perley, L. W. Fulkerth, Willis Bledsoe, P. H. Medley, and John Cardoza. In time nominations for office were called. For city marshal, A. K. Pritchett, the marshal in office, received 132 votes and A. M. Hill, 214 votes. For city clerk L. B. Farrish received the nomination, 122 votes, eight more than his opponent, E. T. Stone. Thomas Wallace, William Tregea, John Robinson, Henry G. James and John Sorensen were nominated trustees without any opposition. The City Election of 1886 As the time drew near for the second city election the board of trustees through their chairman, Theodore Turner, and George Perley, clerk, gave notice that an elec tion for city officers would be held April 12, 1886. They designated the county superintendent's office in the court house as the polling place. They appointed George W. Toombs, inspector, Isaac Perkins and Rasmus Sorensen, judges, and W. H. Tuggle and Edward Howard, clerks. In this the second city election, 603 votes were cast. Farish for clerk, Hill for marshal and Marriott for treasurer were elected without any opposition, Marriott polling the highest vote of the three nominees, 589. For trustees there were two tickets in the field, a Citizens, or so-called nonpartisan, all Democrats, and an Independent ticket, all Republicans. The straight Democratic ticket was elected as follows : Thomas Wallace, 360; H. G. James, 323; William Tregea, 320; John Robinson, 322; and John Sorensen, 333. The Independents were not in sight, running far behind, as follows: Theodore Turner, president of the first board of trustees, 260; C. L. Payne, 267 ; John F. Tucker, 274 ; George Reitch, 235 ; and C. D. Post, later the postmaster, 260 votes. Ten years previous to this election the Republicans of the county, few in number, made strenuous efforts to carry the county in the presidential election of that year for their standard bearer, Rutherford B. Hayes. In those days torchlight processions, political uniformed clubs, bonfires and political "whoop-ups" were supposed to win votes and thousands of dollars were expended by each party in their political cam paigns. The Republicans of Stockton, anxious to assist the Modesto Republicans in their fight, planned an excursion to Modesto on the evening of October 24, 1876. The Stockton Buckeye Club, the Stockton Glee Club, a brass band and about 375 friends, including many ladies, were on the train. To make things lively, the Buckeyes took with them their cannon, "Buckeye Boy." On arrival at Modesto, a procession was formed and the Buckeyes led the procession, preceded by the band and followed by large numbers of decorated wagons drawn by six and eight horses, the wagons being loaded with ladies from Grayson, Turlock, Hill's Ferry and Oakdale. The Modesto Hayes Invincibles and the Hayes and Wheeler clubs from the various towns brought up the rear of the line. Each club carried bright-burning torches and dozens of trans parencies. There were fully 300 torches in line and the procession, a mile and a half in length, was ten minutes passing a given point. After parading the principal streets the procession countermarched on Front Street and, said an observer, looking from the Ross House, They presented a dazzling appearance." In the procession the Republican club carried a beautiful flag. It was the gift of the Republican ladies of HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 107 Modesto and was presented to the club October 1 1 by Miss Maddux in a neat speech. The procession halted and disbanded. at the pavilion. The crowd, over 2,000 in number, now gathered around the speakers' stand, which was prettily trimmed with flags. After a political song by the Stockton Glee Club and a second song by the Grayson rhixed quartette, Judge George Schell introduced L. M. Booth as chairman of the evening. The principal speaker of the evening was Marcus D. Boruck, secre tary of the state Republican committee. He was followed by Timothy G. Phelps, an extensive wheat grower and former candidate for governor. While he was speaking it was announced from the stand that as the hour was late the Stockton guests would retire to Eastin Hall, where a fine banquet awaited them. The hall was tastily deco rated and six long tables "fairly groaned with all of the delicacies of the season." The supper was provided by the "loyal, patriotic and hospitable Republican ladies," among them Mrs. D. S. Husband and Mrs. John S. Ross. The Stocktonians invited the Modesto Republicans to visit the city on the evening of the big torchlight procession on November 4, and the Modesto Republican Club returned the visit. They were accompanied by many ladies, who were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. James Cole, who will be remembered as proprietors in 1872 of the Ross House. Waterworks and Sewers A city government is ofttimes criticized for not carrying out certain improve ments necessary to the health and welfare of the community when as a matter of fact they cannot accomplish results for lack of money. Although the boards of trustees of Modesto were very slow in making many improvements in the town during their Democratic rule of over twenty years, they should be commended for the improve ments they made, and one of these improvements was the laying of sewers. The town was riddled with ill-smelling vaults which in the summer season smelled to high heaven. The work of sewering the most thickly inhabited part of the city began in December, 1885. It was not completed, however, until June, 1893, at a cost of $25,000. The sewer pipe was run to the Tuolumne River and in purchasing rights of way, Mrs. Mary Brinkerhoff wanted an excess price for her land, $1,500. The city trustees refused to pay the amount and in their condemnation suit, Judge Minor October 10, 1899, awarded her eighty-five dollars. Long before this suit the outfall sewer was in a bad condition and in the tax estimate $600 had been allowed for its repair. Bids were called for and received in September, 1899, and the lowest bidder was a Stockton firm, Clark & Henery. Their bid was seventy-five dollars and they were given the contract for repairing, extending and protecting the outfall sewer. They also constructed the protection and placed piling in the river to carry the pipe into the stream. Another improvement, small in itself, but of great importance to the relatives of the dead, was the laying of a sidewalk from the business street to the cemetery. The lane in winter was almost impassable because of soft sand and pools of water, and Trus tee Thomas Wallace suggested that the city lay the sidewalk. The City Cemetery was laid out as early as 1872, on the east side of the town, a mile distant. On the east side lie the dead of the Odd Fellows and the Masons and on the west side the dead of the Catholic Church. The Grand Army plot in the City grounds is noticeable because of two cannon constructed of wood at the east and west ends of the plot. At the time of the completion of the sewers, the trustees purchased the water works, paying for them $60,000. The best description that I have seen of the water works of that time was that given by Rev. J. C. Simmons, in a letter to the Chico Times. He said: "S. P. Rodgers is the principal stockholder and he kindly showed me through the works. There are four wooden tanks on a solid brick building, standing twenty feet higher than the tallest house in Modesto. They have a tank capacity of 165,000 gallons. Beneath the tanks there is a room 14x22 with concrete walls, sunk thirty-five feet in the earth. Three nine-inch wells, each 165 feet deep, supply the water to the pumps." 108 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY That these city improvements did not go unnoticed by the outside world, is evi dent from an article in the Visalia Times in 1900. It declaredj "The city of Mo desto is in some respects far in advance of any other municipality in the valley. The city has a first-class sewer system, owns its waterworks and lighting plant and has excellent school facilities. Its streets are well graded and its parks are well kept." The Courthouse Cornerstone The Times said nothing about the County Court House which was then over crowded and out of date. It was built, it is remembered, in 1872, and October 7 of that year the cornerstone was laid with very imposing ceremony by the Stanislaus Masons, Stanislaus Lodge No. 206 taking charge of the ceremony. Early in the afternoon the Masons of the county assembled at their lodge room in the James Building, corner of H and Eleventh streets, and after holding a preliminary meeting they marched to the court house site, the northeast corner of the building. A large crowd of people had gathered at that point. The president of the day, Thomas T. Hamlin, called the assemblage to order and introduced Judge Adolphus C. L. Hewel as orator of the day. He reviewed, in an eloquent manner, the history of Stanislaus County, from its earliest days, said the correspondent, and well he might for he had been in the county since 1855, an attorney since 1864, deputy county clerk in 1865 and county clerk in 1867-68. Concluding his address, the cornerstone was put into place under the direction of the grand master, N. Green Curtis, of Sacramento, who pronounced the cornerstone "well and truly laid." The ceremony of the day ended by a grand ball given by the Masons. In the cavity of that stone today there are resting the names of the President, Vice-President of the United States and, the President's cabinet at that date. It con tains also the names of the state, county and city officials of 1872, the county voting register, a copy of the Stanislaus News, the names of the officers of Stanislaus Lodge of Masons and Wildey Lodge of Odd Fellows, and Uncle Sam's currency, a gold and silver dollar, a greenback and a bank note. The Court House Annex By much planning and crowding the court house answered the purpose for which it was built until the year 1900. At that time plans were drawn and bids let for an annex on the west side. The Hall of Records, as it was called, 42x43 feet, corre sponding in height and architecture to the old building, was ready for occupancy in June, 1901. It was absolutely fireproof and the records are now safe from fire. The first or basement floor was occupied by the county assessor, J. L. Campbell, the second floor by the county auditor and recorder, and the third floor by the county clerk, A. S. Dingley. It was at this time the county grounds were first lighted. The supervisors accepted the Electric Light Company's proposition. The company erected in the square a tall mast and upon it a 2,000 candlepower arc light, costing the supervisors twenty-five dollars per month. The Destructive Fire of 1901 Shortly after the completion of the Hall of Records, a fire broke out among the shacks on the west side of the square, that completely wiped out the last of the old- time business houses. The fire broke out Sunday morning about three o'clock Novem ber 29, 1901, in the rear of the wooden buildings near the corner of I and Eleventh streets. The buildings were very dry and the flames gained headway so rapidly that although the fire department had two heavy streams of water on the fire, the buildings and much of the stock within them was destroyed. The heat was so intense the paint on the Gates building on the north side of the street was badly blistered two plate glass windows in the Tucker & Perley real estate office on Eleventh Street 'were shattered, and the north wall of the News office was badly scorched and several win dows broken. The buildings belonged to Mrs. Martha E. Tucker D and G D Plato and the business firms who lost their stock comprised Mrs R M Dunning' millinery; Harrison & Rutherford, grocers; Mrs. E. Speik, cigars and notions; Rob erts Harness and Shoe Repairing shop and George H. Freitas, barber shop Mr STANISLAUS COUNTY OFFICIALS, 1896 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 109 Freitas, now and for several years past, city engineer, had time to take from his shop only a lodge record book and some survey plat books. The heaviest loser by the fire was George R. Graves, undertaking parlor. He lost not only his stock but several valuable paintings, valued at $5000. In the rear of the parlors was a billiard table, Indian clubs and other paraphernalia belonging -to the Young Men's Social Club. These also were destroyed. The total loss was about $16,000, with an insurance of about $8,000. The Political Boss, Barney Garner In an interview with Charles Light some months ago, he indicated some of the causes of the political power of "the Boss." Along about 1870 Modesto was noted for her saloons. The whole railroad front was occupied by low-down grog shops. Up to fifteen, years ago Stanislaus County was Democratic and always rolled up over whelming majorities in every election. The liquor traffic and the Democratic party seemed to go hand in hand. When the better element from the East settled in Mo desto, and throughout Stanislaus County, they brought with them religious and other uplift influences. During the past fifteen years the Democratic majorities have been wiped out and the county has gone into the Republican column and at the same time the liquor traffic has been put out of business, as Stanislaus joined the dry column several years ago. Two political leaders in Modesto that I remember were Barney Garner, the saloonkeeper, and Sam Dorn, the gambler. Barney was a small-sized man, but recognized as a gunman and he had several dead men to his credit. A well-known Modesto writer said regarding Garner's political pull: "He was the leader of the saloon forces in the convention and was known in his day as the boss of the Front. He always went into the Democratic convention with a good-sized vote and on several occasions held the balance of power and practically nominated and elected the candi dates. In the political life of the city and county Garner Was the dominant character until his tragic death in 1890." Several different times Barney sought the office of sheriff. In one convention, that of 1886, possibly, he was quite a formidable opponent. There were four possible nominees: Stephen Bishop, who had been supervisor several terms, Barney Garner, Robert P. Purvis and A. S. Fulkerth, who had previously held the office. Bishop led on the first ballot with Garner a close second and Purvis a good third. Garner steadily lost ground. The contest was long and exciting with Purvis in the first place and Bishop second, Garner's vote having dropped to seventeen. On the twenty-ninth ballot Purvis received forty-six votes, Bishop thirty-five and Garner his "stand pat" seventeen. Garner then withdrew and threw his votes to Purvis, who received the nomination and was elected sheriff of the county. He Slaps an Attorney's Face Garner had such a strong political pull in making officials or in breaking those who failed to do his bidding, and his record as a gun fighter was so well known that the marshal feared to arrest him for any of his quarrelsome or vicious acts. A case in point is recorded May 18, 1886. On that morning W. E. Turner in passing the Marble Palace, saw Barney upon the sidewalk. He had taken several drinks, was very angry and he was swearing like a trooper. The marshal of the town, A. M. Hill, was quietly standing by. Turner, turning to Hill, said : "You should not allow such language on the public walks." Garner overheard the remark and not being very friendly with Turner, although both were Democrats and of the same stripe, he stepped up and slapped the attorney's face. The marshal then going up to Barney sympathetically remarked, "Barney, I w6n't allow such proceedings if I can help it." The marshal made no arrest nor did he swear out a complaint. His excuse was: "Turner knows the law and can make out a complaint if he so desires." A Fearless Marshal There was great need of a fearless marshal in the town — a marshal that would do his duty without fear or favor from a political boss or hi; henchmen. Such a man was fortunately elected at the city election of April 14, 1890, and Barney's political 110 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY career and bulldozing methods were soon ended. At that election John P. Allen and John P. Reedy were elected trustees, E. P. Grant, treasurer; George H. Golden, clerk, and Robert D. Young, marshal. The latter was born in Farmington, San Joaquin County, graduated in 1876 from the Oakdale high school and ten years later was engaged in the draying business in Modesto. He was elected marshal on the Democratic ticket and the criminal element soon learned that the newly elected marshal intended to arrest all violators of law, and the result was a strong enmity between the officer and Barney, the boss. When the city election was again at hand in April, 1892, Barney Garner was dead, for the "wages of sin is death." Young, however, was again elected marshal. His opponent on the Independent ticket was A. K. Pritchett, the first city marshal. So popular, however, was Young, that in a vote of only 600 he received 200 majority. Again and again he was continuously elected marshal until 1903. By. raising the standard of law and order did he not in some measure add weight to the great reformation of 1911? And had he been marshal in 1884 would the* organization of the "Regulators" been necessary to clean up the town of criminals and harlots? A Commission Form of Government After twenty-six years of party city government, during which time the saloons and gamblers dominated every election, the citizens resolved to try what was known as the commission form of government. It was a system in exact antithesis to the system which had been in use for a hundred years. Under the new or commission form of government each commissioner was held individually responsible for the work and expenditures in his department and the mayor had a general supervision and was held responsible for all of the departments. In other words, the mayor held the same position as the manager of a business. On the other hand, under the old system, it was a collective responsibility and no one person was accountable for any short comings. Under the party system the only qualifications of a trustee were to belong to the strongest party, be a good wire puller, a good citizen, and a "jolly good fellow" and his nomination and election was assured. Under the commission form of govern ment, partisanship cut no figure whatever and the only qualifications necessary were ability and a conscientious desire to faithfully serve the interests of the people. Framing a Charter A mass meeting of citizens was called to select the names of a body of fourteen freeholders, who were to frame a charter under the commission form of government. A committee was appointed. They reported the^ following names, which were endorsed by the meeting, namely : L. L. Dennett, J. R. Broughton, George Perley, J. W. Bell, Sol P. Elias, Thomas Downey, Z. E. Drake, L. E. De Yoe, C. W. Evans, John Dunn, Sr., E. I. Fisher, Nate C. Hanscom, Al Schmidt, C. A. Williamson and B. J. Smith. The freeholders named were elected by the voters April 11, 1910. They imme diately began their work, which must be completed and submitted to the electors within ninety days. Sol Elias was elected president of the board, and L. E. De Yoe, secretary. To prepare the charter and submit it to the freeholders, a sub-committee comprising Sol P. Elias, L. E. De Yoe and L. P. Fisher was appointed. It was fitting and proper that Sol Elias should be elected president of the board, for he was in fact the "Father of the Charter." Reared in Modesto from early childhood, graduated from the Modesto high school and later from Stanford University, he seems to have had a natural aptitude for charter making. He began the study of different forms of charters, those especially of the commission form of government, delivered several lectures upon the subject in Modesto, Stockton, and this year (1921) in Mer ced, and published in the Modesto papers several arguments upon the commission form of government. The charter, which was ratified by the voters September 10, 1910, provided for the election of a mayor and four trustees. They were in office four years, but two trustees retired every two years and new trustees were elected. At the first election the trustees drew lots for the two and the four-year term. A board of education, five HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 111 in number, was also elected by the citizen voters. They received no compensation and two or three, as the case might be, retired every two years. The mayor and trustees may or may not receive a salary; it was up to the voters. Each trustee was given a department, over which department Jie had full control and was held responsible. The departments were known as finance and revenue, public health and safety, public works, and public supplies. The board were given almost unlimited powers. They could purchase land for any public purpose for buildings, parks, playgrounds, theaters, art gallery, swimming pools, in fact anything desirable or useful for the public, and erect buildings thereon. Included in the many utilities they might if they so desired purchase an aviation landing place, an innovation in charters that caused considerable newspaper comment. The trustees appointed all of the sub-officers including the assessor, clerk, treasurer, collector, engineer, fire chief, attorney, chief of police, and five library trustees. The salary of the sub-officials was fixed by the trustees, the library trustees receiving no salary. The First Commission Convention The next move in the reformation of politics and the betterment of the city was to elect to office those men who would faithfully carry out the new policy. With this end in view about 150 business men and citizens met in Schafer's Hall, May 3, 1911, to nominate a nonpartisan ticket. A nominating committee was appointed. Their chairman, George R. Stoddard, stated that the object of the convention was to nomi nate representative men who would give the city a businesslike administration. The committee reported the following names, which were endorsed by the convention: for mayor, George Wren ; for trustees, George Perley, C. W. Swan and L. T. Moss ; for school trustees, Frank A. Cressey, Jr., W. R. High, J. R. Broughton, J. W. Davidson and J. W. Corson. The Socialist Ticket The Socialists were early in the field with a ticket which they called the "Socialist and Union Men Ticket." It was strictly partisan and they hoped to carry the elec tion by the votes of the labor unions of Modesto. In order to strengthen their party they imported that famous socialist, J. Stitt Wilson, of Berkeley. He spoke on the court house square June 5, 1911, the eve of election, and delivering a socialistic address, attempted to argue that the business men's ticket was nothing but a capitalist ticket and consisted of bankers and capitalists only. The socialists had placed in the field, Griffin D. Brice for mayor; C. A. East, L. D. Graham and Ira T. Bridges for trustees, and Mrs. J. P. Purvis, W. D. Baker, C. R. Little and Gustavius Ramech for school trustees. Mrs. Purvis, the wife of ex-sheriff Purvis, and a school teacher, was the first woman in Stanislaus ever placed on a political ticket, and she received the highest vote of any candidate on the Socialist ticket. The woman suffrage move ment was then in the air and in October, 1911, the woman suffrage amendment to the state constitution carried by a big majority. In the last state election, Miss Esto Broughton, daughter of J. R. Broughton, was elected to the assembly from Stanislaus county. She was one of the first women to sit in the legislative halls, and in the heated contest taxing the corporations, she voted for the tax, although her father is the presi dent of a corporation bank. Election Day, 1911 The election on June 5, 1911, was very exciting and a very large vote was polled, a total of 929 votes. The business men's ticket was elected by an overwhelming ma jority. The vote as tabulated was as follows: For Mayor: George J. Wren, 542; Griffin D. Brice, 222. For Commissioners : George P. Schafer, 643 ; L. T. Moss, 642; Charles D. Swan, 596; George Perley, 573; C. A. East, 171; L. D. Graham, 244; Ira T. Bridges, 251 ; John Harrison, 122. For School Trustees: J. W. Cor son, 675; J. R. Broughton, 627; R. W. High, 665 ; J. W. Davison, 659; Mrs. J. P. Purvis, 289; W. D. Baker, 245; C. R. Little, 224; Gus Ramech, 158; C. W. Lyman, 173. The last board of trustees under the old system comprised C. D. Post, S. W. Coffee, John D. Ross, John Harrison and W. S. Mann. It was charged during the 112 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY campaign that John Harrison was the boss of the trustees; that they did his bidding and many contracts were let in which he was directly interested. He had the temerity, however, to again run for the office and he received the smallest vote on the ticket. Modesto's First Commissioners In accordance with the provisions of the charter, the commissioners assembled July 1, 1911, and organized. They assembled at eight o'clock that morning and George Wren was elected president and George Perley, vice-president. Lots were drawn for the two-year and the four-year term and for the different departments, according to the charter. C. D. Swan, two years, public health ; L. T. Moss, two years, finance and revenue; George Perley, four years, public works; and George P. Schafer, four j'ears, supplies. In the selection of subordinate officers, Walter. O. Thompson was appointed auditor and clerk; E. B. Morse, treasurer and collector; E. L. Jones, city attorney ; George Freitas, city engineer ; R. L. Dallas, chief of police, and S. P. Kinnear, street superintendent. A few days later, July 11, the chief of police put on the lid and notified all saloonkeepers and red-light inmates that the laws would be strictly enforced, and August 3 the commissioner of public works, George Perley, announnced : "The old order of things is past, the new is on." Commissioners Elected to Date From this time on there was a wonderful change in the progress, morality and policy of the city. First-class men were elected to office, but it is well to be mindful of the fact that there were many events that contributed to the community uplift. One was the giving of the vote to women, another the organization of the Women's Im provement Club, another the organization of a Chamber of Commerce and a Mer chants' Association, and last of all the destruction of the liquor traffic. The following are the city commissioners elected up to date : April 8, 1913, trustees, Lowell Gum, C. D. Swan, L. T. Moss, elected to fill the unexpired term of George Perley. April 13, 1915: D. W. Morris, mayor; George W. O'Connor, L. T. Moss. April 24, 1917: trustees, John C. Cuneo, C. D. Swan. April 8, 1919: George J. Ulrich, mayor; C. C. Parks, Alvin H. Turner, vice C. D. Swan, resigned. CHAPTER EIGHT CHURCHES OF MODESTO Unfortunately for the present generation, the pioneers of Stanislaus County took no means whatever to preserve their history. Hence it has been very difficult to obtain facts, and in some cases impossible to get either data or facts. The newspaper men, presumed to be men of intelligence, capable of understanding better than others, except teachers, the value of history, are no better in that respect than the common citizens, and scarcely any of the newspaper files are saved. One of the most difficult records to obtain have been those of the church, and two denominations only had pre served a fair history of their organization. THE WESTPORT METHODIST CHURCH The first religious denomination in the present county of Stanislaus was the little Catholic Mission at La Grange, to which I have already referred. The second religious denomination was the Methodist Episcopal north. It was organized March 13, 1861, by the missionary, John P. Hale, in the home of J. V. Davies. The charter members were John and Elizabeth Davies, Joel Griffin and wife, M. and Elizabeth Moyle, Mrs. Carpender and Mr. Marvin. Services were held in the Westport schoolhouse until the erection of the new church in 1880. The first trustees were L. J. Morrow, John Davies and Joel Griffin. The church was in HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 113 existence in 1881 with Joseph Vincent, John Vivian, Osmond Johnson and M. Moyle as trustees. The first pastor was John P. Hale and the pastor in 1881 was Rev. T. B. Palmer. THE CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH T*1? Congregational Church seems to have been organized in the early '70s and died in its infancy for lack of numbers and financial support. According to meager reports, it seems to have been organized in 1872-73, and a small wooden church was erected on the I Street alley between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets. It was the first building in Modesto erected for church services. They were in existence in 1879 with the Rev. J. L. Jones as their pastor. They struggled along for several j'ears and then, disorganizing, united with the Presbyterians, then as now, one of the largest denominations of the city. After the Congregationalists vacated their building, it was occupied for religious worship by the German Lutherans. In the fire of July, 1890, they succeeded in saving the pulpit and the seats. Several years later, in 1911, the Lutherans were holding services monthly in Schafer's hall, Rev. George Jacobso'n of the Lutheran Church, Stockton, acting as their pastor. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH A number of the members of the Christian faith or Disciples of Christ, who lived in Stanislaus County assembled first in the Jackson district schoolhouse, about eight miles from the present city of Modesto. Some months later they resolved to organize a church. Assembling in the Congregational edifice April 23, 1873, they were organ ized by J. M. Monroe, with forty charter members. Following the organization they held a protracted meeting under the leadership of Reverend Monroe. The result was that 1 1 1 professed the faith and united with the Christians. For several months they held service in the Congregational church. Near the close of the year 1873 they built a small brick house of worship on Eleventh and G streets. They worshipped in that building until 1905, when the present handsome edifice was constructed. The first elders were appointed and ordained in 1873, namely: W. H. Finley, W. R. Ican- berry and W. S. McHenry. The late Elder C. H. Hinning was a valuable member of the church. The first deacons were James Berry, John B. Caldwell and William Wilkinson. The following pastors have served up to date: The Rev. J. M. Monroe, twice pas tor, C. A. Wright, A. G. Burnett (now judge of the Appellate court), Henry Coge- shall, Henry Shadle, J. W. Blake, George E. Shanklin, D. A. Leak, William H. briggs, J. A. Brown, L. O. Ferguson (pastor for ten jears), J. J. Haley and the present pastor, H. S. Saxby. This church has a large membership, over 500 in num ber, fifty being non-residents. The church has a number of societies, among them a Young Ladies' Club, Ladies' Aid Society, Women's Board of Missions, senior, inter mediate and young people's societies and a Bible class of over 400 members. THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOUTH "This denomination," said Jefferson D. Bentley, "was organized some time in 1872, the congregation erecting a small wooden church on the corner of Eleventh and J streets." A few years later an earthquake shook down all the plastering of the auditorium and, as the building was poorly constructed, the trustees concluded to erect a new and larger building. The cost was not given, but as carpenters then worked ten hours at $2.50 per day, the cost was not heavy. The building was in use many years, and in 1919 they sold the property to the Elks for $32,000. The trustees then purchased a lot at the corner of Elmwood and Needham Avenue and at a cost of about $40,000 erected a handsome building seating about 600 persons. While the building was being erected, the congregation held their services in the basement. The edifice was completed in 1920." The first church bell in the valley was placed in the steeple of the pioneer church and its tone ringing out loud and clear called the people to pray and praise from far and near. Five of the pastors of this church were the Rev. J. C. Simmons, L. G. Hargis, J. C. Pendergast, 1881, M. G. Burris, 1889, and Z. J. Needham, 1919. The first- 114 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY named pastor, J. C. Simmons, father of the wife of L. J. Maddux, the attorney, was one of the pioneer pastors of California. In a reminiscent lecture of his ministry since February, 1852, he said: "The boy preacher was sent to Grass Valley by the bishop, who remarked: 'If j'ou cannot sleep on bearskins and eat bear meat, you are not fit for a missionary.' On arrival I found a rough clapboard church and a clap board shed as my home and parsonage. On one occasion I walked sixteen miles to a new diggings and found not a finished house in the place. I found a frame house without any floor, and this I occupied as a church. Empty boxes were used for seats, and empty bottles for candle sticks. There I began singing hymns and soon a crowd gathered around. Services were held at different times under trees, in bar-rooms, ten- pin allevs and gambling houses, and many a time I preached with barrels and boxes, bottles, "bowie knives and pistols around me." The first trustees were Maj. James Burney of Burneyville, who had charge of the Sunday School, J. D. Bentley and Andrew Lester. THE BAPTIST CHURCH The Herald some time since stated that the Baptist Church "was the youngest Evangelical Church in the city," having been organized seven years ago (1903). Mrs. L. H. Pratt, the widow of the deceased pastor, Rev. L. H. Pratt, says she has been a member for fifteen years and that the church was organized long before that time. It seems they were organized in the Congregational Church and there held occasional services. When the building was destroyed by fire, in 1890, the congregation moved to a building corner of Seventh and J streets. The building was later sold and a second building was secured, which was sold after a time to the Seventh Day Adventists. Again without a home, the Baptists, having increased largely in numbers and wealth, concluded to erect a home of their own. Purchasing a lot on the corner of Eleventh and K streets they erected a handsome concrete edifice' at a cost of $15,000. It was dedicated during the summer of 1911, there being a general church building boom about that time. The present pastor is the Rev. Edgar Gum. THE CATHOLIC PARISH AND CHURCH The Catholics and the Episcopalians have what is known as parishes, and ofttimes a parish covers an extensive scope of territory. When Father W'U'arn B. O'Connor was assigned by Archbishop Alemany in 1872 to St. Mary's Church, Stockton, his parish not only included Stockton and San Joaquin County but the entire county of Stanislaus. At that time there was neither parish nor church building in the county save at La Grange, the little French church which we have already noted. Father O'Connor, visiting Modesto occasionally, would hold mass in the homes of the Catho lics, and in 1875 a parish was organized. Father O'Connor, who was a very zealous worker for church progress, soon began agitating the question of building a house of worship. Money was subscribed and collected for that purpose. A lot was purchased on Seventh Street near J Street, and a little chapel erected at a cost of $2,500. It would seat about 300 persons and, free of debt, it was dedicated June 23, 1878, by Archbishop Alemany, assisted by Father O'Connor. Seventh Street at that time had "just been laid out and was the main thoroughfare of the infant community." The first resident pastor was Rev. Patrick Walsh, who was assigned in 1881 to the Modesto church. His parish included all of the towns of the county, Modesto, Turlock, Gustine, Patterson, Newman, Crows Landing, Oakdale, La Grange and Knights Ferry. Father Walsh was in charge about three and a half years, when he was taken sick, and died in the parochial home, Stockton, December 23, 1884. Father Walsh was succeeded January 9, 1885, by Father Thomas McGuire. He was the parish priest during the following ten years and during his priesthood a little parish church was built at Turlock. Then came Father Patrick Smith, January 28, 1894, and the close of his earthly work was the most tragic perhaps of any priest in Cali fornia. Father Smith was a man of middle age and of a delicate constitution. On April 10, Easter Sunday, 1898, the church was crowded with worshippers who had come to celebrate Easter high mass. Father Smith was assisted by two altar boys and as with the lighted tapers in his hands, he knelt during the consecration, he fell over HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 115 on his side, dead. The congregation believed he had fainted. Four persons hastening to the altar carried' the lifeless body into the rectory. The sexton returning dismissed the congregation, saying: "Father Smith will be unable to finish the mass." He died of heart disease hastened by weakness from fasting. The next priest in order was Father W. J. Madden. His first mass was in April, 1898, and because of ill health he retired in 1903. While he was in charge, Oakdale was given a resident priest, Father Nevin. A division was also made of the parish. Father Nevin was placed in charge of all that part of the county east of the Santa Fe Railroad track while Father Madden took the west side of the roadbed. Sixteen years is a long time for a priest or pastor to remain in charge of a con gregation. It bespeaks a duty well done, a man beloved by his parishioners. Such is the record of Father M. J. Giles, whose crowning work is the beautiful church of St. Stanislaus with a parish of between 400 and 500 families and nearly 2,500 com municants. Born in Ireland, he attended the Black Rock College, Dublin. Coming to these United States he arrived at San Francisco in 1894. After having served as coadjutor in the San Francisco church of St. Francis, St. Rose and Star of the Sea, he was sent to Modesto in June, 1903. His first baptism was at Newman, July 11, 1903, that of John Souza, a son of Manuel and Mary Silveria Souza. His first mar riage, in November, 1903, united John Podesta to Mary Brichetto. In 1904 Newman, Gustine, Patterson and Crows Landing missions were eliminated from his parish and Father Leal became the resident pastor, residing at Newman. Turlock also was given a resident priest in Father Bailey. Notwithstanding these eliminations, his con gregation rapidly increased and in 1912 a committee was appointed to consider ways and means for the erection of a fine edifice, one that would be a credit to the beautiful city of Modesto. The work was hastened and May 1, 1913, the plans were accepted for a reinforced concrete building of the Spanish colonial stj'le of architecture to cost about $22,000. The inside measurement of the building was 46x112 feet, with two towers, each tower 75 feet in height. The first shovelful of earth was turned May 15, 1913, and the wall erected awaited the laj'ing of the cornerstone. August 13, 1913, was an important church day in Modesto and thousands came from the entire surrounding country to witness the laying of the cornerstone. At eight o'clock mass was celebrated in the old church. Two hours later a special train arrived from Stockton having on board a delegation from the Young Men's Institute, the Stockton Drum Corps and the Young Ladies' Institute. A procession was then formed under the direction of W. H. Langdon, now judge of the Appellate Court, and they paraded the streets, led by the Modesto Brass Band. Returning to the church high mass was was celebrated in the open air, Father J. L. Cunha acting as celebrant. At the noon hour a lunch was served to all of the visitors from Stockton and the surrounding coun try, and during the afternoon there was a baseball game between the Young Men's Institute team of San Francisco and the Modesto Reds. At the same time a sacred concert was given by the Modesto Brass Band. Late in the afternoon the cornerstone was laid by Archbishop Hanna of San Francisco, he also delivering a sermon in English. Father Cunha gave a sermon in Portuguese. Upon the cornerstone is engraved these words from the sacred writ: "Upon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." The building was dedicated December 28, 1913, by Archbishop Hanna. At the celebration of high mass Father J. J. Cantwell of San Francisco was celebrant ; Rev. William McGough of St. Mary's Church, Stockton, deacon; Rev. Thomas McNaboc, sub-deacon; Father M. J. Giles, master of ceremonies. The Rev. M. Gallagher of Oakland, Fathers Thomas Bailey of Turlock, and Dollard of Lodi were present. A special choir with W. W. Higgins as director sang Bateman's Mass in F. The build ing complete cost $23,500, the fittings $4,000, pews $1,500, and the memorial win dow, $1,000. The instrument used in the. church was a small reed organ, but in February, 1919, a $2,500 pipe organ was installed. 116 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The First Presbyterian Church of Modesto was organized in the Methodist Episcopal north edifice March 30, 1879, by Rev. Thomas Fraser, a missionary of the Synod of the Pacific. He was assisted in the organization by the Rev. Thomas Cookson of the Methodist faith and the Rev. J. L. Jones of the Congregational denomination. The congregation held services for a few months in Rodgers Hall, with Rev. John B. Warren as pastor. Purchasing a lot at the corner of I and Four teenth streets in 1880, they erected a neat building of wood at a cost of $4,300, the Presbyterian board of erection contributing $500 of that amount. The building was dedicated as a house of worship, January 2, 1881, and in a few years was free from debt, principally through the earnest efforts of Mrs. Matilda McHenry and of Mrs. J. S. Armstrong, the wife of Elder Armstrong. The people of the congregation continued worshipping in the little building until 1910. At that time there had been a great reformation in the city; it was growing by leaps and bounds and the members concluded to erect a much larger and finer edifice, one that would be in harmony with the times. It was their purpose to erect an institutional church, embracing such features as a lecture room and Sunday school rooms, a social parlor, auditorium, swimming tank, gymnasium and all of the features of a first-class Y. M. C. A. It certainly was an innovation up to date. There is none other like it except the Institutional Church in Hollister, San Benito County. The congregation now adjourned to Schafer's hall for worship and the old building was torn down. The new building, covering a space of 60x150 feet, was hastened to completion, and in January a $5,000 pipe organ was installed. The church was dedicated July 2, 1911, the dedicatory sermon being delivered by Dr. Lyman White of San Rafael. There was special music by the choir, the soloists being Mrs. Laura De Yoe Brown and Mrs. Grace Cox. In the evening a union service of all of the Protestant churches was held. The Rev. Lyman White again delivered the sermon and the Rev. Edgar F. Brown, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, spoke in behalf of the sister churches. There were over 800 persons present, more than filling the auditorium and balcony. The edifice cost about $50,000. The charter members of the church are Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Armstrong, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Rice, Mrs. Alice Brock, Mrs. Mary E. Hammond, Mrs. Mary D. Crow, George W. Cameron and Mrs. Mary J. Crawford, who is the only living charter member. The elders of the church for many years past were J. S. Armstrong and J. S. Rice, 1879; Benjamin Drake, 1880; W. B. Cullom and W. B. Elmore, 1882; Henry Voight and J. E. Ward, 1886; James Thompson, 1890; Dr. B. F. Surryhne, 1894; Edbert Stearns and G. P. Scha- fer, 1903; Dr. B. F. Surryhne and his wife, who united with the church in 1893, are still members. No church can remain long in existence without an income from some source. In this respect the Presbyterian Church was particularly fortunate, as a small amount of money, from $150 to $600, was annually supplied by the Home Board to assist in paying the pastor's salary until 1886. At that time the church became self-supporting. A little later, in 1896, a generous provision was made for the partial support of pastors by Mrs. Matilda McHenry, an early member of the church. At the time of her death that year she left a bequest of $15,000. Of this amount, $5,000 was to be placed in the building fund and $10,000 placed at interest as a permanent pastor's fund. The interest was to be used in paying pastors' salaries. The first session of the board was held May 12, 1879, and Rev. John B. Warren was called at a salary of $1,000 a year. In six months he resigned. The pulpit was then filled in succession by Rev. Alexander Robert L. Beck and Rev. H. A. Newell. Rev. H. E. Mathena, elected in 1881, remained until 1884, when he was succeeded by Rev. John W. Atherton. He filled the pulpit until 1887, and he was followed by William O. Melvena, H. C. Gillingham, whose resignation was requested in 1891, J. M. Thompson, E. B. Hayes and Enos P. Baker, each with a pastorate of three years. In May, 1901, the session extended a call to the Rev. E. A. Holridge. He accepted and remained in charge until July 1, 1903. In October, 1903, Rev. H. K. Pitman took charge and continued as their beloved pastor until the allied war Then HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 117 believing in his duty to his country, he resigned and took up war work with the Y. M. C. A. The present pastor is the Rev. M. C. Martin. THE DANISH BAPTIST In a neat little cottage residence on Seventh Street near H Street, the Danish Baptists worship. It is the youngest religious denomination in Modesto, having been organized May 4, 1916, by the traveling missionary, N. L. Christensen. The charter members of the little church assembled that day in the home of L. C. Nielson in the Woods Colony. They were M. J. Petersen, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Petersen, Mr. and Mrs. M. West, Mr. and Mrs. Peter H. Petersen, Mrs. Andrew Christensen, Mrs. Peter Miller, Mrs. Haus P. Holm, -Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Neilsen, Mrs. John Jensen, Miss Mark Kaas and Miss Louise Lindgreen. Rev. Peter Jorgensen, who took charge of the work January ,20, 1917, is still in the field. The Sunday school was organized at the same time as the church, and Mr. L. C. Nielsen has continued from that time until the present time as its' superintendent. THE EPISCOPALIAN PARISH On the corner of H and Fourteenth streets stands the neat little building of the Episcopalians. Rev. A. L. Walters is the rector in charge. It was organized in 1879 as St. Paul's Mission by the Rev. D. O. Kelley of Trinity Church, San Francisco. He was succeeded in 1880 by the Rev. D. L. Mott, the parish missionary until 1883. During his term as rector the little chapel was erected. No chancel was built at that time, but in 1909 the Rev. W. H. Harker became resident rector and a chancel was built, Mr. Harker doing the principal work. Still later choir stalls were built, the gift of Mrs. Frank Cressey, Sr. In 1912 the guild hall was built at a cost of $2,300. According to the official report, the church was incorporated in 1885, with the following persons acting as trustees and officers : George W. Schell, the attorney, as president, Harry French, secretary, and A. M. Hill, treasurer. According to a press report the church was incorporated when it became a parish June 20, 1910. At that time Bishop Nichol appointed Rev. W. H. Harker to conduct the election of the fol lowing vestrymen: J. C. Naylor, Henry S. French, Frank A. Cressey, Sr., H. H. Hatton and Vital E. Bangs. The senior warden was J. C. Naylor and the junior warden, A. H. Williams. The vestrymen at this time (1920) are L. F. Baker, C. K. Garrison, C. W. Doner, O. H. Williams and A. L. Walters. As we have stated, St. Paul's Episcopal Church was a mission only from its organization in -1879 until 1909. During those many years the congregation were obliged to accept the services of those who were willing to preach the gospel almost gratuitously. Nearly all of the supply came from the churches of San Francisco, being sent on the mission by Bishops Kip and Nichol. They served in the following order: Rev. D. O. Kelley, 1879; D. L. Mott, 1880-83; Henry Scott Jeffres, 1884- 85; Archdeacon Scrivner and W. H. Dyer, 1886-87; Rev. Octavius, June 5, 1891; D. O. Kelley, 1899; H. F. Compton, May, 1907; C. S. Lindsey, March, 1908; Charles Mainan, 1908-09. The first parish rector remained until April, 1911. Then came Rev. W. H. Wheeler, who remained one year, followed by Rev. John Atw'ell, May to November, 1912; W. P. Williams, April, 1913, to May, 1915; Charles Hitchcock, July, 1915, to May, 1916; Oliver Kingman, May, 1916, to March, 1917, the present pastor, A. L. Walters, taking charge June 1, 1917. With an ever-changing pastorate no church could rapidly increase either in spir itual influence or membership, but St. Paul's has held its own. In 1885 the member ship of the church was fifty-seven, and the number of children, fortj'-four. The membership is now 218, with thirty-five children in the Sunday school. Confirmation services were first held in 1891, Bishop Nichol confirming three candi dates. The first marriage in the county by an Episcopal minister was at Turlock, October 27, 1885, Rev. W. H. Dyer then united in marriage Herbert Dunn and Miss Tymlson. 118 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH This church, said Branch, is the oldest religious organization in Modesto. Or ganized in 1871, it became the circuit headquarters, which included Adamsville, Dry Creek, Knights Ferry, Burneyville and the district surrounding Modesto. In 1875 the church was made a station and it has supported its ministers without any church board assistance since that date. Another account, one handed to me by Henry F. Turner, says that the church was organized in 1864 by Silas Belknap with eleven persons, namely: Mr. and Mrs. J. F. McLaughlin, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Long, Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Fincher, Mrs. Anna Monroe, Mrs. C. E. Henderson, Miss Carrie Moore, Len Crawford and S. E. McLaughlin. Its first board of trustees were A. J. Hart, C. J. Cressey, Isaac Frye, Frank Kett and A. Calderwood. The church was incorporated in 1873 with Garrison Tur ner, Isaac Frye, Theodore Turner, F. F. and Albert Fuquay as trustees. The trustees in 1873 purchased lots at the corner of H and Fourteenth streets and erected a church of frame construction at a cost of $4,000 and a parsonage costing $1,500. A much larger and finer building was erected in 1889, the press stating September 27: "The Methodist Church is progressing rapidly to completion. The steeple and weather- vane, surmounted by an immense bronze ball, are in place, and it already presents an imposing appearance." The fire across the alley in 1890 badly damaged the edifice and the church was rebuilt in 1891 at a cost of $10,000. The continued growth of the congregation compelled them to make additional room and a substantial rebuild ing was carried out in 1906 at a cost of $15,000. Still more room became necessary and in September, 1910, more additions were made, together with a new heating plant :ind a $3,000 pipe organ. The entire work of rebuilding was performed by union labor. As an appreciation of that fact, a day was set and the unions of Modesto .were com manded to attend the service on Sunday morning, January 15, 1911, in a body. Among the pastors of the church we note Revs. J. L. Burchard, E. M. Stewart, C. G. Belknap, E. A. Hazen, C. G. Miles, E. A. Winning, C. E. Rich, 1881; Westley Dennett, 1890; F. C. Lee, 1899; Edgar F. Brown, 1910-11 ; C. B. Sylvester, 1919-20. The church membership in 1881 numbered 108, with seventeen probationers, and now numbers 650. The Sunday school in 1881 numbered 185, which has increased to over 500. For twenty continuous years, up to and including 1911, Henry E. Turner was the Sunday school superintendent ; the present superintendent is W. F. Ramont. SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS This organization several years ago erected a frame edifice on the corner of Sixth and J streets. The members are principally farmers and voluntarily they give their tithes to the Lord. A few years ago they sold their building to the Colored Bap tists and erected on the site a neat, substantial, concrete house of worship. FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST Along religious lines, one of the most remarkable growths, especially in the large cities during the past twenty-five years is the growth of the Christian Scientists. It is the religion founded by Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy and rich and poor alike have accepted the doctrine as set forth in her book, Science and Health. In Modesto, meetings were held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Spanker, corner of J and Thir teenth streets. After a time their numbers had so increased the house was not large enough and they assembled in the Masonic hall. Officially recognized, a Christian Science society was organized in 1909 and continuing their services until 1917 that year in September they obtained a charter for the "First Church of Christ, Scientist, of Modesto." Shortly after that they rented a small wooden building on Thirteenth Street near J, formerly a Protestant church, where they now hold services; they also maintain free reading room for the public. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 119 CHAPTER NINE STANISLAUS COUNTY'S FIRST NEWSPAPERS The press is the moulder of public opinion all of the time; the servant of a political party and of corporations the most of the time, and the greatest of prevarica tors among men, sometimes. Hence we find the newspapers of the county joined to some party, favoring some corporation and at times "lying to beat the band." In March, 1850, there was published at Stockton a paper called the Stockton Times and Tuolumne Intelligencer. It was a Democratic newspaper and the proprietors in tended to supply the wants of the citizens of Stanislaus (then Tuolumne County) with the news. As the county had no mail service this idea was quickly abandoned and the last name omitted as there was no way in which the paper could reach its subscribers. The first paper in the county was the Knights Ferry Bee which was published September, 1859, by W. J. Collier. In a short time the Bee passed into the hands of J. B. Kennedy, who stated that the paper would be published every Saturday morning "from the office, north side of the public square." It was a four-page, six-column paper and the price was twenty-five cents per copy or five dollars a year. Wholesale liquor houses and whisky shops, together with famous restaurants in Stockton and San Francisco, formed the bulk of its advertisements. In Knights Ferry, N. L. Buddington called attention to his splendid bar which was stocked with the choicest liquors and newly cushioned billiard table, the best in the town. The Bee discontinued its publication in less than fourteen months. Its successor was the Stanislaus Index. It was first published in 1861 by Garrison & Whicher, and it sus pended publication shortly after the flood of January, 1862. Six j'ears later and the miners "were leaving the "diggings," for they declared the mines had "petered out" and they began locating in the valley and seacoast cities. THE MODESTO NEWS Among those whose fortunes were blasted by the exodus of the miners was a j'oung man named J. D. Spencer, who was then publishing in San Andreas a paper called the Mountain News. A Virginian by birth, he returned to California the second time with his family in 1853 and began mining in Calaveras County. In 1862 he engaged in the photographic business and three jears later became an editor in charge of the Woodbridge Messenger on the banks of the Mokelumne River. Young Spencer, then twenty-five years of age, entered into politics and strongly espoused the Democratic party. In November, 1867, he published the Mountain News. At that time indications were that Stanislaus would soon become a large and flourishing county and having no paper he concluded to locate in Tuolumne City and publish a Democratic paper. Landing there early in 1868, on February 14, the first copy of the Tuolumne NevUs was issued. It was a four-page, six-column paper and published every Friday morning in the upper story of the Ross House, the hotel being upon the main street of the town. The News in its politics was thoroughly Democratic, "yet at the same time warmly enlisted in the progress and advancement of the county. By its boldness the land office ring at Stockton was broken up and it next boldly urged the repeal of the 'no fence law,' thus securing the new settlers from the heavy expense of fencing their lands before their crops could be raised." "The News" Moved to Modesto Mr. Spencer soon learned that he had made a mistake in locating in Tuolumne City and immediately he began making preparations to move to the new railroad town. In the last issue of his paper, November 29, 1869, he said: "We came here three years ago assisted by friends expecting that the Tuolumne would be navigable for at least ten months of the year. Now the railroad will kill the town and we intend moving to Modesto. There we can daily get the news and issue a daily and a much better paper." Tuolumne City at that time had a population of about 300 people and one-half of the county's population lived within thirteen miles of the town. There were other inducements which caused the removal of the paper 120 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY to Modesto, namely, a deed to two town lots free of cost. About this time, Miner Walden, assemblyman from Stanislaus, concluded that his future political interests and those of the News were identical. Going to the agent of the contract and finance committee of the Southern Pacific he induced them to deed two lots to J. D. Spencer for a home and printing plant. Although the News was antagonistic to the railroad politically and as a corporation, they agreed to deed Spencer the land, as a good paper would help to advertise and boom the town. In the spring of 1870 the printing plant was loaded upon wagons and moved to Modesto. Branch, in record ing this event wrote: "When the News office was located on its present site, there were not a half a dozen shanties in the town of Modesto. It stood alone, isolated, facing the east, with no view or prospect to break the monotony of the broad, sweep ing plains, until the unobstructed vision rested on the snow-clad peaks upon the Yosemite." The office was located in a deep swale or slough, rendering it almost im possible to reach it during the rainy season. The name of the paper was changed to the Stanislaus News and the first number was issued December 2, 1870. It was issued as a four-page, six-column paper with a subscription price of five dollars per annum. The advertising rates were three dollars per square one insertion of ten or less lines. Contract rates on quarterly contracts were considerably less than the regular rates. Among his first advertisers may be found the firm of George W. Schell and J. J. Scrivner, attorneys and real estate, Knights Ferry ; Thomas A. Cold- well, district attorney, Knights Ferry ; Abraham Schell and A. Hewel, residing in the county seat; John B. Hall, W. C. Buckley, Warren S. Montgomery, Stockton; Maj. James Burney, notary public, Burneyville, and B. G. Wier, justice of the peace, Tuolumne City, Spencer continued publishing the News as a weekly paper until Decembes, 1884, when he branched out December 1, 1884, as the Daily Evening News. The price was, one year, five dollars ; six months, three dollars ; three months, one dollar and fifty cents. It was published as a four-page, five-column paper. In the first issue the editor said : "The Daily Evening News makes its formal bow to the public today. It is here in accordance with the overwhelming call of the popular sentiment of the people of this county. In politics every one has a right to expect that it will be strongly, boldly and aggressively Democratic. In the issuing of a daily it is no secret that strong Democratic friends, numbering among them the wealthiest, truest and best citizens, have generously assisted in this daily publication to offset the politics of Republicanism, preached in our daily press." The paper had a circulation of 800 or 900, saj's C. P. Rendon, with J. D. Spencer as editor; James Madrell, reporter, and C. P. Rendon as compositor. Rendon, who later was district attorney of San Joaquin County for twenty years, was born in Stanislaus County at La Grange, and learned the printer's trade on the Wheat Grower at Oakdale. He was later employed on the Modesto Strawbuck and later on the Republican, then conducted by H. I. Bradford. Rendon began reading law with Thomas A. Coldwell, a Modesto lawyer. In March, 1889, Spencer took in as a partner W. D. Crow and they published the location of their paper as "corner of I and Eleventh streets, opposite the court house." In 1881 Spencer purchased a new cylinder press and in 1890 he was compelled to erect a new building. "We are cramped for room, as the building we are in is one of the first moved from Tuolumne City and only eighteen feet wide, is too narrow for our new machinery. It has been moved to an adjoining lot and a new building, hard finished throughout, 25x75; will be erected." He was in his new office March 24, and his expenses in publishing a daily were quite heavy, $800 per month. His employees represented five families and four-fifths of the money was spent in Modesto, he stated. The expense was too heavy and the paper went back to a weekly edition. Five years later, December 13, 1895, Spencer died in Modesto. For several years after his death the paper was published by the Spencer estate with X. U. Maddrell as managing editor. In time he retired and J. H. Cavill took charge, the News being issued as a four-page, eight-column paper. When J. D. Spencer's son, Herbert, became of age he sold a half interest in the paper to U. E. Pengo, and young Spencer disagreeing with Cavill in regard to the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 121 management of the paper, Cavill retired and opened a print shop on I Street. In July, 1911, Perigo sold his half interest to J. W. Guyler, an employee in the office, and A. W. Cowell, former editor of the Stockton Mail. Mr. Cowell was appointed secre tary of the irrigation company, and retired from newspaperdom. A corporation was then formed. Spencer sold out and two gentlemen from Reno, Nev., E. T. Sherman and S. T. Morgan, bought up the principal stock and are now conducting the News. MODESTO HERALD Long before his death the editor of the News had had many a political fight and many a heated contest with its Republican opponent, the Morning Herald. And, says the local historian, "in the days of fierce, journalistic rivalry and enmity, the editors of the local press were not on speaking terms." Following close after the establishment in Modesto of the News, a newspaper was issued by S. Marcey, in 1873, called the Modesto Mirror. It was independent in politics. In the spring of 1874 the Mirror was purchased by L. F. Beckwith who bought it from Marcey. In the "local option" campaign some years later the Mirror advocated the "dry" side of the question, which resulted disastrously to that paper. The material was later purchased by H. E. Luther, and that gentleman, January 28, 1875, issued the first number of the Morning Herald. Then the paper was incorporated and H. E. Luther's health failing, Charles Maxwell took charge of the paper and bought up all of the stock. Maxwell seems to have been a successful newspaper man. He enlarged the Herald from a six-column folio to a six-column quarto and in August, 1879, refitted the office with new material, all except presses. The business increased rapidly and in August, 1880, he moved to the second story of the Baum Building, southeast cor ner of H and Tenth streets, in the business center of the town. In its new quarters the paper was again enlarged to a seven-column quarto. Republican in politics we cannot imagine the cause of its success, for it was a Republican paper in the midst of a strongly Democratic city and county. Notwithstanding the fact that the Herald was the largest and best paying plant, its opponent, the News, got all of the "political pie." It received all of the city and county printing regardless of who was the lowest bidder and in 1876 the Herald charged that the News had received $209.75 for print ing election notices. The Herald's bid was $70.50 for the same work. Although the law plainly declared that the supervisors of each county shall give all county printing to the lowest bidder, the supervisors in 1878 again gave the work to the News. The News' bid for the work was almost double that of the Herald's bid. It was alto gether too raw, and Maxwell of the Herald brought suit against the supervisors, ask ing that the News bid be set aside. The case came up before Judge Booker of the district court and he declared the News bid was null and void. Hanscom Shoots Himself Sometime in the '80s the Herald came into the possession of A. E. Wagstaff, an old newspaper man who was very aggressive, with S. L. Hanscom as editor. From that time on things were quite lively in Modesto for the Herald scored men and party right and left for their illegal and "rotten work." In consequence of this fact Hans- com's life was threatened and to protect himself he always went armed. Unfortunately, on April 3, 1888, he was shot by his own weapon. He carried in his overcoat pocket a self-cocking revolver and in sitting down in his office that day it was accidentally discharged, the ball passing through the fleshy part of his leg about two inches below the knee. In January, 1889, the San Francisco Chronicle said in playing for subscrip tions: "Stanislaus County is among the best-governed counties in the state." The Herald, commenting upon the article, said: "The only trouble with the above is, it isn't true. Today and as far back as we can remember Stanislaus has been pilfered and robbed in every imaginable way by a set of Democratic thieves, typical of whom is Johnny McCarty, whose red head is about to flash like a meteor across the bay to San Quentin. How soon his successors will follow him, time will tell." 122 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Brown Attempts to Shoot Editor Hanscom was called to account for his plain statements by an infuriated young man named George Brown, a son of T. C. Brown, chairman of the board of super visors. It appears that Supervisor Brown was dominated by A. S. Fulkerth, and when a certain proposition came up before the supervisors the Herald said in its edition of July 25, 1889: "Brown of course, has to vote as Fulkerth tells him. Ful kerth knows too much about the crimes committed by a son of Brown's for the later to refuse to do Fulkerth's slightest commands." Over a week later, on August 8, while Hanscom was sitting in his office, young Brown entered. Stepping up to Hanscom's desk he threw down a copy of the paper of July 25 and pointing to the article inquired : "Are you the author of this?" -"Yes," replied Hanscom. Brown then quickly drew a revolver and pointing it at Hanscom's head, fired. Hanscom, fortunately, had thrown up his hand a moment sooner and the ball passing over the editor's head, lodged in the wall. Hanscom then grappled with the attempted assassin and parties hurrying into the room found the men grappling with each other, both with revolvers in their hands, trying to use them. The two men were disarmed and Brown was taken to jail. In the meantime parties on the street heard the shot and some cried out "murder" and others yelled "fire!" The bell was rung and the whistle blown and in a few minutes the firemen and a big crowd were on the street. A reporter from the News office attempted to interview Brown in the jail. He was, however, so maudlin drunk that little information could be obtained. He said that he would not have resented any reflections upon himself, but his father was too good a man to be abused and vilified and he would not permit it if he could help it. Hanscom Libels Judge Hewel Hanscom, who had been a county school teacher and later a reporter on the News, in 1890 purchased the Herald. He celebrated the event by an attack on Judge Hewel, one of the attorneys in the county since 1864. Hewel, a German by birth, was a prominent politician in those daj's of packed conventions, fraudulent voting, and when the purchasable votes of Front Street carried many a candidate into office. He was deputy county clerk in 1865; county clerk in 1866-67 and elected county judge in 1879. Hanscom "bearded the lion in his den" and through the Herald he accused the Judge, while acting as an election officer, of folding the ballot of John Hays and depositing it in the ballot box while the said John was so drunk he was unable to know what he was doing. Hanscom also charged the Judge with dishonesty while acting as an election clerk, 1870. Judge Hewel sued the writer for $40,000 damages to good name and' fame. The suit was called February 16, 1890, with Judge M. H. Harris of Fresno presiding. L. J. Maddux and General J. R. Kittrelle appeared for Hanscom and James H. Budd of Stockton and P. J. Hazen for the plaintiff. The jury sworn in to try this remarkable and interesting suit according to the law and the evidence, comprised N. E. De Yoe, John James, S. Shackelford, E. Gatzman, D. A. Brown, C. M. Brockworth, N. M. Parsons, J. F. Davin, Frank Medina, E. Richardson, L. B. Farrish and Moses Sheakley. The jury brought in a verdict in favor of Tudge Hewel and the News in commenting on it said : "By the above verdict Judge Hewel is com pletely vindicated and Hanscom, the vile traducer of his character, is branded as a liar, a perjurer, a base libeler and a depraved wretch." Soon after this Hanscom retired from the newspaper business and located in San Francisco. The plant was purchased by T. C. Hocking, formerly of Grass Valley, and " December 23, 1893, he returned home on a visit. The foreman of the Herald for twentv-five years was John J. Porter. His health failed in 1905, and leaving his posi tion November, 1911, he died at the I. O. O. F. home. Mr. Hocking, soon after his purchase of the Herald bought a lot and erected a single-story brick building the loca tion of the Herald at the present time. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 123 CHAPTER TEN STANISLAUS COUNTY SCHOOLS Stanislaus enjoys an honor bestowed on no other county north of the San Joaquin River save Sacramento, namely, a state treasurer, L. C. Richards, a resident of Gray son, and two state school superintendents The first state superintendent, John G. Mar vin, elected in 1850, resided at Empire and Paul G. Hubbs, elected in 1853, lived near the present site of Oakdale on land purchased from Maj. James Burney of Burneyville. Marvin in his first school report, 1851, said there were 150 children in Tuolumne County, and not a public nor a private school. In 1855 Superintendent Hubbs reported two schools in Stanislaus County, one in the Branch school district with R. B. Hewey and W. D. McDaniels as teachers, and one in the Burney district, Robert McColloch and J. D. Neil, teachers. In the Marvin district in 1856 a third public school was opened, the teacher being Mrs. Mary Sharp. At that time only twenty-five children attended school, although according to the school census report there were 168 chil dren in the county. In the following year there were 197 children and yet only two schools with three teachers. The report of 1860 is not very satisfactory, but there were 125 children and they received $94.50 school money from the state school fund. EARLIEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS Mr. E. R. Crawford, one of the teachers of the late sixties, in giving his reminiscences to the Oakdale Graphic in 1901, said: "My knowledge of the schools goes no further back than 1866. At that time there were only nine school districts, namely: Adamsville, Empire, La Grange, Knights Ferry (now called Emory), McHenry, Salida, Farmer's Cottage, Jackson and Washington, now called Langworth. "The schoolhouses with very few exceptions were nothing more than rough boards nailed upright to scantling. Some were battened but without lining, others were without batten and in the summer sun the cracks would widen an inch or more, thus relieving the teacher of the ventilation problem and offering glimpses of the outside world to those within. "Knights Ferry had a good schoolhouse ; it was burned a short time ago but re built. There was a brick building at Langworth built in 1862 or 1863 by subscrip tions and entertainments at Lone Star. W. H. Brown was the first teacher of the school. The teachers (in the county) as I recall them were Vital E. Bangs, L. W. Crawford, William Jamison, John C. Lillie, H. J. Turner, Mr. Chedister, Miss Carrie Moore, Mrs. Allen and myself. T. T. Hamlin was county superintendent, succeeded by Maj. James Burney. This dear old man was honored and loved by teachers and pupils as he had a smile and good word for every one." PRIVATE SCHOOLS The first private school in the county was established in 1853 by John W. Laird. The teacher was an Irishman, James Sylvester by name. The children from two families comprised one-half the school, namely, Elvira, Mary and John W. Laird, Jr., Joel, George, John and Nancy Smith together with John M. Whitman, Mary Kemp and John Green. Young Green was a boarder from afar, for his home was in Tuolumne County. A second private school was taught in 1854 by Mrs. Mary Sharp. The school was located about a mile above Empire City. She advertised in the paper that she would teach all branches of the English language at twenty-six dollars per month, including board. The lady purposed establishing a female seminary in the spring of 1855, if sufficient encouragement be given. "Few in our state are more competent to conduct a school," wrote a correspondent. She had but few scholars because of the scarcity of children and the sparsely settled family population, so in 1856 she began teaching the district public school in Empire. 124 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL There were a few people living in the vicinity of Orestimba Creek who realized the value of an education, and in 1854 by private subscription they raised money sufficient to establish a school at Newsome's Bridge and employ a teacher. The build ing was a rough-built shanty, made of pine or redwood boards, and in use in summer only. A friendly, neighboring tree had to make up for all of the deficiencies of roof. About the same time a district public school was established at Knights Ferry. The pupils were children of the Dent, the Lane and the Magee families. For want of a better location, the school was opened in one end of a stable. Horses occupied the upper end. The "stable" school was only a temporary affair, however, as the citizens soon collected enough money to build "the little school on the hill." Another school overcrowded from the first day, was the school established in the Bel Passi district. It was thought necessary to start a school in that district and they took possession of a little shanty erected in 1869 by L. C. Branch. He erected it to "bunk" here once a month, as the law required, and thus secure the title to a quarter section of land. Of course it was a small room for a school. The teacher in describing it said : "I was obliged to stand in the doorway while teaching, and look in." John Tulloch, the veteran quartz miner, understanding the condition of affairs in Buena Vista, in 1869 erected a school building opposite the town, for the use of the children in that vicinity. In that same j'ear a brick school building was erected at Tuolumne City through the efforts of the ladies of the town. The News in writing of the ladies' work said, Sep tember 29, 1869, "One of the greatest requirements of our place is a first-class school- house. Some considerable sum has been collected already for the building of a school- house and the ladies will give a grand festival at the coming fair for that purpose." LEGISLATIVE SCHOOL LAWS We have already noticed the little district school at Modesto located at the south east corner of the block, corner H and Tenth streets, later (1876) the location of Samuel M. Clayes' drug store. Charles Light, born at La Grange, and then a boy of fifteen, said: "There was one small schoolhouse at Modesto on the hill. Not more than thirty persons attended this school at one time. They ranged from youngsters to grown-up people and were of all nationalities except Negroes, Chinese and Japs." Before the town had been many months founded the more intelligent citizens began discussing the proposition of a large and comfortable school building for their children. As the town was not incorporated the trustees had no authority to collect taxes or make any contracts for a large school building such as was desired. The Legis lature, however, could give them that power, and April 1, 1872, Thomas J. Keyes, then senator from Stanislaus County, introduced a bill which passed, declaring that "the Board of Trustees of the Modesto School district shall publish an advertisement in the weekly paper calling for plans for a schoolhouse." After the plans and bids for the building were accepted the trustees were authorized to levy an assessment on all taxable property. There was a blockade somewhere. Perhaps the assessment would not bring in sufficient money to build a school and purchase a suitable piece of property and proba bly the supervisors refused to obey the law. In the matter of property, however, the contract and finance committee of the Southern Pacific came to the trustees' assistance and deeded the town the west quarter of block on Fourteenth Street between I and H streets. A new law was passed June 9, 1874, by the Legislature, which was signed by Gov. Newton Booth, declaring that "the board of trustees must as soon as expedi ent, advertise for school plans; said school shall be erected on a portion of Block No , donated or to be donated by the contract and finance committee or purchased by the trustees." The supervisors were authorized to isSue bonds not to exceed $20,000, said bonds to be put into a separate fund in the county treasurer's office and known as the Modesto School District building fund. The people were authorized to elect an assessor and a collector for assessing and collecting the bonds. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 125 MODESTO'S FIRST SCHOOL BUILDING The Modesto school trustees having the lot presented by the Central Pacific Rail road Company and the money from the sale of bonds began immediately the construc tion of a school building on Fourteenth Street. The building was two stories in height, constructed of brick, with a porch along the entire front of the building, and with wide front steps for the entrance. In the center of -the building was a belfry, and in it the traditional school bell, which when rung could be heard throughout the town. The building contained nine rooms with plenty of light in each room but with none of the conveniences of the school rooms of the present day. Each room in winter was heated by a large stove and a pump in the yard furnished the drinking water. The cost probably was about $15,000 and it was completed in time for the fall session of the schools. The first teachers in the building from 1872 until 1876 were Wm. H. Robinson, principal, with Mrs. Owens, H. F. Turner and Wm. B. Howard as assistants. It seems, however, from a late report, that Mr. Crane and Miss Maddux were teachers during those years. They had enrolled 278 children. The old "red brick" school building remained in use until 1906 when it was replaced by the present beautiful structure. When the belfry of the old schoolhouse was torn out the rafters were seen thickly covered with the knife-carved names of hundreds of the pupils of the school. The Public School Cornerstone In the northeast corner of the present Fourteenth Street school, there is laid a small granite stone and inscribed upon it the figures 1872-1906. I cannot understand the meaning of the date 1872 unless it stands for the date of the foundation of the first Modesto public school, for the cornerstone was not laid in the little "red brick" until St. John the Baptist's Day, June 24, 1874. However, on that day the Grand Lodge of Masons, who had been requested by the Modesto school trustees to lay the cornerstone of the new school building, assembled early in the afternoon in the Masonic Temple, the James Building, corner of H and Eleventh streets. Isaac S. Titus, the most worshipful grand master, called the lodge to order and appointed the following grand officers, pro tem, to assist him in laying the cornerstone: Wm. Grollman, deputy grand master ; J. J. Chapman, senior grand warden ; A. Hewel, junior grand warden; Elihu B. Beard, grand treasurer; L. B. Walthall, grand secre tary; George Belknap, grand chaplain; J. D. Spencer, grand orator; Georee Buck, grand marshal; John W. Laird, grand Bible bearer; W. J. Houston, grand senior deacon; John H. Hays, grand junior deacon; H. M. Ross and John Visher, grand stewards, and H. G. James, grand tyler. A procession was formed comprising Stanislaus Lodge of Masons, the Grand Lodge and the public school children accom panied by their teachers, Miss Maddux and Mr. Crane, and to the soul-stirring music of the Modesto band they marched to the new building site. On arrival the ceremony was opened by prayer by the grand chaplain. Maj. James Burney, county superin tendent of schools, stated the object of the gathering and invited the Grand Lodge to officiate in the laying of the cornerstone. The grand master in a short address informed the senior grand warden that "it is my will and pleasure that the Grand Lodge do now assist me in the performance of this pleasing duty. This you will communicate to the junior grand warden and he to the craft." When informed that a cornerstone had been prepared, the grand master requested the errand secretary to read the contents of the casket to be deposited in the cornerstone. The articles were as follows : A list of the officers of the state Grand Lodge of Masons, Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, Modesto district school trustees, a copy of the Stanislaus News, San Joaquin Valley Mirror, Pacific Methodist South Church Discipline, by-laws and list of officers of the Farmers Savings Bank of Stanislaus, a trade dollar of 1874, a half-dollar of 1873, a dime of 1873, and a twenty-dollar gold piece. The casket was then placed in the cavity and sealed up with the beautiful ceremony of Masonry. When this was completed an ora tion was delivered by the grand orator, J. D. Spencer, and the Masons then returned to their hall. 126 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Schools Overcrowded The number of children in Modesto according to the school census on May 31, 1889, was 862. Of this number 666 were of school age namely, between five and seventeen years. The number attending the public schools was 528, and twenty-six were attending private schools. In that year school room was at a premium and in September the News asserted : "The schools are overcrowded and the trustees are com pelled to rent the Congregational church with Ida Dennett, the daughter of the Rev. Westley Dennett, as teacher. They are compelled to charge for scholars outside of the city limits as follows: grammar grades, three dollars per month, third grade, two dollars and fifty cents per month and all below that grade two dollars per month." At that time the Sixth Street school had been established. It was in an old house that had been removed from Tuolumne City. It was located where now stands the present fine structure and was used as a school building for many years. The teachers on the West Side at that time, 1889, were W. E. Lindsey and Mary Aull. Miss Aull had then been teaching for ten years, as she was a teacher in the brick school in 1880-81, together with Clara Pendergast, Louise Crow, Berry H. Howard and Principal D. S. Braddock. There were in the building 289 scholars, J 49 being boys. Two of the pupils in the principal's class were Laura Garlinghouse and C. C. Young, now lieutenant-governor of California. The High School Organized In the red brick schoolhouse the grammar grade course of study only was taught until 1883 when the principal at that time, R. S. Holway, established a high school course of study. It was a three years' course and included all of the studies usually taught in the high schools of the state at that time. Forty pupils entered the class, but they kept dropping out until only three boys and seven girls completed the work. The course was completed in May, 1886, under Prof. J. F. Waj'man, R. S. Holway in the meantime having accepted a position in the State University at Berkeley. The ten who graduated were Leah Elias (now Mrs. Louis Harris), Ella Wood (Mrs. Ella Hancock), Laura Garlinghouse (Mrs. George Springsteen), Stella Finley (Mrs. W. H. Frazine, now deceased), Belle McMullin (Mrs. George Wood of Ceres), Tille and Aggie Lewis, who with their classmates became teachers in the public schools, John B. Zimdars, now practicing law in San Francisco, James G. Thompson, now practicing medicine in Oakland, and Sol P. Elias, Stanford graduate of law and now manager of the D. & G. D. Plato establishment, and local historic enthusiast of Stanislaus County. The Commencement Exercises « The graduating exercises of the class took place May 27, 1886, in Rodgers Hall. It was a very important event and the room was more than crowded with the friends and relatives of the graduates. The newspaper said the following day: "The ladies kept coming until the gentlemen were crowded out of their seats and back and back until they were crowded out of the hall, not even having standing room." None in that hall were happier nor prouder than the graduates and over the front of the stage the audience read their motto, Finis Coronat Opus, "The end crowns the work." The diplomas were presented to the class by Attorney C. C. Wright, a former school teacher at La Grange. The program which was quite lengthy, comprised a piano solo, by O. E. Zimdars; essay, "The Tendency of Our Gov ernment," Sol P. Elias; essay, "Something of Nature's Law," Tillie Lewis; reading, "The Execution of Montrose," Laura Garlinghouse; quartette, "Come Rise with the Lark"; a study, "The Princess," Stella Finley; recitation, "The Knight and the Lady," Leah Elias ; zither solo, Laura Horn ; "Class Chronicles," Aggie Lewis ; essay, "Fin ished," Belle McMullin ; soprano solo, "Rose of the Alps," Ella Snowden ; oration, "The Power of Wealth," James G Thompson; essay, "Aim of Life," Ella Wood; essay, "The Growth of Society," John B.Zimdars; solo, "Fly with Me" from the onera "Ernani," Mrs. Ella Hoag; address, "Books and Reading" by C C ' Stratton of the Pacific University ; presentation of diplomas by C. C. Wright. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 127 The First High School Building The citizens of Modesto although indifferent and neglectful regarding the civic and moral affairs of the town were very progressive and wide-awake regarding school matters and in December, 1899, a petition was circulated for a "special election for the purpose of submitting the question of establishing a district high school." A suffi cient number of signatures for calling the election were easily obtained. The News in commenting upon the petition said: "Although the high school studies are taught in the Modesto public schools and a special tax is voted each j'ear to employ teachers, •in addition to the lower grades, and while the high school is on the accredited list of the State University, the advantage of having a separate school cannot be under estimated." The tax was voted by the people and without losing any time the trustees purchased a block of land where now stands the departmental school. It was at that time the baseball ground and owned in part by the German Bank of San Francisco. Plans were drawn for a large two-story brick building with a high con creted basement. The work was commenced in November and the building completed on March 30 of the following year. The building and block cost $21,000, the block alone costing $1,500. It was first occupied in September, 1900, by the high school and eighth grade pupils, eighty-one scholars in the two grades, Thomas Downey then being principal of the high school. For seventeen years this building was known as the high school building. In the meantime the children had increased to thousands and for their school accommodations three more handsome grammar school buildings had been erected, the Sixth Street and the Washington Street schools on the "west side" and the Seventh Street building on the "east side." The high school building had become an out-of-date, obsolete affair. Another bond election was carried and the school trustees in 1919 erected another beautiful and up-to-date high school, on the banks of the Tuolumne River at the end of I Street. More school room is required and an extension will soon be constructed. Graduating Class of 1890 The teachers in the brick school in 1890 were Thomas Downey, principal; J. C. Levengood, vice-principal; Mary McLean, Ida Dennett, E. A. Weaver, Laura Garling house, Elma Hanscom and Mrs. E. McCIure. The graduating or commencement exercises of the high school class of that year were again held in Rodgers hall and the room was "filled to suffocation." The stage was handsomely decorated and at its apex, lettered in gold, was the class motto: "Do That You Do." Upon a maroon back ground in white flowers were the words, "Class of '90." The program commenced with a piano duet by the Misses Johns and Parsons; chorus, by the Class; oration, "Education," H. M. Hardin; essay, "Self Reliance," Anna M. Vesey; vocal solo, Zelda Turner; essay, "William Pitt," George E. Perley; essay, Belle Christman; cornet solo, D. C. Smith; essay, "Our Inventions," H. M. Cavill; piano duet, Prof. H. Hintze and Allie Cressey; essay, "Struggles of Life," B. F. Lewis; vocal solo, Nettie Beaty; address, "Farewell," Ida Ross. The High School Alumni The alumni was organized in 1886, the ten graduates of that year being the charter members. They held their meeting annually in the brick schoolhouse. Their first president seems to have been George P. Schafer, and as he was absent at their regular meeting, June 22, 1887, Tillie Lewis presided as president. The officers elected for 1889-90 were John B. Zimdars, president; Sol P. Elias, vice-president, and Belle McMullin, secretary. The alumni then numbered thirty members, the number being increased to thirty-five by the election to membership of George E. Perley, H. M. Hardin, Anna M. Vesey, Wm. H. Cavill and B. F. Lewis, graduates of 1890. It seems to have been the custom of the alumni, during the first few years for the alumni to hold their yearly receptions in the home of some one of the graduates. It was a pretty custom and in 1893 the graduates met in the beautiful home of the Misses Turner on Sixteenth street. A short program had been prepared, comprising a piano solo by Millie Parsons and Lucy Kittrelle, and vocal solos by Zelda Turner and 128 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Laura De Yoe, later one of the most accomplished vocalists of the valley. The program closed with a selection by the quartette, Laura De Yoe, Ida Ross, J. M. Walthall and Herman Rice. Among the guests of the alumni was Blanche Hewel, Helen Ogden, Myrtie Conneau, Lois Garlinghouse, Nellie Gridley, Belle Hewel, Lulu Ingle, Mary James, Mora Stevenson, Bertha Toombs, Edith Turner, Sadie Millman, Eddie Walthall, George Ingle, Walter Chadwick, Charles Hilton, George Jamison, Hugh Walthall, Earl Tulloch and Jacob Weil. Quite a number of those present were graduates of the high school of 1893, pupils of Thomas Downey. In time the alumni association became so large in numbers with yearly additions. frorn the graduating classes that it became cumbersome and uninteresting and it was discontinued. It was reorganized on June 18, 1921, with 115 charter members. Sol. P. Elias was elected president, Charles Wherry, vice-president and Florella Finney, secre tary and treasurer. Seated around the banquet table toasts were offered and speeches made by Thomas Downey, the veteran in school work; Charles Morris, vice-principal of the high school ; W. E. Faught, city school superintendent, and E. R. Utter, teacher in the high school. The following teachers were made honorary members of the association : Professors R. S. Holway and Thomas Downey, W. E. Faught, E. R. Utter, C. S. Morris, Miss Alice Lyon, Mrs. Carrie Dexter Utterback and A. G. Elmore, county school superintendent. The following are the charter members of the reorganized alumni association: 1886, Sol P. Elias, Mrs. Louis Harris (Leah Elias) ; 1889, H. B. Rice; 1890, Isabel Christman Kinnear; 1891, Charles W. Barnett; 1892, Mabel Perley Stone; 1895, Lourein Fuquay Elmore; 1896, Louis Le Hane; 1898, A. G. Elmore, Olive M. Turner Dennett; 1901, Irene N. Kiernan, Ethel Beard Hoover; 1902, Mrs. Edgar Annear, Mrs. Francis J. Bangs, Clara E. Finney, Blanche Wickman, Mrs. W. E. Faught; 1905, Elveda Turner Morris; 1907, J. I. Hammett; 1908, Neil M. Cecil, R. I. Guy; 1909, Florella K. Finney; 1912, Laura Watson, Isabel Laughlin; 1913, May Philbrick, Grace Gray, Clara M. Keeley, Mr. and Mrs. Loren S. Hadley (Ruby Hart), Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Grundy, Marion Downey, J. S. Marriott; 1914, Marie Wren, L. E. and Alice Jones; 1915, Melville D. Harris, Isle Downey, Evelj'n Sorem, C. S. Morris, a teacher 1921 ; 1916, Anna Alway, Doris Dozier, Harrell Watson, E. R. Utter, De Witt R. Lee, Hugh H. Griswold; 1917, Simon W. Holtham, R. B. Austin, Isabel Crow, Millie McLaughlin, Lillis Watson, Wood J. Guyler, Walter Andrews, Leland D. Simpson, M. C. Fulkerth, I. C. Downer, Howard Campbell; 1918, Esther Chapman, Maryon R. Bell, Charles H. Bell, Marjorie and Charles Wherry, May McLaughlin, E. Roe Fisher, Almeda Gant, Velma Griffin, Mrs. Charles S. Morris, Mrs. E. R. Utter; 1919, J. Paul Moore, Sam H. Winklebleck, Esther C. Tully, Jessie Stinson, Hugh Brinkerhoff, Carvell N. Clark, Carl J. Vogt, Sara Thompson, Alberta B. Peterson, Rose Ginatti ; 1920, Lenora Jane Holtzer, Ora May Jennings, Dewey E. Wheeler, Connie G. Gunn, Lawrence R. Kelley, Donald E. Liebendorfer, Wilbur G. Parry, Warren Harris, Velma Green, Jane and Alma Alway, Lavilla Cox, Francis Gray, Agnes Dowdy; 1921, Carol R. Cox, Lela Wallis, Ellis Milton, Ian Mensinger, John G. Palstine, Edna Sorem, Harry G. Nickle, Eleanor Dennett, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Hansen, Clyde Scott, D. D. Mc Queen, Esther Beard, Nellie Mott, Myrtle Marriott, Vera Green, Mabel Sorem. The Graduating Class of 1921 Since the graduating class of 1886, hundreds have been crowned with the same scholastic honors and as we have recorded the first class, why not the last class, the graduates of June 17, 1921, at the Modesto theater? The baccalaureate program follows : "Coronation March," from "The Prophet," by Meyerbeer; Selection from "The Bohemian Girl," by Balfe, High School Orchestra. Prayer by Rev H S Brewster" Hym"' u"CT?meVTThr°U^ Alm^y King." congregation and choir.' Scripture reading by Rev. E H^ Gum; "Gloria" from "Mass, in C," Mozart, combined Glee Clubs. Sermon bj: Bishop W. R. Lambough ; Hymn, "Now the Day is Over," Barnby, Congregation and Choir. Benediction by Rev. C. P. Morgan. Postlude, selected. High School orchestra. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 129 Commencement exercises were held at the Modesto theater. Rev. H. K. Pitt- man of San Francisco delivered the address, and diplomas were awarded by City Superintendent W. E. Faught. Graduates of the 1921 class of the Modesto high school follow: Arthur Achor, Vera Anderson, Beatriz Baker, Charles Barnett, Charles Barton, Faj'e Barton, George Bates, Esther Beard, Gladys Beattie, Mary Biesemeier, Ruth Blakesley, Lucile Brad bury, Arlette Bradley, Kathleen Bradley, Carj'l Bundy, Donald Butler, Thelma Car penter, John Caster, Alma Cochran, Pearl Cody, Calvin Conron, Helen Cooper, Ada Cornwell, Fred Cornwell, Carol Cox, Laura Crocco, Raymond Curtis, Eleanor Den nett, Genevieve Drake, Carl Elfing, Ada Elliott, Frances Fletcher, Hazel Flora, Evert Ford, Eunice Fowler, Lee Garvey, Vera Green, Edward Griswold, Lois Gum, Florence Harms, Hazel Hatch, Maybelle Harbaugh, Lincoln Higbee, Bernice Hight, Forest Hosmer, Richard Husband, Marion Hutchings, Marion Irvin, Reginald Lollich, Myrle Jamison, Marion Jarrett, Lynn Jenkinson, Helen Johnson, Robert Johnson, Ruth Jones, Elizabeth Kendall, Ralph King, Clara Kriese, Gladj's Lankard, Clifford Larrabee, Esther Little, Grace Loving, Eva Linkhorn, Myrle Marriott, Donald McQueen, Harry Meade, Bernice Medlin, Merle Mensinger, Ian Mensinger, Ellic Milton, Nellie Mott, Paul Murphy, Velma Myers, David Newman, Harry Nickle, Lucy Palmer, Will Park, Cecil Pierce, Charles Plambeck, Fredo Quisenberry, Alva Ragan, Ben Reavis, Anna Roden, Alfred Ross, Aurelia Sanders, Murl Schrock, Clyde Scott, Florence Selby, Grace Shotwell, Lenore Sisk, Maybelle Snyder, Edna Sorem, Mabel Sorem, Spencer Strader, Helen Surryhne, Agnes Thompson, Helen Ustick, Agatha Van Konynenburg, Elwyn Van Wagner, Nobuko Wakimoto, Lela Wallis, Harriet Kuykendall, Paul Wright Orr. School Day Memories It seems regretful, ofttimes, that these ancient buildings may not be preserved. The many pleasant days in the old school will ever remain in the minds of the pupils who there attended school during those thirty odd years. These memories cannot be destroyed. From that building graduated the first high school class of ten, three boys and seven girls. Proud, exceedingly proud were they of their scholarship. Prof. R. R. Holway, Mr. Wyman, David S. Braddock, Thomas Downey and many others sent out their graduates to begin life's battle. There for many years the Teachers' Institute was held and there many delightful entertainments were given. Many socials were given in tbe homes of the scholars' parents. One of the graduates of the first class says, in writing of Professor Holway: "He was a firm believer in a sane and active social life for the school folks. He and his estimable wife, formerly Miss May Gordon and one of the teachers in the grammar school, promoted a number of pleasant gatherings among the younger folks that are yet remembered by the pupils of that day. These parties extended all through the high school year and were the rule throughout Mr. Holway's principalship in the Modesto school. These functions were held at the homes of the pupils' and were simple affairs consisting of pleasant games and other amusements. They served to create a desirable intimacy between the school and the home, between the parents and the teachers, a condition that prevailed in Modesto thirty-five years ago." Teachers' Institute The first institute in Modesto was held March 21, 1871. "The town was then only six months old and the accommodations were not of the best." Prof. Ezra S. Carr of the State University and Prof. Charles Allen of the State Normal School were present and delivered some able addresses. There were twenty-eight teachers from the county in attendance. The state superintendent, O. P. Fitzgerald, also pres ent, in reporting the institute said: "It was a great success, all things considered." At this institute there were over forty teachers, among them Mary Aull, Clara C. Pendergast, Louise S. Crow, Mrs. A. C. Walden, Viva Lane, Mrs. A. G. Brad bury, Abba Hurley, Emma Donnels, Anna Pulsifer, Fanny Jones, Ella Lewis, Lizzie W. Swan, Eva Aull, Mary McAlpine, Helen Pettit, Priscilla Edwards, Lucy Bruton, 9 130 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Ella Gage, Lucy Childs, Emma Edwards, Scilla Root, Maggie Hammond, Sarah McLaughlin, John R. Kelso, George T. Hanscom, M. D. Gage, Thomas Blake, D. J. Buddock, David W. Braddock, Ira G. Leek, Elmar S. Anderson, Charles Spurrier, Vital E. Bangs, F. A. Wood, I. L. Granger, W. H. Hatton, S. L. Hanscom and J. Walter Smith. Teachers' Associations The first association assembled at Langworth, January 3, 1868. It was organized under the direction of the county superintendent, Thomas T. Hamlin. He was elected chairman and Thomas Blake, secretary. The historian gives us no further information regarding this meeting. It seems, however, that they again assembled April 14th in the "little brick" schoolhouse, with Hamlin again acting as chairman. They gave a short program comprising an essay, "Education" by W. R. Also; essay, "Schools," E. R. Crawford ; reading, "The Old Log House," L. W. Crawford ; essay, "Knowledge is Power," Thomas Blake; essay, "A Mother's Love," Carrie Moore. The association soon after this meeting disorganized because of a lack of attendance and indifference to its objects. Eleven years later, however, they quickly reorganized, meeting November 14, 1879, in Modesto. They assembled and were somewhat worried over a proposed legislative act to revoke all teachers' certificates. This being a county history we cannot go into the detail of the act. They were, however, quite alarmed and declaring the association formed for "mutual improvement and protection" they strongly protested against the passage of such an act. The association organized by electing W. H. Hatton, now a Modesto lawyer, as president; Vital E. Bangs, vice-president; N. C. Hanscom, secretary, and Mary Aull, treasurer. J. D. Spencer was present. The Senator addressed the association and asserted that he was opposed to any annullment of teachers' certificates. Unanimously the teachers adopted the resolution that a committee of three be appointed to draft a memorial to the Legislature against any legislation tending to revoke the teachers' certificates. W. H. Robinson, Vital E. Bangs and John R. Kelso were appointed on that committee. Four years later the institute assembled October 21, 1875, called together by the county superintendent, Maj. James Burney. The opening address was made by O. P. Fitzgerald, state superintendent, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and author and the editor of the Methodist denominational publication. Other speakers and essayists on the program included the following teachers: Fanny Lewis of Crows Landing ; J. Walter Smith, B. C. Haislip, J. E. Marks, Mary Aull, Mary Madden, Miss Owens of Modesto; Miss Belknap and Jennie Hogan, later of the Stockton schools, and William H. Howard, county superintendent-elect. In December, 1880, the teachers again assembled at the call of the county superintendent, William H. Robinson. There was then better accommodations for public gatherings. The institute assembled the first day in Rodgers' hall and that afternoon adjourned to the public schoolhouse. The institute continued in session four days. It was organized by the election of the following officers : W. H. Robinson, ex-officio president; Vital E. Bangs, vice-president; John R. Kelso, secretary, and Fanny Jones and Mary Edwards, assistant secretaries. The program comprised lec tures by State Superintendent Fred W. Campbell and Professor Allen, essays by the teachers and a general discussion on the best methods of teaching. CHAPTER ELEVEN CRIMES AND TRAGEDIES OF STANISLAUS The pioneer days of every country are marked with a riot of vice and crime, including drunken carousals, gambling, sensuality, robbery and murder. In the sparsely settled territory the criminals seem to outnumber the law abiding class, and they have but little fear of arrest or punishment, for the committing of crime is easy and detection and punishment difficult. In Stanislaus County there was no speedy means of communication, no ma.l service, telegraph or telephone lines and no organized police service. A man could easily commit a crime, jump upon a horse and speed away to HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 131 the mountains or hide in the river bottom and work his way out of the county. The officers of the law, few in number, were ofttimes not over zealous in the performance of their duty. Sometimes, if a friend or influential citizen were the guilty party, they would make but little, if any, effort to arrest him and his trial in court would be a farce. But now, with our quick means of sending out information by wire,the press, the automobile and aeroplane, and our well-organized police force in every county, it is almost impossible for almost any criminal to escape arrest. But he goes unpunished just the same. By the manipulations of shrewd attorneys, bribed jurors and perjured witnesses the same results are accomplished and the guilty escape punishments just as they did in the earlier days, when the sheriff furiously rode in the wrong direction. In this chapter we have compiled a few of the hundreds of crimes committed in Stanislaus County. We will read of a few convictions and many acquittals. STEALING BY THE WHOLESALE The great crime of the county numerically was the stealing of horses and cattle. There were regular, organized bands of men controlled by a leader who stole thou sands of head of cattle. They were driven into the "pocket," a point of land lying between the Stanislaus and Tuolumne rivers, their marks and brands changed and in the thick brushwood it was impossible for their owners to ever find them. The leader was known far and wide as the "boss" cattle thief. He had his counterpart in an organized band who stole horses all over the state, many of them blooded and valuable animals. A Stockton attorney, then a young man living in the county informs me that at one time there were over 500 stolen animals in the county. One of the leaders' hired men complained that he was given, to work in the harvest field, a new team of horses almost every day. The horses would be brought in and taken out at night. To write of an event in general terms is not very interesting or conclusive, but to give names would be unjust to their families now living, who are in no manner to blame for the deeds of the relatives. THE MURDER OF SHERIFF WORKS - The first murder recorded in Stanislaus County is that of George Works, a former sheriff of Tuolumne County. The murder took place August 7, 1854, at Adamsville, then the county seat. It seems that a well-known desperado named Eli Lyons, who boasted that he had killed sixteen men, was quarreling with another man over the election contest. Works, who was a man fearless of danger, stepped up to Lyons and endeavored to quiet him. The desperado then deliberately drew his revolver and fired two shots at Works, both shots entering the ex-sheriff's left breast. Works, who was quick on the trigger, drew his revolver and fired four shots at Lyons before he fell. None of the shots hit Lyons. Works died the following day. Imme diately after the shooting Lyons went to the blacksmith shop about fifty yards distant and there procured a shotgun, fled into the bushes on the river bank and was lost from sight. Lyons was a man about thirty-two years of age; he was well known, as in Stockton the year previous, 1853, he killed a man named Fredonia. THE MURDER OF FRANK LANE About April 10, 1858, four fine mules and a horse were stolen near San Leandro, Alameda County. The owner advertised a description of the animals, offering a reward, and a description of three suspicious looking men who had been seen traveling along the road with the animals. A few days later a stockraiser named George Wil son, who was living near the Arroyo la Puerta, was looking for some lost cattle, and suddenly came upon three men in camp. Wilson immediately recognized them as the horse thieves described in the circulars posted over the country. The men did not see Wilson and immediately he rapidly rode to the ranch of Samuel Clarke, where a rodeo was taking place. He informed the men of his discovery and Frank Lane of 132 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Knights Ferry, George Wilson, Samuel Baldwin, Alfred Ward immediately started in pursuit of the robbers, followed a few minutes later by Samuel Clarke, William Patterson and R. D. W. Hitchcock. As the advance party came on to the thieves, who were just riding from camp, Wilson called out to them to halt. Two of the men obeyed the command, but the third man drew up his shotgun and firing at Wilson, missed him. The Lane party returned the fire and as the three robbers were heavily armed the bullets flew thick and fast. Wilson fired and one of the robbers fell but was only slightly wounded. The Lane party was completely defeated. Lane was shot in the breast, neck and arms with buckshot and died in twenty minutes. Ward received a charge of shot in his right shoulder and Baldwin was badly wounded in the back by buckshot. By this time the rear guard came up and the robbers retreated to the dense chapparal, dragging their wounded companion with them. The dead and the wounded were taken to the ranch of John McMullen and Wilson rode with all speed to Stockton for a physician and surgeon. Dr. Wm. Kendall responded, reaching the ranch about midnight. The two wounded men, Ward and Baldwin, recovered in a short time. Hunting for the Criminals Frank Lane was a very popular young man, and his father, Maj. Thomas Lane, was equally popular in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. When the murder became known, a number of his warm friends advertised the following: "$1,000 re ward will be paid for the delivery of the robbers, dead or alive, who killed Frank Lane." This reward was offered by R. B. Smith, Davis Porter, Wm. Lane, John White, W. H. Lyons, Ross C. Sargent, Jeremiah Sarles, John R. Bradley, W. C. Bradford and Captain Sweeney. Several different parties began scouring the country in search of the thieves and murderers. We will follow the trail of one man only, the brave colonel, Edward Potter. He followed the trail for over two weeks, some- rimes losing it and then again finding it, and May 5 he tracked them to a point near Mariposa. The robbers were located in an almost impenetrable fort among huge rocks and dense underbrush. With a party of seven men, including Sheriff Crippen of Mariposa, Potter advanced to the robbers' retreat. Dismounting from his horse, he bravely advanced upon the trail and the only two men in the stronghold, Anderson and Monroe, began shooting at him. He called to his men and there was a lively hail of bullets. It finally became too hot for the robbers and, running in different directions, they endeavored to escape. Monroe, reaching Potter's horse, jumped on his back and hurried away. He was closely pursued and shot with a double-barreled shotgun, dying in about five minutes. Anderson, who was wounded in the shoulder by a rifle bullet, succeeded in escaping. Running down the gulch he hid in the crevice of a rock. He was found two hours later as, burning with fever from his wound, he crawled out to get a drink of water. He was drinking from his shoe when discovered. Execution by Mob Law The Mariposa Gazette said, May 8, 1858: "The robber who was wounded and captured is now in jail, and will be taken to Stockton for trial. His name is Anderson, and he is from Ohio. Monroe, the man killed, was from Michigan, and Swan who escaped, is from New York." He was not taken to Stockton but, unfortunately, was taken to the jail at La Grange, that place as we remember being the county seat of Stanislaus County A few days later, on May 22, R. W. L. Hitchcock visited the jail and immediately recognized Anderson as one of the party who killed Frank Lane. Major Bradley also recognized the robber from a description given of him by Hitchcock previous to the time Hitchcock saw Anderson in Jail. Then what hap pened? As there are no iving witnesses and as the perpetrators of mob law were «M°* u^T WTT dePv.end I" the San Joaquin R'PMican, which said, Mav 30: Notwithstanding the fact that the strongest efforts were made to keep the affair a secret, we have learned beyond a doubt that the party which went from Knights Ferrv n ^heifobiect' ^The T^ °f ^t* *' mUrderer °f Frank Lane'succeeded m their object. The party comprised about sixty-one men armed to the teeth, and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 133 the capture of the prisoner was made so quietly that most of the citizens of the town were not aware of what was going on. The culprit was hung on a tree immediately opposite the jail. The party then returned to their homes. The reason assigned for the hanging was that some of the witnesses whose evidence was all important for the conviction of the prisoner, were about to leave for Fraser River, and their absence would have assured the acquittal of the prisoner." THE MURDER OF A SPANIARD A deliberate and premeditated murder took place September 25, 1858 at Islip's Ferry, on the Stanislaus River. The two men were vaqueros. The Spaniard, Phillip Swearis, was in the employ of Francis Latois, who lived on the south side of the Stanislaus. He and Antonio Ferreas, working for Burton Hope, being together and drinking quite freely, engaged in a fight. The two Spaniards were separated and Swearis went home. That night, Swearis, swimming the river in his clothing, carried with him, holding them above his head, a pair of dry trousers. On reaching the north side of the river, he cast off his wet pants and drew on the dry ones. Then quietly walking to where Antonio was soundly sleeping, he struck him a heavy blow on the head, crushing his skull and instantly killing the sleeping Spaniard. The murderer then awoke another Spaniard and, telling him of the deed, fled to the river bank. It was as the correspondent said, "a horrible murder." The murdered man left a wife and five children in Sonora, having been engaged in herding and driving cattle for Burton Hope. A MYSTERIOUS MURDER In the long list of murders in California, many desperadoes have suddenly de parted without any clue to their executioner. In fact, but little if any effort was ever made to find who it was that killed them. The public in general declared, "That saves the county the expense of hanging them and perhaps the life of some good man." Mysterious was the death of a desperate character named Thomas Murray. He was not only a desperado, but a man without any regard for law and order, especially when drunk, 'which was most of the time. He was a terror to the neighborhood and one of his pranks was whenever he wanted anything in a store or saloon to go and demand it without paying for the article. The storekeeper who dared to question his right would find a cocked revolver pointed at his head. On Friday evening, October 16, 1868, Tom was on a "high old spree," and he became so boisterous that the constable put him in irons. The next morning Tom was comparatively sober and was at supper that evening. Sunday morning he did not appear, and in searching for him a party found him dead, lying in a straw stack about three miles from Tuolumne City. FRANK BOLLINGER KILLED MYSTERIOUSLY Another unknown murder was that of Frank Bollinger the following year, Janu ary 26, 1869, in the street of Tuolumne City. He also was a terror to the neighbor hood, and there was not a tear shed at his funeral. "It is no wonder that he was killed, the only wonder is that he was not killed sooner." On the evening previous to his death, Bollinger and two companions began drinking heavily and the desperado, carrying a double shotgun and a pistol, declared that he had four or five men "spotted," that is, marked for death at his hands. Who those men were he did not state. About eleven o'clock that night, however, Bollinger walked out to the home of H. K. Covert, who lived on the edge of the town. Covert was in bed soundly sleeping. He was suddenly awakened, however, by hearing some one shouting, "Ralph! Ralph!" Look ing out, he saw Bollinger standing by the window with a shotgun in his hand. Covert went back to bed, but a minute later, hearing the cocking of a gun, he speedily rolled onto the floor. Then again came a cry, "Henry! Henry!" which was Covert's correct name. The cry was immediately followed by a charge of buckshot and "it literally tore the mattress to pieces." A few minutes after the gun report was heard, Bollinger, gun in hand, entered the City Hotel saloon. Mr. Dudley, the proprietor, endeavored to get Bollinger to give up his gun. But the man was sober enough to keep possession of a hot rifle. After a time Dudley succeeded in getting him to bed. The following 134 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY morning Bollinger arose and after taking a couple of drinks at the bar, he started down the street. When opposite Covert's he turned as if to walk into the saloon. That moment a shot was fired from the saloon and Bollinger fell, wounded by a shot gun, seventeen shot entering his body. He died three hours later. Two men were in the saloon. The coroner's jury brought in a verdict that Frank Bollinger "came to his death from violence from some person or persons unknown." THE ROONEY-COCKERY HOMICIDE In that same year, same month, December 20, another murder took place less than six miles from Tuolumne City. This was at Paradise, another case of whisky. A man named Michael Rooney, "a very industrious blacksmith of Paradise City," and Thomas Cockery, the butcher, were in a saloon having the social drinks together. In a short time they were both under the influence of liquor and they began fighting. Friends separated them and it was believed that ended the affair. The next day, Cockery, who it appears got the worst of the fight, was around looking for the party who whipped him. In his search he entered Wilson's saloon and while taking a drink with another party suddenly started for the door. Just then the door opened and Rooney entered. They immediately commenced fighting, Cockery with a pistol in his hand and Rooney with a knife. After striking at each other two or three times Cockery fired and Rooney fell into the corner crying out, "Murder! Murder!" He died the following day. At the inquest held by Justice Walthall, acting for Coroner Covert, the jury brought in this verdict: "We find that Michael Rooney, age twenty- six years, came to his death in a saloon in the basement of the Wilson building by a pistol ball fired by Thomas Cockery. We, the jurors, William B. Johnson, Robert Rutledge, Thomas van Dusen, Alexander Pease, A. M. Hunter, Thomas S. Bentley, E. W. Chapman, Peter Rudge." THE KNIGHTS FERRY MURDER At I. D. Morley's ranch near Knights Ferry a murder occurred November 12, 1869, over a piece of land, which was claimed by both parties. During the difficulty Frank Mulligan shot Jacob Keller with a shotgun, three balls entering his breast. There were no witnesses to the shooting and Mulligan claims that he fired in self- defense. An examination was held before Justice Reedy of La Grange and the facts were brought out that although Keller had a revolver he made no attempt to use it. THE MURPHY-RODGERS HOMICIDE Another murder was committed Friday evening, July 7, 1871, in front of the home of Richard Threlfall, at the Blue Cottage, six miles from Knights Ferry. The evidence at the inquest before Coroner Covert shows that the murder was committed from a very trifling incident, a piece of tobacco. A man named Thomas Murphy accused another laborer by the name of Rodgers of taking his tobacco. Rodgers quickly denying it, asserted that he had money enough to buy his own tobacco. Angry also at the insinuation, he further remarked that if Murphy repeated the charge he would slap his mouth. The latter then drawing a butcher knife from its sheath, stabbed Rodgers in the left breast and fled from the scene. The wound was fatal. The killing took place between seven and eight o'clock in the evening. Rodgers was a member of the Summit Lodge of Masons and the following morning twenty-one men started out in different directions to search for Murphy. In the circulars that were sent out broadcast for his arrest he was described as "a large, stout-built Irishman, about five feet eight inches in height, with prominent cheek bones, flat nose, large and full lips, wide mouth, narrow chin and eyes with a peculiar appearance. He walks a little lame." THE MURDER AT LA GRANGE Charles Light, who was born at La Grange in 1861, tells of a murder at that place when he was a young man, which has never been erased from his memory. The fight was between Chris Thompson, a laborer, and the hotelkeeper, George Davis by name. Bad blood had existed between them for a long time, and one day Davis meet- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 135 ing his enemy upon the street, killed him with a shotgun. Davis was tried for the crime of murder, convicted and sent to San Quentin. His unfortunate family then moved to Modesto. Davis, at the expiration of his term of imprisonment, returned to Modesto and later died in the county hospital. THE WOOD CHOPPERS' QUARREL Another case of too much whisky was the murder of Moses A. Bryant by Charles Everson, March 2, 1871. The two men were partners in the wood-chopping business and that week were engaged cutting wood for a Mr. Wells on the Tuolumne River near Modesto. The last seen of Bryant was on a Thursday previous to the murder. The following day a strange event happened in which Everson was the principal actor. He went to Tuolumne City, purchased several bottles of whisky and becoming much intoxicated, broke into a house and stole some clothing. He then stole a horse and saddle and bridle and hurriedly rode away. His actions aroused suspicions and inquiry was made for Bryant. Searching parties started out and about eleven o'clock Sunday morning he was found in the Tuolumne River about four miles below the town. The murder caused much excitement, as Bryant was a musician of considerable note and left a wife and two children. THE FIRST EXECUTION It has been related that in the early '50s many persons were hanged in Stanislaus County by mob law, and as Branch said in writing of the old jail at La Grange, "many a horse thief and murder has been confined within its cells, and several have cut through its walls and escaped ! Others were taken out by the Vigilantes and hung to a tree." One of the last-named individuals was a member of an organized band of horse and cattle thieves. These men had been pursued by the sheriff's party into the Coast Range Mountains. In the sheriff's posse was Frank Lane, a son of Major Lane of Mountain Brow. In the fight which took place with the thieves, Frank Lane was killed. The bandits were all killed except one. He was captured, taken to La Grange, and confined in the jail. One night in June, 1858, a company of men assembled with blackened faces and, breaking in the door of the "calaboose," they took the cattle thief out and hung him to a tree. He was found the following morning by the authorities. At the coroner's inquest the jury brought in the usual stereotyped verdict, "hung by some persons or person unknown." THE LATER-DATE CATTLE THIEF Thirty-five years later the people had become more civilized and they believed that hanging was too severe a punishment for cattle stealing. A case in point was that of Frost Fagan, a well-known farmer near Oakdale. He seems to have been pos sessed of a strong desire to increase his stock by stealing other people's cattle. He had been arrested several times for cattle stealing but was each time acquitted because of his splendid family connections. Frost was the "black sheep of the family" and on December 12, 1891, he was again tried for cattle stealing. He had the best of counsel, but his previous career told against him and, convicted of the crime, he was sent to the penitentiary.. THE FAGAN-MENEOMAN TRAGEDY On October 20, 1872, J. R. Fagan, employed on the ranch of G. T. Davis, about three miles from Turlock, commenced scuffling with a man named McCarty. It finally ended in a fight. A peaceful citizen named Edward Meneoman interfered and pulled Fagan away from his opponent. This act so enraged Fagan that, drawing a revolver, he shot Meneoman, the ball entering about four inches to the right of the navel. Doctors Samuel, McLean and Hart were immediately notified by telegraph of the shooting and they arrived from Modesto on the evening train. They pronounced Meneoman fatally wounded, in fact, he was dying when the physicians arrived. On the same train came Sheriff Rodgers. Throughout the night he searched for the mur derer, Fagan, who had immediately fled from the scene bareheaded and on foot. The 136 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY sheriff found Fagan four days later in the bushes of the Tuolumne River near Horr's ranch and took him to the Modesto jail. MURDERS HIS FRIEND In 1876, Centennial year, there was another homicide at Turlock, the little town just coming into notice. William Morrow and John Fox had been engaged for a long period of time with a threshing outfit. Being of congenial natures, they became good friends, but whisky caused them to quarrel. Going into Turlock August 20, they entered a saloon and began drinking. Glass after glass of liquor they poured down and then got into an argument, which ended in a fight. They were separated by those who were present in the saloon and this, it was believed, ended the trouble. But they came together again and began fighting, and in a few minutes Morrow, drawing a small pocket knifeP stabbed Fox in the breast. He died the following day and Morrow was taken to jail to await the verdict of the grand jurv. Another homicide that year was one which took place July 4, 1876, at Oakdale. A man named Melone was in one of the saloons, and he began drinking freely, cele brating the day, finally becoming very boisterous and quarrelsome. Anticipating an unusually large business that day, the proprietor had employed an extra barkeeper. As Melone had become a nuisance, the barkeeper attempted to put him out of the place. The man showed fight and the barkeeper struck him "a terrific blow" in the face with his fist. Lying unconscious for several hours, he died, probably from concussion of the brain. THE MURDER OF JAMES CONNOLLY Another of the cold-blooded murders of Stanislaus County was that of James Connolly December 22, 1874, at La Grange. He and a man named James Kerrigan were in a saloon and both apparently strangers to each other. Connolly, pretty well intoxicated, was having a heated conversation with a third party when Kerrigan, who was known as William Dona, suddenly drew a revolver and, shooting Connolly in the back of the head, killed him instantly. The cause of the murder was not positively known. It was suspected, however, that Dona was a deserter from the British army, and that Connolly knew of Dona's desertion. Hence, to prevent his desertion being reported to the British Consul at San Francisco, Dona killed his man. In his con fession to the sheriff just before his execution, Dona stated : "I write to make known to j'ou and the world that my name is not William Dona, but James Kerrigan. The name Dona I assumed when I deserted from the British army in 1859." The Trial of Dona Dona made no effort to escape and he was immediately arrested and taken to Modesto, and imprisoned in the county jail, at that time in the basement of the present courthouse. He was indicted for the unlawful killing of James Connollj'. The case was called in the district court January 21, 1875, Judge Samuel Booker of Stockton presiding. The prosecuting attorney was J. J. Scrivner, and the prisoner was repre sented by two able counsels, H. A. Gehrs and Thomas A. Coldwell. The jurors in the case were all reliable and well-known citizens, namely, B. S. Turpen, L. A. Church, Thomas D. Harp, L. B. Farrish, J. F. Kerr, Joseph Islip, W. C. Dale, Jefferson D. Bentley, W. A. Clark, John James, William Lesher and Samuel Gibson. The pris oner's attorneys claimed that the murder was committed in self-defense, and to prove the absurd plea they put the prisoner on the stand. He swore that Connolly made an attempt to draw a weapon. It was a short trial— less than two days— the jury bring ing in a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. At that time the only punish ment for such a verdict was hanging. The Sentence of the Judge After a time Dona was taken into court and Judge Booker, in passing sentence, commented upon the prisoner s perjured evidence and said, "You swore in the presence of that jury that the man was looking at you when you shot. You are contradicted bv the physical fact that the pistol ball pierced him from behind in the back of the head" HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 137 Hence, your testimony could not be true ; and as to your assertion under oath, that j'ou shot in necessary self-defense and because Driscoll, your friend, had warned you, Dris- cell swore positively that he did not do so. I concur in the justice and humanity of the jury. Hence the judgment of this court is that you be hung by the neck until you are dead. The court will inform you that Friday, the 19th day of March next, between the hours of 1 1 o'clock A. M. and 2 o'clock P. M. of that day will be assigned for the execution bf the judgment." Peculiar Efforts to Save Dona's Life Dona was returned to his cell in the basement of the courthouse. And to make his escape impossible, the sheriff placed a chain around his ankle, the loose end being fastened to a ring in the floor of the cell. He was placed in what was known as "the death cell," the only furniture being a small table and a bed. He was now visited at his request by Father William O'Conner of Stockton and several other priests. Many sympathizing friends visited him, also women who brought the condemned criminal flowers and delicacies. They had great sympathy for the live murderer, but not even a thought of the man murdered. A rather peculiar thing and something of a puzzle was the strong efforts of two of Stanislaus' leading citizens, Leonidas C. Branch and Miner Walden, to save the life of Dona. Branch at the time was county clerk and he and Walden claimed it their belief that Dona was an innocent man and had been rail roaded to the gallows, as we now express it. It is said that they "crystalized a large public sentiment in favor of executive clemency." What they had done previous to this time, Thursday, March 17, is not of record. On that morning, however, they left Modesto for Sacramento for the purpose of pleading with Governor Pacheco for a commutation of Dona's sentence to life imprisonment. The two men stopped over at Stockton and the press the following morning, commenting on their object, declared, "It is not a good season for commutations just now and it is believed that the Governor will not interfere." For those persons in Modesto interested in the affair it was a day of intense excitement. Hourly they expected a dispatch from Sacramento, but none was received until near dark. Then H. A. Gehrs received a dispatch requesting him to obtain the names of certain citizens signed to a petition for a reprieve and telegraph the names to Sacramento. This was done. Finding that they could not get a commu tation of Dona's sentence to life imprisonment, Branch and Walden swore to an affidavit "that evidence exists and can be produced that will justify a commutation of Dona's sentence from death to imprisonment for life." Where these two men obtained that evidence was never learned, Dona's attornej's knew nothing of it. However, on Friday the executive directed the sheriff "to stay the execution until Friday, April 2." The Hanging of Dona In the meantime, the murderer assumed the bold appearance of innocence and indifference usually assumed by hardened criminals, and at all times he appeared callous to his condition. He was found invariably to be self-possessed and smoking a pipe. In his death cell he frequently enjoyed a game of cards with the jailer or some of the prisoners. As the day of execution again drew near Branch and Walden again went to Sacramento to plead with the Governor, but he refused to interfere. The news was immediately conveyed to Dona. He received the information in a matter of fact manner and evinced no emotion over the result. In the meantime, as on the former date, preparations were made by the sheriff for the execution. The scaffold, which had been brought from Stockton in March, was erected by carpenters in the courthouse plaza, and around it was built a high board fence, excluding from public sight the gruesome scene. The enclosure was just large enough to admit about thirty persons, the law declaring that at least that number must witness the execution. A large crowd of morbid persons waited upon the outside to witness the hanging or at least see the body. On the previous evening Fathers McCarty and Riordan remained with the criminal throughout the night, giving him spiritual consolation. The following morn ing "the prisoner appeared cool and calm and apparently undisturbed." At three min utes past one o'clock, Dona, unassisted, ascended the steps of the gallows. He was 138 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY accompanied by Sheriffs Rodgers and Means of Merced and Deputy Sheriffs Stimpson and Howell of Stanislaus County. On the platform the priest and the condemned man recited the litany for the dead. Dona was then asked by the sheriff if he wished to make any remarks. He declined to say anything. The rope was then placed around his neck, and the trap was sprung. The body dropped five and a half feet, death ensu ing instantly. Drs. Jackson and Marks, examining the body twenty-three minutes later, pronounced Dona dead. The body was then taken down and placed in a coffin and at his request in his confession transported to Stockton for burial. In his confessional letter Dona made the usual talk of men about to be hung for their crime. He said, "I thank you, Sheriff Rodgers, and all of your officials for the many acts of kindness extended to me. I thank my lawyers, also the ladies and gentle men who took part in trying to have my sentence commuted, and I am willing to die for the crime imputed to me. I die fortified by the sacrament of the Catholic Church. My only request is that my corpse be delivered to Father O'Connor, to be buried in the Catholic cemetery at Stockton." His place of burial is now part of the location of the Holt Manufacturing Company. THE HILL'S FERRY MURDER Hill's Ferry in those days of "good times" was a very lively town of carousals and quarrels. None were more fatal or cold blooded, however, than the murder of an old man, John Shelden, a sheep herder. On August 18, 1875, he and a man named Richard Cullen were drinking at the bar. There were two other men present at the time. Shelden and Cullen had some hot words over an argument and Cullen, drawing a revolver, shot the sheep herder, killing him instantly. Cullen, who was a notoriously bad character and a hardened criminal, immediately left for Stockton. He first took the precaution, however, to tell the. two men present that if they told of the murder he would kill them on sight. Fearing the threat, they kept silent. On arrival at Stockton, Cullen boarded the steamer and landing at Antioch, obtained work in the coal mines under the name of James Cassidy. Sheriff Cunningham of San Joaquin County was particularly interested in this murder because of its cold bloodedness in shooting down a poor old man, but was unsuccessful in his search. Finally one day he received a notice that if he would put up a special sum of money, . naming the amount, the hiding place of Cullen would be revealed to him. The sheriff put up the money and he was informed that the Hill's Ferry murderer was working in the Antioch coal mines under the name of James Cassidy. A deputy sheriff was sent for the mur derer and he was found in the jail at Martinez, arrested for assaulting a Chinaman. The charge of assault was dismissed and Cullen was brought to Stockton and then confined in the Modesto lock-up. THE SECOND LEGAL EXECUTION Cullen,* who was known as "Little Dick" and sometimes as "Fighting Dick," was indicted for murder before the grand jury. He was tried in the October term, 1876, of the district court, Judge Samuel A. Booker presiding. The prisoner was defended by Thomas A. Coldwell and C. B. Fitzgerald. The attorneys made the best plea possible for the prisoner's acquittal, but the jury, after being out twenty-three hours, brought in a verdict "guilty of murder in the first degree" and fixed the penalty death. Judge Booker, who had served in many murder trials, either as attorney or judge, sentenced Cullen to be "hung by the neck, November 24, 1876, until he be dead and may God have mercy on your soul." This was the usual ending of murder sentences at that time. At the passing of the sentence Cullen "was' cool and indifferent and took the sentence more as a joke than as a matter of life and death," said an eyewitness. After his sentence, iron shackles were placed around his ankles to prevent his escape by any possible means. "Yesterday morning, November 24, 1876 " says the telegraphic report, "Cullen's shackles were removed by the blacksmith, a barber was called in and shaved the doomed man, after which he partook of a hearty breakfast being in good spirits and quite cheerful. He refused to be interviewed, but learning that several officers were present from adjoining counties, he consented to see them, especially Sheriff Cunningham, whom he well knew. The evening previous to his HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 139 execution Father Riordan had prayed with the condemned man and had visited him several times during his confinement. The death warrant was read to Cullen by the sheriff at 11 :30 o'clock in a room adjoining the jail. He then walked with a springy step and composed air to the foot of the scaffold. After stepping upon the trap and while his arms were being pinioned, he continued repeating the prayers of the church after Father Riordan. As the prisoner declined making any remarks, the black cap was drawn over his head and at 12:17 Sheriff Rodgers cut the rope that held the weight and the trap fell. In ten minutes he was pronounced dead by Doctors Jackson and White. The scaffold used at this execution was loaned to Sheriff Rodgers by San Joaquin County. It had been used in the execution of William Dona at Modesto in 1875, of James Murphy at Stockton and Estrala Mortimer at Sacramento. It was a scaffold invented by A. B. Bennett, a deputy sheriff under Thomas Cunningham. Present at the execution were several sheriffs, Baxter of Tuolumne, Morse of Alameda, Cunningham of San Joaquin and Harris of Sacramento. EDWARD BENTLEY MURDER Young Bentley, the son of Jefferson D. and Eliza Bentley, was born in Knights Ferry in 1860 and early in life engaged in the real estate business in Delano, Kern County. While on a business visit returning from Visalia, February 22, 1889, on the Southern Pacific, the train was held up about eight o'clock just south of Pixley by two train robbers. They climbed over the locomotive tender and covering the engineer and fireman with their revolvers ordered them to stop the train. It being something un usual for the train to stop at that place, Edward Bentley stepped from the car and went forward to see what was the trouble. One of the robbers, commanding him to halt, immediately fired a charge of buckshot into his stomach and arm. He exclaimed, "My God! I am shot," and fell to the earth. He was picked up and placed in the car and the train hurried on to Delano. Surgeons were immediately called and it was found that he was mortally wounded by seventeen buckshot in his stomach and arms. The young man died the following day and his body was brought to Modesto. The funeral took place from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, Rev. B. F. Burris delivering a very appropriate funeral discourse. The church was crowded with sympathizing friends and relatives. Very appropriate hymns were sung by the quar tette comprising Miss Hayden, Mrs. Shuck, T. B. C. Rice and C. W. Eastin, with Mr. Goeffert at the organ. BARNEY GARNER SHOOTS JERRY LOCKWOOD In the early '60s there came to California from Tennessee, his native state, a j'oung Irishman by the name of Barney B. Garner. He located at Knights Ferry and engaged in the honorable business of purchasing and selling wood. In 1867, how ever, he removed to Tuolumne City and opened a saloon. With the inherent qualities of a leader, he took a hand in politics and was soon recognized as a political boss. Although he could control men and obtain their votes, he could not control his temper, and when drunk was a very dangerous, bullying person. With his influence in politics and his ugly temper, many persons feared him, especially after his cold blooded murder of Jerry Lockwood. At this time, 1871, Barney had removed to Modesto, and on Front Street opened up the Marble Palace. For some reason Barney quarreled with Lockwood, who was a gambler and keeper of a house of ill-fame, and threatened to kill him. One day Barney hid in the disreputable house, lying in wait for his victim, and just as Jerry came through the door Barney shot and killed him. He was tried for the crime and acquitted. We have already recorded Barney's act in slapping the face of W. E. Turner, the attorney, and this and many other acts caused the police to fear him. THE MARSHAL KILLS GARNER It was Saturday evening, August 1, 1890. The Marble- Palace was doing a good Saturday night business and as usual many persons had congregated in the saloon and on the sidewalk, talking over the affairs of state, little dreaming that the greatest tragedy of the county would soon take place and the law be upheld. Garner was 140 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY abusively drunk and raising considerable disturbance; finally the marshal walked in. He was a new man in the office, untried and inexperienced, but brave and fearless in the performance of his duty. Walking up to Barney, the officer said: "Barney, you must quit this." Barney replied: "You allow the fellows down the street to swear and fight and then you come up here and arrest me." The marshal had said nothing about arresting him but Barney believing that the marshal intended to arrest him, stepped back a couple of paces and put his right hand into his pocket, as if to draw a weapon and kill the officer. On the part of the marshal it was a case of self defense, for the officer in the performance of his duty has a perfect right to defend his life. Quickly drawing his revolver with his left hand, the marshal fired twice. One shot entered Garner's left shoulder, the other his head just above the ear, killing him instantly. Coroner Phelps and his deputy, R. L. Quisenberry, now residing in Stockton, took charge of the body and carried it to the morgue, then on H Street, between Front and Tenth streets. On examination of the corpse, the Coroner found in the right hand pocket a loaded Derringer pistol, half cocked. This was sufficient evidence of the intent of the saloonkeeper. The following day the body was taken to Barney's home, on I Street, in the alley between Ninth and Tenth. Coroner Phelps summoned a jury to investigate the case. They met in the office of Justice Whitby and comprised some of the most respected, law-abiding citizens of Modesto, as follows: W. E. Daunt, John A. Witty, F. L. Shirran, John J. Dolan, D. S. Husband, W. T. Thompson, Cyrus Lee, W. K. McMullen, O. L. Wakefield, N. B. Williams and T. E. B. Rice. After hearing all of the evidence, they brought in a verdict: "We, the jurors summoned to inquire into the death of Barney B. Garner, find that he was killed by an officer in the performance of duty and that it was a justifiable homicide." A CASE OF POISONING A peculiar case, one in which the sympathy of the public strongly favored the prisoner, was that of Julia O'Meara, accused of attempting to poison her father, March 27, 1892. The young lady and her affianced husband, Chris Albert, who was in the employ of O'Meara on his ranch, were arrested for the alleged crime, and they were released on bail. O'Meara strongly opposed the marriage of his daugh ter and he declared that they had attempted to get rid of him. The case was called April 12, in Modesto, and the old gentleman testified that on the day named in the complaint, March 27, he found a pitcher of water sitting on the table and a tumbler very convenient for him to take a drink. It was something very unusual, but thinking nothing of it he took a mouthful of water. He immediately spat it out, it was so bitter. The following morning another very unusual thing happened. When he was called to breakfast, Julia, who poured out the tea on this occasion, had the tea already served. He drank some of it, although it was very bitter, was taken sick and had convulsions for nearly eight hours. The physician saved his life. Two other daughters, testifying, said that Julia and her lover had a long secret conversation previ ous to the poisoning of their father. Julia poured the tea. No one else could have poured it. The poison was strychnine, which was kept on the place to poison squir rels. The evidence also showed that O'Meara "was a harsh, exacting father and taskmaster. He compelled the girls to arise at four o'clock in the morning and com pelled them to work in the field like able-bodied men. The district attorney after a consultation with the father, dismissed the case. O'Meara was not very pleased with the turn of affairs, but a strong public opinion in favor of the daughter caused him lo give his consent It is probable that soon afterward he lost two of his best help the hired man and Julia. H' . SUICIDE OF ISAAC BRINKERHOFF In 1889, Isaac Brinkerhoff, one of the oldest residents of Modesto and a man TudLWM y'Mganba«tlng,m 3 S-raJngu' UnnatUral manner" He was tak™ before Judge Minor March 8 and examined by Doctors Evans and Wilhoit Thev pro nounced h.m insane, and he was sent to the insane asylum. His aged wife strongly opposed his being confined, and after a court trial he was discharged from custody and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 141 the faithful wife took him again to their Modesto home. On the morning of August 21, 1889, the old gentleman, arising at four o'clock, told his wife that he was going out to pick figs'. He did not return at breakfast time and his son Charles could not find him. Then, quite anxious at his disappearance, Mrs. Brinkerhoff aroused the neighborhood, but he could not be located. About noon, however, an Italian named Guiseppi, on going into a shed about 300 yards from the Brinkerhoff home, found him hanging from the rafters ; apparently he had been dead for several hours. He had obtained a rope, and placing one end around his neck, had stepped upon the tongue of a wagon, fastened the other end around the rafters and then swung off, strangling himself. A BRUTAL MURDER At Oakdale on Christmas evening of the year 1893, Edom Lowe was robbed and brutally beated to death by Charles Inglis. Lowe was emploj'ed on one of the ranches in the vicinity of Oakdale and visited the town to celebrate the day. Drinking frequently at the bar, he soon became intoxicated, but was in no manner boisterous or quarrelsome. Late in the evening Lowe left the saloon and Inglis fol lowed after him. A few minutes later a scuffling was heard. No attention was paid to the noise. The following evening between seven and eight o'clock Lowe was found upon a side street, unconscious, with knife stabs in his left breast and his head horribly beaten up, as if struck by some heavy instrument. Suspicion was at once attracted to Charles Inglis, as he was a worthless fellow, a hanger on in the town, and had served a term in the penitentiary. Constable Swartzel arrested Inglis and after considerable search a knife was found. It was quite a formidable-looking weapon and the scab bard and blade were spattered with blood. It is supposed that Inglis attempted to rob Lowe, and in the scuffle he stabbed and beat his victim into insensibility. Inglis was taken to the Modesto jail, awaiting the outcome of Lowe's injury. ANOTHER COWARDLY MURDER This murder took place at Cottonwoods near Newman on the evening of Janu ary 9, 1891. A Mrs. MacDonnell was visiting her mother, Mrs. Pendelton. The family were sitting conversing in the parlor when an unknown person approached and fired a forty-four-caliber rifle bullet through the window. The ball struck Mrs. Mac Donnell, killing her instantly. Footprints were tracked from the window to the home of E. T. Hale, some two miles distant, and he was arrested and taken to Los Banos. It was known that he had borrowed a rifle the day previous to the murder and a rifle was found in his home. The prisoner admitted having a rifle, yet he denied bor rowing it. Mrs. John Hale, his sister-in-law, testified at the coroner's inquest, Janu ary 15, that she saw Hale carrying a gun from her husband's house, the day before the cowardly act was committed. The cause of the murder is unknown, and was a complete mystery except in this: Mrs. MacDonnell formerly worked for E. T. Hale's wife, and one day the two women, quarreling over wages, became bitter enemies. BLACKSMITH MURDERS PURCELL In 1892 there lived in Oakdale an old blacksmith, fifty-eight years of age, named Andrew Boss. He had a good business but a bad reputation, and although a member of a splendid family, he was a black sheep. There was another man in Oakdale, a young man twenty-six years of age, by the name of Purcell. His family were good, law-abiding, respected citizens, but the young fellow was a hanger on around houses of bad repute. One day, the afternoon of October 15, 1892, Purcell wandered into Boss' blacksmith shop. Soon after this they began quarreling, a shot was heard and Purcell fell mortally wounded, the ball penetrating his left lung. Boss said Purcell was trying to steal his tools. Constable Swartzel took charge of the blacksmith and the physicians attended Purcell. THE FATHER'S REVENGE In every town there are men of dissolute character who make it a part of their business to entice young girls into houses of infamy either for the gratification of their own lust or for profit. Such a person was John Kelley. Somewhere in the summer of 142 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1879 he made the acquaintance at Sutter Creek of a fifteen-year-old girl named Speek- man, the daughter of John Speekman, an old resident of the mining town. One day the girl disappeared, and coming to Modesto about August 5 she was met by Kelley and taken to a house of prostitution. The father by some means heard that the girl was in Modesto and he telegraphed the chief of police to arrest her. When the officer went to make the arrest the girl could not be found. She had been taken to Hill's Ferrj'. A few days later her brother, traveling on foot from the Creek, for the family were quite poor, arrived in search of the wayward sister. Kelley, meeting the young man, threatened to kill him if he did not return home. The young man then con sulted Attorneys Hazen & Johnson. They advised him to return to Sutter Creek, obtain a warrant for his sister, and then, if necessary, take her by force. The boy returned, informed his father of the attorneys' advice and then swore out a warrant. The legal proceedings in some manner unknown were delayed. The father arose from a bed of sickness and also traveling afoot, arrived in Modesto, August 14. There was considerable excitement in the little town, for the "Regulators" had appeared and commanded every gambler, saloonist and disreputable to leave the town within twenty- four hours. The following morning when the northbound Southern Pacific steamed to the depot there was a rush of undesirables to get on board. The exodus was so great that the number surprised many of the citizens. In the crowd of sightseers was Speekman, intently watching to get a sight of his daughter. The depot then was at the corner of Front and I streets. The locomotive bell was ringing and as the conductor was about to shout "all aboard" two persons suddenly appeared from a nearby saloon, dragging or partly dragging a companion so drunk he was helpless. It was John Kelley. The companions succeeded in reaching the platform and as soon as Speekman saw his daughter's seducer he rushed forward and stabbed him four or five times in the breast with a penknife. Bystanders quickly grasped the old half-crazed father, but the act was so sudden that the victim had been mortally wounded. The two companions endeavored to board the train, taking the wounded man with them. He was bleeding badly and probably dying and the conductor refused him passage. The two men then boarded the cars and left Kelley to his fate. The wounded man was taken across the street into the Stanislaus Restaurant and attended by Doctors Ray and McLean. He died four days later. Speekman gave himself up to the police. He was immediaetly taken before Justice of the Peace C. W. Eastin and released under a fifty dollar bail, the citizens quickly putting up the bail bond. In the meantime the daughter had been brought over from Hill's Ferry and she returned home to Sutter Creek with her father. THE MacCRELLISH FAMILY Public opinion, as fickle as the wind, shifts as quickly. In the Speekman affair there was not the least doubt of Kelley's guilt, and public opinion was just when it exclaimed, "It served him right." In the Robbins affair which we will now record, there was a strong doubt regarding his guilt, yet the public declared him guilty and threatened to lynch him. Then many declared him innocent of the crime, and later came a doubt that has not to this day been cleared up. Before narrating the trial, we must first.observe the principals in the affair, the MacCrellish family. They com prised the father, mother and two girls, Lulu and Dora, their ages eleven and fifteen. In 1883 the family removed from Mariposa County to Stanislaus County. They took up their abode in a small house in the rear of the wayside saloon of John H. Doane, about six miles out on the Waterford road, and the following year they moved into Modesto. The family were very profligate in character and at the trial facts were established "that Mrs. MacCrellish was driven out of another town for using her daughters as blackmailers." In that same trial the girls perjured themselves "and lied fearfully and described immoralities without an iota of shame or scruple." The Robbins Case In August, 1882, a man named John J. Robbins located in Modesto as editor Ir "ZaI"tTU J°hT ? , HC TS mcomPetr for the Position, it seems, and was soon fired. He d.d not leave the town, as do most editors when discharged and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 14.3 look up another job, but concluded that next he would practice law at Modesto. His wife came to Modesto and Robbins put out his sign as an attorney. He was a "fine looking man, over six feet in height and weighing about 200 pounds." His clientele did not keep him very busy and soon it was observed by persons in the vicinity of his office that he was fond of little girls, "and often asked them into his office, petted them and giving them candies told them stories." The youngest MacCrellish girl, Lulu, soon wandered past his door and in July, 1883, the police were informed that Robbins had taken undue liberties with her. The girl herself it seems gave the information, but with no other evidence the police could not make any arrest. Watch ing the case closely, however, they believed soon after that they had evidence sufficient to secure conviction, and on August 18 Robbins was arrested, he was taken before Justice C. W. Eastin, and released on bail of $2,500, J. P. Trainor of the Ross House and Dr. Tynan going his security. As soon as the arrest became known, "excited men stood on the corners and talked of lynching him." Robbins' friends, fearing that the mob might attempt it, advised him to leave town or he would be lj'nched. Taking their advice, he left on the first northbound train. As soon as his bondsmen learned of his departure, they surrendered him to the sheriff. The wires were made hot with messages looking for Robbins. He was intercepted and arrested by the constable at Lathrop. The sheriff and his deputy, Simmons, went on to Lathrop and got their prisoner. Fearing, however, that an attempt would be made to lynch Robbins if they returned with him to Modesto, they went on to Stockton and lodged him in the hotel "De Cunningham." Their prediction seemed to have been well founded, for the mob went wild and over 300 of them gathered at the depot awaiting the south bound train and Robbins. They fully intended to have a necktie party, in which the principal participant would be the prisoner. Robbins was confined in the jail at Stockton until August 30. At that time Sheriff Cunningham received word to release the prisoner. Public opinion was changing and although his bail had been increased lo $5,000, twice the former amount, J. P. Trainor and Dr. Thomas Tynan again became his bondsmen. Arrest of John H. Doane Two days after the arrest of Robbins, John H. Doane was arrested, charged with a similar offense against Dora MacCrellish. At the same time Albert Beck, a young man in the employ of William Brown, the photographer, was arrested charged with taking the photographs of young girls unattired. The two men were placed in jail and again the mob was furious and seriously talked of lynching both Doane and Beck. Fearing that the mob would attempt to get possession of the man and hang them, the sheriff "placed a guard of five men with Winchester rifles inside the cage with the prisoner to protect him." In the meantime Doane was released on bail. The preliminary trial of Doane was called September 18, before Justice of the Peace C. W. Eastin. The entire day was taken up with the examination of the girl Dora. Her testimony was unshaken, according to the Herald, "except as to minor details." Upon cross-examination, however, by the attorney for the defense, there was no direct evidence against Doane, and he was discharged from custody. The Comments of the Press Soon after the discharge of Doane the Herald said: "There is no doubt that a serious offense has been committed, either rape or perjury. It is not in order to let the Robbins case go by default. An investigation would be a farce. But the people will not yield one jot of their opinion in the Robbins case any more than they have done in the case of Doane." The Farmer's Journal, August 24, published a rather peculiar statement. It said regarding the guilt or innocence of Robbins and Doane: "Although some have changed their minds, still the feeling is high and should the evidence turn against the prisoners, then there will be but little use for. the superior court in the matter. The MacCrellish girls have told some pretty tough stories, still they have told enough truth to make the case a strong one." Then in the same article it declared : "The people who wanted to hang Robbins so fast have notably changed. 144 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY It is now believed that there is no foundation for the grave charge against Robbins." Four days later, August 28, the same paper said: "The sentiment of Modesto is fast assuming a different aspect and it looks as if the men who have been arrested are the victims of a nicely laid plot." A little later a correspondent declared: "The change in public opinion is wonderful. They believe there will be no case made out against the accused parties. There is a talk of tar and feathers for the MacCrellish family." The Trial of Robbins Robbins was placed on trial in February, 1884, in the superior court of Modesto, Judge A. Hewel presiding. There was an array of able attorneys, William E. Dudley of Stockton and W. E. Turner for the defense, and District Attorney John C. Simmons, John B. Kittrelle and W. O. Miner, later county judge, for the prose cution. After a three days' rigid examination the following jury was accepted: J. M. Board, Henry Gregg, R. R. Snedigar, J. M. Watson, John McGovern, S. LeClert, J. R. Mickey, J. F. Beausong, J. B. Brooks, A. M. Standiford, A. R. Anderson and Frank Jenkins. At the request of Attorney Dudley, but against the protest of Kit trelle, the trial proceeded with closed doors. When the case was given to the jury, they retired and in a few minutes returned a verdict, "not guilty." Notwithstanding the verdict of the twelve honorable men and the depraved character of the two principal witnesses, many of the citizens believed Robbins and Doane guilty of the crime and we will again hear of them in the second raid of the Vigilantes. THE GAMBLERS' RENDEZVOUS If the accounts be true, Modesto in 1879 was not a very desirable place to live, especially for respectable families, as it was the resort of thieves, gamblers and prosti tutes from all parts of the state. The cause of this immigration of undesirables was the splendid wheat crop of that year. To harvest the crop required hundreds of laborers. They made plenty of money and every Saturday night, coming in from the harvest fields, they would "buck the tiger, consort with women and get as drunk as lords." At the risk of repetition, we will give two accounts of the condition of things in that year, a condition which caused the organization of the Regulators. The first account referring to the abundant harvest says: "After two years of drought, two lean years that have become historic in the annals of the county, the wonderful bounte ous crop of 1879 brought renewed life and hope and vigor, which gave an impetus to business of all descriptions. The wealth of garnered grain also brought to Modesto a flock of gamblers, women of shady character, together with men of other activities equally undesirable, who came hither to gain their illicit share of the profits of the industrious farmer and the wages of the rural worker. The opium joints and the gambling halls were permitted to run at full swing. The dance hall spread its baneful influence over the entire community, and from the very center of the town, the tenderloin crew rode in Modesto's saddle and controlled the town." In August, '79, the Herald declared: "For years past Modesto has been the rendezvous of gamblers, thieves, rollers and gentlemen of that ilk, who seem to enter tain the opinion that they were secure from molestation by police officrs and could plv their nefarious business without the fear of the law. They said that when they could not remain anywhere else they could come to Modesto and be safe from any annoy ance. Dance houses and opium dens loomed up in the distance and these places were thronged nightly by these human hyenas, their orgies being kept up until a late hour. Drunken men were rolled and robbed on the streets, ladies were insulted, young lads were enticed into their dens of iniquity and numerous offenses committed." THE MARCH OF THE VIGILANTES Tired of the condition of affairs as above recorded, and unable or unwilling to clean up the town by lawful means, that is the election to office of men who would perform their duty quite a large number of citizens concluded to take the matte" in their own hands and by force or intimidation drive out and destroy the property" the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 145 criminal class. The organization of the Vigilantes was not a spontaneous uprising like that of a mob in a great city, but the work of men who had been planning the movement for several months. One account says their place of meeting was in an old warehouse on a high and knolly plot of ground between Modesto and Ripperdan, and that the members were called to meeting by verbal request or by messengers. Another account says that they met in the Odd Fellows Hall and that the members were noti fied of a meeting by secret cards or signs posted in the Modesto show windows. The time set for their raid was Thursday evening, August 14, 1879. That night the men assembled wearing black masks and grasping their trusty weapons — shotguns, pistols and swords — they quietly marched along H Street to Tenth and along that street to Sullivan's dance hall. The saloon was all ablaze with lights and a merry throng. Some of the fellows and girls were merrily dancing while others were drinking and carousing at the bar. On arrival at Sullivan's, the Vigilantes halted. Their brave captain then stepping forth demanded that Sullivan appear. The saloonist appeared and he was told to close his saloon and "git out." He skipped in short order. Long before this time, pandemonium reigned in the house, and the frightened women, unfor tunate outcasts of humanity, ran in every direction ; some ran to their rooms and hid under their beds, while others, scantily dressed, ran down the street. Having won this battle with no loss of life, the valiant army next visited the alleys between G and H streets. Then they visited more houses on Tenth and Front streets. Every where the result was the same : the enemy fled in great dismay. Next marching to Johnson's dance hall, corner of H and Eighth streets, they notified that worthy to close his "shebang." He complied. Sure, for he remained in town and for a long time thereafter was one of the officers of the law in Modesto. Johnson, like Garner, had a political pull. Having visited the high-toned places where gentlemen congre gated, the Vigilantes next visited the "heathen Chinee," as Bret Harte styled them in his poem. "Ropes were placed around some of the opium shanties, and with the com bined tugging of the Vigilantes they were razed to the ground." The ruins were searched for pipes and other smoking paraphernalia, fan tan layouts and faro tables. These were placed in the public square and a huge bonfire made of them. There was at that time, you remember, a great hue and cry and the watchword of the parties was "the Chinese must go." They had no redress in the courts for damages, no influence nor votes, hence the destruction of their property. But the saloons where men were crazed with liquor and murders were committed, where girls were seduced — they re mained intact. The following day it seemed as if Modesto would be partly depopu lated, so great was the departures of undesirables, some going to Stockton and some to Oakdale. The News declared, August 22: "Since the raid of the raiders, our streets have been quiet. The gay gamboliers and the demimonde, at least, are not so common a sight. The good citizens of Oakdale complain that the dissolute charac ters have located in their midst since the late raid at Modesto." CONSTABLE SPIER SHOOTS A DISREPUTABLE CHARACTER In 1890 two shooting events similar in character took place, the one at Turlock with no dangerous results, the other at Modesto with fatal results. The first was of a man, just a common drunkard and unsavory character, the other a periodical drinker, a known murderer and a saloonkeeper high up in the political circles of Modesto County. Early in the morning on November 1, 1890, past midnight, when all respect able citizens are soundly sleeping, Seaton Boren was in a Turlock saloon, considerably under the influence of liquor. The name of the saloon I know not, for the press took good care in those days not to injure the business of any saloon. Anyhow, Boren was in this saloon and finally he became so noisy and quarrelsome that the constable was called in to quiet or arrest him. When Constable Spier attempted to arrest him he began to fight and in the scuffle he was shot in the thigh by Spier's pistol. 10 146 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY DROWNING OF THE BAKER BOYS One of the most distressing accidents of Stanislaus was the drowning in Septem ber, 1889, of the three sons of C. C. Baker, who lived near the Tuolumne River, about eight miles from Modesto. It appears that the boys, George W., eight years of age, Oliver, eleven, and Christopher, thirteen years old, accompanied by a companion named Walter Garrison, started from the house about three o'clock in the afternoon for a swim in the river. About an hour later, J. L. Crossmore, who was in the employ of Baker, found young Garrison by the side of the house sobbing and crying as if his heart would break. Mr. Crossmore inquired: "What is the matter?" The boy ex claimed between his sobs : "The boys are drowned in the river." Mr. Crossmore gave the alarm and hurried to the river, accompanied by the father. A few minutes later R. B. Drew arrived. Solicitous for the condition of Mr. Baker, who had heart dis ease, he persuaded the father to return to his home. He was accompanied by his employee. Mr. Drew then entering the water with a long stick, for the river was low, began poking around. He soon came across the body of the eldest boy. He was in a deep hole made by the eddying of the current when the river was swiftly flowing. In a short time other persons engaged in the search and about sundown Ben Ducker found the body of George Baker. About nine o'clock that night he discovered Oliver's body. They were buried from the Christian Church and the Stanislaus Pioneer Society attended the funeral in a body, Mr. Baker being one of their members. The funeral was one of the largest ever held in the county. There was a strong and heartfelt sympathy for the grief-stricken parents and Mrs. Ben Ducker composed a very sym pathetic poem on the occasion. The following are the first eight and last four lines. "They are sleeping, sweetly sleeping Your precious loved ones dear, They have gone to live with Jesus, And their voices no more you'll hear. They are sleeping, sweetly sleeping, Can you wish to wake them now ? Where not one trace of sadness Can cross their precious brow. Oh, we think not, though 'tis lonely, Bow and kiss the chastening rod, Saying not as we would have it, But as thou hast wilt, Oh Lord." THOMAS OWENS SUDDENLY DISAPPEARS In the sudden disappearance of Thomas Owens we see in a nutshell the faithful devotion of a wife through eight long years, the strong faith of a newspaper man in his honesty and integrity and the perfidy of a man unworthy of the love of a good woman or true friend. In 1889, Thomas Owens was appointed collector of the Modesto Irri gation District. He made good, was highly respected, believed to be honest and had in his possession at one time as high as $3,000 of the money of the company In 1892 he suddenly disappeared. In looking over his account with the district there was a shortage of $695. Then he was denounced as an embezzler and a scoundrel for taking the district money and deserting a wife and two small children. The Herald defended the man and publicly declared there was no justification for the "foul slander " Owens' bondsmen were compelled to make good the deficit and the faithful wife, by selling the little home and other means, succeeded in paying the bondsmen their loss within two years. Mrs Owens with her children, in 1895, moved to Stockton and succeeded in supporting the family by dressmaking. In May, 1900, Mr. Owens returned to his family and his own confession, as given to a press reporter, tells the tale. He said the cause of his departure was the fact that he had spent a part of the Modesto Irrigation money in aiding a friend in his campaign for the office of district attorney. WhS an HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 147 accounting was called for he did not have the money and did not feel like asking his friends to help him out. He left ostensibly for Visalia without informing anyone of his intention. He went direct to Los Angeles and from there by steamer to San Francisco. Remaining a few days he then went to Napa and under the name of Thomas Oliver engaged in the carpenter trade. He remained there three years and sent not a word to his family. Then going to Oregon he assumed his right name and there remained until 1897. He then went to Dawson City and saw three or four fellows who knew him in Modesto, but they could tell him nothing about his wife. He remained in Dawson until the winter of 1899 and about eight months ago joined the Salvation Army and took a prominent part. Mrs. Owens had heard that he was in Dawson and wrote him a letter. He did not get it, as it probably was on the steamer Stratton, which sunk. She again wrote and he received it about December. He answered it and, receiving a second letter in February (1900) began making preparations to return to California and his family. The home coming, says the reporter, was a joyous one, though the daughters, then thirteen and fifteen years of age, had only a dim recollection of their father. The first of the article says, "The charge of embezzlement against Thomas H. Owens for absconding with funds of the Modesto Irrigation District was dismissed today (May 7, 1900) by Judge Minor on motion of District Attorney Walthall. A lengthy petition signed by many property holders and respected citizens, asking that the action be dismissed, probably influenced Judge Minor's action." A VIGILANTE KILLS JOHN H. DOANE When the law-abiding citizen takes the law in his own hands and breaks it, can he expect to have the criminal class respect and obey the laws? The Regulators in 1879 had threatened the lives of citizens and unmolested, destroyed the property of the Chinese. Following their work there was no change for the better in the criminal class. There were the usual shooting affairs, the same drunken carousals and the wide-open gambling, robbery and prostitution. Nor were the police authorities willing to or enabled to enforce the law. A series of events took place in May, 1883, which brought things to a crisis. One of these events was the so-called bridge riot. Near the Bridge House a party of five toughs led by the notorious Joe Buckner, familiarly known as Joe Long, robbed and brutally beat up two Frenchmen. Two months later a gambler named Mumm shot to death a youth of sixteen years near Turlock. Then came the charges against Doane and Robbins by the MacCrellish girls. While the excitement was high and threats repeatedly made by the mob that they would hang the two men re gardless of judge or jury, word was sent out by the Vigilantes of 1879 to reorganize. The Vigilantes committee reassembled at their old headquarters early in 1884 and very considerately awaited the action of the court in the Robbins trial. Doane had been discharged in the preliminary trial by Justice Eastin, there being considerable doubt regarding his guilt. Robbins was given a fair and impartial trial in February, 1884, as we have already noted, and a jury, some of Modesto's highly respected citizens, declared him not guilty. If the verdict of the jury was satisfactory to the Regulators, well and good, but if not satisfactory then "the death of Doane and Robbins had been decreed by them." Neither the decision of Justice Eastin in the Doane case nor the verdict of the jury in the Robbins trial was satisfactory to them, and they again pro posed to usurp the authority of state. March 1, 1884, they sent out three anonymous notices to Doane, Robbins and John MacCrellish, "Leave this county within ten days, fail not on pain of death." Doane, unwisely, and yet within his rights as an American citizen, refused to obey the command of some unknown persons who simply made them selves known as "San Joaquin Valley Regulators." It is said, no doubt true, that he assumed a defiant air and defied this unknown party and that he became violent in his language and conduct. Doane was no coward, he was brave and reckless, and the threat of death hanging over his head made a fearless and desperate character. Then exhibiting the silly bravado of that class of men, especially under the influence of liquor, he came from his little place on the Waterford road into Modesto and showed the letter to his companions. They, just as unwise as he, plied Doane with more liquor and urged him to go and fight the gang that were trying to run him out of town. 148 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Some politician once said: "God save me from my friends," and Doane may well have said, "Lord save me from my companions," for they were urging him on to his death. Thus intoxicated, he wandered up and down streets of the town, maudlin drunk, asserting that he was no coward, that he would not leave and that if the Regu lators came for him, they would find him prepared to defend himself. In one of his drunken tirades he met on the street March 10 a highly respected farmer named W. C. Clark. Doane accused Clark of being a Regulator and would have shot him, but Mr. Clark with a heavy cane soon put Doane "hors de combat." A few days after Doane's unprovoked assault on Clark, the Vigilantes assembled at headquarters. It was the evening of March 19, 1884, a day which will ever be memorable in the days of Modesto. They had assembled, not for the purpose of arresting and confining Doane nor of banishing him from the county, but for the purpose of taking his life. Their intention was to take Doane alive, convey him to the bridge, hang him there and leave the body dangling from it, so reads the record. Twenty-five men were left at the bridge to guard it. Others were stationed along the road to Doane's house, which we remember was six miles out on the Waterford road. Another twenty-five, led by the captain, all on horseback, started for Doane's home to capture him and fulfill the design of the Regulators. Halting close to the place, they dismounted, these twenty- five men, seeking the life of an ignorant man then fifty-seven years old. What crime had he committed that he should suffer death? True, he had led a violent life in early days and had shot a man in Tuolumne County. But he had been punished for this crime by serving time in the penitentiary. Was he now to be hung for the same offense? No, he was to suffer death, says the printed account, because of the brazen conduct on his part and not so much the crime that he had committed against Dora MacCrellish. After dismounting, seven or eight of the Regulators, heavily masked, entered the door of the saloon. Four men were in the saloon — J. R. Briggs, Steve Girard and Doane, who were sitting at a table playing cards, and the barkeeper. The Vigilantes, with their weapons pointed at the heads of the frightened men, ordered them to throw up their hands. They quickly obeyed the command, all but Doane. He, realizing the situation, jumped from his chair and started for the back room, presumably for a weapon to defend himself. One of the Regulators fired a charge of buckshot into the body of the retreating man. The charge took effect in his back between his shoulders, and Doane fell dead. The Regulators then rode back to their companions at the bridge and in the darkness of the night reported their deed. MORE THREATS OF HANGING J. J. Robbins, against whom there was no evidence of crime, only a suspicion of crime, March 1, 1884, received the following letter signed "San Joaquin Valley Regu lators" : "From date you are notified to leave this county within ten days. Fail not, on pain of death." Robbins, standing on his rights as an American citizen, resented this threat, and on the bulletin board in front of his office he published the following notice : "One hundred dollars will be paid for information leading to the detection of the cowardly scoundrel who addressed me an anonymous letter on March 1, signed 'San Joaquin Valley Regulators'." And he feared not to sign his name, J. J. Robbins. His friends persuaded him that the anonymous letter was a joke, and he removed the notice from the board. He soon afterward left Modesto. The same command was given to John MacCrellish to immediately leave with his family. MacCrellish replied in the Evening News that he had not enough money to get food for his family, to say nothing of getting out of the county. He was per fectly willing to leave town if he could raise the funds. He also hoped that if there were such a thing as Vigilantes they would not hang him on an empty stomach Suffi cient funds were raised and he and his family left Modesto the day following the killing of Doane. Having got rid of the principal characters in the drama, the Regulators next turned their attention to the gamblers and their consorts. About thirty persons received the following notice: You are hereby notified to leave Modesto within twenty-four hours and never return, under peril of your lives. Remember Doane's fate —San HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 149 Joaquin Valley Regulators, March 21, 10:30 p. m." That allusion to Doane had its effect and many of the disreputables, leaving as soon as possible, remained housed for several days in a warehouse at Salida. On April 7, Saturday evening, the Regulators made another raid on Chinatown. They were followed by Constable Clark, who, approaching the captain within thirty feet, inquired: "How are you getting along?" "All right," the captain replied. Clark then went into the different houses and told the Chinese if the Regulators came in to be quiet and permit search. He then pleaded with the captain not to destroy the Chinese stores as the Chinese did not allow the whites to smoke opium. For his defense of the Chinese the captain hurled a beef bone at Clark, which struck him on the head, making a gash over his right eye. Blood freely flowed from the wound. Another edict was published by the Vigilantes April 17, which said that certain persons ordered to leave are "lurking in the vicinity of Modesto. Now, therefore, all such persons are ordered to leave Stanislaus County immediately and never return, under penalty of death, and all persons are forbidden to harbor anyone under the same penalty. All gamblers, pimps and prostitutes are forbidden to come into Stanislaus County. Remember Doane's fate." There was naturally much opposition to the work of the Regulators. Some of those who came under their ban were young men of the first families, who were the victims of the wide open town, more than toughs at heart. Most of the men, however, were the friends of Barney Garner and patrons of his saloon. Garner was freely outspoken in his denunciation of the Regulators. This called forth from them another letter addressed personally to Barney Garner April 23, 9 o'clock p. m. "This is to notify you if any disturbance is made, property destroyed or persons injured by the gang ordered out of the county, or any grain burned on the supposition that the owner is a Regulator, you will be held personally respon sible with your life." Garner, as we have noted, was a prominent Democratic leader, and he took the letter to the Democratic paper, the News. The proprietor, J. D. Spencer, not only published the letter, but he deplored the attitude the Regulators had taken in seeking to threaten citizens who publicly expressed their opinion. He also deplored the bad name that the Regulators had given the town as a city of lawlessness and disorder. No threat was made against the News so far as known, but on the 21st of March the Fanner's Journal had been warned to modify its tone or take the con sequences. The next morning following the death of Doane, although giving no report of the affair, it said: "If the people don't start in and pat the Regulators on the back then we are much mistaken. Every man, woman and ten-j'ear-old boy in town feels that something must be done to purify the town." In another column it remarked: "It is about time that the Regulators were getting after the alley stock. After this, get rid of the MacCrellish family. It is to be hoped that they will put a stop to opium smoking." In still another column was this declaration: "The Journal is not in favor of violence, but in the language of David Crockett, 'Be sure you're right, then go ahead'." There was one saloonkeeper intimidated, if none other, and in the Modesto Strawbuck, May 6, 1884, he said: "To the San Joaquin Valley Regulators: Gentlemen: Since your notice was received my place of business had been closed. I had rented it, but the parties were compelled to give it up. I have endeavored to sell it, but can find no purchasers. I have a stock of goods that are perishable and must do something with them, as I cannot lie idle and support my family. I find, therefore, that I must open my place, and at the same time I promise j'ou that I will keep a quiet and respectable house, and at the same time grant you the privilege if you see fit, should I not stand by my agreement, to again serve a notice on me to close. Should you not answer this letter I will take it for granted that I have your permission and will proceed to open at once. — Respectfully, Moses Morris." THE FAMOUS TYNAN PROPERTY SUIT Dr. Thomas Tynan, pioneer and one of Stanislaus County's wealthiest citizens, in 1892 became involved in a very sensational law suit, his stepdaughters, Mrs. T. F. (Emeline) Woodside and Mrs. F. A. (Lucinda) Fuquay, being the plaintiffs. In 1862 Dr. Tynan married Mrs. Eli S. Marvin of Empire City, a wealthy widow. It 150 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY was alleged in the stepdaughters' petition that at the time of Dr. Tynan's marriage to their mother he owned unprofitable land on the Tuolumne river opposite Empire ; had a small, unprofitable practice as a physician, and lived in a wagon on wheels. The land and the wagon comprised his entire property. Mrs. Tynan, their mother, died in 1881, leaving all of her property to her children in a will dated September 8, 1881. Up to this time Dr. Tynan had acted as the agent of his wife, and since her death he had acted as his stepdaughters' trustee. He acted wisely and honestly and gradually extended his operations. Among other transactions he purchased stock in the Modesto Grange Company and in the Grangers' Bank, San Francisco. In 1890 he erected the finest hotel in Modesto. It was a three-story brick building on the former site of the St. John house, and cost about $20,000. About that time the doctor's troubles began, for he again married and began selling his property and putting it into cash. The two stepdaughters, suspecting this, commenced suit for a settlement. In their petition they claimed that there had been no accounting during their mother's life, and as the property had belonged to them since that date they petitioned the court that the doc tor be compelled to make an accounting and deed to them all of his lands and sur render to them his personal property. In his declining years, then over seventy years of age, the phj'sician was greatly worried, for he was obliged to provide for a young wife. The suit came before Judge William Minor in April, 1892, with L. W. Mad dux and James H. Budd of Stockton representing the stepdaughters. It seems that before the suit was settled Dr. Tynan disappeared. After waiting nearly a year the stepdaughters assumed that their stepfather was dead, and they petitioned for a pro bation of the property. They were opposed by the executor, Judge Hewel, who was represented in court by D. M. Delmas and P. H. Hazen of San Francisco and L. W. Fulkerth of Modesto. The daughters had the same counsel as in the previous suit. The case again came up before Judge Minor and was entitled "Woodside vs. Hewel," as found in the Supreme Court reports. The jury selected to try the case comprised S. W. Coffee, D. W. Bury, J. McDonough, J. W. Earson, A. N. Standiford, S. Garl inghouse, Moses Sheakley, E. B. Stafford, George Wood, W. S. Spaulding and Jonas Bancy. The executor's attorneys endeavored to prove that Dr. Thomas E. Tynan was not dead, although his wife positively insisted that he had been murdered. "The plaintiffs," said the dispatch, "proved by an overwhelming evidence that Tynan was dead, and as the case stands there is no doubt of it." The case was on trial for twenty- three days, including the three days of argument by the counsel. The jury retiring at 5 o'clock October 21, returned into the court the following morning. They disagreed as to the death of Dr. Tynan, but they unanimously agreed giving the stepdaughters three-fifths of the property, its cash value being about $150,000. It was alleged that Tynan was worth $250,000. Judge Minor, after carefully reviewing the evidence, declared Dr. T. E. Tynan legally dead. Regarding the distribution of the property, however, an unexpected event occurred — Dr. Tynan's return ; and Judge Hewel taking the case to the Supreme Court, they declared October 10, 1895, that the property was community property between the husband and wife, and hence it could not be separated. The disappearance of Dr. Tynan was one of the sensational events of that day, an event which for a time rivalled the train holdup by Evans and Sontag. He left Modesto October 13, 1892, for the purpose of going to San Francisco and transacting some business connected with the suit. On Saturday, the 15th, just before the closing of the bank, he drew out $5000, telling the clerk that he intended to make some improvements on his property in Modesto. A little later he wrote to his wife that he would be home on Monday. On the following day (Sunday) he left the Baldwin House, where he had lodged, and told the clerk that he was going home. From that time on, according to the belief of his wife, he had not been seen. She declared that Dr. Tynan had enemies and they had murdered him. About that time a headless body somewhat resembling Tynan had been found in the Stockton channel, but it was not the missing man. His photograph and a description of Tynan were circulated by the thousands throughout the United States. The description stated that he was of Irish birth, short, thick set, rather portly and weighed in his prime about 200 pounds. The HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 151 most striking peculiarity of his personal appearance was his arm. It had been frac tured and improperly set. As a result it dangled by his side when he walked. De tectives from San Francisco traced a man resembling Tj'nan in every respect from that city to Sacramento. He there purchased a ticket for New York and signed the name of E. S. Stanley. The detectives were positive it was Tynan. A man named Wilson telegraphed that he saw Tynan in Utah. The railroad ticket was produced in court and those familiar with Tynan's handwriting swore it was not his signature, yet strangely enough Stanley was the maiden name of Tynan's mother. The telegram from Utah was also discredited. By a singular incident Tynan was found. He was a Spiritualist, and while Slade, the famous Spiritualist, was in San Francisco, he visited Slade's seances. Tj'nan, again visiting the medium in Boston, was recognized as the long-sought Modestoan. The fact was telegraphed to Mrs. Tynan. After two years Tynan returned to California and said he had been living in seclusion in Boston to get rid of his family troubles. Then it was that Hewel carried the property suit to the Supreme Court and they reversed the decision of the lower court. Thomas E. Tynan died in San Francisco April 14, 1898. CHINESE COOK MURDERS WIFE OF RANCHER A sad tragedy was that of the death of Mrs. Guy Kilburn, the wife of the wealthy rancher, at her home about two miles above Crows Landing. She had had in her employ for about twenty years a Chinese cook. Suddenly becoming insane, he attacked her January 29, 1910, with a knife, and stabbing her in the abdomen he inflicted wounds from which she died in half an hour. Mrs. Kilburn's son and his wife en deavored to prevent the murder, but the terrible deed was accomplished before they succeeded in overpowering the crazed heathen. Ah Sam was securely bound and taken to the Modesto jail. In the struggle with the knife the Chinaman in some manner cut himself severely, and he died in the county hospital the following day from the effects of the wound. DR. HORR SUICIDES One of the oldest pioneers of the county was Dr. B. D. Horr, who located a ranch on the Tuolumne River in 1849. Of Southern birth, he was well educated, social, benevolent, and always cheerful and happy. A politician, he was most of his time in office or pulling the wires for his friends. Unfortunately, he was an inveterate gambler and a heavy drinker, and frequently he would gamble and drain the social glass until the early morning hours. Early in February, 1869, he was on a continuous spree and on the evening of the 3rd he again sat down to the gambling table. Playing cards throughout the night, luck was against him and he bet his last dollar and lost. About four o'clock he left the gambling table and going outside took an overdose of morphine and when found a short time later he was dead. DISAPPEARANCE OF GEORGE FRENCH One of the mysteries of Modesto's history was the disappearance of George French a prominent Mason and a bookkeeper in the employ of Tucker & Perlej', searchers of records. He left Modesto February 5, 1890, with his family to attend a religious convention in San Francisco, taking with him about $800 to complete a busi ness transaction. They arrived safely in the metropolis and two days later he told his wife that he was going to Sacramento on business. From that day to this he has .not been seen by his family or friends, although he was once reported as having been seen in Portland, Oregon. CHAPTER TWELVE SOCIETIES AND MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS MASONIC LODGES La Grange Lodge No. 99 was the oldest Masonic Lodge in Stanislaus County until its removal in 1873 to Merced. A dispensation was granted in January, 1856, by Grand Master William H. Howard to form a lodge. A charter was issued to the lodge dated May 8, 1856. The first officers were Abigil Elkins, worthy master; John Myers, senior warden; John B. Hocket, junior warden; C. M. Wells, senior deacon; J. Simons, junior deacon; W. F. Stafford, secretary; Thomas Paine, treasurer, and Uriah Nelson, tyler. Summit Lodge No. 112 was instituted at Knights Ferry. The grand master granted a dispensation January 13, 1857, to form a lodge. Its first regular communi cation was held February 7, at which were present M. C. Edwards, worthy master; Stephen Bishop, senior warden, and Andrew J. Lane, junior warden. The following officers were appointed by the worthy master : Andrew McSorley, senior deacon ; Isaac Snodgrass, junior deacon; Thomas W. Lane, secretary, and Henry Palmer, treasurer. Petitions for the degrees in Masonry were read by George W. Dent and W. E. Steuart and for affiliation from James A. Whetstone, Joseph Honigsberger and J. H. Skirm. All of the necessary steps for the establishment of a lodge were taken and a note for $500 was given towards the erection of a hall. A charter was granted May 14, 1857, and June 13, a lodge was duly opened under the authority of J. K. Shafer, acting deputy grand master. The following officers were elected and installed : M. C. Edwards, worthy master; Stephen Bishop, senior warden; Andrew J. Lane, junior warden; Henry Palmer, treasurer; William E. Steuart, secretary. J. A. Whet stone, senior warden ; William Palmer, junior warden ; Jefferson D. Bentley and John Tason, stewards, and Andrew McSorley, tyler. The additional charter mem bers were George W. Dent, Henry Harmon, Joseph Honigsberger, J. H. Skirm, W. H. Read, J. H. Snodgrass and Joseph Dillon. The Masons of Knights Ferry occasionally celebrated St. John's day and annually they gave a ball — the social affair of that vicinity. Their ball of January 13, 1877, will long be remembered by many now living, who were among those present. Thomas Lane, E. Dettlebach, Josie and L. C. Branch were present from Modesto, A. S. Emory and wife from Oakdale, and from the pretty little town itself came Judge and Minnie Valpey, Anna and Kate Williams, Ada and Minnie Parker, Gussie Rawlings, Mattie Stone, Anna Roberts, Minnie Gobin, Nellie Burns, Belle Crabtree, Myra Arnold, James Warner, George Arnold, Louis Voyle, David Parker, Daniel Crowell, Samuel McAllister, Orrin Pool, John G. Booth, J. S. Williams, Charles Rawlings, James Stinson, John and J. A. Waston, William Ferguson, Daniel Logan, James Eusler, Alfred Dingley and James McCluery. Stanislaus Lodge No. 206 was granted a dispensation to form a lodge, May 10, 1870, by Leonidas Pratt, grand master. Their charter dates from October 14, 1870, with the following charter members : S. A. Cleveland and George Buck, past grand' masters, George French, Henry G. James, George W. Toombs, John W. Laird, Ruffin C. May and Robert M. Phillips. The charter members assembled in Tuolumne City in the home of Robert M. Phillips and elected the following officers : S. A. Cleveland, worthy master, died 1888; George Buck, senior warden, died 1891; H. G James' junior warden ; Robert M. Phillips, secretary ; John W. Laird, treasurer ; George w! Toombs, senior deacon; Rufus C. May, junior deacon; Charles W Allrich tyler The fellow crafts men were John H. Hayes and Frank Mathenep and the apprentices, John H. J? inn, William Grollman, Benjamin H. Haislip and Samuel B. Shaw. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 153 The present officers of the lodge are George R. Stoddard, worthy master; George L. James, senior warden; Clarence W. Sikes, junior warden; Francis E. Heple, sec retary; James Alfred Davis, treasurer, and Carl W. Showman, Herbert M. Hatch and W. D. Whitmore, trustees. Among the past grand masters we note S. A. Cleve land, 1870-1-2, died 1888; William Grollman, 1873-4-5-81-2, died in 1884; Jesse J. Chapman, 1876; Elihu B. Beard, 1877; Charles L. A. Hewel", 1878; John D. Spencer, 1879, died 1896; T. W. Drullard, 1880; W. H. Hutton, 1885-6-7; Walter B. Wood, 1888-9-90; L. H. Fulkerth, 1891-2; John H. Ward, 1893; George R. Stoddard, 1895. Removing from Tuolumne City March 20, 1871, their meetings were held for a season in the James building, a wooden structure 'at the corner of H and Eleventh streets. In the meantime William Grollman was erecting a fine two-story building on Tenth Street. The second story was fitted up especially for the Masons and March 11, 1876, they held their first meeting in their new lodge rooms. They remained in this hall many years, until 1908, for the "hard time" failure of crops and the depres sion of business affects secret associations alike with individuals. About that time, however, a Masonic Hall association was formed with C. D. Swan as president and Thomas H. Kewin as secretary, and purchasing ground on I Street, 60x80 feet, adjoin ing on the east the Modesto Bank, they erected a splendid three-story building at a cost of $60,000. Laying the Cornerstone of Masonic Building From that time on the lodge grew and prospered rapidly and in less than six j'ears began the discussion of a Masonic building erected especially for Masonic pur poses. Another Masonic association was formed, and purchasing a lot corner of J and Fifteenth streets, a two-story concrete building was erected, 50x97 feet, at a cost of $30,000. The first story contained an auditorium, reception room, ladies' parlor, billiard room* and kitchen. The second story was devoted exclusively to lodge room work. For the second time in the history of the county the Masons performed the beautiful ceremony of laying a cornerstone. At three o'clock, August 11, 1917, the lodge met in secret session in the old hall. An hour later a procession was formed composed of Stanislaus Lodge, the officers of the grand lodge and Electa Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, and preceded by the band they marched to the new site. The cornerstone was then laid with appropriate ceremony by Grand Master Francis V. Kresley, assisted by the following grand officers pro tem: W. H. Hatton, deputy grand master; Samuel Latta, grand senior warden; George T. McCabe, grand junior warden; George Stoddard, grand treasurer; Alfred Davis, grand senior warden; W. H. Kirk, grand junior warden; L. D. Fulkerth, grand senior steward, and W. O. Whitmore, grand junior steward. During the exercises appropriate selections were played by the Modesto Band and vocal selections given by the choir of Electa Chap ter. In the cornerstone the following articles were deposited : the names of the officers and members of Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, Modesto Chapter No. 49, and Electa Chapter No. 72, O. E. S. There were copies of .the Evening News and Morning Herald, a copy of the city charter, and the names of the directors of the Masonic Hall Building Association, namely, Alfred Davis, W. H. Kirk, V. D. Whitmore, Charles Kinter and Thomas M. Mantz. Modesto Chapter No. 49, Royal Arch Masons, was granted a dispensation March 20, 1875, and was chartered March 24, 1875. Edwin A. Sherman, in his "Fifty Years of Masonry" said it was chartered April 12, 1876. Those signing the petition for a dispensation were W. J. Houston, S. A. Cleveland, Isaac Ripperdan, Thomas A. Wilson, Alexander Burkett, J. D. Teckler and S. V. Wardrobe. William John Hous ton was the first high priest, S. A. Cleveland, first king, and H. G. James the first scribe. Thomas Kennan Beard was high priest in 1895 and up to that time the lodge had had eleven high priests. In that year, also, Adolphus Hewel was grand high priest of California, having been the high priest of Modesto Chapter from 1879-84. 154 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Electa Chapter No. 72, O. E. S. of Modesto, was organized June 29, 1883, by Worthy Patron Minard S. Thresher of Home Chapter No. 50 of Stockton. The following were the charter members : Erastus Eagleson, Mary Ann Cameron, George W. Cameron, William Henry Hatton, James Henry Maddrill, Mary Martha Trainor, Etta N., Susie and Mattie Trainor, Alice Price Stone, Jennie F. Stone, T. W. Drul lard, Alice May and Lucinda' Rodgers, Josie and Mollie Gridley and Amanda Eagle son. The first officers of the Chapter were Mary Ann Cameron, matron; Brother Cameron, patron, and Mrs. Josie Gridley Wood, conductress. Mary N. Cameron, although living in Tucson, Ariz., still retains her membership in the Chapter. Susie Trainor Miller and sister and Amanda Eagleson are living in San Francisco. Mrs. Josie Wood is living in Modesfo. W. H. Hatton, still residing in Modesto, was patron for several years. George Russell Stoddard served as patron for fourteen years continuously, and Mrs. Wakefield served as secretary for twenty-one successive j'ears. Alice Stone Dozier, a past associate grand matron of the California Chap ter, is now secretary of the local chapter. Mrs. Dozier, one of the most active mem bers of the Chapter, served two terms as matron and has filled every office in the Chapter to which women were eligible, except conductress. The Chapter now, writes Mrs. Dozier, has 150 members and there have been during its existence 351 initiates. INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS La Fayette Lodge No. 65, the first Odd Fellows Lodge in the county, was insti tuted at La Grange June 14, 1857, by T. Rodger Johnson, the grand secretary. The charter members were Arthur Shearer, Lewis M. Booth, Luther Childs, Samuel Du Bois and William Floto. They had twenty-four members at their first grand lodge report. Eleven years after the instituting of LaFayette Lodge, two Odd Fellows, Henry K. Covert and J. A. Brown, then living in Tuolumne City, concluded to organize a lodge. Inquiring around, they found several Odd Fellows and a meeting was held at the steamboat landing. A short time afterward a second meeting was held in the carpenter shop owned by Alexander Glenn, eleven Odd Fellows being present. At this meeting all the arrangements were effected and November 10, 1868, Wildey Lodge was instituted, the Lodge adopting the name of Wildey, the founder of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. They assembled in the second storv of a brick building owned by Miner Walden, the first story being occupied by a livery stable. The Lodge was instituted by George Buck, deDuty grand master, with the following as charter members: J. P. Martin and H. K. Covert, past grands of Yosemite Lodge No. 97 ; Miner Walden, past grand LaFayette Lodsre No. 65 ; Henry Wilson with a transfer card from Progressive Lodge No. 134; William Ollrich of Mountain Brow Lodge No. 82, and J. A. Brown from Oregon Lodge No. 3. The following officers were elected and installed : Miner Walden, noble grand ; H. K. Covert, vice-grand ; J. A. Brown, secretary; William Ollrich, treasurer; John P. Martin, warden, Henry Wilson, inside guardian. Soon after Modesto was founded the lodge was removed to the railroad town. Their first meeting in Modesto was held March 18, 1871, in the H. G James building on the southwest corner of H and Eleventh streets. The Masons, as we have noticed, assembled for their meeting in the same hall. The mem bers were among the most progressive citizens of the town and in 1872 they erected their neat building on the southwest corner of H and Tenth streets For a short period while the Grollman building was being erected, the Masons there held Masonic meetings. The hall is still in use. The present officers of the Lodge are L. E. Elliott, past grand ; W. C. Fisk, noble grand ; R. C. Been, vice ^rand • H M Briggs secretary, and George P. Schafer, treasurer. H. M. Briggs has been secretary of the Lodge for twenty-six years and J. R. Brouehton was treasurer for the same period. The Degree of Rebekah The Rebekahs are now a separate branch of the order, but until 1895 the degree was given in the subordinate lodge. The degree was first conferred in Wildey lodge January 23 1870. Charity Rebekah Degree Lodge No. 28, the first Rebekah degree lodge in the county, was instituted at Modesto July 1, 1875, by R. A. Hathaway, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 155 deputy grand master. He was assisted in his work by James Berry, George Perley and James C. James, past grands. The lodge in 1884 surrendered their charter. Golden Gate Rebekah Lodge No. 110 was instituted January 17, 1887, by P. H. Medley, deputy grand master. There were thirty-one charter members, the deputy grand master being assisted by George Perley, James Berry, W. W. Granger, W. A. Donkin and P. P. Stiles, past grands. The present officers are Sylvia Johnson, past noble grand ; Ella Halford, noble grand ; Hattie Young, vice-grand ; Jennie Wallace, recording secretary ; Rebecca Tucker, financial secretary, and Alice Wallace, treasurer. GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC Grand Post No. 9, G. A. R., was instituted in 1879 by T. W. Drullard, post commander, and I. S. Loventhal, adjutant. The post, as first numbering several hun dred veterans of the Civil war, has now been reduced to less than forty in number. Each year they celebrated Memorial Day, May 30, and for several years past William H. Thompson, now adjutant of the post, has been directing the memorial exercises. ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN Ancient Order of United Workmen, Empire Lodge No. 112, Modesto, was in stituted June 23, 1879, by Eugene Lehe of Stockton, deputy grand master. The lodge was organized with a membership of sixteen charter members. Seven candidates were initiated on the night of the lodge's organization, a team from Stockton assisting the district deputy in the work. KNIGHTS OF HONOR Knights of Honor, Modesto Cedar Lodge No. 1992, was instituted January 23, 1880. It was instituted with twenty charter members by William J. Gregg, deputy supreme dictator. NATIVE SONS OF THE GOLDEN WEST Modesto Parlor No. 11 was instituted October 26, 1881, by the following grand officers, pro tem: William H. Langdon, past president; Hugh H. McNoble, president; W. E. O'Connor, first vice-president ; Frank H. Lee of Oakdale, second vice-president ; William H. Hosmer, third vice-president ; A. J. Turner, secretary ; Fred Jung of San Francisco, treasurer; Louis Harris of San Francisco, inside sentinel; J. L. Jackson, outside sentinel; W. L. MacLaughlin, marshal. The initiatory work was conducted by Orestimba Parlor No. 142 of Crows Landing, assisted by W. E. O'Connor and W. H. MacLaughlin of Stockton. Hugh McNoble, W. H. Hosmer, A. J. Turner and J. L. Jackson were from Stockton. The Grand Parlor met at Modesto April 19, 1916. The grand officers were met at the depot by the Modesto Parlor and escorted to the Hotel Hughson, where they were given a hearty welcome to the city by Mayor D. W. Morris. That after noon they were taken on an automobile ride through the irrigation district. At Oak dale they were given the keys of Oakdale by John B. Curtis and tendered a barbecue in the Oakdale Park. That evening in Modesto the streets were cleared and there was dancing until midnight. During the visit of the Grand Parlor a tree was planted in Graceada Park with appropriate ceremony, in remembrance of their visit. The sandstone tablet at the foot of the tree says: "Dedicated to the Grand Parlor, N. S. G. W., April 19, 1917." NATIVE DAUGHTERS OF THE GOLDEN WEST Morada Parlor No. 199, -Modesto — Morada being the Spanish name for home — was organized December 18, 1912. For several months previous the native sons of Modesto had been desirous of having a Native Daughter parlor and they appointed a committee of three, Edward Hunsucker, Joseph Cross and Hugh Benson, to provide a list of names from which charter members might be selected. Mrs. Clara Marchal, district deputy of San Joaquin, was enlisted in the work and for several weeks she 156 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY labored perfecting the parlor. The parlor was instituted by Mrs. Olive Bedford Matlock of Red Bluff, grand president, assisted by Alice Dougherty, grand secretary, and Mrs. Mamie Pej'ton of Stockton, past grand president. The parlor was started with twentj'-one charter members. There were forty-five names on the roll, but many of them were away on holiday vacation while others were absent because of business. The lodge was instituted with the following named officers: Katherine Hun- sucker, past president ; Nellie Dunlap, president ; Florence Davison, first vice-president ; Mabel Cleveland, second vice-president; Cora Campbell, third vice-president; Alma Wakefield, recording secretary; Louise Chase, financial secretary; Evelyn Dunlap, treasurer; Kate Gillette, marshal; Florence Dugain, inside guardian; Bessie Trudgeon, outside guardian ; Rose Briggs, organist, and Sireta Muney, Hattie Hughson and Edith Bower, trustees. About twenty-five members of the Stockton Parlor No. 6, N. D. G. W., visited the new parlor and the Stockton team initiated their candidates for membership. The parlor made the trip over the Tidewater Southern and the coach drawn by a loco motive was one of the original coaches used on the Central Pacific on the route between Sacramento and Ogden. It was the first excursion trip over the Tidewater road. The Stockton team comprised Mary Murray, past president ; Mrs. Lucie Lieginger, presi dent; Mrs. L. Petersen, first vice-president; Mrs. Clara Wenger, second vice-presi dent; Mrs. Mae Parker, third vice-president; Mabel McDonald, marshal; Mrs. H. Avery, inside sentinel ; Miss M. Avery, outside sentinel. The splendid work of lodge organization concluded with a banquet at which the Native Sons were guests. BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS As the Elks would not permit of the organization of any lodge in a city of less than 5,000 inhabitants, on March 19, 1901, about twenty citizens of Modesto joined the Stockton lodge. It was a great occasion in which Senator C. M. Belshaw of Sac ramento lodge presided and Major J. F. Whitmore of Modesto was one of the speakers. However, in 1912, Modesto had increased wonderfully in population, and the Modestoans concluded to organize a home lodge. Assembling in the Masonic hall July 15, 1912, they elected the following officers to serve in the new lodge: C. D. Swan, exalted ruler; Geo. H. Bertram, esteemed leading knight; Dr. C. Grove, esteemed loj'al knight; J. A. Trowbridge, esteemed lecturing knight; J. A. Dunn, secretary; John C. Lesher, treasurer; Myron Warner, tyler, and W. A. Downer, J. J. McMahon and Z. E. Drake, trustees. A dispensation to organize an Elks Lodge in Modesto was granted to the follow ing members of Stockton lodge: C. D. Swan, Geo. H. Bertram, L. A. Fulkerth, Z. E. Drake, Lon J. Coffee, D. W. Morris, J. A. Dunn, J. A. Trowbridge, A. R. Sweet, J. A. Edwards, Myron Warner, W. R. High, C. L. Jones, C. J. Lesher, J. A. Lewis, Geo. P. Schafer, C. R. Gailfus, W. C. Grove, D. C. Wood, Wm. Burv, P. H. Griffin, J. W. Davidson, Geo. A. Cressey, J. M. Pike, L. J. Maddux, J. T. Irvin, J. J. McMahon, C. M. Moore, F. E. Howard, A. B. Holma, W. W. Giddings and F. E. Buddmer. The lodge was instituted August 9, 1912, in Masonic hall by District Deputy J. L. Cram of Petaluma. He was assisted in his work by some forty or fifty Stockton Elks. The new lodge was hailed as Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. E. As soon as the lodge was instituted and the officers installed, the lodge adjourned to Stockton, there to complete their work. The officers of the Modesto lodge, their candidates and the members of the Stockton lodge, forming a procession of about fifty automobiles and led by the Modesto band on a truck, started for Stockton. Leaving about four-thirty they arrived in time and were escorted into town by a large delegation of brother Elks. All of the Modesto Elks and initiates wore a button bearing the words "Modesto Lodge No. 1282 B P. O. E., August 10, 1912." Beneath the words was an inverted champagne bottle bear.ng the label "Modesto, extra dry"-this referring to the ^FIw'kT *C, Pf Pk -70ted the t0Wn dry' The entire elkd°m assembled in the Elks hall at nine o clock with Judge Charles W. Norton, exalted ruler of Stockton HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 157 Lodge, presiding. Twenty candidates were initiated and the lodge then conducted a good fellowship meeting. The presiding officers then presented the Modesto Lodge with a beautiful American flag for use on their altar. Oakland Lodge presented them with a beautiful electric lamp, four feet in height. San Jose gave them a specially manufactured ballot box, and the Berkeley Lodge a handsome large Bible. Alameda, Petaluma, Richmond, San Mateo and the Hanford lodges each gave the new lodge some useful gift for the lodge room. George H. Bertram responded and accepted the gifts. At eleven o'clock W. H. Langdon responded to the toast, "The Absent Members." The entire party then retired to the banquet hall, where a fine spread was enjoyed. Soon after the organization of the lodge, John Tully made a proposition to erect a three-story brick building on his lot on Tenth street, between G and H, and fit up the second and third stories for lodge purposes. The Elks accepted the proposition on a five-year lease, with a ten-year lease if they so desired. The building was completed in August, 1913, at a cost of $40,000. The entrance to the second story is by marble stairway which leads to a cozy club room, fitted up with easy chairs and lounges. This room, fifty feet square, also contains a billiard and pool room. The lodge room occupies a part of the second and third story, fifty by sixty feet, with a large center glass dome figured with Elk emblems. One the third floor is the banquet room and kitchen. The fitting up of the lodge rooms cost approximately $10,000. The Elks' first memorial service was held in the Modesto Theater Sunday after noon, December 7, 1913. The service was held in memory of J. R. High and Thomas A. Pillman, the two members of the organization who had died since the institution of the lodge. The exercises began with the grand march from "Aida" by the orchestra; hymn by the Temple Quartette, Dr. J. P. Snare, F. L. Wisecarver, H. B. Rice and Ray Bradbury; opening exercises by the lodge; prayer, Rev. W. P. Williams; quintette, "Nearer, My God, to Thee," Mrs. Laura De Yoe Brown and the Temple Quartette ; Eulogy, L. W. Fulkerth; soprano solo, "Fear Ye Not, Oh Israel," Mrs. Laura Brown ; poem, "Thanatopsis," C. D. Swan ; original poem, G. A. Martin ; oration, T. B. Scott; song, "Aloha," Mrs. Laura Brown and quartette; Doxology, "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow," audience; recessional march, orchestra; "Our Brotherhood," P. H. Griffin; "Auld Lang Syne." THE MODESTO CHORAL SOCIETY This musical organization, one of the best and largest in the interior of California, held a preliminary meeting May 11, 1909, in the Plato Opera House, Dr. B. F. Surryhne acting as chairman. .After considerable discussion they concluded to organize a society and adjourned to meet again May 14 in Dr. Surryhne's office. On that evening the singers again assembled and, adopting a constitution, elected as officers Mrs. Laura De Yoe Brown, president; Mrs. Lammermain, secretary; Mrs. John W. Ross, treasurer, and Mrs. Frank Cressey, Jr., and Dr. John P. Snare, executive com mittee. They voted to immediately commence practice under the direction of Professor Twicher and sing at the Modesto Fourth of July celebration. The club gave its first concert January 28, 1910, in Plato's Opera House on Tenth street, between H and I streets. The program, all home talent, comprised an orchestra selection, "Soldiers' Chorus from Faust"; contralto solo, "Lover's Spring Time," Miss Cox; violin solo, Mr. Burgen; reading, Miss Haley; "Sextette from Lucia," Mrs. Laura De Yoe Brown, Miss Cox, Whitmore, Rice and Jackson ; Chorus, "Unfold Ye Gates," from The Redemption ; address, L. L. Dennett. In 1911 the society planned for a big musical festival to continue for two days, May 4 and 5. Plato's Opera House had been changed into a rooming house and the club erected a temporary pavilion on I Street, opposite the court house. The pavilion seated 2000 and two evening performances and a matinee were given. The chorus comprised some 250 voices, the best singers in the county, and an orchestra of forty pieces, together with several imported singers. The local soloists were Mrs. Laura De Yoe Brown and Miss Grace Cox, sopranos; John Bates, baritone, and Professor 158 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Twicher, conductor. The imported singers were Mrs. Vela Ruggles Jenkins, soprano of the First Presbyterian Church, Oakland ; Mrs. Jennie Le Nois Schultz, alto ; Jonas H. Anderson, baritone ; Charles Bullotti, tenor ; Fred Zeb, solo flutist, and H. Holmes, solo 'cellist. The first evening was called Oratorio Night, and selections were sung from the Messiah, Stabat Mater and Jerusalem. The second night was Opera Night, all of the selections being sung from operas by Verdi, Strauss, Gounod, Sullivan, Donizetti and Offenbach. THE STORY OF THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC DEPOT The Southern Pacific Railroad passing along Front street erected a small freight and passenger depot on the southeast corner of Front and I streets. The little red depot was destroyed by fire in .the early '80s. The company then erected the present freight depot. As the city grew and prospered after the introduction of water to the fertile lands, the citizens began building beautiful homes and business blocks, laying fine streets and erecting handsome buildings. At this time, 1912, the business men had erected a handsome arch across I Street near the depot and they requested the Southern Pacific Company to remove the old dilapidated depot and erect one in keeping with the beautiful city. "Oh, yes," said the company, "we will replace the old shack with a handsome depot, provided you pass an ordinance closing I Street." The citizens were up in arms immediately, and no wonder. I Street was the principal business street of the city. It was well paved and the direct highway to Paradise City. And now the Southern Pacific requested them to close the street, ruin all business traffic and obstruct the beautiful view to the west. The company sent a smooth-talking committee to Modesto to show the trustees that the closing of the street would increase the yalue of property in that vicinity and improve business, but the level-headed fathers failed to appreciate their arguments. A few years later the Southern Pacific sprung another plan for a depot. They succeeded in having the trustees call a vote of the people on the closing of J and Front streets for the purpose of erecting a depot. The proposition carried and in 1915 the present handsome depot was erected. THE MEMORIAL ARCH OF PROSPERITY The leading citizens of the city, including the women, believed it would be an excellent idea to erect ornamental structures along the leading streets of the city beginning on I Street. The idea met with a hearty approval and in May, 1911, the business men assembled in Schafer's hall and the committee reported a design shown in water colors. It was not satisfactory, for in August they offered a price of fifty dollars for the "best design or arch over I Street near the depot." A design was selected and erected in 1912. The arch spans I Street, at the intersection of Front Street. It is constructed of structural steel and rests on two solid granite pillars twelve feet in height. It is seventy-five feet in width and twenty-five feet center height. The money was obtained by subscriptions, varying in amount from five dollars to one hundred dollars, and cost something like $1,200. In the bow of the arch are these words that may be read from either side, Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health. The arch can be illuminated at night and in four words it tells the story of the condition of Stanislaus County since the Sierras' waters began irrigating the land. MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION In the same year that the memorial arch was erected a merchants' association was organized for the purpose of securing a better harmony of action, promoting trade, securing protection from dead-beat customers, unworthy advertising schemes and innu merable donations from every conceivable thing under the sun. The movement was started by John D. Turner, hardware merchant, and March 2, 1912, about thirty merchants assembled in the city hall and formed the association. At a subsequent meeting the organization was perfected and John D. Turner elected president and 1-rank D. Hanscom, secretary. A number of directors also were chosen, they to have full control and manage the affairs of the association. The membership embraced all classes of citizens. This promiscuous membership for some reason was not satis- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 159 factory and in June, 1913, a reorganization was effected. Under the new organization none but merchants and professional men were eligible to membership. In the previous year, February 2, the merchants of Modesto entertained for a few hours an excursion train of San Francisco merchants out on a junketing trip to "shake the glad hand," form new acquaintances and drum up trade. ' They arrived at Modesto about 2 :30. It was raining heavily, but nevertheless they were greeted by hundreds of citizens and the Women's Improvement Club, each visitor receiving a buttonhole bouquet. The party were shown the splendid progressiveness of Modesto and their entertainment concluded that evening with a smoker in the Masonic hall. W. H. Langdon was toastmaster of the evening and addresses were made by George Stoddard, L. L. Dennett, Sol Elias and other local citizens. The Merchants' Association held its first banquet July 19, 1913, in the Modesto Grill on Tenth Street. It was a very enthusiastic gathering and much of interest was brought before the association by those who responded to fhe toasts. Frank A. Cressey, the manager of the Modesto Gas & Electric Light Company, was the toastmaster. Responses to the toasts were made by the president of the association, John Furner; the secretary, Frank Hanscom ; A. L. Cowell, the editor of the Evening News; C. M. Clary, Sylvain Latz, C. F. Gailfus, Sol P. Elias and W. H. Killian, editor of the Morning Herald. The president and the secretary reviewed the work of the organ ization and the future plans for carrying out their business to the best advantage. THE SILENT CITY The cemetery lies about a mile to the north of Modesto on an extension of H Street, and it was laid out soon after the founding of the town. To the east of the city cemetery those of the Catholic faith are buried, while to the west the I. O. O. F. and the Masonic orders have laid to rest their dead. The Grand Army plot lies in the city cemetery and is noticeable because of two immense cannon, grim sentinels of war, that stand at either end. Sacred be the memory of the dead, it has ever been the custom of the wives and daughters to visit the sacred spot and there lay loving gifts of remembrance. For many years, however, it was very difficult to reach the silent city because of the deep sand of summer and the rains of winter, and we read that in 1890 a grateful public were thankful to City Councilman Wallace because he suc ceeded in having the council lay a board sidewalk to the cemetery. Last year (1920) a splendid extension of H Street was made to that point. THE McHENRY MEMORIAL LIBRARY Oramil McHenry was the son of Robert McHenry and born in Stanislaus County in 1861. His father owned, among other lands, the Bald Eagle Ranch of 2,600 acres and later extended to 4,000 acres. When the Modesto bank was organized in 1878 Mr. McHenry became its cashier, and upon the incorporation of the First National Bank, 1884, he became its president. His son, Oramil, was appointed bookkeeper and upon his father's death in 1890 he succeeded his father as president of the bank. A Mr. Rodgers, as we remember, had a free, reading room and library on I Street, near Eleventh, as early as 1890. Later there was said to be a free library in the Cali fornia House on H Street. There was also a book-renting library, the location now unknown. This library in 1907 was taken over by the city trustees and supported by taxation, the annual income being $750. It was opened as a free library September 4, 1907, with Miss Blanche Bates as the librarian. In the California State Library reports we learn that the Modesto Billiard Club, disbanding in December, 1907, gave one-half of the money realized from the sale of their fixtures to the free library. It appears also that the Friday Afternoon Club disbanded December 10, 1907, and they gave to the library 239 books, mostly fiction. In giving the history of the Women's Improvement Club, Mrs. Alice S. Dozier says that the club started the city library under state law and the trustees for the first three years were Mrs. -May Griffin, Mrs. Louise Carson, Mrs. Alice Stone Dozier, Mrs. Mamie Surryhne and Mrs. Susan Hart ; that the first "Tag Day" in California was given by the club for the free library. It was held in October, 1907, and $176 was realized for the purchase of library books. In 160 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY July, 1908, the librarian reported that $32.50 per month was received from the rent of rooms and a further income of $1,500 per year from taxation. In the meantime things went on quietly until the death of Oramil McHenry. Then the public were pleased to learn that he had left a bequest of $20,000, mostly in bonds, for the erection of a free public library, together with four lots on Tenth Street, where now stands the Cressey Building. In the bequest Mr. McHenry named the following persons as the first board of trustees: John W. Ross, a leader in Chris tian Endeavor work; L. H. Fulkerth, now a Judge of the Superior Court; J. J. McMahon, L. L. Dennett, the attorney, and Mrs. Myrtie McHenry, now the wife of Judge William H. Langdon, she to serve during her lifetime, if she so desired. As the support of the library would come from city taxation it was necessary for the library board of trustees and the city board to act in conjunction in the erection of the building and its maintenance. This conjunction was effected February 15, 1911. The question came up as to the location of the library. Mr. McHenry probably intended that it should be on Tenth Street in a central location, but the trustees believed that an outside location would be far preferable and a deal was made with David Callendar for a lot 90x97 feet on the corner of I and Fourteenth streets. The lots on Tenth Street were sold for $10,000 and one-half of the amount was paid to Mr. Callendar as a last payment on the lot. The plans of Architect Weeks of San Francisco were accepted and the work of building was commenced in October, 1911, and the library completed in April of the following year at a cost of $22,000, the furnishings costing $5,000 extra. The old library was now closed and the librarian, Miss Cornelia Provines, began the work of removing the books to the new library building. The new library was opened to the public for the loaning of books May 1, 1912. Soon afterward Miss Provines was appointed to a position in the state library and she was succeeded by Miss Bessie Silverthorn of Yreka. STANISLAUS PIONEERS An interesting event in 1889 was the celebration of Admission Day, September 9, by the pioneers, who enjoyed a banquet in the Union Hotel. It was the first brick hotel in Modesto and was opened in June, 1889, by Thomas F. Woodside. The Native Sons Parlor attended the banquet by invitation, and the following pioneers were present: Henry G. James, R. R. Warner, John Carmon, H. A. Anderson, A. Herring- ton, Smith Turpin, Miner Walden, D. S. Husband, George B. Douglas, John H. Carpenter, B. E. Nathan, John H. Bond, P. C. Greer, C. P. Garner, W. P. Catron, L. B. Walthall, E. Meinecke, A. J. Ford, Ernest Probst, William Dallas, G. N. Scott, R. B. Hall, A. M. Hill, E. B. Wool, C. H. Finley, C. W. Eastin, C. H. Vogelman, William Floto, P. H. Griffin, R. T. Young, T. O. Owen, E. E. Howell, W. B. Gambler, Thomas D. Harp, Charles Hill, I. S. Loventhal, John Reedy, J. H. Maddrill and H. G. Vogelman. THE WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION OF STANISLAUS COUNTY The W. C. T. U. hold in cherished remembrance the name of that woman of national fame, Miss Frances Willard, and well they may for she it was who organized the first society in the county. Visiting Modesto in April, 1883, she published a call in the daily papers for all women interested in the temperance Christian movement to meet her on April 14, in the Methodist Episcopal Church. About thirty women assembled. Ihe meeting was opened with prayer and Miss Willard then delivered an address upon the work of Women's Christian Temperance Union. A city union was then organized to be known as Modesto W. C. T U Mrs W S Urmy was elected president; Mrs. Garrison Turner, secretary; Mrs. Mary A. Wood, treasurer, and Mrs. A. F. Gilbert, librarian The charter members of the organization were Mesdames Theodore Turner^ M. A. Wood, A. J. Hart, A. Burdick, W. S. Urmy, A. reft, George Turner, T. E. B. R.ce, W. E. Turner, B. R. Jones, N. R. Stone, tLo? u\ <^ SC°" an,d *? MiSSCS M" P" Peni^ Kate Rice -d Jennie Cookson. In the following year a local union was formed at Ceres, where th* founder HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 161 of the town, Daniel Whitmore, placed a "no liquor" clause in the deed to every lot sold by him. In Oakdale a local union was organized in 1887. The first county union was organized April 17, 1887. Mrs. Fanny Wood was elected president; Mrs. A. E. Ullrich, secretary, with Mrs. Dorcas Spencer assisting in the organization. Among the earliest presidents wa.s Mrs. J. P. Purvis, wife of the sheriff. She was a school teacher, the first woman in the county to be placed upon a political party ticket and the woman who caused to be introduced into the legislature the first anti-cigarette bill. She was followed by Mrs. Reichenbach of Oakdale, who caused the arrest of several of the demimonde of that town in 1911. She served as president five years. Then followed Mrs. T. F. Woodside of Oakdale and, in yearly succession, Mrs. Hackett of Prescott, Mrs. Pelton of Riverbank, Mrs. Lessick of Salida, Mrs. C. Case of Ceres, Mrs. Tarr from Turlock and Mrs. Sollick of Wood Colony. The silver anniversary celebration of the county union was held in the First Presbj'terian Church, May 9, 1911, and Mrs. Garrison Turner then gave the history of the organization. A former pastor of the church, M. J. Williams, delivered an address. It was in that year, 1911, that the W. C. T. U. resolved to clean up the county, if possible, of the "red light" district. Unexpectedly but effectively they fired the first nun of the campaign by arresting, February 10, 1911, all of the inmates of the house in Oakdale ; Sheriff Dingley made the arrests on warrants sworn out by Mrs. Reichenbach. The women were taken to Modesto and placed in jail. It was then stated that the next move would be made in the tenderloin districts of Modesto, as there women were violating the law by selling liquor and acting most disgracefully by appearing at their windows in a nude condition while the passengers passing through the town were at the depot. A petition was presented to the council January 6, 1912, to close up those houses, but the trustees refused to take any action and there was quite a heated dis cussion over the matter by W. J. Brown and Maj'or Wren. As a result writs of injunction were issued January 30 and served by the deputy sheriff upon. the property owners, Teddy Martin, whose house stood between the alley and Seventh Street, the house of Mamie Burns next door, all of the houses on G Street, between the alley and Seventh Street, and the leading house of the town, "The White House," kept by Clara Le Rey. STREET CARS AND TRACTION LINES Visions of Modesto's future greatness flitted through the minds of many of her citizens, and in a speech L. W. Fulkerth prophesied that at a certain year Modesto would have 10,000 inhabitants. When that year arrived the city had 15,000 inhab itants. Believing a street car line a necessity, L. W. Fulkerth and other citizens as early as 1888 organized a corporation and obtained a franchise to run a street car line through the streets of Modesto. In June, 1893, John Dunlap and J. W. Woods made application to the board of supervisors to run an electric railroad from the San Joaquin River through Modesto and Oakdale to Sonora, a distance of sixty miles. They pro posed to take their water power from the Stanislaus River near Knights Ferry, and open up the large quarries of slate and marble in Tuolumne County. This, like the street railroad, did not materialize. There were no more railroad projects until 1910, at which time two electric rail roads were headed from Stockton to Modesto. The promoter of the one electric rail road was Morris L. Brackett and it was proposed to run this road from Stockton through French Camp, Ripon, Salida and Woods to Modesto. The company actually graded twenty-four miles of road and this ended the San Joaquin Valley Electric Railroad. Its successor was the Tidewater Southern, running from Stockton through Escalon, Standiford to Modesto. Railroads are usually constructed from tidewater to the interior, but this road was constructed, part of it at least, from interior Modesto to tidewater Stockton; and July 7, 1912, an excursion train, filled with Modesto's citizens, ran from that town to the Stanislaus River, eight miles distant. The bridge across the Stanislaus River was completed about the 20th of August and the first through train left Stockton Saturday, October 5, 1912. It comprised a steam loco motive a flat car and two coaches with the road officials and about 200 Stocktonians. ii 162 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY On arrival at Modesto they found about forty automobiles awaiting them, and the guests were taken on a trip over Modesto's finely paved streets, they admired the many beautiful homes and visited the Stanislaus Agricultural and Livestock Exposition. They could remain only a short time and left Modesto at four o'clock. The Tide water began running regular trains October 8, using steam locomotive power until the completion of their electric line. In 1900 a company of Stanislaus citizens proposed to run a railroad from Oak dale through Modesto to Crows Landing or Newman, then on to tidewater at Antioch, a distance of 100 miles. They incorporated May 21, 1900, under the name of the Modesto & Yosemite Valley Railroad Company. Their capital stock was $100,000, all of which was subscribed by the directors, Jacob Haslacher, Louis Kahn, Charles T. Tulloch, John J. Tucker, Frank A. Cressey, Charles A. Tillson and George Perley. THE FIRST JULY FOURTH CELEBRATION The first July 4th celebration in Stanislaus County took place at Wallis, in 1852. It was a rather quiet affair but the correspondent declared : "We had a great sovereign gathering of the people of Tuolumne and San Joaquin counties at Wallis on the Stanislaus River to celebrate our glorious natal day." Colonel Wallis was president of the day and made a short speech. The Declaration of Independence was read at twelve o'clock by Dr. Lear, which was followed by an oration by Senator Paul Hubbs. The band then played "Hail, Columbia," which was greeted with deafening cheers, drowning out the music. The entire company then sat down to a banquet and the toastmaster presented the regular toast "completed by big links of racy wit and humor which entertained the company until the waning moon led them homeward bound." JULY FOURTH AT TUOLUMNE At Tuolumne City in 1854, July 4th was celebrated in a becoming and patriotic spirit. A most excellent entertainment was provided under the superintendency of Mr. and Mrs. Gruel, who on this propitious occasion catered most liberally to the public. About 150 persons sat down to a sumntuous dinner in Mr. Miner's store. The table was supplied with "elk roasted entire" and other appropriate viands. The district attorney read the Declaration of Independence which "was listened to with the deepest attention," after which Mr. Swanzy delivered "a most eloquent oration." An excellent band played suitable tunes after each toast and at a late hour the com pany separated. JULY 4, 1861, AT KNIGHTS FERRY One of the most loyal and patriotic towns in Central California during the Civil War was Knights Ferry. And the anniversary of American Independence, July 4, 1861, was celebrated, in a splendid manner, with a parade of the Invincibles, led by the Knights Ferry band. The musicians during the afternoon "discoursed sweet music on the Plaza" opposite Gardner's Hotel. The day ended with a grand ball at the hotel. MODESTO SOCIETY IN THE EIGHTIES In the '80s, said a resident, Modesto had a population of about 2,000 persons and it had not undergone those changes which come with a large population, different in thought, customs and habits. It had not reached that clannishness of sex and race common to all large cities, and it still possessed the democracy of its earlier years. The original settlers were still here and, whether artisan or banker, the children grew up together in the burg, went to the same red brick schoolhouse and mingled in all of the functions of the church, the lodge, society or the school. They came together in the village debating society and in the Band of Hope. Everybody in town was well acquainted with his neighbor and everybody knew everybody in Modesto. It was like a big happy family and all of the families were on visiting terms with each other. There were no sets nor cliques ; the social events were gala affairs, parties and picnics were frequent, and well attended by the young lads and belles from all parts of the county. When the yearly function, the town ball, occurred, which was given by the Young Men's Club, as the opening event of the season, the entire population participated . HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 163 THE FIRST DRAMATIC CLUB The town in its earlier history was isolated from the great world, especially during the winter months during which there was but few business transactions and scarcely any travel either by the Southern Pacific or by buggies and carriages. To while away the long, dreary winter hours the young men organized the Modesto Amateur Dramatic Club and appointed George Perley as the business manager. The club proposed not only to enjoy the winter months in a series of plays, but they also had in view a worthy object, that of making some money for the schoolhouse building fund. Unfortunately they were much disappointed in the financial results, clearing only $39.60 from the entire series of performances. The play selected for their opening performance was "Ten Nights in a Bar-Room," a play then quite popular among the barn-storming theatrical companies then traveling over the state. It was intended as a moral lesson against the use of liquor as it represented a young man, a moderate drinker, frequenting bar-rooms, his marriage and his gradual downfall into a confirmed drunkard. It well may have been prefaced by the song later composed, "Where Is My Wandering Boy Tonight." There was, however, in the play a remarkably sad scene. The scene is a bar-room, with parties drinking at the bar and others lounging around the room. The door slowly opens and a little girl, clothed in rags, timidly enters. She sees her father, and going up to him she takes him by the hand and plaintively sings : "Father, dear father, come home with me now, The clock in the steeple strikes ten ; You promised dear mother that you would come home As soon as j'our day's work was done. Come home, please, father, dear father, come home." And unable to withstand the pleadings of the child, the father staggers from the room. As there was no place of entertainment at that time the management engaged the . hay loft o'f the Ross barn on I Street, between Ninth and Tenth streets. In the rear of the barn a stage was erected, tallow candles were placed at the front of the stage for footlights and coal oil lamps arranged around the side of the stable "lit up the gloom." The orchestra was quite pretentious, as the leader, U. G. Munger, a violinist, had formerly played in the San Francisco theaters. The evening of the play was February 27, 1872, and as it had been well advertised in the Evening News, a large crowd was present from the town and surrounding county. Two hundred and fifty persons, it is stated, were present, so many were compelled to stand during the entire performance. A number of small, makeshift dressing rooms had been built near the stage and an amateur painter had provided a few scenes. A curtain manufactured from cotton cloth answered well its purpose. We give the cast of characters, as many of the players of that historic event are still alive : Samuel Swichel, D. L. Markley ; Joe Morgan, T. A. Saxon ; Harvey Green, L. F. Beckwith ; Mr. Romaine, Robert Mac- Lean ; Ned Hargrave, Mr. Ferdun ; Tom Peters, Andrew Mott ; Simon Slade, George Perley; Frank Slade, A. S. Coulter; Willie Hammond, Amos Gridley; Judge Ham mond Mr Marden ; Judge Lyman, Mr. Bradshaw ; Mehitable Cartwright, Miss Ida Freeman; Mrs. Slade, Miss L. Hillyard ; Mary Morgan, Miss Mary Gridley; Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. A. Eagleson; Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Mott. RODGERS HALL The second story of a stable, "Ross Hall," as it was named, was scarcely a fit place for public gathering. The citizens had no other suitable hai until 1877 At that time Stimpson P.' Rodgers erected a very neat and substantial building on H {street, as already described, and fitted up the second story as a place of public assembly. A marked peculiarity of this building was its entrance. Perhaps to save front floor space for renting purposes the entrance was in the side alley at the rear of the building. The stairway to the entrance was on the opposite side of the alley with a wooden bridge across the alley. To reach the stairs the citizens were compelled to walk some 164 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY fifty feet along the dusty alley. Somewhat peculiar also was the stage, which was built out from a corner of the room, making it of triangular shape. It was a saving of space, however, and gave the entire audience an unobstructed view. The hall was lit with gas and a drop curtain was provided for all entertainments. The building of the hall "marked a new epoch," said the local historian. "It furnished the town with a much-needed social and civic center." It was the place of all balls, parties, political meetings, and first-class theatrical companies began visiting the town, giving their per formances in Rodgers Hall. Among these actors and actresses who later achieved national fame in the dramatic art were Joseph Grismer, Phoebe Davies, Blanche Bates, L. R. Stockwell, Edith Brandon, Anna Boyd and many others from the San Francisco theaters. These companies usually played at Modesto on their way from Stockton to Fresno. A play in Rodgers Hall which attracted much attention at the time because of its local performers was the fairy spectacle entitled "The Triumph of Love." It was given May 3-4, 1884. The leading character was Miss Ella Brinkerhoff, who per sonated the Goddess of Love. Miss Minnie Hurd was the Goddess of Honor and Miss Ida Hall represented the Goddess of Wealth. The minor characters comprised the Misses Scottie Hall, Mamie Davis, Annie Standiford, Jennie Jones, Jean Brown, Lillian Gray and Mesdames J. C. Simmons, Annie Garthorne and C. T. Stonesifer. The gentlemen's parts were cast to T. D. Forgath, S. A. Davis, C. D. Hall, T. B. Jones, Frank Townes, Joseph James, J. C. Simmons, Edward Garthorne and Master Ray Kittrelle. Musical gems, solos, duets and choruses "sparkled through the spectacle," while the children who participated were well drilled and represented lively demons, fairies and grotesque characters. "The spectacle was a wonderful success." The Leap Year Ball of that year, given December 11 by the Entre Nous Club, was one of the "most pronounced social triumphs that ever occurred in Modesto and it demonstrated the ability of the ladies to accomplish things social." The ball opened with a grand march to the music of Emile Dreyfus' full orchestra from Stockton. 'There were sixty couples on the floor. At midnight they adjourned for one hour to enjoy a supper at Baldwin's cafe. The elite of the city were there and they danced until the light of day cast its beams over the Sierras. PLATO'S OPERA HOUSE In February, 1886, the Herald said: "Many citizens deplore the fact that we have no theater except Rodgers Hall. The stage and dressing rooms are very cramped affairs and then the entrance and the stairway which is very narrow and the entrance only five feet wide, and when we think of the danger of fires, what would happen should a fire break out?" Conditions were not improved any in regard to a public hall until 1892. At that time D. and G. D. Plato, two enterprising merchants who had located in Modesto from San Francisco in the early days of the town, concluded to erect a brick building on their Tenth Street property for business purposes and give the public the use of the second story as a public hall. One improvement in Plato's Opera House, as it was called, was a wide stairway leading directly to the street. It was a very creditable hall, seating perhaps between 600 and 800 persons. For a time, Company "D" rented it for their armory and frequently gave social parties and fitting up a stage also gave theatrical entertainments. The company at this time was a part of the Sixth Regiment, National Guard of California, and wore the regulation blouse and cap. This was not as stylish a uniform as that of the Modesto Cadets; proud were they of their long-tailed coats and beaver hats, their armory then being in the skating rink, where now stands the National Bank. On April 10, 1886, they were mustered into the National Guard. The Plato Opera House was in' use publicly until 1910. Then the proprietors remodelled the upper story, making of it a lodging house. It is a httle strange that the first public performance of the Modesto Choral Club and the last entertainment in the hall should take place the same evening. The citizens then had no large and suitable place for public gathering until 1911, when some public-spirited citizens, at a cost of $8,500, erected an auditorium on L and Sixth HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 165 streets. It was laid with a maple floor for dancing and would accommodate, floor and gallery, from 1,200 to 1,500 people. MODESTO'S FIRST THEATER Among the many progressive men of Modesto none were more progressive than William E. Mensinger, the dean of the city's theatrical men. Believing that a modern, up-to-date theater would not only be a good investment, but an attractive pleasure resort for the citizens of the city and the surrounding county, in 1911 he concluded to invest at least $100,000 in the building of a first-class dramatic and operatic theater. At that time he and C. M. Small, also of Modesto, owned lots on Tenth Street between I and J streets. When Mr. Mensinger proposed erecting a theater his partner opposed the idea; he, however, was willing to sell and Mr. Mensinger then purchased his in terest in the property. A Stockton architect was then employed to draw the plans of a first-class place of entertainment. The work of construction was commenced in the spring of 1912, Mr. Mensinger acting as the superintendent of the building. The edifice is three stories in height, the building occupying a forty-foot front, and the theater extending back the entire depth of the lot, 140 feet. A part of the front of the building is occupied by a store and a second-story front by offices. A marble stair way leads to the second story. The entrance vestibule to the theater is panelled in Alaska marble, with a black marble finish, and the floor laid in mosaic tile. The lower floor, including the balcony, had a seating capacity of 900 persons. The stage is thirty- four feet in width, and the height to the proscenium twenty-eight feet. The building was completed in August, 1912, and a Mr. Poland, who was believed to be a responsi ble party, leased the theater. He was to fit up and furnish the interior. Spending money in a very lavish manner before the work was completed, he became involved financially, and this suddenly ended his connection with the theater. This delayed the work and for some length of time the affairs were quite complicated. Finally parties in Alameda took over the lease. They finished up the auditorium, and placed William B. Martin in charge as manager. Dedication and Destruction of the Theater The theater was dedicated February 6, 1913, by the Modesto Choral Society. They presented the "Pirates of Penzance," with a chorus of ninety voices and an orches tra under the direction of Professor Twicher. The stage manager was George Stod dard of Modesto. The soloists who took part were Charles Bulotti, tenor, of San Francisco ; Miss Nellie McAdam, contralto, of Stockton ; Mrs. J. D. Twicher, J. M. Walthall, Dr. J. P. Snare and E. H. Zion of Modesto. On the 15th of March, "The Prince of Pilsen" was given by a company of professionals, this being the first traveling company. The Whitney Opera Company, December 6, 1913, presented "The Choco late Soldier." The following afternoon, Sunday, the Elks held their first memorial service. On Monday evening, Manager Martin, unlocking the door of the theater about 6 :30, found the auditorium filled with smoke and before the flames were extin guished by the fire department the interior was completely destroyed. The loss of the pretty little playhouse was greatly deplored by the citizens, and a number of progressive men sympathizing with Mr. Mensinger offered to form a com pany and rebuild the interior. He declined the generous offer with thanks and stated that he would immediately begin the rebuilding of the temple of Orpheus and Momus. Within thirty days J. J. Foley of San Francisco was at work on new plans for the reconstruction of the building, and in a short time carpenters were at work, Mr. Men singer again acting as the general superintendent. The new lessee was A. A. Richards, a theatrical manager of experience and at one time owner of the Modesto Star theater. The decorative work and the painting of the scenery was given to a Los Angeles firm, and the general scheme of decorations was old rose, blue and gold. The modern style of lighting was introduced and the electrical globes placed under cover produced the effect of quiet richness rather than gorgeousness and splendor. One of the first things to attract the ej'e as you enter the theater is the large painting which occupies the entire space of the proscenium. It is a painting by Hurt of Los Angeles and represents the 166 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY artist's idea of Faust as portrayed in Goethe's wonderful drama. The theater was completed and rededicated July 9, 1914. A magnificent concrete theater known as the "Strand" was erected and completed in 1921. It was built by a citizen of Fresno on the corner of K and Tenth streets at a cost of $250,000. It is one of the largest buildings in the city and will easily seat 1,500 persons, and for many years it will accommodate Modesto's amusement public. JULY 4TH, 1890 The Independence Day celebration in 1890 was one of the best in several years. The streets of the city were crowded with visitors long before the hour of the parade. At ten o'clock the parade was formed with Grand Marshal J. S. Alexander and his aides in the lead, then came the Turlock Band and behind them, marching like the army regulars, came Company D, with Capt. R. K. Whitmore in command. Then followed the Stanislaus California Pioneers, now very few in number. Next in line was the carriage containing Judge W. O. Minor, president of the day ; C. W. Eastin, reader of the Declaration of Independence, and Rev. H. C. Gillingham, the orator of the day ; Eva Jones, who gave a recitation, and carriages containing the vocalists com prising' Mrs. E. Stewart, Mrs. E. Love, Mrs. Grattan, Minnie Sawyer, Cora Gladden, Mrs. Laura De Yoe Brown, J. A. Sawyer, E. Z. Barnett, W. H. Rea and C. H. Finley. Two floats beautifully decorated preceded the bicyclists. The second division was led by the Modesto Band in their new uniforms, advancing before the school chil dren, representing all nations. Wildey Lodge, Odd Fellows, turned out in full regalia and behind them marched the Modesto Hook and Ladder Company, hauling their truck, handsomely trimmed with ribbons and flowers. On the truck sat Ida Speik, represent ing a fire queen, with Ada Deitz and Ray Loventhal as her supporters. The Modesto Hose Company were also in line with their hose carriage prettily trimmed with flowers. The Painters' Union were uniformly dressed in white shirts and straw hats. The Stanislaus Brewery wagons brought up the rear of the procession. After parading the principal streets, the procession disbanded near the Knowles warehouse on Front Street, where the exercises were held. The Modesto band gave a concert on the courthouse grounds during the afternoon and at four o'clock there was a parade of the Invincibles. The celebration was ended with a fine display of fireworks on the railroad reservation. THE WOMAN'S IMPROVEMENT CLUB Do the citizens of Modesto realize how much they are indebted to the Woman's Improvement Club for many of the civic improvements which they enjoy? Probably not, for we as a people are apt to easily forget our benefactors, neighbors, friends and citizens. Today Modesto is called the "city beautiful" of the San Joaquin Valley, and this is due partly at least to the Improvement Club. Its birthplace was in the home of Mrs. Charles Clary, where a few women assembled one afternoon to discuss the subject of forming a club. The movement, once started, rapidly gained speed, and assembling in the Board of Trade rooms the club was organized April 16, 1906, with the following officers : Mrs. Alice Stone Dozier, president ; Mrs. N. E. De Yoe, vice-president ; Mrs. Mary A. Voorheis, secretary, and Mrs. C. R. Tillson, treasurer, and forty-two char ter members. Its prime object was to assist or lead in the beautifying of the city and county, and in this work they planted miles of trees leading out of Modesto at a cost of $1,200. The organization is purely civic, they adopting as. their motto, "We Place No Limitations on Human Possibilities." As it takes coin to carry on civic improve ments, to obtain money they adopted a very unique plan. They held in June of each year a fiesta. It was in the nature of a street fair and a carnival. The two classes of entertainments combined were very profitable. The fiestas were all conducted by their °Wn CioA^nand-T th^ firSt five fieSt3S' beg'nning in June, 1906, their gross receipts were $2U,00U, with only normal expenditures. During this time, and with money obtained since by card parties, teas, socials, concerts and banquets, they have contributed over $3,000 to various funds. When the Coffee Club was organized they contributed $60 a year for the first two HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 167 years. When the firemen were struggling along to get the money to furnish their club rooms, the women's $250 was a wonderful help. The Chamber of Commerce wanted to advertise the county by publishing a little booklet. The club gave splendid assist ance by a donation of $500. When the free public library was established they furnished the magazines for the first year and also donated $100 for children's books. Another $100 was given for the purchase of pictures for the public schools. Next the child's welfare was considered and during that week over 300 babies were treated in the free clinic. Each year the inmates of the county hospital look forward with pleasure to Christmas, for at that time the Woman's Improvement Club furnishes the unfortunates with from sixty to eighty pounds of first quality candy. When the Allied War was fought none were more patriotic or faithful or more helpful in our country's cause than the Improvement Club. The Grand Army Post of Modesto, that valiant body of soldiers of the "days of '61," were not forgotten and they were given $25 to assist in erecting headstones at the head of the veteran dead. During the war they were very active, not only in the work, but in their gifts, the club donating $500. They also donated $100 to the Furlough hut fund, $300 to the mess fund of their boys at Camp Lewis, and $100 for the "smileage" fund. They also assisted in all of the Liberty bond drives and purchased largely of Liberty bonds and war stamps. The Woman's Improvement Club of Modesto is the mother club of the county, there being nine federated clubs in the valley. The club twice during the past few years entertained the two district meetings and Mrs. Alice Stone Dozier and Mrs. Ora Bates are past presidents of the San Joaquin Valley Federated Clubs. GRACEADA PARK One of the recent benefits to the city of Modesto and one that will be better appreciated as time rolls on, is the beautiful Graceada Park. It was so named in honor of the wives of Thomas Beard and T. P. Wisecarver, Grace and Ada. Previous to the improvement of this park by the Woman's Improvement Club, the only park in the city was a small plot of ground on Front at the corner of I Street, which the citi zens planted to shade trees. A correspondent writing of this place January 26, 1886, said, "The square near the depot the railroad company will dedicate to the city if they will convert in into a park. Now it is nothing more than a frog pond. Last evening no less than a thousand of these bullfrogs were croaking. A frog pond on Front Street doesn't sound well for the boasted town of Modesto." The city took over the ground, about a quarter acre of land, and as I have stated, planted it to shade trees. For twenty years there seems to have been no further effort by the city trustees to purchase land or lay off a park until the organization of the Woman's Club. They began agitating the question of a park. Then the trustees got busy and began looking for a park site. The real estate men now became interested in the subject and those with large tracts of land began seeking sales of their property at exorbitant rates. The trustees' plan was to delay the purchase of a park site until they had money sufficient to pay for it. The club, however, would brook no delay. Fortunately at that time the two well-known progressive citizens, Thomas Beard and T. P. Wisecarver, donated the club three blocks of land in the northern part of the city for a park. The Wisecarver tract was the larger donation, it being nearly a quarter mile in length and 280 feet in width. The tract was deeded to the club in September, 1906, and in accepting the gift the women agreed to expend $1,000 the first year, and at least $500 each succeeding year in improving the park. The club immediately commenced improvements under the direction of a competent landscape gardener, planting palms, shrubs, grass and shade trees as long as the money held out. They had in their fund at that time $1,700, which they had made from their June, 1906, fiesta. Soon after the donations by Beard and Wisecarver, another block of land north of the tracts donated was given the club by James Enslen. Other tracts of land in different parts of the town were given by Messrs. Wilkinson and Wren until the Improvement Club became park poor. Staggering under the expense of nearly $4,000 a year for the upkeep of parks, they were compelled finally to turn them over to the city trustees. 168 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY THE STANISLAUS COUNTRY CLUB One of the most important and far-reaching social clubs of the county is the Stanislaus Country Club, with its present membership of over 300 of the county s best citizens. It was incorporated in August, 1920, with a capital stock of $9,000, and the following directors: Dr. G. W. Morgan, James C. Needham, H. G. Thompson, Geo. R. Stoddard and Geo. F. Barr. Ray B. Moxey was appointed as the secretary and attor ney, and Dewitt R. Lee as membership solicitor. The club has selected as their pleasure grounds a site on the bank of the Stanislaus River, about eight and one-half miles from Modesto, leading from McHenry Avenue. They have there bought land sufficient for an eighteen-hole golf links, the standard distance being 6,000 yards. There will also be two tennis courts, a large open-air swimming pool for summer use, blue rock shooting traps, and a boathouse for boating and canoeing on the river. They have already planned a handsome and convenient clubhouse. Professor D. Ball, formerly in charge of the Burlingame Country Club, has been engaged to take charge of the grounds and he has already the golf grounds well under way. As the membership includes many of the men of standing in the county, the board of directors is now increased from the original five to twelve members, namely, J. M. Walthall, W. N. Steele, W. W. Gid dings, A. B. Shoemake, E. H. Tickle, F. L. Sherman and R. G. Thompson, together with those first named. Among the members who have assisted very materially in the formation of the club were C. R. Tillson, Dr. G. F. Hennemuth, Geo. P. Schafer, Henry G. Turner, Frank Cressey, R. C. Rice, George Cressey and John Turner. MODESTO'S FIRST REPUBLICAN CLUB The Modesto Republican Club was organized March 21, 1879, in Eaton Hall. George W. Schell, an attorney, called the meeting to order and a Mr. Brown acted as chairman. The club was organized by the election of the following officers: J. H. Maddux, president; Thomas W. Drullard, J. B. Brichman and Stephen Rodgers, vice-president; C. D. Post, secretary; P. H. Medley, treasurer, and W. B. Wood, W. H. Arnold, Theodore Turner, John F. Swain and John Hardesty, executive, com mittee. Addresses were made by Marcus D. Boruck, secretary of the State Central Committee; George W. Schell and O. Sanders of Visalia. At that time there were living in the county two men who had joined the Republican party away back in 1856, at the time of its organization, and they voted for Fremont. One of these men was J. J. Cross, living- at Ceres in 1906, the other Louis F. Forrest, living in Modesto at the same date. Mr. Cross, who had voted for Franklin Pierce, the Whig candidate in 1848-52, walked eight miles to Murphy's Camp to cast his vote for Fremont. He found the election board sitting around a table with the ballot box in the center of the table and every election official had a revolver lying on the table beside him. Mr. Forrest, voting for Fremont at that time, lived at Oroville and was in the employ of George Perkins, then a merchant of the town and later governor, U. S. senator and a wealthy ship owner. Up to 1903 the county was continuously Democratic and during the Civil War it was one of the strongest secession counties in the state, the county in 1860 giving Abraham Lincoln 167 and John C. Breckinridge, the secession nominee, 433 votes. In the election of 1868, U. S. Grant received 350 and Horatio Seymour 642 votes. In 1880, Garfield received 745, and Hancock, the Democrat, 1,161 votes. Clinton Fisk, the Prohibition candidate, 91 votes. In 1902, George C. Pardee received 1,069 votes and Franklin K. Lane, the Democratic nominee for governor, 1,458, the Prohibition nominee receiving 44 and the Socialist candidate 39 votes. In the election of 1912, there was a decided political change, the Republicans from that time dominat ing the politics of the county, and J. C. Needham, candidate for congressman, a Republican, received 3,375 votes, his Democratic opponent, D. S. Church, receiving only 2,649 votes. There were 897 Socialist votes cast for J. S. Cato. The Prohibition ' party polled a good vote, Thomas K. Beard, a presidential elector, receiving 872 votes. REMARKABLE ELECTION OF 1914 The election of November 8, 1914, was perhaps the most important and cerfainlv the most remarkable election ever held in California, for it put a third candidate, a HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 169 Progressive, into the governor's chair by an overwhelming majority, and the electors voted for or against the surprising number of forty-eight constitutional amendments. In looking up the statistics one is not surprised that Modesto is such a beautiful, orderly and morally clean city, for the vote upon some questions show that it is a progressive, law-abiding, clean community. For governor the county gave the Progressive candi date, Hiram Johnson, 5,245 votes, to John D. Fredericks, the Republican nominee, it gave 2,201 votes, and to John B. Curtain, the Democratic candidate, only 2,510 votes. Clinton B. Moore, the Prohibitionist candidate, polled 1,138 votes. Regarding some of the amendments, the county voted against the eight-hour law, 8,730 to 2,177 ; against prize fights, 6379 to 3,679, 2,000 votes majority against this brutality. It voted against a legalized Sunday, 6,975 to 2,289. It voted for the abatement of the red-light dis tricts, 6,375 to 3,820. The county voted for prohibition, 6,103 against 5,206. Two little jokers were submitted by the friends of the liquor traffic — one that if prohibition carried the law could not be enforced until February 15, 1915. It was a just amend ment, giving the liquor men time to close out their business, and the county voted for it, 5,822 yes and 3,649 no. The second little joker declared that after the election no further legislation could be taken upon the liquor question until 1918. Upon this amendment the county voted 7,528 no and 3,075 yes. THE ANTI-SALOON LICENSE VICTORY The liquor men felt sure of their interests winning on the Prohibition amend ments, just as the Modesto liquor men were sure on winning out on the high license proposition. They had not awakened to the fact that the public conscience would no longer stand for the liquor traffic and the vice which surrounded it. The citizens of Modesto were called upon to vote on a proposition that the city trustees issue no more saloon liquor licenses and that all saloons must close their doors within ten days following the election, if the proposition carried. The liquor men came back with a counter proposition signed by them and many "business" men that the saloons be regu lated and pay a high license. The election took place July 10, 1912, and the campaign was the hottest ever waged in the state. Anti-saloon meetings were held in the court house plaza, and David Rose, a former mayor of Milwaukee, delivered speeches in the Auditorium. Sunday night "he spoke to a large crowd that overflowed the Auditorium and yelled lustily at the speaker's remarks." On the day of election the anti-saloon forces of men staged a spectacular parade. It was made up of scores of women in automobiles, women, men and children on foot and a division of babies in baby buggies. Early in the morning the saloon men played the old political trick of circulating a number of lies in order to win votes. Circulars were thrown about the streets stating that the anti-saloonists' motto was "Down with the liquor traffic, down with the Sunday baseball, down with the Sunday theater, down with the Modesto pool rooms," and its work caused the antis to lose many votes, although at noon they got out dodgers denying the lies. . The work of the saloon men was nearly perfect and by four o'clock in the after noon every pro-saloon vote had been cast. But when the votes were counted thej^ lost by forty votes. The vote was as follows: For high license and regulation, yes 895, no 1,164; for no license, yes 1,087, no 1047. It is stated that W. J. Brown conducted the fight against the saloons, while F. G. Johnstone, Albert Schmidt and George Pike were- the wet generals. The courthouse precinct gave the "wets" 163 majority, but the three other precincts cut that majority to 72. Then in came the Wisecarver pre cinct with 1 12 majority for the "bone drys" and it sealed the fate of the saloon. Before the expiration of the ten days, Brown and Irvin, proprietors of the Olympia ' saloon, commenced suit against the supervisors, mayor, city council and treasurer because • of the council's refusal to issue to them a liquor license, they claiming that the council could regulate a saloon, but could not refuse them a license. George Pike demanded a recount of the ballots on the ground that some electors had voted for high license and for no license. The cases were brought up in the superior court, Judge McSorley of Calaveras County presiding. He declared that the council had not only the right to 170 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY regulate but, through the initiative, to prohibit the sale of liquor. In the Pike case only a few discrepancies were found, not enough to affect the general result. Shortly after this, though, the case was appealed from another county, and the supreme court declared the law unconstitutional. JULY 4TH, 1911 This natal day of the nation was celebrated in a splendid manner. The previous evening the band gave a concert in the courthouse park. Early in the morning an immense crowd began assembling from the surrounding country and plenty of amuse ments had been provided for their entertainment. In the afternoon there was an aero plane flight, dancing, broncho busting, parade of "horribles" and a carnival dance in the evening in Rodgers Hall. During the morning, following the parade, literary exercises were held in the plaza. George Perley was president of the day, with Miss Caroline Foley as reader of the Declaration of Independence, and Edward F. Taylor, poet and reader of San Francisco, as orator. During the exercises the chorus sang several patriotic selections, among them "Hail to the Flag," composed by the director of the chorus, Professor Twicher. The parade, one of the best for many j'ears, was led by Walter Garrison, grand marshal, a veteran of the Spanish War. The procession comprised four divisions. In the lead of the first division was the Modesto Brass Band, a beautiful float represent ing our country, with Mrs. Marion Wisecarver as the Goddess of Liberty, and a Grand Army float in two sections. The first section was a float of Uncle Sam, the second section, Miss Columbia, and a number of children singing patriotic songs. Then fol lowed the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. The second division was preceded by the Hilmar Colony Band, a beautiful float, The Women of Wood craft, the Fraternal Brotherhood, delegation of Odd Fellows, the Women's Christian Temperance Union float, the Sylvan Club, Laurel Lodge, Modesto Improvement Club- and the Native Sons. The Modesto Boys' Band led the third division, with the Busi ness Men's float, the Modesto Fire Department, with Miss Jennie Butts as fire queen, sitting in an automobile completely covered with red roses, then the Carpenters' Union hauling a float of a miniature house. The Oakdale Band led the fourth division, composed entirely of decorated automobiles contesting for the prizes offered. THE MODESTO LABOR UNIONS One of the leading problems in the United States today is the labor problem. Happily, in Modesto there seems to be a full harmony between the unions and the business life, since the formation of the unions in 1910. The work of organizing a union was commenced in 1909. The first charter granted was to the carpenters. This was quickly followed by charters to the painters, paper hangers, plasterers and other mechanics, and at the close of 1910 there were ten flourishing local unions with a mem bership of over four hundred members. Soon after obtaining their charter, the Modesto locals affiliated with the Stockton Building Trades Council, in which they were allowed three delegates. The Stockton Council assisted very materially in organizing the Modesto unions. The unions gave their strong approval for the com mission form of government and worked for the municipal charter. They approve all public improvements and when the project of a municipal theater was under discussion, the unions donated $8,000 in work towards the fund. JULY 4TH, 1917 The patriotic celebration held at Modesto in 1917 was certainly an innovation and a remarkable success, as it was carried out by the Women's Improvement Club and that, too, without any donations or subscriptions from individual citizens or firms. To obtain the money actually necessary they had booths along the street and in the plaza with refreshments and articles on sale. The parade was the best ever held in • Modesto. At nine o'clock there was a flag-raising ceremony on the railroad reserva tion under the auspices of the Native Sons. The ladies gave prizes for the best floats and this, as an incentive, brought, out a large number of beautiful floats. The Native Sons had the largest float and perhaps the most interesting was "America," HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 171. with Miss Bessie Palmerlee representing the Goddess of Liberty. All of the societies in Modesto were in line, the Druids having the largest number, representing a living flag. The parade was given something of a military appearance by Grant Post, G. A. R., and two detachments from Companies K and L, National Guard of Cali fornia. Plenty of parade music was furnished by the Modesto Band, the Oakdale Band and the Eagle Drum Corps of Stockton. The exercises of the day were held in the courthouse square. Lewis L. Dennett was president of the day. Patriotic songs were sung by a male quartet comprising Dr. J. P. Snare, Ray Bradbury, W. T. Rice and R. W. Brace. The president's war message was read by Alion Sively of Oakdale and John P. Irish of Stockton delivered the oration. During the afternoon there was dancing on Eleventh and I streets. BONE-DRY PROHIBITION LAW Defeated by the law and not by the voice of the people, the Prohibitionists again renewed their fight for a bone-dry town. An ordinance was passed by the council calling upon the citizens to vote upon the proposition to close every saloon in the city at midnight October 21, 1917. It was in one sense of the word a war measure. Presi dent Wilson had declared war on Germany, the registration of all young, able-bodied men in Stanislaus County had taken place, a nation-wide prohibition law was in the air and yet the Modesto saloonkeepers believed they would have another easy victory. On the day of election, August 21, 1917, the women again took a very active part and those having automobiles carried many voters to the polls. Over fifty women who were off on a vacation along the coast came home to vote. The saloon men, unable to cast any illegal votes, tried a new game to win out. They paid out hundreds of dollars in newspaper advertising. The morning paper in the four days previous to the election published sixteen columns of saloon ads calling upon the people to defeat the ordinance and keep Modesto a live, prosperous city. They could no longer play the old, political tricks, for their every move was carefully watched, and several citizens, Messrs. John W. Ross, W. J. Brown, the district attorney, J. W. Hurdson, Thomas K. Beard, C. J. Lewis, C. R. Gailfus, N. E. Bauman, J. D. Jewell, Ed H. Morris and Dr. B. F; Surryhne, published in the paper a reward of $1,000 for any persons found casting illegal votes. It was a light vote, notwithstanding it meant the death knell of the saloons. The registration was 3,884, the vote in favor of the ordinance 1,156, against it 944. It was said "the streets have been full of drunken men this past week, much to the disgust of decent people who had occasion to use them." One of the biggest factors in defeating the saloons was Police Commissioner Swan ; he worked hard against Pro hibition and people said that if prohibition were defeated Modesto would be a "wide- open" town, as the police would do his bidding. LOYALTY DAY War was declared between the United States and Germany April 6, 1917, and June 5 the Herald said : "Today is registration day, one of the most solemn days in the history of the nation." The Council of Defense had appointed Judge N. A. Hawkins of Merced, A. A. Caldwell of Turlock and John F. Stewart of Crows Land ing as the exemption board and every able-bodied young man between eighteen and forty-five years was compelled to pass an examination as to his fitness for the army and navy. Every business house and saloon was closed during the day. At 2 :30 those who had registered assembled on Tenth Street and led by the band and under the escort of the city and county officials, the fraternal societies and the public school children, they marced to the courthouse block, where patriotic exercises were held. Old Glory was flung to the breeze, assisted in the ceremony by other societies. The band then played a selection, Mrs. Laura De Yoe Brown then thrilling all of those present by her singing of the "Star Spangled Banner." The high school glee club then sang an appropriate selection and the exercises closed by an address by John J. Neylan of San Francisco. MODESTO HOME GUARD For several weeks Deputy Sheriff J. H. Townson had been making a careful selection of loyal, cool-headed, brave men, and July 3 the Home Guard was organized 172 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY to assist the Council of Defense in their work of conscription. They assembled in Judge William H. Langdon's court room with forty-three names on the muster roll. The officers elected were: J. H. Townson, captain; W. H. Kirk, first lieutenant; J. W. Guj'er, second lieutenant. Ceres had organized a Home Guard early in June. OFF FOR THE WAR The conscription of men began in Washington, July 20, 1917. As fast as the names were drawn they were published in the press of each city. In Modesto they were published July 21-22. Then began the physical examination of the men and early in September the work was completed and the men were ordered into the training camps. September 9 was the date set for the departure of the first twenty-five men, a few from Stanislaus County never to return. In honor of their departure a reception was ten dered them on the previous evening. The men assembled on the corner of Tenth and I streets and were escorted to the park. First came the Modesto band, then Chief of Police Dallas ; the Ceres, Modesto and Oakdale Home Guard under arms ; Grant Post, G. A. R., then Sheriff George T. Davis and behind him the first twenty conscriptors, then the public school children carrying flags. On arrival at the courthouse park, E. B. Winning introduced the exercises by calling upon the audience to sing "The Star Spangled Banner," followed by prayer by Rev. Hermann C. Porter; solo, "In the Valley of the San Joaquin," Mrs. R. C. Bruce; address, Judge William H. Langdon; solo, "Send Me Away with a Smile," Dr. J. P. Morgan ; solo, "My Own United States," Mrs. Carrie Brown Dexter; "America," audience; benediction, Rev. H. S. Saxby. Judge Langdon, in closing his address, said: "Our contribution to the nation in its hour of peril is 401 of the most fit men of serviceable age in the County of Stanis laus, together with more than 100 now in the service in the army and navy. Oh, the glorious opportunity that is yours, my young friends, to fight in such company and such a cause. And now, as chairman of the Stanislaus Council of Defense and in behalf of all of your fellow-citizens, I extend to you the good wishes, the gratitude and the love of our people. May God be with you, watch over you and bring j'ou home speedily, safely and sound." WELCOME HOME The German army had surrendered. The boys, nearly all of them, had returned home safe and sound and October 16, 1919, the citizens tendered them a home welcome and banquet. Modesto was crowded with people from the surrounding country, 15,000 at least. The returned men, probably a thousand of them from the army and navy, full of health, strength, vitality and pep, assembled on Twelfth Street and were escorted to Graceada Park. As they marched along column after column with a firm, steady step, they were cheered by the crowd again and again. It was a thrilling sight never seen before and probably will never again be seen in Modesto. On arrival at the park there was singing by a chorus of about fifty voices, and an address bv Samuel Short- ndge of San Francisco. Before his address was concluded orders were given to the boys to "fall in." The bugler sounded the dinner call and single file they marched into the tennis grounds, where ten long tables were loaded with the appetizing delicacies for which Stanislaus County is famous. CHAPTER THIRTEEN THE PROGRESSIVE RAILROAD TOWNS TURLOCK 1876"T^ ?wV—^T' ^T a ?{TCUS'" Said Charles Lieht' "was a* Turlock in 1876. At that time it had one hotel, one saloon, one Chinese wash house and several arge warehouses where the farmers stored their grain." John W. Mitchell, a wealthy land speculator was the founder of Turlock. He owned practically all of the land in that vicinity and the most of Stanislaus County at that time was an open field He previously had made money by purchasing land at Paradise City at the Government M>y.l h * '%M\ t , LvvA '& ¥ ' f , «c ¦» y?f\^p"'> -. i ' r '-J**y''i»»«^%t TYPICAL FIELD OF CORN, TURLOCK DISTRICT, STANISLAUS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 173 price of one dollar and fifty cents per acre and selling it at double and treble what he paid for it. Having bought 100,000 acres of land where Turlock is located, soon after the Civil War, he planted in 1867 a large acreage of grain. The yield was quite heavy and the following year he planted a much larger acreage and got a heavy crop. It was a year of plenty of rain. Mitchell then went to Stockton and purchasing lumber hauled it by team to Turlock and erected houses on sections of his land in preparation for the farmers who bought and tilled the soil. The land proprietor held out big inducements to settlers and succeeded in selling large quantities of land. But the farmers passed through many hardships because of the unfruitful j-ears. Mitchell, however, gave them every possible assistance, for he had a vision that the land would some day be of great value, if the waters of the Sierras could be distributed over the land. The farmers, whenever they obtained a good crop, would haul it to the Tuolumne River and ship it by steamboat to Stockton. Frequently thev would haul their grain forty miles to that city and returning would bring back a load of household purchases. It is said the children of the home looked forward to the coming of the wagon as one of the events in their lives and with eager childish curiosity they would open the packages. A rare treat was always in store for them as they would then have fresh beefsteak for supper. The Pioneer Settlers Before Turlock came into existence the farmers were growing grain in that vicinity and raising crops averaging in good years from fifteen to eighteen bushels to the acre. Among these early arrivals, not all of them farmers, however, was Henry Russell, a Mr. Warner, Henry Clark, Richard Brown, William Donovan, Robert E. Thompson, Richard and P. C. Lander, appointed postmaster in 1870, S. L. Crane, S. V. Porter and wife (she is still living in Turlock), W. L. Fulkerth (his wife is still living), and James J. Brown. W. L. Fulkerth had a ranch and carried on a blacksmith shop in the town. James Kehoe located there as early as November, 1867. Edward McCabe began farming in October, 1867, and Daniel Gallagher in 1868. E. A. Hall located in the county near Turlock as early as 1860, but first engaged in stock raising. Later came Henry S. Osborn who had a ranch one mile from the present town and a small grocery store near the present southwest corner of Main and First streets. It stood all alone in the sand and as late as 1902 lots nearby were sold at seventy-five dollars each with a few buyers at that price. After the passing of the railroad through the county James Allen moved his two-story house to Turlock from Westport. He located it where now stands the Carolyn Hotel and opened the Turlock Hotel. Mrs. E. H. Allen was in charge of the hotel in 1884, and it was one of the old landmarks until torn down to make way for the new hotel. About the same time, 1874, a hotel was moved from Woods Landing. It was located where now stands the St. Elmo and was known as the Fountain Hotel. Elijah Giddings and his partner, Mr. Ward, moved their building and merchandise from Empire and opened a grocery store where later stood the Gall-Denair hall, at the southeast corner Front and Main streets. It was rather unfortunate that the town should thus early be divided into the East Side and West Side as it was not calculated to promote harmony in either business or social affairs. A Rabbit Drive in 75 In its earlier daj's the vicinity of Turlock was noted for its brushwood, tarantulas, rattlesnakes and its jack rabbits. The rabbits were the pest of the farmers, as they ate the young grain and every green' thing and they have been known to dig up and eat the seed. They roamed the plains by the thousands and to exterminate them the farmers would organize what was known as rabbit drives. There were two methods of destroying the jacks. One method was to cover a large territory on horseback and moving in a circle surround the rabbits, drive them into a rabbit tight enclosure and kill them with clubs. Another plan was for footmen to divide their parties and travel ing over the plains shoot them as they sprang from cover. A day was agreed on for a drive October 6, 1875. "About 7:30 o'clock in the morning about twenty hunters appeared at the Turlock Hotel. Dividing into two parties, J. L. Ward leading one 174 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY party as captain and Thomas H. Fulkerth captaining the second party. The hunt was for a supper at the Turlock Hotel, the losing party to pay for the supper. The two parties during the day succeeded in killing 413 rabbits. The Ward party were the losers, killing one less than the Fulkerth party. The highest score was made by F. A. Lewis, who killed seventy-eight rabbits. The others scored from thirty-six to forty each." The supper at the hotel was gotten up in great style. Trade and Traffic Turlock for many years had less than 200 inhabitants but it had a large and prosperous trade with the surrounding country, including Newman and Oakdale. According to Branch, the town in 1881 had two hotels, a restaurant, one large and two small variety stores, two blacksmith shops, two livery stables, a tin store, a boot and shoe establishment, a drug store, several saloons, a public school, postoffice, express and telegraph office and a garage. "It has" he says, "made considerable progress during the past few j'ears and exhibits considerable life and activity during the harvest season. A great deal of merchandise is annually shipped from this point and during the harvest season from 12,000 to 15,000 tons of wheat and also considerable wool." "The trade was fine," said another writer, "until the Southern Pacific ran their road along the West Side, building up Newman, Patterson and Crows Landing, and the Santa Fe made their connection with Oakdale. Then business began to decline and the fire of October, 1893, burned out most of the business houses." The Great Fire of 1893 The largest fire ever seen in the city broke out about ten o'clock on the evening of October 3, 1893, and starting in the center of the block of buildings on Front Street, burned both ways. The town had no fire apparatus at the time, and, says the writer, "it was impossible to fight it. All we could do was to stand see it burn and try to save the adjoining property." The greater business part of the town was de stroyed, but adjoining property was saved by the bucket brigade. A large number of men and even women would carry buckets of water from the nearest pumps and wind mill tanks and throw it on the buildings. The loss was estimated at $50,000, of which L. Strauss, commercial merchandiser, was the heaviest loser. The property destroyed was L. Strauss & Co. ; R. Lucassan, saloon and barber shop ; J. L. Libehen, boots and shoes; L. B. Sherred, tin store; W. A. Smith & Co., druggists; H. M. Myer, butcher, and J. L. Brown, P. McGath, C. Hubner and E. Hill & Co. saloons. It was a very disastrous fire for the town was not rebuilt along business lines for many years. Six years later, 1899, the town was credited with two hotels, two livery stables, two blacksmith shops, tinware store, boot and shoe store and a dairy. The Name and Post Office The Turlock post office is many years older than the city. It was established by the postal authorities in 1870. The appointment of postmaster was 'given to P. C. Lander, a brother-in-law of Mrs. S. V. Potter. The office was at his home, one mile north of the town. It is stated that when the farmers of the district petitioned for a post office they named it Sierra. The Government, believing however, it would be a name in confusion with the mountains, Sierra, gave the name Turlock to the post office. The writer does not believe the story of the origin of the name. Here is a much more plausible story by another writer. When the Southern Pacific railroad passed through the county, John W. Mitchell gave them the right-of-way through his land; he asked for a small station and the company granting his request named it Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell, perhaps, modest as was Mr. Ralston at Modesto, refused to have it called Mitchell and suggested Turlock. The Turlock mail was brought to the town by a carrier at one dollar per month, but when the railroad was established, the office was removed to the town and located in a corner store of the Fountain Hotel. Then came the business men's fight for location and the office was removed to the Gall-Denair building in East Turlock. Later the office was moved to a wooden building that set back from the street west, directly opposite the Turlock HOSPITAL— XURLOCK, CALIFORNIA HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 175 Hotel. During this time, P. C. Lander, who came to California in 1867 for his health, died January 27, 1876, and his brother Richard was appointed to the office. Lander was succeeded by E. M. Pierce. After a time he was found short in his accounts and he was superseded by Stony Allen. During Allen's appointment the office was again moved to the West Side in a store southwest corner of First and Main streets. Allen was superseded by John L. Brown, formerly a saloonkeeper and notary public. Brown was a Republican, a popular man, well liked by the citizens, and he held the office from 1901 until 1917. Then Woodrow Wilson, the Democratic nominee, was elected President and Brown was superseded by a native son, Ralph P. Giddings. Regarding the growth of Turlock from a post office view, in April, 1909, an excursion of business men from Stockton visited Turlock. David F. Lane of Turlock, in a speech, said: "Fifteen years ago (1894) there were only 150 people getting their mail at Turlock post office, now there are 1,800 people in the city and 5,000 in the district getting their mail from the office. In 1903, $20,000 was all the money the farmers had deposited in the banks, now they have $892,639 deposited." The Turlock Churches "I can tell you that Turlock is a town of churches," said a recent visitor to that city. True it is and with its population of 4,000 inhabitants it supports sixteen differ ent denominations. A large portion of the membership live in the surrounding country. When they attended service on a Sunday it looked, said the visitor, like a big circus day so many were the horses and wagons around the places of worship. Now they are surrounded by automobiles. Included in the number of churches there are three of the Swedish faith, namely the Free Church, The Swedish Baptist and the Swedish Mission. The church last named is one of the largest and most costly edifices in Turlock. Then comes the Seventh Day Adventist, the Nazarene, Lutheran, the First Church of Christ, Scientist, the Brethren, the Free Methodist, the Presbyterian and the Methodist Episcopal. All of these congregations save the Swedish Mission hold service in buildings constructed of wood. The Baptist, the Christian, the Catholic and the Mission are built of reinforced concrete. The Methodist Episcopal Church "The first church work in Turlock," said the Rev. H. J. Farr, "dates back to 1868, when a Baptist minister named Father Reese came riding over the plains and held religious service in the homes of the people, notably the home of Mr. and Mrs. S. V. Porter. While Mr. and Mrs. Porter were devout Methodists, they were liberal minded and perfectly willing to fellowship with other religious denominations, hence various pastors from other denominations held religious services in their home. As the religious population increased in number the home of the Porters was over-crowded and religious services were held in the little public school building, now the site of the cemetery. Services were held by different denominations in the schoolhouse. A Union Sunday school was organized and the Christmas celebration of December 21, 1871, is still a pleasant memory of many now living. The California Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, established a church at Turlock in 1881, and the pulpit was supplied by that splendid pioneer pastor, Rev. W. C. Curry, living at Ceres. Mr. and Mrs. Porter in 1887 presented the church trustees a lot, at the corner of West Main and Lander Avenue for the purpose of building a house of worship. The following year Turlock was reported to have a "boom" and that year the Metho dists erected a neat handsome building at a cost of $6,350. The church was dedicated October 7, 1888. Heavily mortgaged, they were unable to pay the debt and "after a continuous struggle for ten years the property was sold to the Swedish Mission,"' says Mrs. S. V. Porter, who sent me these notes. The loss of the property was unfortunate and very disheartening to the zealous Methodists of Turlock for it caused a scattering of the congregation. Six years later the conference declined to make any further appointments for Turlock. Ten years passed. In November 1906 water was flowing over the land, the population had rapidly increased in numbers, many Methodists had located in the town and the church was reorganized. The reorganiza- 176 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY tion took place in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Porter, the presiding elder of the district, Rev. H. E. Beeks, effecting the reorganization. A full board of stewards and trustees were appointed, with Rev. Irwin Farr as teimporary pastor. For over two years the congregation worshipped in rented halls and a tabernacle which they erected. In 1908 the trustees secured the lot corner of Broadway and A Street and they erected a very pretty and comfortable building. The church has been enlarged several times to accom modate the increasing congregation and the trustees are now planning a new up-to-date building with a community center. The church has a flourishing Sunday school. The Rev. E. B. Winning made a special effort in the work of the Sunday school. The church also rapidly increased in membership and when the present pastor, Fred A. Feast took charge in September, 1918, he found a membership of 500, now increased to over 700. The following pastors have served : Reverends William C. Curry, Sep tember, 1881, to September, 1884; J. H. Jones, 1884-1887; D. W. Calfee, 1887; Lorenzo Fellers, Thomas Leak, John Appletin, J. S. Smith and no further appointment until 1906. Rev. Irwin Farr, temporary pastor, November, 1906; J. M. Hilbish, December 20, 1906-1908; E. H. Mackay, 1908-1911; J. U. Simmons, 1911-1915; E. B. Winning, 191-5-1918; Fred A. Feast, 1918, present pastor. The Methodist Church was erected on the West Side and the Baptist and Con- gregationalist on the East Side. The last-named congregation erected a fine church edifice but it also was heavily mortgaged and when in time compelled to sell, it was purchased by the Brethren. The Seventh Day Adventists were organized in 1906, the Presbyterians in 1910. The Catholics The Catholics in July, 1889, erected a little wood structure, 24x36 feet, seating 100 persons, at a cost of $1,800. Mass was celebrated by Father Thomas Maguire from Modesto. Father Bailey became a resident pastor in 1910. The following year the archbishop erected Sacred Heart Church, a handsome brick structure costing $25,000, and with its two towers, one supporting a large bell, is an imposing building. The Newspapers of Turlock California newspapers are as prolific as mushrooms; they as quickly come to life and as quickly fade away. Turlock was honored by a newspaper the Turlock Times as early as April, 1892. Its editor was D. J. Foley. On November 11, 1904, the Turlock Journal was published by J. L. and H. T. Randolph, who had lately come to California from the eastern states. They issued an eight-page, four-column weekly, on an old-fashioned platen press. Meeting with considerable success in August 1906 they purchased a Babcock cylinder press and changed the form of the paper to a four- page six-column publication Later it appears they took in Tipton Randolph, who acted as the bookkeeper, with Urellis Randolph as pressman. Thev were an enter prising class of men and in February, 1910, they issued a splendid special edition of Turlock from which I got considerable information. It was quite profusely illustrated with cuts of Turlock in 888 showing half-tones of the Catholic and Congregational churches, the high school building, Fountain and Turlock hotels and street scenes. In 1918 there was a popular young printer on North Broadway, named Edwin Ullberg proprietor of a print shop. The following year he purchased the Journal and immediately began issuing a morning daily paper. The paper has had some good MoTs'to hZTa V HTUgh' 'r^ °f the St°ckt0n *"«* now * the Greenfield ' edlt°r '" 1917' Mdvin C May"e and Mr. Another bright little newspaper is the Turlock Tribune, published bv Veda C Calkins with Bailey Rosette as edit-nr T<- ;* • i ¦ /uulls,ueQ DV veaa *-¦ published thrice weekly was fi t Ssu a n ^^T^ght-page journal and is years later Novemhrr loifi •? , T X" 1911 b^ C W- Dockinhouse, and four On he St of °Aoril 19?n M Tn^ *° Xeda C Calkins and Lou K- Afield. first of April, 1920, Mrs. Calkins purchased her partner's interest in the paper. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 177 The Public Schools Turlock is proud of her public schools and her school buildings, as handsome and up-to-date as may be found. The high school building and its beautiful surroundings have been pronounced the equal of any in the state. The public school system of the city began with fifteen pupils in 1870. The schoolhouse was a small cheap wooden building erected for a county school about a mile west of the town. Mrs. Hughs was the pioneer teacher. After the town grew in size the school was moved to what was known as Grangers Hall on North Front Street near Main Street, later it was moved to Washington Hall on East Main Street. In 1883 the citizens erected the four- room, two-story school building where now stands the Hawthorne school. That fine, twelve-room building was erected in 1894 and served its purpose for a short time only, as the city was growing rapidly in population and soon there was a cry for more school room. The trustees then purchased about three and a half acres of land on the west side for a new school site. The property was purchased of Cooper & Lyons, for $2,200, the owners generously deducting $600 from their selling price because of its object. There the present Lowell eight-room building was erected. The trustees in 1920 built additional rooms to the Hawthorne school and will soon erect a second grammar school on the east side. The Turlock high school was organized in 1906 and a high school was erected at a cost of $25,000. Each year since its organization the class has had its class exercises and its baccalaureate sermon delivered by some prominent pastor and its commencement exercises in some public hall. The graduating exercises in 1920 were held June 14 in the Turlock Theater. It is the largest of graduating classes and includes three who have received special honors, namely, Doris Olson, Ella Crowell and Kathleen Britton. The exercises in the theater comprised an invocation by the Rev. C. R. Eastman ; class greeting, Doris Olson ; song by a double quartette ; address, Rev. Thomas Giffen of Fresno; piano solo, Doris Olson; presentation of class gift by James Howard, '20; acceptance of gift, Elvin Knutsen, '21; awarding of diplomas, President C. C. Carlson ; class song, composed by Wells Hively ; benediction, Rev. E. C. Gammon. Memorial Day Celebration The 30th of May, a day observed in every large city in the nation was first observed in Turlock in 1909. On that day a large crowd assembled in the Swedish Mission Church to "honor the men who died that our country might live." The exercises began by an introductory speech by the old Grand Army veteran, Julius Cuendet, who related incidents in the Civil War; prayer by Rev. C. S. Needham; address by the Reverend Rodger Darling, "This day shall be unto you for a memorial" ; benediction, Rev. H. P. Farr. During the exercises music was furnished by a male quartette comprising J. W. Farr, O. H. Roberts, J. Elmer and Rev. H. P. Farr. The Great Fire of 1910 The fire caused by a defective flue broke out in the tailor shop of P. O. Clint & Sons, located on West Main Street near the St. Elmo Hotel. A heavy wind was blowing at the time and the flames, spreading rapidly through the wooden shanties in less than one hour, over 140 feet of business firms were destroyed. For a time the entire business part of the town was threatened and the firemen had great difficulty in saving the St. Elmo Hotel, at the time one of the finest hotels in the upper valley. The firemen had two heavy streams of water playing upon the flames and they did not succeed in extinguishing the flames until over $20,000 worth of prop erty was consumed. The St. Elmo was badly damaged, the fire burning out the windows and setting fire to the rooms of all three stores on the west side of the building. Among the losses were those of B. W. Childs & Company, real estate, Mr. Childs losing a valuable library which he had been twenty years collecting; Turlock Shoe Shop, Turlock Tanning Company, P. O. Clint & Son, tailors; Cadwalader & Baker, real estate; W. Litchfield, cigars and pool room; A. L. McGill, insurance; Cunningham & Lundrake, clothing; D. Salberg, Rapp Brothers, butchers, and Dr. 12 178 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Dexter, dentist. The burned block was immediately rebuilt with pressed brick at a cost of $40,000 and now presents a neat and handsome appearance. The Turlock Fire Department The fire department upon which the city depends to protect it from destruction from fire, is first class as to its man power, for its consists of a volunteer department of twenty-four virile young men, full of enthusiasm. Its fire apparatus, however, seems to an outsider to be a joke. It does the work, however, as was shown in the late Carolyn Hotel fire. After the fire of 1893, there was not much of the town left except Osborn's store, alone on the sand lot. The town was practically dead, but after the completing of the irrigation canal the town began to grow. In 1907 a fire department was organized with H. S. Crane, M. M. Hedman and J. Gall as trustees. These men purchased a sixty-gallon chemical engine, and they also ordered a local manufactured combination wagon to carry hose and hooks and ladders. A small alarm bell was purchased and the Southern Pacific permitted its erection in the tower on the reservation. In 1909 the trustees purchased something new in the fire- fighting line; it was what is known as a Howe cylinder pump, with a twenty-horse power gasoline engine. On its first trial, the engine was set at a well near Osborn's store and threw a stream of water twice the height of the St. Elmo Hotel. It was the first fife engine of its kind in California. It plays two one-inch streams, drawing water from a well or hydrant, and now mounted on a Ford truck seems to fill the bill. The department also has a combination chemical and hose wagon and with a forty- five-pound pressure from the hydrants, they have plenty of water and sufficient force to extinguish any fire. In the pioneer days water was obtained from wells bored in the earth from thirty to sixty feet and windmills were everywhere seen. In 1909, January 17th, the citizens by their vote of 171 to 11, authorized the city trustees to bond the city $26,000 for municipal water works and $27,000 for a sewer system. They now have a large pumping plant drawing water from wells 150 feet deep, and two large steel tanks which supply the city with an abundance of pure water. Turlock the First "Dry Town" Turlock was incorporated under the general state law of 1908, which authorized any town of less than 5,000 inhabitants to organize a city government of the sixth class and elect as city officials a board of five trustees, and from this number shall be chosen a president of the board, a city clerk, city attorney, a city treasurer and city marshal. The election was held January 21, 1908, and the following officers elected: president, H. S. Crane; trustees, H. C. Blewett, E. B. Osborn, Theodore Olson and August P. Warren ; Clerk, A. G. Elmore ; treasurer, Charles Klein ; marshal, E. T. Skiff. The first election was interesting and important but not half as important or exciting as the second city election that of January, 1910. The excitement was not because of the keen rivalry of "seekers of office" so much as the all-important question : "Shah die board of trustees pass a high license ordinance of saloons or refuse to license them?" If the majority voted against the high license then the saloons must close their doors for evermore, on July 1, 1910. "The election was the most strenuous ever held. Business was deserted and for one day the people fought a great fight." The interest in the candidates was intense. The most interest, however, centered on the question, "saloons or no saloons." The drys were out in full force as were the wets and both sides had registered every possible man to assist them in the struggle. When the polls closed at six o'clock the City Hall was filled with an eager crowd and there was great excitement as the count progressed. It was seen when the count was two- thirds over that the dtys had won the victory by a majority of sixty-three The election aside from the liquor question resulted as follows: Trustees for the full term of four years, three to be elected, Dr. T. N. Topp, 252; A. J. Clipper, 211 ; Charles H Geer, 183 ; J. V. Baker, 182; C. C. Cullen, 143. For the term of two years H. S. Crane 217; E. B. Osborn, 195; H. C. Houskin, 121 ; Theodore Olson, 1?°'^ fS ' ,AlG;E1rre' 236; f0r treasurer' Charles Klein> 91 ; for marshal, E. T. Skiff, 192; John L. Kiernan, 18. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 179 Turlock's area is nearly square four miles, the canal forming two-thirds of the eastern boundary. The first survey of the townsite was made under the direction of John W. Mitchell. All subsequent survej's have been made by John T. Luyster, for many years city engineer. Additions to the town were made from time to time by different owners of land tracts and the result is a very incongruous assortment of blocks. Some are 250 feet by 800 feet in length. Some are 300x400 feet in size, and there are several so-called blocks containing less than an acre of land. Denair Park, on the east side, contains less than an acre and a half of land, with streets upon three sides. While on the other hand the Free Library is located on the north end of a block 800 feet in length, with streets upon three sides, the apex not exceeding 150 feet in width. For a small city Turlock is to be commended for her many miles of well- paved streets and it has been asserted that for her size and age the city has more miles of asphalt paved streets than any other city in the United States. Turlock Lodges and Societies The city had literary aspirations as early as 1904 and December 3, a literary society was organized with W. C. Blewett as president; D. L. Lane, vice-president; Pauline Klein, secretary; Dr. Hicks, treasurer, and John Holmes, sergeant-at-arms. There are twelve Turlock societies that hold their meetings in Fraternal Hall on East Market Street near Front Street. The smaller societies hold their meetings during the daylight hours of the morning or the afternoon. One of these societies is Turlock Lodge No. 98, Knights of Pythias. It was organized in 1909 by Grand Chancellor W. D. Wagner of San Bernardino, with twenty-five charter members. The meetings were held in the Gall-Denair Hall. The officers from the Newman Lodge K. of P. came over and conferred the degree on ten j'oung men. The first officers of the Lodge were chief chancellor, J. L. Randolph ; vice-chancellor, L. J. Gaamewell; prelate, M. E. Hickok; master of work, Louis Wolf; master of exchequer, E. T. Vignolo; master of finance, L. T. Brown; inside guardian, Dan Gilroy; outside guardian, T. W. Sundy. Turlock Lodge No. 395, F & A. M., was instituted November 14, 1908, by Grand Master Oscar E. Lawler of Los Angeles. For nearly a year a number of Masons were engaged in the necessary preliminary work and in finding enough Masons :o organize a lodge. They finally succeeded in interesting eight past masters and with :hem, sixteen Masons signed up for a dispensation. It was granted by the Grand Lodge in October, 1908, and the following officers were elected and installed: B. W. Childs, worthy master ; Donald Bymore, senior warden ; C. R. Bronough, junior war den; J. B. Quigley, treasurer; Dr. B. F. Clarke, secretary; Dr. B. H. Nichols, senior deacon; H. W. Rickenbacher, junior deacon; C. C. Coffinbury and James Funk, stewards. B. W. Childs was installed as worthy master January 28, 1910, for the third term. On that occasion he wore a beautiful hand-painted apron, which belonged to his grandfather, who wore the same apron when installed as worthy master. The Masons have now erected a magnificent three-story building at a cost of $250,000. The new Masonic temple is a credit to the order and the pride of the citizens of the city. Turlock has another beautiful building, its new theater. It was erected by Messrs. Crane, Greer and Varner, and completed in 1920, cost complete a quarter of a million dollars. Turlock Lodge No. 402, I. O. O. F., was instituted January 18, 1908, by H. P. Weyer, deputy district grand master, assisted by H. D. Richardson, grand secretary and the following past grands : George Perley, James Leonard, Charles MacDonald, B. F. Fowle, A. R. Schofield and J. R. Broughton. The following are the charter members: Guy F. Donkin, Joseph Samuelson, Daniel Raymond, Arthur G. Crowell, John R. Adams, John Carlson and Joseph A- Coveney. Eight candidates were initiated. Pansy Rebekah Lodge No. 230, was instituted September 8, 1908, by Dora B. Carr, deputy district president. The following are the charter members: Margaret and Maurice W. Huff, Bertha and Thomas Menzies, Mattie and George Hale, 180 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Minnie Lofflin, Flora Anson, Alonzo Brackett, Isabel and P. E. Anderson, Eliza Lauder, Rachel MacGregor and Hazel Edmondson. The Woman's Club The Woman's Club was organized. June 12, 1906, in the Church of the Brethren. Its object was the civic improvement of the city, and soon after its organization the city trustees put them in full charge of the cemetery. It must have been in a very neg lected condition, for we read that the club employed three men, working for three weeks, making the sacred ground presentable. Unfenced, they also spent $300 in en closing the grounds, obtaining the money by a "Tag Day" sale. In 1908, a little library was established in a little store on West Main Street. The librarian was Mrs. S. R. Douglas and the library was sustained by patrons from city and county, who paid twenty-five cents per month. In the following year the Woman's Club donated twenty-five dollars to the library with the understanding that the money should be ex pended in purchase of children's books, the money coming, perhaps, from proceeds of the concert given March 3, 1909, in the Turlock Opera Plouse. There was a chorus of fifty singers directed by Professor Fred Twicher, formerly of Boston, Mass. Mrs. Laura De Yoe Brown, soprano, and B. P. Hawkins assisted as soloists. The orchestra, with Professor Kasky as leader, comprised Miss Nelson, pianist ; John Osborn, Dr. John Hodges, H. T. Randolph, H. C. Blewett and Andrew Dutillieul. The city trustees took over the library in 1910 and October 5 passed an ordinance supporting the library by taxation. The Carnegie Library In the far East there was a naturalized Scotchman named Andrew Carnegie. He made so much money out of steel he didn't know what to do with it. As one means of disposing of it he began giving away the coin for the building in various parts of the country free public library buildings. Attached to the gifts were certain strings, first the library should forever be called by his name ; second, the lot must be secured free of any debt or mortgage ; third, the city trustees must contract to furnish a certain amount of money per annum in support of the library. This amount varied in proportion to the amount appropriated for the library building. A few of the enterprising women of Turlock who heard of the generosity of this billionaire proposed taking advantage of it, and a club was organized to serve as a working base for the erection of a Carnegie Library. The Turlock Civic Club, as it was called, was organized December 4, 1914, with the following officers: President, Cora Johnson; secretary, Mrs. Ethel Sill; treasurer, Mrs. C. E. Brown. The club seems to have comprised a library-getting quartette, for the three club officers, together with Mrs. California Walker, did all of the preliminary work of communicating with Carnegie's agent, soliciting funds, selecting and purchasing the site. After the purchase of the lot on North Broadway, the deed was offered to the city trustees for their acceptance. By a vote of three to one the deed was accepted by the trustees. For some reason one trustee voted no and one refused to vote; perhaps, like the Oakdale trustees, they thought Carnegie's money tainted, or they did not care to perpetuate his name through the ages. In less than two j'ears from the time the club was organized, the doors of the beautiful little library were opened, in September, 1916, at a cost of $9,200. Seven hundred dollars was laid aside for its support and Mrs. S. B. Love selected as librarian. Turlock's Banks Financiers judge a city's wealth by the number and resources of its banks. From this point of view Turlock is none behind the larger cities. The Modesto Herald, knowing of the prosperous condition of the city since the irrigation canals were filled with water, said in 1907: "Strange no one has started a bank in Turlock." Shortly after that J. E. Ward of the First National Bank, Modesto, visited Turlock and pur chased two lots between Osborn & Son and M. Berg's store for the erecting of a bank building, and July 11, 1905, the First National Bank of Turlock was opened with a capital stock of $50,000. Oramil McHenry, the largest stockholder, was president; C. O. Anderson, cashier, and Garrison Turner, Theodore Turner, J. P. Islip, J. P. Fuller and O. McHenry, directors. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 181 The Commercial Bank was incorporated February 20, 1907, with Frederick E. Biles as president and treasurer; F. W. Nahoun, vice-president; Ada Carr, cashier and secretary, and Fred E. Biles, C. B. Dirke, John T. and C. T. Richey, H. G. Shearer, F. W. Nahoun and O. J. Root, directors. The Peoples State Bank was organized May 6, 1907, with the following officers and directors: J. E. Weaver, president; Edgar Bixter, vice-president; A. L. Foote and Peter Erickson, directors. Opening of Carolyn Hotel The opening of a large first-class hotel is always an important event, especially in small communities, and the reception to the public on the evening of September 4, 1909, by Mr. and Mrs. Julius J. Vignolo, on the opening of the Carolyn Hotel was the social event of that period. The reception was attended by hundreds of citizens, many of them coming from Stockton and the surrounding country. A large number of beautiful floral pieces, sent by their many friends, graced the lobby. At its entrance the guests were received by Mr. and Mrs. Vignolo, while their two daughters, Carolyn, after whom the hotel is named, and Florence, conducted the guests throughout the building. The visitors were served with punch, ice cream and cake, while Bedeson's orchestra of Merced delightfully entertained the guests with music, the finest ever heard in Turlock, the orchestra later playing for the dance held in the north room of the hotel. After the old landmark, the Turlock Hotel, had been torn down, the building 100 feet on Front Street and 117 feet on Main Street was erected at a cost of $25,000. The corner on the first floor was occupied by the Turlock Land Company, next east came R. R. Rice, barber shop, then the hotel office, the dining room, and a drug store. On the Front Street side, next to the land company, came a confectionery store, cigar and pool room, and porter's room. On the morning of May 21, 1920, the building was damaged by fire to the extent of over $10,000. The fire started in a pile of rub bish on the roof of the one-story kitchen. CROWS LANDING Of the smaller towns in Stanislaus County there are several that are prosperous and wealthy, each one growing in size and population and each one a central depot for the transportation of tons of valuable products. Crows Landing, named after Isaac P. Crow, who died there October 14, 1905, at the age of 90 years, was moved up from the river bank to the railroad. It is a busy little burg, with a Chamber of Commerce, two religious denominations, two banks and a grammar school costing $35,000. CERES Mrs. A. E. Ulch About 118 miles to the east of San Francisco, in the heart of the beautiful San Joaquin Valley, the city of Ceres has grown up among trees and vines and lovely flowers. In the autumn of 1867, Daniel Whitmore, having possessed himself of thousands of acres of the fertile lands in this vicinity, came here to reside with his family. His house was the first one built on what is now the site of the city of Ceres ; and with his family, consisting of his wife and three sons, he took up his residence there. The house is still there, and is now the home of Guy C. Whitmore and his family, and is one of the landmarks on Fifth Street. Guy C. Whitmore is a grandson of Daniel Whit more, the pioneer who, with all his family, have passed from earth life. When the main branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad was. built through the valley, a flag station was made here, and in 1874 the first depot was built, and Cyrus Lee was the first station agent. This station was named Ceres because of the large quantities of wheat grown upon the surrounding plains, which made the name of the goddess most appropriate. John G. Annear was one of the pioneers of Ceres and built a blacksmith shop in June, 1872. He was a good mechanic and did the work, with his helpers, for farmers for many miles around this vicinity. His family consisted of a wife, one son and one daughter. His wife died about two years ago. His son, the late Edgar H. 182 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Annear, was a man of marked ability. He was for several years the county surveyor of Stanislaus County and was the engineer under whose directions the beautiful bridge across the Tuolumne, north of Ceres, was constructed. He died during the World War in the service of his country, with the rank of major. The daughter, Mrs. Ellen Wilson, lives in Ceres with her family of four children, and with her J. G. Annear makes his home. The first store was started in 1877, a firm named Bradley & Reed being the proprietors. The town was laid out and Daniel Whitmore made it famous by a clause in each deed given for town lots, prohibiting the manufacture, sale or giving away of any kind of intoxicating liquors thereon, with a penalty attached for violation, so Ceres was a "dry" town from the beginning. Some of the family names of those who settled here in the early days of the town are Service, Warner, Conner, Williams, Cook, Brouse, Chapin, Wallace, Witherell, Lee, Glenn, Wiggins, Woodbridge, Tully, Hanscom, Averill, Hall, Roberts, McNeil Craig, Hatch and Ulch. In the year 1 870 the first school was taught in the Ceres district by Mrs. Aurelia Chapin, who continued in the capacity of teacher here nine years. It is a long time from 1870 to 1921, and time has wrought many changes. Then there was a little one- room schoolhouse, white with green shutters at the windows, the type so well known. Now, a half century later, a fine white brick grammar school building, with supple mentary buildings and all modern equipment, a splendid brick high school building, with automobile instruction shop and other mechanical shops, all modern, a corps of teachers to the number of twenty-five and about 700 pupils. The first church, a Baptist Church, was organized in October, 1879, with twelve constituent members, only one of whom remains, Mrs. C. N. Whitmore, widow of C. N. Whitmore, who was a son of the pioneer, Daniel Whitmore. This little organ ization has grown to a church of more than 200 members. The first church edifice was built and dedicated in 1881-1882. It was a beautiful building, the pride of the community, but one night in 1890 it was consumed by fire. Insurance upon the building had inadvertently been allowed to expire; the members bravely went about the construction of a new building and in 1891 the present structure was dedicated. Today the church property of the Ceres Baptists is valued at $25,000. Three other churches have been organized here as the years have rolled on, Congregational, Methodist and Christian, with a membership now averaging perhaps 150 each, and each church with neat places of worship and parsonages. The city of Ceres is incorporated, with a population of approximately 1 ,000 ; but it is the center of a rich, rural population of about 17,000 people, much of the land adjoining the city being divided into lots of from one to ten acres each. Smyrna Park is the home of the Calimyrna fig, but here also grow in great abundance olives, peaches, pears, apricots, all kinds of berries and grapes. Alfalfa fields are seen in every direction in North, East, West and South Ceres. Here also large crops of beans, melons and even wheat are harvested. Wheat has not been so much in evi dence in these later years as formerly, before the irrigation district was completed. In 1895 a reunion of residents and ex-residents of Ceres was a notable affair, which we would like to describe if we had space, but this is one of many things we must hurriedly pass by. . A new sewer sj^stem is being constructed, costing about $10,000, but this will not be adequate. Citizens will have to use of their own private funds to meet the need. Ceres has a live Board of Trade of about 75 members. The business of the town is large, several mercantile houses, drug stores, restaurants, packing houses and warehouses, all doing well, and there is great need of a thoroughly modern hotel. The lodges in the city, active just now, are the Artisans and the Odd Fellows. Other important organizations are the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, the ™ 'nt 3nd & Parent-Teachers Association, as well as a Farm Center and a Young Mens Club. Ceres also has a branch library with nearly 1,000 card holders, Mrs. Ulch, librarian. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 183 One newspaper is published here, the Ceres Courier, a good, clean sheet with a wide circulation. A free movie show, it might be called an out-of-doors theater, is a great success. It is an attraction for crowds of people, and it is due to the generosity of a number of citizens who contributed to the expense of establishing it here. The Bank of Ceres is a beautiful building and does a large business. It is con sidered one of the solid institutions of the State of California. Four of the grandsons of the late Daniel Whitmore have beautiful homes in Ceres. Vaughn D. Whitmore is mayor of the city and president of the county board of supervisors. DENAIR Denair, formerly known as the Elmwood Colony, was named after John Denair, who laid out the townsite in 1907. The town is three miles from Turlock, and the Santa Fe Railroad planned to erect a roundhouse, machine shops and other buildings on the Elmwood colony. Denair learned their plan and bought up the land. His price to the Santa Fe for land was so high that they refused to purchase, so goes the story, and they located at Riverbank. As the land was within the Turlock Irrigation District, farmers began purchasing small tracts of land for the raising oi fruits, vegetables and alfalfa, and this gave an impetus to the growth of the town. It now has a population of about 400 persons within the town limits and some 1,500 persons in close proximity. A fine grammar school was erected in 1916, and a hand some Union high school is just completed at a cost of $60,000. There are in the town three religious organizations, the Christians, the Mission and the Friends, each denomination worshipping in a little frame chapel. The town is supplied with water from an elevated iron tank. Pure water may be found at a depth of sixty feet. The Commercial Bank of Turlock has there located a branch bank, and there are seven packing plants for the packing of the melons and fruit grown in the vicinity of Denair. HICKMAN Hickman, which lies on the Tuolumne just south of Waterford, was named after Louis M. Hickman, at one time a hardware merchant and maj'or of Stockton. In the late '60s, Mr. Hickman married Mary Dallas, the eldest daughter of Charles Dallas, and he and his father-in-law became two of the earliest settlers in the county. The town has within its limits a $20,000 grammar school, a house of worship and is quite a prominent shipping point. EMPIRE Empire, a survival of the old town, Empire City, is now on the line of a railroad lying about five miles east of Modesto. It is a farming community and chiefly occupied by Dunkards, a large colony of them arriving many years ago from Indiana. They are a very quiet, orderly and industrious people and frequently seen upon the streets of Modesto, are noticeable because of their peculiar dress. HUGHSON The 2,080-acre ranch owned by Hiram L. Hughson was purchased by Flock & Jacobson in 1907 and subdivided into small farms. They also laid out the town site. On account of litigation, development was held back about ten years, when operations began in earnest, and since that it has had a steady growth. Through intensive farm ing, the colony has made 'rapid progress, particularly in orchards, vineyards and alfalfa fields. General farming, dairying and grain raising is carried on extensively. The town has built up steadily and buildings have been erected commensurate with the growth of the town. The first merchant in Hughson was Mr. Chenoweth, his store being a small wooden building on the west side of the railroad. The second man to locate here in business was N. G. Clark, who came from Modesto and started a small hardware store and bicycle repair shop, but it is now exclusively a hardware store. Mr. Cheno weth was the first postmaster, the post office being located in his store. The first grammar school was built in 1908, opening with two teachers; the school has grown until ten teachers are now employed. The Hughson high school 184 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY was built in 1920, at a cost of $110,000, a large, beautiful and substantial building, of which the citizens are very proud. It was opened in February, 1921. Hughson has a fine domestic water system, and has a fire and lighting district. The last census gave the population as 400, but there are probably 500 residents. NEWMAN The city of Newman, sometimes called the metropolis of the West- Side, was founded by settlers from Hill's Ferry, who removed their houses and homes to a point near the railroad. In the number was the young merchant, Simon Newman, and after him the town was named. He died in San Francisco October 8, 1911. Newman was incorporated as a city of the sixth class in 1908. Its officers in 1911 comprised the following: President of trustees, J. H. Yancy; trustees, W. Tin- nin, J. H. Beall, C. E. Eddelson, J. N. Stuhr; city clerk, Helen Price; attorney, G. A. Whitby; treasurer, W. J. Burris; marshal, R. S. Kernaham. In 1915 the officers were: President of trustees, J. H. Beall; trustees, William Tinnin, G. O. Eddel- mon; A. Cronwell, J. N. Stuhr; clerk, Helen O. Price; attorney, G. A. Whitby; treasurer, Wm. J. Burris; marshal, R. S. Kernaham. The population, according to the census of 1921, is 1,251. A handsome Union high school was built in 1906. It is known as the Orestemba high school and Edmund P. Hailey has been the principal of the school since 1910. The school trustees erected a fine grammar school in 1912 at a cost of $50,000. It is said to be one of the finest concrete school buildings in the county. The town boasts of two and took considerable pride in its three banks, namely, The Bank of Newman, the Portuguese-American Bank, a branch of the San Francisco bank of the same name, and the First National Bank. The last named bank closed its doors and two of its officers were tried and found guilty of embezzlement. The Bank of Newman was incorporated May 4, 1903, and is said to be one "of the most solid and conservative financial institutions in the United States." Its first officers were E. S. Wagenheim, president; J. H. Elfries, vice-president; W. W. Giddings, secretary and cashier, and J. L. Kinnear, treasurer. The bank commissioners' report of 1920 gives the following officers and directors: E. S. Wagenheim, president; J. H. Elfries, vice-president; A. B. Joseph, secretary and cashier; J. L. Kinnear, treasurer ; C. W. Hawks, assistant to president ; F. S. Powell, assistant cashier. The bank has a branch at Crows Landing, A. W. Drummond, manager, and one at Gus- tine, E. J. Moorhead, manager. The bank directors are E. S. Wagenheim, A. M. Souza, J. H. Elfries, L. J. Newman, Fred Bartch (died May 1, 1921), F. R. Stevin- son, J. L. Kinnear, W. W. Cox and H. V. Armistead. Societies Several secret societies have been instituted in the town, among them a Masonic and Eastern Star lodge, Knights of Pythias, who own the hall and building, Woodmen of the World, Neighbors of Woodcraft, a Danish lodge and Newman encampment No. 98, Orestimba lodge No. 354, I. O. O. F., and Santa Rita lodge No. 206, Rebekahs. The Odd Fellows own their hall and the lodge was instituted November 25, 1889, by Grand Master Charles Jenkins, with the following charter members: Sydney Crelley, Charles Herring, Jasper Parnell, E. H. Robinson and S. Rasmussen. Tn their first report to the grand lodge they had thirty-eight -members. Tbe Rebekah Lodge was instituted April 10, 1894, by Catherine Freeman, district deputy grand master. They surrendered their charter in 1899. A few years later the lodge was reinstituted with the same name and number. Religion uTjC churches' five in number, include the Catholic, Christian Science, Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian. The denomination first-named, St. Joachim, is a small wooden structure erected in 1904 and dedicated four years later by Archbishop Montgomery Until 1906 it was included in the Modesto parish in charge of Father loin" -ri that.y™T Father J°hn Leal became the resident priest, remaining until lyiO. Ihe parish, now containing four missions, Gustine, Patterson, Crows Landing HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 185 and Grayson, is in charge of four Spanish priests of the "Order of the Immaculate Heart of Mary" in Los Angeles. Newspapers and Library The first newspaper, the Newman Tribune, was issued in 1888 by Bert Eachus, and the present journal, the West Side Index, was first issued in 1890 by Innis Sturgeon. The Newman free library was founded in 1908 by the Woman's Improvement Club, with Mrs. A. Sartoris as librarian. It is supported by contributions and money obtained by the club from entertainments, etc. The ladies, in July, 1909, purchased a lot for the library at the corner of Kern and O streets and immediately began beautifying the site by planting shade trees, plants and grass plots. They were in hopes in the future to obtain a Carnegie library building. Their hopes thus far have not materialized, for the state library report of this year says that the library is located in rooms provided by the club. Mrs. Sartoris resigned as librarian in July, 1911, and Miss Helen Lynch, the present librarian, was appointed. The little library was founded with thirty books on the shelves. It now numbers 1,141 miscellaneous vol umes, these including half a hundred books donated in 1911 by Mrs. R. L. Hodshire. Fire and Water Supply The city has a good fire department, with apparatus sufficient to extinguish any fire. This is possible because of a plentiful supply of water and a heavy water hose pressure from a high reservoir. The water is pumped from three deep wells, the pump delivering 500 gallons of water per minute. The firemen are now uniformed in the regulation fireman's coat, and each fireman will wear a fireman's badge. THE PATTERSON COLONY The townsite of Patterson ten years ago was a grain field, and the citizens point with considerable pride to that fact because it shows the wonderful progressive growth of the town since 1910. The tract is but a small portion of the Spanish grant known as the Rancho Del Puerto, named after the creek which flows from the western foot hills. The grant, containing some 20,000 acres, was purchased in 1864 by John D. Patterson, the deed being signed by the President, Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Patterson died in New York in 1902 at the age of eighty-seven years. He came to California in 1854 around Cape Horn, bringing with him several pure-bred Spanish Merino sheep, and for many years he was engaged in the raising of pure-bred shorthorn cattle and sheep, and a few well-bred racing horses. He was one of the leading stock- raisers in California for many years, and at every state and county fair he would cap ture the first prizes. As the Southern Pacific Railroad pushed its way along the West Side, at the request of Simon Newman, perhaps, or Patterson himself, the company placed a sid ing within the limits of the present city. It was known to the railroad men as the Emerald switch. At that point Simon Newman erected a warehouse for the storage of grain. When the Patterson estate was settled, the Rancho Del Puerto fell to the heirs, one of them T. W. Patterson. The heirs, forming a company in 1909, began laying out the land for irrigation. The water was pumped from the San Joaquin River, and October 25, 1910, it was first run over the land. The irrigation system is one of the most complete in California, says the Patterson Irrigator. "The com bined pumping stations is 1,645 horsepower, capable of supplying three acre feet of water yearly to the 19,000 acres in the tract." The company then divided the land into small tracts and began selling it to colonists. The first purchaser is said to be R. R. Peters, who purchased a tract February 2, 1910, now the corner of Walnut and Elm streets. Two large purchasers of land were William Cox and Frederick Bartch. They had bought their land near the present townsite, and two years later Mr. Bartch, retir ing from farming, cut his land up into five, ten and twenty-acre tracts and began dis posing of it to settlers. He was for years actively engaged in the developing and up building of the West Side and widely known up and down the San Joaquin Valley. 186 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY After an illness of less than a month, he died May 1, 1921, at the age of seventy-six years. Serving with the New York Volunteers in the Civil War, he came to Stanis laus County in 1876 and lived the balance of his life on his ranch near Patterson. An interesting feature of the colony is the fact that the first concrete grain elevator built in the great San Joaquin Valley was erected at Patterson. It has a capacity of 30,000 bushels of grain and is one of the feeders of the great system that has its outlet at Alameda. THE CITY OF PATTERSON Patterson, embracing a tract of some 400 acres, is quite a noticeable city for at least two reasons: first, because of its buildings in a semi-circle, and second, because its first business projects were backed up by those parties who founded the town. The Patterson heirs founded the place, and T. W. Patterson was one of the leading spirits in the project. The town was laid out after the old Spanish plaza type, its broad, tree-bordered, well-kept streets all converging to a small circle, the center of which is the administration building. It was so planned in 1910 by Mr. Patterson. C. J. Carlson was appointed postmaster in 1911, serving for one year. As it takes coin for the advancement of any project, and a place of deposit for the coin, the first building erected was a bank. "It is one of the prettiest in the state," says the Irrigator, "costing over $25,000, and with over $100,000 in deposits," in 1915. It was incorporated M'ay 23, 1911, the present officers and directors being (Bank Commissioner's report, 1920): C. J. Carlson, president; J. M. Smith, vice- president ; Ole Torvend, secretary-treasurer and cashier ; Otto Olsen, assistant cashier. Directors, A. M. Field, C. J. Carlson, J. C. Fulton, Ole Torvend, E. A. Erickson, J. M. Kerr, Manuel Rodgers, J. M. Smith and O. S. Lokka. A second bank, the Commercial, is now being constructed. A handsome hotel was then built by the company at a cost of $25,000 and, now under lease, is still owned by the company. A second hotel, at a cost of some $18,000, was later erected. Following the building of the hotel, the company erected a substantial building for a general merchandising store and this was followed by a garage. A two-story grammar school, constructed of wood, was erected in 1911, additions to serve the increased number of children being made the following year. Previous to 1915, a handsome concrete grammar school was erected at a cost of $25,000. The citizens voted a bond issue this year of $60,000 for a second grammar school. There are at present 457 pupils in the grammar grades, James W. Bixby being the principal of the school since 1916. In 1913 a Union high school was constructed approxi mating about $50,000 in cost. The school at present has eighty-seven pupils, J. Fraser Evans being the principal. The pioneer newspaper of the town is the Patterson Irrigator, first issued in September, 1911, as a company paper. It was a six-column, four-page weekly edition, and edited by Elwyn Hoffman. The present editor and owner is L. C. Fleharty. Purchasing the Irrigator in 1919, he enlarged it to a seven-column, four-page edition. The proprietor puts out a good paper and it is a credit to the town. The churches are numerous, seven in number, one church to every ninety-five of the population, men, women and children. They are designated as the Catholic, Church of the Brethren, Church of Jesus Christ, Latter Day Saints, Lutheran, Methodist, Norwegian, Presbyterian and Swedish Mission. The Women's Improvement Club has been established for several years and their crowning work is the Carnegie Library now being erected. Some time ago the agent of the fund gave $3,000 to the erection of a free library and the citizens, by subscription, raised money sufficient to erect a $11,000 library. The project was placed in the hands of the Women's Improvement Club, and on the afternoon of April 26, 1921, the cornerstone was laid'with appropriate ceremonies. The president' of the club, Mrs. J. H. Corcoran, presided, and short talks were made by C* J. Carl son and J. M. Kerr, city trustees, and the children of the public schools sang several songs under the direction of their music teacher, Miss Ruby Lambert. The Patterson orchestra rendered several selections. Patterson was incorporated in 1920 as a citv of the sixth class. The following were the officers elected: board of trustees, John Evans, C. J. Carlson, J. M. Kerr, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 187 Harry Heintz and W. L. Kirk; J. M. Smith, marshal, and J. M. Kerr, justice of the peace. The trustees are already engaged in a good work for health and prosperity in the installation of a $52,500 sewer system with septic tank, to be completed during the summer of 1921. They have also shown themselves of a high moral standard, higher than that of any other city in the valley, by passing four to one a Sunday law. It prohibits the showing of any entertainment where ad mission is charged on that day, also the playing of cards, pool or billiards in public on the Sabbath. They also passed some time ago what is known as "the little Vol stead" ordinance, which prohibits the sale or use of any liquors in the city unless authorized by a physician's prescription, or transportation of the same. The city has an excellent water supply, the water being pumped from deep wells into a large steel tank. It is of sufficient height and capacity to supply the homes with all the water desired and also gives an immense supply and heavy hose pressure to the firemen in case of fire. The Chamber of Commerce was established on a firm basis in 1920 and now' has a membership of more than sixty active business men and farmers. E. H. Tienken is the president of the organization at this time, and he also was the presiding officer at a dinner served by the ladies of the Presbyterian Church on the evening of April 25, 1921. The banquet followed a splendid boosters' meeting under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce, which was addressed by Thomas H. Reed of the University of California. Although Patterson is dependent upon the farmers of the surrounding country for its life and support, it has two industries within the town limits worthy of mention, namely, the Western Meat and Dairy Products Company and the Mineral Products plant. This plant, erected in 1917, obtains its mineral from the Quinto mines in the Coast Range. The plant covers about fourteen acres of ground, and in the ex traction of the magnesia about 120 men are employed. Another industry known throughout the nation is the Bridgeford Holstein Company. They are breeders of pure-blooded Holstein cattle and two of their cows have at present the world's record for producing butterfat. RIVERBANK About 1895 the San Francisco & San Joaquin Valley Railroad was built through what is now Riverbank and the station by that name established. The railroad was operated under that name until 1900, when it was taken over by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. In 1910 Riverbank was made a division terminal, dividing the long division between Richmond and Fresno, and the company immediately began the construction of concrete machine shops, roundhouses, oil storage tanks, towers, etc. As soon as the buildings were completed the company began making it a terminal point, consequently in less than a year the town had a population of 400 or 500 per sons, railroad employees and their families. Mercantile stores, a bank, religious denomi nations and secret societies were soon established. The first load of lumber arrived July 3, 1911. It was owned by A. W. Jackson of Modesto, who intended to establish a restaurant. The Riverbank Land Company was organized about 1910, and securing several hundred acres of land, laid out the town of Riverbank and began building up the place. The Riverbank Water Company was formed for the purpose of furnishing water to the town for domestic, railroad and fire purposes. The company controls an abundance of exceptionally pure water and has a well 226 feet deep, equipped with two fifteen-horsepower motors for pumping. About 1911 the Oakdale Irrigation District was formed under the Wright Act, and covered all the lands in the section not already under irrigation. The First National Bank of Riverbank was organized in 1913 with a capital stock of $25,000 and occupies exceptionally fine quarters in the land company's build ing. Riverbank has twelve hundred inhabitants and being a division point on the Santa Fe, has a pay roll of from $30,000 to $50,000 a month, all of which means that 188 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY many of the shopmen and trainmen living here have their own homes and from one lo twenty acres of land each. Riverbank is practically the gateway from the rich gold and timber counties of Calaveras and Tuolumne, and it is in the heart of over 400,000 acres of rich and fertile irrigated lands. The temperature here seldom drops below freezing and the rainfall averages about twelve inches during the year. There is no malaria and no alkali to handicap the prospective settler. All the land has water and as early as sixty j'ears ago the country was a solid grain field. The transportation facilities are unsur passed for a town of its size, no less than twenty-six passenger and eighteen freight trains leaving each day, and its roads and highways connect with the great state and national thoroughfares. Its entire population, with a few Mexican railway employees, is made up of white folks, and it is well provided with schools, churches, a library, newspaper, and mercantile establishments of all kinds. The dairy, sweet potato, peach, plum, pear, cherry, fig, olive, nut and berry industries are of imposing proportions and ever growing, and there are few places in the world where mixed gardening can be carried on to better advantage. The present pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mahlan J. Williams, says that the Riverbank Church was originally the Burneyville Methodist Episcopal' Church, organized in 1865, by Reverend Belknap, Sr. That church had the following pastors: The Reverends Belknap, Sr., Stewart, D. E. George, Belknap, Jr., Peters, Sheriff, Palmer, Crabb, Chilon, Wolf, S. Kinney, Hilbrook, Hugh, Copeland, Bratley, Walton, Buck, Strawbridge, Childers, Bryne, J. H. Sanborn and J. H. Rodgers. The Riverbank Church was erected in February, 1912, at a cost of $2,000. The following are the pastors up to date: James H. Rodgers, 1912-16; J. H. Ainsworth, September, 1916-17; Wallace Cutter, 1917-19. The present pastor, M. J. Williams, was appointed in September, 1919. The First National Bank The First National Bank was incorporated June 26, 1913, with a capital of $25,000. R. W. Hobart was president, J. W. Walker, vice-president, and C. B. Pressley, cashier. The present officers of the bank are John M. Ormsby, president; R. W. Hobart, vice-president, and R. L. Evans, cashier. On May 10, 1920, R. W. Hobart and his associates retired. Riverbank's First July 4th Celebration The spirit of patriotism in woman sleepeth not and the Woman's Improvement Club resolved that the nation's birthday should not pass unnoticed. Under their management, on that morning a large crowd of patriotic citizens assembled in front of the Methodist Church. At ten o'clock a procession was formed of some fifty public school children, each child carrying a flag, together with the citizens of the town. The procession then marched to the water tower, preceded by the old-time revolutionary music, a fife and drum. On arrival at the tower a large flag, presented by an enterprising firm, was hoisted to the top of the flag staff, Mrs. Louise Riech- man singing the "Star Spangled Banner." The Declaration of Independence was then read by Robert Callandar, and F. A. Raney delivered the oration. The school children then sang "The Red, White and Blue," followed by the reading of Whit- tier s famous poem, "Barbara Frietchie," by Mrs. Bradley. The exercises closed by the entire audience singing "America." Refreshments of ice cream and lemonade were served free throughout the day. About four o'clock a kite raising contest took place. Ihe celebration closed with a grand ball in the auditorium under the direction of the Misses Myrtle and Rose Riechman. OAKDALE This beautiful little city, situated in the midst of a forest of live oaks, was so named because of its location. Situated about a mile south of the Stanislaus River, the town sprang into existence almost in a day, because of the fact that the Stockton and Visalia Railroad, so-called at that time, would cross the river at a point now Known as Burnett s station. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 189 Oakdale's Founder As to the founder of Oakdale there are two different stories. Branch saj's the town was founded in 1871 by Patterson, Purcell and Jackson and the deeds to the town lots bear their signatures. A. J. Patterson, Alfred E. Purcell and a man named Jackson purchased land where now stands the city. They gave the right-of-way over their land and one-half of the townsite to the railroad to locate there the future town. The second story accords A. V. Tuohy as the "father of Oakdale." In the early '70s he carried on a store and the ferry at Burneyville. He and his brother, John H., owned about 1,500 acres of land across the river on which they raised grain. Early in the year he sold his Burneyville store and removed to Oakdale and there opened up a, store. Later he divided the land into town lots and sold them to the first settlers. Regarding the store, a newspaper reporter attending an excursion of the Champions of the Red Cross, a temperance organization, from Stockton to Oakdale, October 13, 1871, says: "A. V. Tuohy, formerly of Burneyville, has a store well stocked with general merchandise. He is also doing the forwarding of Chicard & Company, Stock ton, and will soon erect a hotel to be called the Oakdale Hotel." The hotel, which was later known as the Tuohy Hotel, was destroyed by fire February 19, 1878. The hotel at the time was kept by Fred Wier, formerly of Chinese Camp. Pioneer Buildings In October, 1871, just two months before the locomotive entered the town, there were twenty-one buildings in Oakdale. The reporter located them as follows : A large stable has just been erected for Harden, Schadlich & Hamlin on the east side of the railroad. On the east side of the stable a blacksmith shop is in full blast. This probably was J. B. Stearns' blacksmith shop. Dr. Hazen has an office and dwelling a short distance to the south. Located nearby there is a barber shop and Buddington's saloon, the proprietor having recently removed from Knights Ferry. On the west side of the railroad Mr. Snyder has erected a general merchandise store, in the rear is a Chinese wash house. Further west Mrs. Dodson, who owns the premises, has a small hotel. In the middle of the block a skating rink 40x140 feet has been opened. In 1881, says Branch, Oakdale had a" population of 600 persons, fifteen stores, seven saloons, two hotels, one restaurant, three blacksmith shops, a lum ber yard, a steam power barley mill, steam plow factory and two or three livery stables. Lots, he said, were selling from ten dollars to fifty dollars each, according to location. Two years later, October, 1883, there was a great demand for property, and lots which W. L. Moulton had sold in price from ten dollars to twenty-five dollars had advanced and were selling at prices varying from fifty dollars to $150, the lots being 25x100 feet in size. Fire Destroys Pioneer Buildings The first store in Oakdale, says J. E. Threlfall, was R. B. Syber's, located where now stands the First National Bank. Across the street, south, was Tuohy's Hotel, then the Moulton Hall, and adjoining the hall was the postoffice. Another statement says that adjoining the hotel came Mrs. Anderson's restaurant and ice cream parlor, then Thomas Caskey's butcher shop and the M. A. Lewis forwarding house, a branch of Geo. Ladd & Company, Stockton. In March, 1890, quite a number of houses on Railroad Avenue were destroyed by fire and several more buildings severely scorched. These buildings were occupied by A. S. Emery, dry goods ; Hammond's saloon, C. W. Spann's restaurant, Haslacher, Kahn & Co., general merchandise; J. Horsley, W. Pennell, J. S. Kerr, W. S. Woods, Phillip Myers, MacAllister & Dunbar, Spragh & Head and Mrs. H. Lyons, who kept the Central Hotel,' L. M. Smallfield and Howe & Smallfield. Moulton Hall was destroyed by fire on the evening of January 3, 1890. The building was owned by S. L. Smallfield and his brother, E. B., occupied the first story with a furniture store and undertaking parlors. About one o'clock on the morning of July 20, 1893, a fire broke out in the Harris livery stable on the east side of the railroad. The barn and twenty horses were burned, together with a saloon, the livery stable of Baker & Descant and a Chinese laundry. These fires wiped out the majority of the pioneer buildings. 190 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Excursions to Oakdale Oakdale in its early days was a delightful spot for picnics and excursions. The first of these picnics was given by a temperance organization of that day known as the Champions of the Red Cross. The excursion was run from Stockton October 13, 1871, and about 350 people went out to see the new town and enjoy a picnic "in one of the finest groves in the valley." The train stopped on the north side of the river, as the bridge was not completed and the party were transported over the shallow stream in wagons. The citizens provided a fine barbecue. There was music by the Stockton Concert Band, singing, and an oration was delivered by George B. Taylor, the state commander of the organization. An address was also given by George Hamlin of Oakdale. The following day, October 14, the superintendent of the Stockton and Visalia Railroad, W. J. L. Moulton, tendered a free excursion to the village of oaks. There was quite a large attendance and the following morning the Stockton paper gave a lengthy description of the new town. On April 23, 1875, the Sunday school of the Stockton Baptist Church held an excursion picnic at Oakdale. Lebanon Lodge, Rebekahs, of Stockton, celebrated the anniversary of the order April 25, 1879, in a basket picnic at Oakdale, joining with the Oakdale Lodge of Odd Fellows on that occasion. Forty years later, a degree staff from that lodge initiated sixteen candidates in Acorn Rebekah Lodge in September, 1919. By invitation of Superintendent Pugh of the Stockton & Visalia Railroad, on June 7, 1890, about fifty of Stockton's business men visited Oakdale. The passenger coaches were prettily decorated and upon either side of the cars was a banner bearing the words, "San Joaquin County Board of Trade Greets Oakdale." On arriving at Burnett's station they were met by the Oakdale reception committee comprising J. W. Dunlap, Levi Bardo, L. Kahn and J. Haslacher and escorted into the city. Carriages were provided, and accompanied by some thirty citizens, the party visited Knights Ferry and were shown the vineyards and immense wine vault of Abraham Schell, by his nephew, H. R. Schell. Returning they tarried at the Oakdale irriga tion canal and several of the party walked through the 800-foot tunnel. Again in Oakdale they were tendered a reception and banquet in the pavilion by the citizens. Over 150 were present, the reception committee consisting of A. S. Emery, C. H. Threlfall, E. L. Barkis, Supervisor J. W. Dunlap and M. A. Lewis. Toasts were offered and three of the responses were: "Oakdale," Joseph Haslacher; "The Past, Present and Future of Oakdale," C. S. S. Hill; "The Press," W. C. Haliday of the Oakdale Leader. The Oakdale Societies The oldest lodge is Oakdale Lodge No. 238, I. O. O. F., which was instituted on Saturday evening, February 27, 1875, by John F. Miller, grand master, assisted by the following grand officers pro tem : H. T. Dorrance, deputy district grand master; A. T. Bartlett, grand warden; H. S. Winn, grand secretary; Henry Lewis of Modesto, grand treasurer; George Perley, Modesto, grand guardian; C. F. Rea, grand marshal, and H. A. Manchester, grand conductor. The deputy grand master, marshal and conductor were from Stockton. The lodge was honored as H. T. Dor rance was a past grand master of Vermont and H. A. Manchester a past deputy grand sire. The following were the charter members: A. G. Gardner E. S. Waterhouse, W. A. Coley, W. G Werth, C. B. Ingalls, E. Monroe, and S. P. Bailey. There was a large attendance of Odd Fellows from Modesto, Dry Creek, Knights Ferry and Stockton. Two new members came in by card and eight candi dates were initiated. After* the ceremony the lodge entertained their guests at a banquet in Bob Patton's Hotel, formerly Harden's Hotel. Ruth Lodge of the Rebekahs was instituted September 27, 1879, by J. A. Brown, deputy district grand master. The charter membership comprised ten sisters and thirteen brothers. They surrendered their charter in October, 1894. Acorn Lodge No. 21 of the Rebekahs was instituted May 2, 1910, by Isabel Anderson, deputy district president, with the following charter members: Sarah Woods.de, Maggie Crawford, Etha Palmer, Lottie Sutcliff, Elizabeth Patterson, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 191 Addie J. Fowler, Ada Brooks, Eunice C. Reid, Bryon C. Sutcliff, Andrew J. Brooks, Robert Reid, J. F. Fowler, William H. Palmer, and Eugene Crawford. Fraternal Hall The Rebekahs, and, in fact, nearly all of the secret societies in Oakdale, hold their meetings in Odd Fellows Hall on West Railroad Avenue between E and F streets. A two-story brick building was erected in 1888, the building committee be ing comprised of Louis Kahn, A. Arnold, C. Crenfal, C. E. Davy and N. Talbot. The hall was dedicated December 25 by Grand Master Charles N. Jenkins. The pretty little hall was crowded and the exercises consisted of the singing of the ode, vocal selections by the choir led by Professor Lawlor, and short talks by the grand master and members. The program concluded with a public ball in the pavilion. The Oakdale Masonic Lodge Oakdale Lodge No. 275, F. & A. M., was granted a dispensation by Grand Master Jonathan D. Hines June 24, 1884, and a charter was granted to them October 16, 1884, with the following officers and members: Joseph Warner, worthy master; Dennis B. Warfield, senior warden; John D. Crittenden, junior warden; Jacob Haslacher, secretary ; George F. Stearns, treasurer ; John W. Tulloch, senior deacon; Levi Bardo, junior deacon; James G. Booth and Thomas Richardson, stewards, and Andrew J. Swift, tyler. The past masters were Joseph Warner and J. D. Crittenden. The Master Masons were Archibald Beith, Silas Bishop, James R. Broughton, Alexander Campbell, Wm. H. Cook, Sampson Deeble, Caleb Dorsey, John Hubel, George W. Lancaster and Edwin S. Waterhouse. Knights of Pythias It seems that a lodge of the Knights of Pythias was in existence in 1884. They attended the state convention of Knights at Stockton April 8, 1884, and were then the "baby lodge" of the state. They, however, surrendered their charter at some later date. The uniform rank at that time comprised some thirty members, as follows : W. C. Gilmer, commander; H. C. Watson, lieutenant; John Newman, herald; Edward Pattie, Gus Fugitt, W. C. Matteson, J. C. Burt, John Parker, Henry Gray son, Rudolph Buchow, C. H. Head, B. Seeber, Edward Trimbley, Wm. Sheldon, Frank Warner, James Collins, Scott Woodside, A. Carter, Frank Hill, John M. Woodside, Charles Murray, Fred Crawford, John S. Kerr, H. Eveland, E. S. Watrous and George Washington. The second Knights of Pythias lodge was instituted December 16, 1899, by H. Schoffner. He was assisted by George E. Perley, W. H. Bartel and W. A. Downer of Modesto; C. A. Campbell of Stockton, George Conway and F. A. Roberson of Merced, and J. W. Anderson of Oakdale. The following officers were elected and installed: B. Seeber, J. H. Owens, A. D. Ames and J. A. Miller as past chancellors; R. E. Murtha, chief chancellor; E. M. Endicott, vice-chancellor; B. S. Thomer, prelate; J. W. Anderson, master of work ; Henry Sanders, keeper of records ; A. S. Emery, mas ter of exchequer; J. C. Whyte, master of finance; C. W. Pointer, inside guardian; F. W. Jesse, outside guardian ; Dr. C. A. Case, physician ; D. B. Warfield, Dr. Case and B. Hoisholt, trustees. Native Sons of the Golden West Oakdale Parlor No. 142, N. S. G. W., was instituted in the early history of the town but soon passed out of existence. It was again instituted, however, November 1, 1899, by Frank Madison, grand president, assisted by Hugh McNoble, grand trustee, with charter membership of fifty-seven members, forty-two being initiated that night. The following officers were elected and installed: J. W. Dunlap, past president; J. A. Buthenuth, president; M. A. Lewis, first vice-president; R. L. Thompson, second vice-president ; Earl P. Tulloch, third vice-president ; W. J. Hughes, treasurer ; Edward Schadlich, recording secretary; J. H. Kahn, financial secretary; R. H. Archer, inside sentinel ; B. L. Sesson, outside sentinel, and W. E. Miller, F. H. Randall and William Hughes, trustees. A large delegation from Stockton Parlor No. 7 was in attendance and at the close of the meeting all enjoyed a feast at the hotel. 192 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Woodmen of the World Oakdale Camp No. 326, W. O. W., was instituted August 8, 1896. One of (.he greatest log-rolling events of the camp was held June 24, 1911, which took place in Hughes Hall. There was a large attendance of Woodmen from all parts of Cali fornia, over 300 arriving in a special train from Lodi and Stockton. A number of the grand officers were present, these including the head consul, J. K. Boak of Den ver; deputy head consul, P. J. Gilman of San Francisco; head banker, A. E. Suther land of Fresno, and head manager, Thomas Robinson of Oakland. On arrival of the visitors a procession was formed and after parading tbe principal streets to the music of several bands, with illuminations of red fire and fireworks, the procession dis banded near the hall. The line of parade comprised the Woodmen of the World, Rough Riders, Oakdale, Stockton Cornet Band, head officers in automobiles, Protec tion Uniform Camp, Stockton ; Tokay Camp, Lodi ; Saw Log Camp, Tracy ; Merced Band, Uniform Team, Merced; Waterford Uniform Camp, Modesto Silver Band, Moss Rose Camp, Modesto, Oakdale Band and Oakdale Camp. The committee of arrangements comprised Henry Sanders, chairman ; E. T. Gobin, Roy L. Acker, George W. Baker and J. W. Hoffman, and after the closing of the lodge session they pro vided a large banquet in the Oakdale Milling warehouse. The American Legion The allied war with all of its horrors is not yet a dream but slowly it is fading from memory and its only reminder is the high cost of living, the war tax and the American Legion of Honor. The boys who crossed the sea and those who were dis appointed in not meeting the enemy have formed themselves into a Legion of jolly good fellows. In every city they have their post, and Oakdale has its Legion of valiant sons who fought for liberty and died. One of these who lost his life in the service of his country was Stanley L. Collins. The Stanley L. Collins Post Stanley L. Collins Post, American Legion, was organized at Oakdale, November 27, 1919, by the Oakdale veterans. Its first officers were J. A. Young, president; Charles Williams of Riverbank, first vice-president; Nathan Ferguson, secretary and treasurer. The Legion was organized with a membership of fifty. It was named after Stanley L. Collins, an Oakdale boy and engineer in the first expeditionary force to cross over in the Tuscania. She was sunk by a German submarine. Order of Eastern Star The present secretary of the chapter, Elizabeth F. Crowe, writes to me that Oakdale Chapter No. 226, O. E. S., was instituted in Odd Fellows Hall, April 11, 1905. The instituting officers were Worthy Grand Patron pro tem George W. Lan- gridge and Worthy Grand Matron Pauline Wetzlar Dohrman of Homo Chapter No. 50, Stockton. These officers were assisted by the following grand officers pro tem: Lizzie S. Wilcox, associate matron; Mamye Lancaster, secretary; F. J. Yost, treasurer; F. L. Kincaid, conductress; D. O. Castle, associate conductress; Zillah Wood, chap lain; Elmira West, marshal; Harriet K. Black, organist; Gertrude Rowland, Adah; Ella B. Homage. Ruth; Roma Tulloch, Esther; Elizabeth Perry, Martha; Luella E. Cavis, Electa ; Mary Manuel, warden, and William Emerv, sentinel. The charter members of the chapter are Henry C. Barton, Ebenezer Crabtree, Anna M. Hennemath, John L. Hennemath, William H. Hall, Orilla Hall, Bertha C. Kahn, Joseph H. Kahn, Rheta Loraine Kahn, Darcey E. Lee, Frederick J. Martin, John Henry Mulroy, Amanda H. Mulroy, Charles Calvin Wood, Essaye Johanna Wood. The following officers were elected and installed: Cecilia Kahn. worthy matron; Charles Wood, worthy patron; Caroline Emery, associate matron; Rheta L. Kach, secretary; H. C. Barton, treasurer; Mabel Kahn, conductress; Anna May Hen nemath, associate conductress. After the close of the meeting the members enjoyed a feast in the adjoining hall. Woman's Improvement Club At the state election of October 10, 1911, the voters of California adopted an amendment to the constitution granting to all females over twenty-one the right of HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 193 suffrage. About that time and perhaps a few years previous women's organizations were formed for the purpose of, as Mrs. Henry Sanders of Oakdale declared, assisting in beautifying the cities, encouraging public sentiment for the betterment of the com munity and assisting in all matters where progress and publicity are required. Stanislaus County seems to be particularly "blessed" with women's improvement clubs. They have one in nearly every town and since they have become voters, the supervisors and city trustees "sit up and listen" when they offer any suggestion for city betterment or improvement. The Oakdale Woman's Improvement Club was organized in April, 1907, with Mrs. Clara Sanders as its first president. One of their first subjects of discussion was a children's playground or park. Little could they accomplish in that direction, as they had no funds of any great amount and public sentiment was asleep. Soon after their organization, however, Edward and William Rodden, two native sons, donated the club a block of land on First Avenue between A and B streets, for park purposes. In honor of the wives of the donors the club named it Dorada park, Dora and Ada being their Christian names. The ladies "planned and planted" the park, but unable to pay the expenses of a caretaker, they turned it over to the city. They were intru- mental, also, in having the Carnegie Library erected and are agitating the question of improving the city cemetery and building good roads at the present time. The cemetery is about a quarter mile southeast of the town and there lie the pioneers of Oakdale, among them T. R. Roberts, David Tulloch, A. J. Patterson, Samuel Acker and other former well-known residents. In April, 1916, the club inaugurated a "clean-up week" and by a proclamation they called upon all of the citizens to "clean up their back yards, mend their broken fences artd gates, and pile up all boxes, tin cans and other rubbish so as to make the city presentable for the big barbecue to be given the Grand Parlor of Native Sons on Wednesday next." And then came the report, April 14: "The city clean-up under the auspices of the Woman's Improvement Club was a big success, and the citizens hauled about 100 tons of rubbish to the city dumping ground. Citizens worked for a week in cleaning up their premises and today it was hauled away." The officers of the club, elected at that time, April 22, 1916, were: Mrs. Clara Sanders, president, re-elected ; Mrs. C. O. Willard, vice-president ; Mrs. A. E. Wood, secretary, and Mrs. Alton Sivley, treasurer. The present officers, elected March 18, 1920, are: Mrs. W. T. Kerr, president; Miss Mary Lambuth, vice-president; Mrs. Garrison Turner, secretary, and Mrs. Ralph Kennedy, treasurer. The past presidents of the club are Mrs. Clara Sanders, Mrs. Lottie Hoffman, Mrs. Abbie Carmichael, Mrs. Minnie Ordway, Mrs. Marie Tulloch, Mrs. Hattie Clark. The Dorada Club House Situated opposite the park on the east side is the Dorada club house, the lot having been given to the club by the Rodden brothers. The club having some money on hand, and with the assistance of citizen donors, erected a club house at an approximate cost of $2,000. It was erected as an assembling place for social enter tainments, dancing parties, dramatic performances and all kinds of public gatherings. It was provided with a parlor, dressing rooms, stage with plenty of light, and a fine dancing floor. The club house was formally opened on the evening of April 15, 1916, and all of the elite of the city were present. "The hall was transformed into a flower garden, the latticed walls being hung with roses, while potted plants and baskets of flowers were used in artistic arrangement to give a vivid color to the new furnish ings " The program given in the evening included musical numbers by Mesdames Roy Maxey, Edward Dorsey, Miss Ida Warford of Riverbank and Dot Moore of Stockton. Readings were given by Lucile Squibbs and Mrs. Alton Sivley, and short talks by Father Rooney, Clarence Wood, Roy L. Acker and J. A. Young. During the evening Miss Nellie Walker pleased the audience by singing, in costume, the cere monial songs of the Zuni Indians. 13 194 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY The Carnegie Library The Carnegie library represents in a measure the literary progress of the citizens of Oakdale, for of a literary turn of mind they were, away back in the earlier days of the town. Mrs. Lucia Hoisholt Ferguson, writing for me a short sketch of the begin ning of the library, says it "started from the Shakespearean club." They purchased books of fiction and non-fiction, and charged one dollar a year for the use of the books. The library room was in the grammar school in 1901, rent free, with an income of sixty dollars a year, the money being derived from entertainments and rent of books. Probably at a later date the library was removed to a room over the Farmers & Merchants Bank. From there it was moved to a store on West Railroad Avenue near the post office. After the establishing of the Stanislaus County Library the city books were divided between the library and the high school library. Miss Provines, librarian of the county library, took up the question of permanent Oakdale city library and in connection with the Woman's Improvement Club a correspondence was opened with Carnegie's library agent. In course of time an agreement was made and Carnegie proposed to appropriate the money for a $10,000 library building pro vided the city trustees would obtain and deed the lot and agree to maintain the library with an income of $700 a year. The correspondence took place in 1916 and immediately the women struck a snag. When the club brought the matter before the trustees they refused to take any action or even discuss the matter. Two of the trustees refused because they declared the library would be erected with tainted money, and three refused action because they said the city was financially poor and such extravagance would be unwise. Not in the least discouraged by this rebuff, the club then made a proposition to the supervisors to establish a county library. The supervisors favored the proposition. The club then obtained the money and purchasing lots 2 and 4 in block 105, July 15, 1916, presented the deed to the supervisors. The following day, says the record, the super visors appointed Supervisor John H. Clark to confer with the Oakdale committee regarding the building of the library. The building was completed in 1917. Miss Lucia Hoisholt was the first appointed librarian, being succeeded by Mrs. Elizabeth Crowe, who still holds the position. The Newspapers Oakdale today has a very creditable weekly newspaper, it being the success or of the Wheat Grower and the Graphic. The Wheat Grower was established as early as 1882, by L. M. Booth, formerly of Knights Ferry. Mr. Booth was the editor, col lector and advertising man. The mechanical part of the paper was handled by Cecil P. Rendon as compositor and pressman, with a boy assistant. Mr. Booth soon retired from the editorship of the paper, leaving in charge an editor who nearly demoralized the paper and scandalized the town. Booth was again compelled to take charge of his paper and restore harmony. This was October 6, 1883, and the people rejoiced at the welcome change. The Graphic, which superseded the Wheat Groiver, was first published in 1883. Its home, no doubt, was on West Railroad Avenue near H Street, for to this day you may there see a small one-story building and upon the front in large letters the word "Graphic." The paper was published for many years but we have no knowledge of it save that later it moved into the Nightingale building and when that buliding was leased to George Kennedy the Graphic went out of business. The Oakdale Leader was established in 1888, probably by W. C. Holloway, who was editor and proprietor in June, 1890. In February, 1895, the Leader was moved to the Haslacher & Kahn building. In July, 1899, the paper changed hands and Davis W. Tulloch, named after his grandfather, the pioneer, is credited with being the proprietor. His editor was Judge W. H. Griffith, who unfortunately, June 12, 1900, lost his beautiful two-story residence by fire. Mrs. Griffith, who survived the Judge by many years, died in December, 1919. The Graphic was consolidated with the Leader July 3, 1918, and it gave the proprietor of the Leader at that time, Louis Meyers, the opportunity of improving his HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 195 paper, for with opposition from other newspapers in small towns there is nothing in it for either paper. In the following year, December, the Leader was improved by the installation of a new and the latest model of type-setting machine, together with six different type faces varying from eight point to subheads. Installing in February of this "year a press formerly in use by the Auburn Daily News, the Leader was changed in form from a five-column, eight-page paper, to a six-column, eight-page paper. This gives eight colunms more space and with the new press, a daily can be published. The Oakdale Grammar School For a number of years the children of Oakdale were obliged to attend the Lang worth district school. In time, however, the population of the town rapidly increased, and the school children were so numerous that it became necessary to build a school building within the town. In 1881, a two-story wooden building was constructed on the block where now stands the fine grammar school. Additions were made to the building from time to time until it became nothing more than an old fire trap, in which a hundred children's lives were daily in danger. The citizens finally demanded a modern up-to-date school building. And in February, 1900, they circulated a petition requesting the school trustees to submit to the voters the proposition to bond the district for a school building. The school trustees, acceding to the demands of the citizens, called an election for June 30, 1900, for the issuing of bonds to the amount of $26,000 for the erection of a school building. The proposition carried almost unanimously, only 34 out of a vote of 227 opposing the issue of bonds. Those interested in the movement became so enthusiastic over the result that a ratification jubilee was held "and there was danger of all of the powder and fireworks in the town being exploded to celebrate the event." Laying of the Cornerstone Almost immediately the trustees began preparations to erect the new building. The additions to the old wooden* building were torn down and the main budding was moved away and is now used as a lodging house in the northern part of the city. The plans of the new building were drawn by Hugh Bronton of Stockton and the successful contractor was Richard Nowell from the same city. The plans called for a two-story brick building, 140x150 feet, with a tower 40 feet in height. The building was to contain ten class rooms, each, room 30x35 feet. There was a principal's room, a library, closets and hat and coat, rooms. Early in February, 1901, the foundation had been laid and everything was ready for the laying of the cornerstone. The matter was placed in the hands of the Oakdale Masonic Lodge and they appointed D. B. Warfield, Louis Kahn, Dr. C. C. Wood, E. P. Tulloch, E. M. Endicott and the master of the lodge, John W. Tulloch, as the committee of arrangements, and they invited the Grand Lodge of California to lay the cornerstone. The invitation was accepted, and Grand Master James F. Foshay deputized Grand Senior Warden Orrin S. Henderson to act as grand master. Satur day, February 9, 1901, is a day to be long remembered in the history of Oakdale, because of the important event and the immense crowd that filled her streets. All of the Masonic lodges of Stockton, Modesto, Turlock and other points were invited to attend the ceremony. The Stockton Masons in large numbers met at Riverbank by the Oakdale Masons, were taken in carriages to Oakdale. On arrival the grand lodge, comprising Orrin S. Henderson, grand master ; Michael Fennell, deputy grand master; A. W. Davidson, senior grand warden; Frank Israel, junior grand warden, and W. F. Weinbeck, assistant junior grand warden, acting grand officers pro tem, all of Stockton, were escorted to the hall of Oakdale Lodge No. 275, by Pacific Com mandery No. 3, of Sonora. The Grand Lodge then convened and after the opening ceremony all Master Masons were admitted. At one o'clock a procession was formed on West Railroad Avenue, comprising the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, children of the public schools, and citizens. Led by the band they marched along West Railroad Avenue across the track to East Railroad Avenue to the new school building. After a selection by the band and a song by the quartette, the silver trowel with which the cornerstone was laid was presented to Grand Master 196 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Henderson. Then came songs by the children and the laying of the cornerstone in accordance with the time honored ceremonies of the Masonic order. The ceremony concluded with an oration by George McCabe. The splendid celebration concluded with a banquet in the evening which was tendered to all of the visitors. The building was completed in time for the beginning of the school term, and cost some $40,000. The teachers in the new building, all of them having taught in the old wooden structure, were R. E. Murtha, principal ; Lizzie Rodden, Elsie Turner, Ida Simpson, Jennie W. Roberts, Mrs. L. M. Cornwall and Mrs. Mary F. Sawyer. Mrs. Sawyer is the oldest teacher in the school department, having taught continuously from 1881 until 1914. Soon after retirement friends and her former pupils presented her with a purse of $500. She died at Oakdale, January 7, 1920, the Oakdale Eastern Star lodge conducting the services. The Oakdale Union High School The father of the high school is Prof. J. M. McKensie, who emigrated to California from Nebraska, located in Oakdale. Soon after coming he saw the neces sity of a high school in the prosperous town, and he induced a number of progressive citizens to form a company and erect a building adapted to school purposes. A build ing was constructed on Euclid Avenue, then quite a distance from the business center, and opened by the professor as a tuition boarding high school. It was a complete success. Soon after its establishment, however, the state legislature passed a law providing for the establishment of a district high school, the school to be supported by district taxation. The corporation gave the district the free use of the building. Unfortunately, however, in September, 1897, the building was destroyed by fire. This, of course, put an end to the instruction of the high school branch for a time. After the building of the brick grammar school, rooms were provided in that building until 1 906. At that time the Union high school was completed. Its first graduates were Jennie Acker Wood, Thomas Gray, Eleanor E. MacNulty, Minnie Thompson, Mayme Holloway Smith, and Elsie P. McNealy. The Protestant Churches In the early history of the church at Oakdale, the Christian advocates erected a house of worship at the corner of F and Second Avenue. It was dedicated in 1882 and was known as the "Union Church." Here for a year or more they worshipped God, ofttimes singing, no doubt, the old familiar hymn — "Blessed be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love ; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above." The population of Oakdale rapidly increased and it brought corresponding in crease to the membership of each religious denomination worshipping in the "Union Church." As each society believed itself strong enough to stand alone, they withdrew from the union congregation and erected their own denominational edifice. Unfortu nately, we have no dates regarding the withdrawal of denominations. However, in January, 1895, A. J. Patterson called "a meeting of the trustees to determine what shall be done with the Union Church building. It was built by all denominations but each has now its own edifice, and the church is vacant." It is stated that E. G. Craw ford, the first Southern Pacific agent in Oakdale, purchased the property for $500. He then expended $500 more in fitting up the building for the use of the Christian Church, he being a member of that denomination. Few in number, they could not pay the monthly expense, and the building remained vacant for many years. It was finally sold to the Methodists for $1000. The United Brethren in Christ, occupying a building on the corner of E and First Avenue, are a sect of many years standing. They have at present no pastor, but services are conducted by a former member of the Presbyterian church. The Free Methodists are a long established sect with a church building and par sonage at the corner of G and Third Avenue. Their history is lost in the dim past, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 197 and the present pastor, the Rev. Alfred Randall, says he knows of no one with a knowl edge of its early history except one former member now living in a distant city. The Presbyterian Church, whose present pastor is Rev. George Grieg, lies a block east of the Free Methodist building. It is a small, neat looking building, noticeable because of a live oak tree standing near the church entrance with its eight large branches less than two feet from the earth. The history of the organization dates back to 1883, with the Rev. J. M. White as pastor. The church building was erected, when? Previous to 1894, however, for in November of that year the Presby terian Church is having a new bell tower erected, said "Caroline's Aunt." The Rev. White was a manly man, for it is recorded of him that in the great fire of March 7, 1884, "the Presbyterian minister fought the fire for two long hours, backing out only When scorched and blistered by the heat." The Episcopal parish existed some eighteen years ago, and about that time a little chapel was erected on F Street. The Mission Church was probably supplied from Stockton and Modesto. They had a lot and a fund of $1000 "available for church purposes in October, 1900" and, says the record, "Archdeacon Emery has been here this week looking into the matter." First Oakdale Church Dedication The Methodist Episcopal Church of Oakdale was organized in September, 1881, by the Rev. William D. Crabb, the first pastor. Services were held in the school- house until the building of the "Union Church." The Methodists then united with the other churches. The following year, however, they purchased a lot at the corner of G and Third Avenue and at a probable cost of $3500 erected a comfortable little building. It was dedicated December 14, 1883, by the Rev. John Holmes of Alameda. He was assisted in the service by the Reverends J. M. White and W. C. Curry and William D. Crabb. The music at the mornping service was led by Miss Brinkerhoff of Modesto, and at the close of the service subscriptions were solicited to pay off the small church debt, and nearly $400 was subscribed and collected when the plate was passed around. In our research we found that in February, 1895, an addition was made to the building. Huntley & English signed a contract to build an addition 24x38 feet with a fourteen-foot arched ceiling, $543 to be the cost. One of the most attractive church edifices in Central California is the present structure of the Oakdale Methodist Episcopal Church. The building, says Frank C. Farr, the pastor, "is a work of art," and its erection was made possible by the splendid mechanical ability and love for his art of A. J. Steppe of Turlock and the gift of land by E. H. Gatling, who at the age of seventy years became a convert to Christianity, partly through the efforts of the Rev. Richard Rodda. Constructed of waste chippings from the Raymond granite quarry, the building is 78x91 feet in size, of the mission style of architecture, and will seat, including the Sunday school room, 1000 persons. The auditorium and balcony will accommodate 670 persons. The basement contains a large social hall, kitchen and dining room, and a furnace with an attachment serving both as a heating and a cooling plant. The building cost about $20,000 and it was dedi cated, debt free, July 29, 1917, by the Bishop Adna Wright Leonard. The morning service consisted of a hymn, baptismal service, soprano solo by Mildred Gilbert, recep tion of new members, solo by Rev. Richard Rodda, a short address by the bishop, hymn and benediction. In the afternoon the church was dedicated and a sermon deliv ered by Bishop Leonard. The services included anthems by the choir, Scripture read ing and a prayer. In the evening there was evangelistic services, special choral music, a solo by Mrs. C. H. Atkinson and short addresses by former pastors. The first Sunday school in Stanislaus County was organized near Burneyville under an oak tree in 1865 by A. J. Coffee, who acted as its superintendent. The first Methodist Episcopal pastor was the Rev. Pansy, who had an appointment near Burneyville. These facts were given to the Rev. F. C. Farr by Mr. Coffee shortly before his death. Mr. Coffee also said that at that time Oakdale was a solid forest of white and live oak," with only one old shack of a home. 198 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY The following are the pastors who have served in the Methodist Church : Wil liam D. Crabb. 1881 to September, 1884; William Chilson, 1884-86 ; Joseph R. Wolfe, 1886-88 ; A. Holbrook, 1893-96; Hugh Copeland, 1896-97 ; Carl M. Warner, 1902-04; Alfred J. Chase, 1904-06; J. U. Simmons, 1906-08; Walter C. Howard, 1908-09; N. M. Parsons, 1909-11 ; Fay Donaldson, 1911-15. Three pastors have each remained in charge five years, Solomon Kinsey, 1888-93; Richard Rodda, 1897-1902, and F. C. Farr, since September, 1915. The City Government Like every question of importance there was an affirmative and a negative side to the question, "would a city government be beneficial to Oakdale?" For thirty years they lived without a city government, and without the heavv taxation that accom panies it. A community unorganized has its advantages; 'so, also, does a city govern-' ment. The opinions of a majority of its citizens favored a government and it was incorporated under the general law of 1906 as a city of the sixth class. The officers comprised five trustees, elected by the people, the trustees having authority to appoint attornej*, clerk, treasurer and marshal. Their term of service was four years. The fol lowing officers have since held office: 1906 — J. B. Stearns, Oakdale's first blacksmith, presiding; A. L. Gilbert, J. G. Thompson, W. R. Gray and W. F. Wheeler. 1910— J. B. Stearns, president; A. L. Gilbert, E. G. Crawford, W. R. Gray and W. F. Wheeler. 1914 — W. F. Wheeler, president; A. L. Gilbert, E. C. Crawford and W. R. Gray, with A. W. Reeder, city attorney ; Roy L. Acker, city clerk ; A. T. Maxwell, treasurer; George T. Morrison, marshal. 1916 — E. M. Endicott, president; E. C. Crawford, H. G. Laughlin, E. N. Moulton and J. B. Stearns. 1918— E. P. Moulton, president; A. E. Lowden, E. M. Endicott, H. G. Laughlin and I. B. Thompson. 1920 — -I. B. Thompson, president; A. F. Lowden, E. F. Haslam, C. E. Wood and C. C. Wood. The election of 1920 was quite exciting, the firemen electing their candidates, Clarence E. Wood and E. F. Haslam. Roy L. Acker again proved himself one of the most popular men in the community, defeating his opponent for city clerk, 309 to 85. He has been city clerk for the past twenty odd years. The total registration of the city, men and women over twenty-one years of age was 600, and the total vote for trustees was as follows : Dr. C. C. Wood, a dentist, 299 ; Clarence Wood, assistant manager Bank of Italy, 276; Earl Haslam, garage owner, 274; H. G. Laughlin, 258. The City Hall Since the organization of the city of Oakdale in 1906, the city offices had been located in rooms owned by private individuals, and the trustees made a wise move when they concluded to purchase a building for the city use and thus save several hundred dollars a year rent. Fortunately at this time, March, 1920, they found on sale a very desirable property at the corner of West Railroad Avenue and G Street. It was a one-story brick building, 50x60 feet, on a lot 50x100. The property belonged to Mrs. A. S. Emery of Santa Rosa, a former old-time resident of Oakdale. The property was on sale at $8000, but learning that the city was desirous of purchasing the property for a city hall, she consented to cut the price to $4500. The trustees had the cash on hand and promptly accepted her generous gift. The building was remodeled and the city officers are now "at home." The Heroic Volunteer Firemen For nearly a third of a century a number of men of Oakdale have been organized into a volunteer fire department, voluntarily and cheerily giving their time and their money, and ofttimes their lives for the protection of property from fire. The official head of the Oakdale Fire Department says, "Organized in 1885," but it is of record that in the fire of March 7, 1884, "the Oakdale Hook and Ladder Com pany, the only fire organization in the village, turned out thirty men to fight the flames Ihe only method of putting out the fire was the old one by passing buckets of water from hand to hand and throwing it on the flames. There was a good water supply taken from iron tanks connected by pipes with water troughs, but it failed HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 199 ro stop the fire and they began tearing down buildings." Another account says, in recording the same fire, "The fire bell was rung and a few firearms were discharged, which awoke people from their slumbers. The firemen were out quickly and did splendid work, under Chief Landsee and Foreman Woodside. The Chief was seconded by Johnny Woodside, together with those heroes, Anderson Beachley Stearns, Martin Green, Kehoe, Willet and Tuson." These statements are taken from a correspondent to the Stockton Independent and Mail, and bej'ond any doubt the fire department was fully organized in 1884. At that time the only fire apparatus owned by the firemen was a hook and ladder purchased from the city of Stockton. Some four years after this fire the citizens pur chased a second-hand side-brake Button engine; and in the fire of January 3, 1890, which destroyed Moulton Hall, "the excellent work of the fire department with their hand engine saved the adjoining building." The engine which was manned or pumped by the firemen, drew water from cisterns or big wells dug in West Railroad Avenue and there were three of them along the street, says Henry Sanders, an old pioneer fireman. The engine, years later, was sold to the Waterford citizens. The flames which destroyed the Central Hotel in 1884 occupied by the Lyons family, January 11, 1895, also destroj'ed the Commercial Hotel and the Good Templars' Hall. Dr. Hamil ton, the dentist, had a narrow escape from being caught by the flames and he lost everything, including $200 worth of gold leaf. In 1912 the building of the water works by the city gave the firemen good water facilities from the hydrants, but for further protection in September of the same year the trustees, together with the firemen, purchased a La France combination chemical and hose wagon. This later was discarded -and in 1917 the city purchased an auto combination hose and fire pump, capable of throwing four heavy streams of water. This pump was given its first test at the fire of October 14, 1919, which destroj'ed the Almond Growers' warehouse, with a total loss of warehouse and almonds of $45,000. It was the most destructive fire in the history of the town and "only the strenuous efforts of the firemen, backed by the new engine, prevented the spread of the flames to more valuable property. Neither the city pumps or the old Betsy would have been ade quate to fight the flames." The chief engineers of the Department so far as I have been able to obtain them are the pioneers: Henry Sanders, A. Arnold, E. L. Barkis and M. J. Nightingale. Since 1907 the chiefs were H. W. Hughes, 1907; A. B. Haslacher, 1908-9-10-16; A. J. Jones, 1911-13-14-15; Dr. J. A. Young, 1912; D. E. Lee, 1912; O. Z. Bailey, since 1916. The present officers of the department are O. Z. Bailey, chief engineer; Oswald Ball, first assistant engineer; Ed. Schmiedlin, second assistant engineer; J. M. Watson, Jr., secretary, and Frank Lee, treasurer. The Oakdale Water Works A fire department, no matter how well equipped, is worthless unless there be plenty of water at hand. San Francisco with its splendid fire department found out that fact when on April 18, 1906, the city was destroyed by fire. Hand pumps, water wells, and windmills were a common sight in Oakdale until 1884. In that year Thomas Roberts, a former resident of Knights Ferry, established a private water works. It comprised a small pump, which, drawing the water from a deep well, forced it into a large brick cistern on top of a low knoll, just south of town. Mr. Roberts, a very worthy citizen, died in 1899; his remains lie buried in a brick vault in the cemetery, and a beautiful mosaic window in the west wall of the Methodist Church keeps ever in remembrance Oakdale's first enterprising citizen. Previous to his death Mr. Roberts had leased the waterworks to a Mr. Rand. That gentleman suddenly died, and his administrator, Dr. Case, carried on the water works as manager. Small water pipes were run through the streets of the town and four-inch mains were carried to the fire cisterns, to be turned on in case of fire. As the town grew in population there was a great demand for more water, but Dr. Case could not make any improvements, as he was restrained by the courts. A dispatch of August, 1900, declared that "use of water for irrigation had caused a great drain 200 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY on the system and there is talk of piping water from the canal on the north side of the Stanislaus River for irrigation in Oakdale."* About the same time it was reported that a stock company was to be formed to supply the town with water "as it is believed that water could be supplied cheaper than in the present case." Nothing came of it. In 1903, however, Wallace Ferguson, who married Anna Roberts, took over the Rand lease, and acted as manager of the waterworks until 1912. At that time, says Roy L. Acker, the city took over the waterworks, paying the estate $5000. The citizens then voted a bond issue of $50,000. A suitable piece of land was purchased from F. A. Cottle near the Stanislaus River, about a mile from the city. On this land there was a hill eighty-six feet above the level of the town. On this hill a large concrete cistern was built, twenty-five feet in height, the cistern having a capacity of 500,000 gallons. When filled, the water height above the town is 121 feet. Near the bed of the river there are two large pumps drawing water from deep wells and run by electrical power forcing water into the cistern. The pumps are so arranged that in case of fire they can pump directly into the main pipes which connect in the city with the fire hydrants. "Oakdale, May 12, 1913.— The city is now receiving water from the new water works. The pumps and wells started out in great shape. The tank will supply the town with a water pressure of thirty-eight pounds and can be thrown directly into the main in case of fire with a 100-pound pressure." The Sierra and Jamestown Railroad Probably the enterprise most injurious to Oakdale was the building of the Sierra Railroad. Up to that time the town was growing rapidly in wealth and population. It was the depot of passengers and freight for the mining camps, and two stage lines daily left the town for camps, filled with passengers. But the railroad changed all this and for a time the growth of the town was slow. The Sierra Railroad was built by Prince Poniatowski, Samuel D. Freshman and Thomas S. Bullock. The last named was the leading man in the enterprise. The three men, it is stated, met at Oakdale, January 1, 1897, and there planned to con struct a railroad from Oakdale to Jamestown and Sonora with a branch road to Angels Camp. Surveyors were sent out to locate the line of road and Anthony Arnold of Oakdale was employed to obtain the rights of way. Ground was broken with appropriate ceremony March 24, 1897, and seven months later, October 26, the "golden spike" was driven at Jamestown, the town celebrating the event with great rejoicing. In the first construction of the road the company used forty-pound rails taken from a dismantled railroad in Arizona. Later, much heavier rails were laid and the old rails used for sidings only. Thomas S. Bullock, who died in San Francisco in May, 1919, was a very enterprising man. He was engaged in many projects and built the beautiful Turnback Inn at Tuolumne, and the Nevills hotel at Jamestown. It was the railroad headquarters and was later destroyed by fire. Banks and Banking Oakdale has two fine banks, each bank carrying on business in its own handsome two-story brick building. The first bank in Oakdale, incorporated in 1884, was a complete failure. The Oakdale Bank was incorporated in January, 1888, with Thomas B. Dorsey, president; Louis Kahn, cashier, and H. Kahn, assistant cashier. The bank became involved in the failure of Kahn and the irrigation enterprise and was compelled to close its doors. The court appointed A. L. Gilbert receiver and in the compromise suit, the Oakdale Irrigation Company paid him $8000. The second Oakdale Bank, the Stanislaus Savings, was incorporated January 23, 1905, with Edward Rodden, president; L. F. Brichetto, vice-president; William Rod den, cashier and treasurer; E. D. Wilkinson and C. E. Rodden, assistant cashiers, and Edward and W. L. Rodden, L. F. Brichetto, J. Mansell, T. F. Laughlin, T. E, Snedigar and A. L. Leitch, directors. The bank is now incorporated as the First National Bank. The Oakdale Commercial State Bank was incorporated August 29, 1912, with M. J. Nightingale, president and treasurer; Frank Guernsey, vice-president; W. A. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 201 Sayler, secretary and cashier, and C. F. Wood, assistant cashier. The directors were W. F. Ferguson, W. A. Sayler, M. J. Nightengale, John Sambuceto, Frank Guernsey and L. C. Walther. The Mexican Bull Fight The stranger who walks the streets of Oakdale today and notices the busy hustle of its merchants, the absence of whisky saloons, and the quiet, orderly character of its citizens would little believe that in the late '70s and '80s it was a wild, disorderly town of gamblers, shooting affairs and barbarous amusements. There were at that time hundreds of Mexicans in that vicinity and one of their amusements was the celebration of the Mexican national day of independence. On this occasion, September 16, 1881, they concluded to have a bull fight. They adver tised the sport extensively, engaged matadors from Mexico to torment the bulls and made great preparations for the event. The people came in from the surrounding country and cheerfully paid their dollar. At the appointed time two fierce looking bulls were driven into the ring. They showed no inclination to fight, however, for the weather was warm and the animals sleepy. The matadors goaded and dared them with the red flags, but there was no fight in them. Finally Charles Ingalls, vaquero, agreed to ride one of the bulls, if he were given five dollars. The purse was made up and Charley mounted the brute. Did the bull jump around and snort? No, he laid down. This ended the greatly advertised bull fight in Oakdale. The July 4th Celebration, 1884 Oakdale has always been patriotic and the better class celebrated the Fourth of July in various ways. And on this occasion "the Fourth opened most gloriously to the credit of the Oakdale folks." At sunrise they fired a national salute of twenty-one guns. At ten o'clock they formed in procession "on the square in front of Kron- emyer's hotel." The procession was formed in the following order: Turlock brass band, Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias, drum corps, Uniform Degree Camp, Odd Fellows, civic societies, Oakdale Bank, hook and ladder company, officers of the day in carriages, floral car and young ladies on horseback representing the different states. After parading the principal streets, they marched to the pavilion and listened to the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Miss Thiza McGreen and an oration by E. L. Bremer of Sacramento. In the afternoon there was dancing in the pavilion with music by Professor Ponclett's orchestra. At sundown another salute of twenty- one guns was fired, then there was dancing until midnight. At four o'clock there was a parade of the "San Joaquin Regulators," a body of young fellows in masks and dressed in all manner of ridiculous costumes. "Their mission," they said, "was to regulate society," and it was intended as a burlesque on the "regulators" of Modesto who endeavored to clean up that town. A Dry Town The prohibition wave that overwhelmed the country in 1917 proved as disastrous to the saloonkeepers in Oakdale as in any other part of the state. Under the initiative and referendum law an election was held June 15 "for saloons or no saloons." Both the saloonists and prohibitionists worked hard for their cause, and Louise Gilbert, Henrietta Holoway and Bernice Ferguson were among the most prominent workers. They remained at the polls throughout the day, checking off voters and providing automobiles for those who had not voted. Quite a heavy vote was polled, just 100 less than the entire registration, 746. The drys won out by just three votes, quite a number of their votes being thrown out because marked with a pencil. Late in the afternoon it was predicted that the drys would have a majority of fifty votes. It was whispered around for the effect that if the saloons won the fight the trustees intended to raise their license to $600 a year. This $5,400 a year in high license revenue was quite a trick and many voted for the saloons who otherwise would have voted dry. As a result of the election the nine saloons must go out of business within the next ten days. In the evening some of the drys had a jollification. They paraded the town in automobiles, rang bells and blew horns. They made it a special point to parade 202 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY along D Street. "Now, this street," said the reporter, "was in sentiment and in fact the wettest part of the town, and parading there was like rubbing salt into old sores. The Hero Dead When the bugle notes of war broke over these United States, here in California it did not seem to startle us in the least. We had had fifty years of peace ; children had grown to manhood, married, raised children and died, and perhaps we could not realize the meaning of war. But when we saw the boys line up to march to camp, then came the thought of war's meaning, and that many of them perhaps would never return. Then, when we read of the terrible fighting and saw some of the badly crippled soldiers and the first ones were brought home to their parents, dead, we realized for the first time the horrors of war. When the conscripted boys were called, it hit Knights Ferry pretty hard, and out of a registration of twenty-one voters, nine were drafted. It was said that "the draftsman must have thought it was the days of '49, when 10,000 persons were in that district." Among those conscripted were two of the sons of the postmaster, E. S. Collins, and two sons of A. Morrison, a cattleman. One of the first from this district to give his life in the Allied War was a native son of Oakdale Parlor, Stanley Lewis Collins. He was on the transport Tuscania when that vessel was torpedoed in the Irish Sea, February 5, 1918. A year later, on Febru ary 24, 1919, Oakdale Parlor held a memorial service in honor of their head hero. The services were held in the Methodist Episcopal Church with Frank Lee, grand inside guardian of the Grand Parlor, acting as president of the meeting. Short addresses were made by Governor William D. Stephens, John V. Snyder, grand president ; John B. Curtis, Lewis L. Dennett, Hugh R. McNoble, past president, and Rev. H. K. Pitman of Modesto and Rev. Frank Farr of Oakdale. Governor Stephens, in his closing address, said : "To have died in defense of our country's flag is to live forever in the affection and esteem of all our people. No greater tribute can be paid to a man than to have it said 'He died a patriot.' Stanley Collins gave his life for the land he loved — for home and mother. 'He died a patriot.' On the behalf of all our people, may I convey to j'ou, his mother, the love we feel, the honor we all render and the gratitude that is deep in our hearts." KNIGHTS FERRY SOCIETIES Stanislaus Lodge No. 170, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Knights Ferry, April 18, 1870, by Grand Master John B. Harmon, who in 1878 was elected grand sire of the Sovereign Grand Lodge. He was assisted by Charles Cutting, H. K. Covert, William Floto and George Hanley. The first officers were Samuel Haslacher, noble grand ; J. R. Horsley, vice-grand ; L. B. Walthall, recording secretary, and R. C. May, treasurer. The lodge had six charter members and at the grand lodge session reported eleven members. Here we record a rather peculiar event in Rebekahship. In Sep tember, 1919, by invitation of Acorn Lodge No. 261 of Oakdale, a degree staff from Lebanon No. 97 of Stockton, accompanied by Laura Lawrie, past president, and Fanny Clancy, grand marshal, initiated nineteen candidates into Acorn Lodge. The follow ing candidates were inducted into the order: Belle M. Bartlett, Anna G. Baugh, Emma Coop, Madge M. Crabtree, Arleen Cowin, Grace E. Gray, Hattie B. Morrison, Annie Scriven, Mildred Taylor, Viola Watson, Samuel C. Baugh, John F. Brevort, E. J. Coop, Charles Emart, Ernest Gray, Richard Scriven, W. W. Stover, J. G. Taylor and Isaac Watson. Knights Ferry Lodge No. 361, of the Rebekahs, was instituted at Knights Ferry on September 20, 1919, by Mary E. Donoho, specially commissioned. The follow ing are the first officers : Anna G. Baugh, noble grand ; Grace Gray, vice grand ; Belle Bartlett, chaplain ; John Brevort, recording secretary ; Emma Coop, treasurer ; Samuel Baugh, financial secretary; Ernest Gray, inside guardian; Charles Emart, outside guardian ; Isaac Watson, right support, noble grand ; Viola Watson, left support, noble grand; Arleen Cowin, right support, vice grand; Mildred Taylor, left support, vice HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 203 grand. Over a hundred Odd Fellows and Rebekahs were present from Jamestown Sonora, Tuolumne, Modesto and Stockton. The same degree staff as at Oakdale with Louise Beckman, noble grand, put on the degree work after installation of officers' CHAPTER FOURTEEN IRRIGATION IN STANISLAUS COUNTY In this chapter on irrigation I shall make no attempt to go into any detailed account, as it would take several months of research and when finished it would be of httle interest to the general reader The history of irrigation in the main, is the his tory of a few enterprising men of foresight and good business judgment who were willing to work and even make sacrifices that they might benefit their fellowmen by bringing water, wealth, contentment, health" to the people of Stanislaus County! Did they succeed? There is an abundance of proof throughout the county of that fact Yet on every hand they were blocked in their splendid project by mossbacks, grafters' law suits and men jealous of the enterprise. For thirteen long years they fought a victorious fight and the battle is not yet ended. For it seems that only a few months ago the Modesto District stockholders were compelled to recall their directors because they refused to carry out the wishes of the majority in regard to the Don Pedro dam. It is said that C. C. Wright, to whose honor a monument should be erected, was hounded from Modesto because of the successful passage of his irrigation law. And yet when the bill was introduced into the legislature it was heartily commended by the legislators in both houses and Granger of Butte County said in open session that it was one of the most superior productions he had ever seen on a question that had vexed so many minds. It covered the ground completely and gave no offense to any section of the state. Truly as Shakespeare wrote : "Man's inhumanity to man, Makes countless thousands mourn." THE PIONEER IRRIGATION BUILDERS The general expression today is, and has been for the past fifty years, "Down with the corporations," and yet much of the prosperity of the state is due to corporations. The corporation, Miller & Lux, were pioneers of irrigation in Stanislaus County : and the building of the San Joaquin and King's River canal, by which at first they lost thousands of dollars, was proof sufficient to the farmers of Stanislaus what could be done with water flowing over the sandy soil. In referring to this fact, a traveling press correspondent said in August, 1877: "It is refreshing to turn from the parched and barren district of the 'west side' of the San Joaquin River and contemplate green meadows, golden harvest fields and prosperous homes under the San Joaquin and King's River canal." THE DIVERTING WATERSHED Secretary A. L. Cowell who has made a study of irrigation in Central Cali fornia wrote in an article in 1920: "The San Joaquin Valley is a rich alluvial plain 250 miles' long, and averaging about fifty miles wide, lying between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Coast Range. It is divided into two parts by a slight ridge in Fresno County, giving it two distinct natural water systems. The southern portion of the valley has no outlet to the sea. Several of its streams flow at flood time into Tulare Lake and during the greater part of each season their waters are consumed in irrigation or lose themselves in the sandy beds. The lower part of the valley is drained by the San Joaquin River and its tributaries having a direct outlet into Suisun Bay. The ridge referred to has been built up by alluvial deposits from King's River, which in times of high water discharges a part of its flow into Tulare Lake and part through a channel known as Fresno slough, into the San Joaquin River." 204 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY THE FIRST IRRIGATING CANAL One of the oldest systems in the valley, says Cowell, is that of the San Joaquin and King's River Canal & Irrigation Company, a public utility, which diverts waters from the San Joaquin near Firebaugh, elevation 156 feet, and carries it in a main canal seventy-five miles to a point north of Crows Landing, distributing it along through this territory. J. J. Rhea in the "Stanislaus County Prospectus," 1912, says in writing of the Miller & Lux System: "Four miles south from the town of Patterson is the end of the main canal of the Miller & Lux system which has for more than twenty years fur nished water to more than 10,000 acres of Stanislaus land." This system irrigates all lands lying between the Southern Pacific Railroad and the San Joaquin River from the county land on the south to Crows Landing. The water is taken from the San Joaquin River near Mendota (elevation 175 feet) in Fresno County and brought across Fresno and Merced Counties into Stanislaus. In the early work of this canal a writer said, July 12, 1871 : "The work on its construction is going on. Times would be very dull were it not for that work. Many who would otherwise be idle find a profitable employment on the canal. Men are paid thirty dollars per month and their board and a man with two horses, receives fifty dollars and upkeep for himself and team." Times were very hard that year. There was, as we remember, a failure of crops and that failure sent Isaac Friedlander, the wheat king, to the wall. This same correspondent in writing about the canal, in August 1877, said: "It takes its waters from the junction of Fresno slough with the San Joaquin River and was built six years ago, as far as Los Banos Creek, forty-five miles. The revenue was not sufficient to pay the" cost of the construction of the canal and completion to Orestimba Creek, five miles below Hill's Ferry, a distance of twenty-seven miles. The embarrassment of Isaac Friedlander delayed the work. The canal, thirty feet wide on the bottom, forty-five feet wide ground surface and four feet deep, will reach Orestimba Creek this fall." Evidently the writer' was nearly correct, for the San Francisco Alta said, December 4, 1878: "The most important irrigation work completed in 1878 was the San Joaquin and King's River Canal. The old section finished in 1873 was forty miles long, sixty feet wide at top, four feet deep and with a grade of one foot to the mile, supplied 50,000 acres. The extension is thirty miles long, grade six inches to the mile, and will irrigate 40,000 acres. The entire cost was over $1,000,000. The following year, in September, 1879, we read that Hill's Ferry also shows the benefit of irrigation, as they adopted this year for the first time the benefits of the Miller & Lux Canal." In 1874 "the irrigation question became of absorbing interest to the Grangers throughout the country and at a meeting of farmers in MacDonald's warehouse (Gray son) a committee was appointed to formulate some plan for improvement. The com mittee appointed comprised Gilbert Fisher of Crows Landing, W. B. Hay of Ellis, and J. R. MacDonald of Grayson, and the result was they formulated a plan drawn up by MacDonald, which is known to this day as the Wright Irrigation Law." FIRST IRRIGATION BILLS The following year, in the December session of the Legislature, John J. Scrivner, an assemblyman from Stanislaus County, introduced a bill for a franchise for an irri gation ditch on the "west side" of the San Joaquin, comprising parts of Tulare, Merced, Fresno, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. Scrivner had been honored with a place on the judiciary committee, one of the most important of all the committees, and he had also been appointed chairman of the irrigation committee. At that time four irri gation bills had been introduced and a correspondent declared : "The question is liable to cause more trouble and take up more time of the legislature than any other thing. The legislature in general is favorable but there is such a diversity of opinions regard ing the best methods of reaching it, that probably but little will be accomplished." The writer's opinion was correct. Several other bills were introduced and after nearly three months delay the bill was passed and signed by the Governor. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 205 The law declared that within ten days after its passage, the Governor, William Irwin, should appoint five commissioners, one from each of the irrigation districts. The Governor named as the commissioners, J. R. White of Fresno, J. L. Crittenden of Merced, J. R. MacDonald of Stanislaus, M. Lammers of San Joaquin and W. W. Smith of Contra Costa. They were authorized to issue bonds not to exceed $2,000,000, payable in twenty years. THE PRELIMINARY SURVEY The citizens of Grayson were the first to start the good work, and in June, 1876, they subscribed $5,000 for a preliminary survey: "If other people show the same liberality the survey will soon be completed," was the belief. The project was rushed along. William Hammond Hall, a well-known engineer, was placed in charge of the work and under him were about thirty men. In September, 1876, the Herald reported that "the surveyors have ascertained that the project is feasible and the lake (Tulare) contains plenty of water for irrigation purposes. The committee are anticipating great things from the completion of the canal and one committeeman excitedly exclaimed: 'The Almighty placed that lake there for the purpose of irrigation.' " THE IRRIGATION PROSPECTUS The commissioners, as authorized by the law, prepared to receive bids for $50,000 of 7% bonds, the bids to be opened in January, 1879, and December 8, 1878, they published tbe following prospectus, probably one of the -first irrigation notices ever published : "The board of commissioners of the West Side Irrigation district would respect fully submit to your attention the scheme for the building of a canal from Tulare Lake to Old River near Mohr's land or Bonsell's Creek for the purpose of irrigating the land on the west side of the San Joaquin River. The question of irrigating has for many years past been seriously discussed by the farmers of the West Side district but no practical plan was inaugurated until the winter of .1876, when the state legisla ture passed a bill creating the West Side Irrigation district and empowering the people living within said district to issue bonds in an amount sufficient to cover the expense of constructing a navigable canal, to tax the property by the payment of the interest on these bonds and to create a sinking fund for their ultimate redemption. The bill also provided for the survey and location of the canal under the supervision of a board of commissioners appointed by the government of the state, which board should, before March 1, 1877, report their labors and observations to the" government and to the people of 'the West Side Irrigation District, after which an election would be called 'for the election of a permanent board of commissioners for the district and enable those interested to vote yes or no on the proposition of issuing bonds and taxing the property benefited to sustain and redeem them." Under this bill the district embraced all the territory from Tulare Lake to Antioch, below the line of the proposed canal and above the line of the swampy over flow lands along the San Joaquin River and Fresno swamps, containing about 500,000 acres. The survey was made at the cost of about $25,000. The commissioners made their report and an election was duly held. A large majority voted, "tax— yes." The preliminary steps having been taken, it was then found that it would cost over $4 000,000 to construct a canal, that the finishing of twenty-six miles from Bonsell's Creek to Antioch, being through a rough and hilly country, would cost one- third of that amount. It was therefore deemed advisable to postpone further action until the legislature again met. , The legislature of 1878 amended the law by striking out navigable and cutting off that exceedingly expensive portion of the district at Bonsell's Creek, leaving out all the lands below the boundaries of. the San Joaquin and King's River Canal Com pany, and the law authorized the board of commissioners to issue bonds of the district to the amount of $2,000,000. „„„„„„ , , . , The district now contains about 325,000 acres of land, the greater portion of which is the finest land in the state. The management of the district is vested in a board of five commissioners elected every two years That the construction of a canal 206 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY between Tulare Lake and Bonsell's Creek is feasible and practical has been demon strated by two further surveys, one for the San Joaquin and King's River Canal Company and one under the direction of this board. The cost of the construction will not exceed $2,000,000. W. H. Hall, state engineer, and Mr. Brearton, at one time consulting engineer of the San Joaquin and King's River Canal Company, and General Alexander, all concur in the opinion that the water supply is amply sufficient. FARMERS PETITION FOR WATER The Grayson Canal project so enthusiastically boomed, was a complete failure, as sufficient stock could not be sold. There were perhaps two reasons for this failure, one, that many of the farmers were supplied with water from the Miller & Lux Canal, the other, that the crops had been a complete failure, many farmers moved away and others were actually suffering for food. Nearly twenty years passed, and Grayson was still "dry." In May, 1899, however, a proposal was made by certain parties to raise water from the San Joaquin River by means of big pumps. The projectors wanted ten dollars for water rights and two dollars and fifty cents per acre for the use of the water. But the farmers would not stand for it. They declared the price too high, and they petitioned Miller & Lux "to continue their canal now completed from Los Banos to Grayson." Miller & Lux were favorably inclined to carry out the project. THE MODESTO IRRIGATION LAW In the same j'ear that the Grayson commissioners were appointed, the legislature passed an act to create the Modesto Irrigation District, the act being approved May 30, 1878. The act declared in general term "all that certain territory situated in the county of Stanislaus and bounded as follows : On the south by the Tuolumne River, commencing at the junction of said river with the San Joaquin, up and along the said river to the point where the county lines of Stanislaus and Tuolumne intersect the Tuolumne River, then along the county line to the Stanislaus River, and down said river to its junction with the San Joaquin, then up said San Joaquin to the point of beginning, is hereby created as Modesto district." This was later divided, as we know, into three districts, Turlock, Modesto and Oakdale. The Turlock Irrigation District, says Cowell, "comprises 176,000 acres, being the greater portion of the irrigable lands between the Tuolumne and Merced rivers. The southwestern part of this district lies in Merced County." The Modesto district of 82,000 acres comprises nearly all of the land between the Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers and extending from near the San Joaquin River to an irregularly eastern boundary, running generally east and west and crossing the Santa Fe Railroad near Claus." THE WRIGHT-BRIDGEFORD IRRIGATION LAWS In the legislature of 1887, C. C. Wright, a lawyer of Modesto then an assembly man from that county, introduced what was later known as the Wright Irrigation Law. It authorized the organization of irrigation districts, allowing the people of the district to form a public district for the purpose of bringing water from the Sierras, by means of canals, ditches, dams and other means to irrigate their lands. The district was organized and operated in much the same manner as a school district. A corre spondent in writing of this bill said: "The irrigation bill introduced by Wright is favorably commented on. It is a very carefully prepared measure and presents the peculiar feature of local option which takes from that question all of the sectional irrigation which made other measures objectionable." "The measure," as Granger of Butte, said, "covered the ground completely and gave offense to no section of the state." It was highly recommended by both the- senate and assembly irrigation com mittees and they asked that it "do pass" with the amendment "to permit the forma tion of a district by a majority vote, instead of a two-thirds vote, as in the bill." It so passed. Although the law was highly satisfactory to the entire state, at home it found its enemies. And the Herald said in 1889: "As it becomes more certain that the enemies of the Wright Irrigation Bill will have active workers in the legislature, the necessity of united action on the part of its friends becomes more urgent. The HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 207 committee on irrigation should be friends of the measure, and the chairmanship should be given to Vital E. Bangs, assemblyman from this county." Again quoting Cowell, "After a long and stormy period of litigation, the constitu tionality of this law was upheld by both the state and federal courts and in 1897 the law was revised and re-enacted and is now called the Wright-Bridgeford Law. Under its provisions a petition is presented to the supervisors containing the names of a ma jority of the highest assessed taxpayers of the district or 500 electors owning twenty per cent of the land. If it has been advertised and is in proper form, the supervisors submit the petition to the state engineer for his approval. If he approves, the super visors fix the irrigation boundaries and call an election for the officers of the district. If carried by a two-thirds vote, then the board of directors proceed to organize and prepare plans for an irrigation system. Under the law, incorporated cities could be included in the irrigation district, but under the law of 1915 incorporated cities could not be included. Under the 1915 law a State Irrigation Board was created." THE LA GRANGE DAM In the early irrigation of the county, the irrigators depended entirely upon the natural flow of the water, and for a time this was sufficient to provide adequate irriga tion. But now it is known that for the proper development of irrigation, and to hold back the waters for use late in the season, large reservoirs and dams are an actual necessity. So high was the cost of the work that the directors of Modesto and Turlock met together and, after several conferences, an agreement was made whereby the two districts were to construct a weir or diverting dam in the Tuolumne River in com mon, the cost to be apportioned to two districts in equal shares. In their meeting of August 11, 1890, the directors decided to build a dam about 1,800 feet above the Wheaton dam, ninety feet in height. The engineers of each district were to submit plans from which they would select the best plan. The amount of water used by each district depended upon the district's acreage and each district was to have equal privi leges in any future acquired water rights. The dam, one of the largest overflow dams in the world, according to the figures of S. T. Weber of the Turlock Board of Trade, was 301 feet long, 127 feet high, eighty-three feet at the bottom, eleven feet at the top and cost $543,164. C. P. McDonald in the "Sunny Stanislaus" prospectus, saj's that the dam completed in 1893 was 336 feet long, 127 feet high and cost $550,000. "Water for the Modesto district," says the same author, "is diverted on the north side (through a concrete bulkhead at the end of the dam) the filings being 4,500 second feet and for the Turlock district on the south side (the water diverts through a short tunnel) the filings being 5,000 second feet. The head gates are about fifty feet above the dam." SALE AND VALIDITY OF IRRIGATION BONDS I am recording, as you quickly notice, scraps of history only, and one of the pre liminary and most important of these events was the issuing and sale of bonds. Bonds, irrigation bonds especially, may be compared to a ship upon the water. They may float at high tide or gradually depreciate in value until they are wrecked upon the shore. At the very outset of the Modesto bonds they were sold at a depreciated value. For we read, January 28, 1890: "The directors today sold $400,000 worth of bonds to I. R. Wilbur of San Francisco at ninety-one cents on the dollar." They were pleased, however, for "it insures the building of the canal under the Wright Irrigation Law." Then a little later, July, 1893, we learn that A. S. Fulkerth and W. H. Finley, a committee appointed from the Board of Directors of the Modesto District "have succeeded in disposing of forty-five bonds at a par value of $500, for the pur pose of purchasing cement." As to the validity of the bonds, Judge W. W. Morrow of the U. S. district court, settled that question in July, 1899. Up to that time, as J. J. Rhea said, "Irrigation in Stanislaus is another term for lawsuits, from the earliest inception to the time when water coursed through the laterals and ditches of the impoverished grain lands like life-giving blood into the arteries of an anaemic body." To test the validity of the bonds, the Modesto District brought a suit against itself. It was entitled "George Hanning vs. the Modesto Irrigation Disrict." The defend- 208 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ants claimed that the organization of the district was illegal on many grounds. They claimed that the original petition was not signed by fifty freeholders owning agricultural lands, that a part of the original district had been eliminated and this rendered the whole invalid. All of these defences, said the judge, may not be set up by a district on its own bonds. He held that the corporation cannot set up its own illegality and assert after its bonds have been issued that it never was a district and therefore should not be called upon to pay its bonds. Hardships, Taunts and Jeers Upon this point, J. J. Rhea wrote: "The forefathers of this irrigation scheme realized the greatest economic loss. They made heroic sacrifices in many cases, to bring what was destined to be the millenium in agriculture in Stanislaus. Many bought large blocks of bonds which had no negotiable value either with bankers or bond buyers. Others labored with their hands and their teams without recompense, save bonds that were at the time worthless. The development (the project) in Turlock is identical with that of the Modesto District, for both bore the struggle to introduce irrigation, underwent the hardships interposed on a poor bond market and the gibes and jeers of wheat farmers on heavier lands who taunted the sand farmers in their discouraging efforts to make the soil yield a fair interest upon a value of twenty dollars an acre." THE TURLOCK CANAL The Turlock District was the pioneer in completing an irrigation system under the Wright act, putting the proprietorship of the water on the land. In the beginning they ran up against difficulties in land valuations. M. A. Wheaton was the promoter of the first water ditch, years before, building a dam and conveying water into La Grange. With the foresight of a prophet he knew that some day the land and water rights would become valuable. This proved to be the case in 1890. The irrigation directors in the beginning of their work found it necessary to obtain the right of way over M. A. Wheaton's land, which included about five acres. Mr. Wheaton wanted for that land $30,000. It was a prohibitive price — a price that would prevent any development of the irrigation system. The directors had recourse at law and they began condemnation proceedings in Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties. In Stanislaus County the case was tried in Modesto and after a trial lasting eight days, June 3, 1890, the jury brought in a verdict giving Mr. Wheaton ninety-five dollars damages. In the following month the same case was on trial in Sonora. After a thirteen days trial, on July 16 the jury awarded Wheaton $50,000 damages. In the following month the suit was compromised, the directors paying the owner $35,000. The Tur lock District paid $32,500 of the amount and the Modesto District $2,500. Trouble seems to have been in the wake during the entire canal work, for in 1899, at the September meeting of the board, R. L. Bullard put in a claim for $800 for the dam at Dawson Lake, claiming ownership. The board refused to pay it, as they- declared it Government land. Judge W. A. Waymire Just before the completion of the canal, there were several workmen strikes because of a long delay in the payment of wages. To increase the directors' troubles, in March, 1900, the carpenters refused to continue work unless given their last two months' pay. The men were informed that they could not put a lien on the canal but must look to Judge Waymire for their money, as he was in charge of the work. I now quote from the Visalia Times which declared, July 10, 1900: "The Turlock irriga tion system was organized in 1887 and there was hope that the work would be done in 1889 and some 175,000 acres be under irrigation. The people at first were universally for irrigation but disagreements arose, litigations were begun, the bonds could not be disposed of, and a stubborn fight was waged between the irrigationists who wanted to go ahead and those who liked to stand still. After a great deal of work had been done, failure seemed imminent, but Judge Waymire of Oakland became interested and he took a contract to complete the system. Just how he managed to keep the. work going and keep off strikes is a mystery, but he finally succeeded and within the past im^^^^^mmmmmmmaL i .... &# -*¦-,<• J '" v..:,V ¦Hf I '¦'¦¦v;'. *.,C-. ''*:V^>^*^|« ¦'t^f-.-:.y-' y£ MODESTO-TURLOCK IRRIGATION DAM SCENE ON STANISLAUS RIVER HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 209 two months, something like thirteen years after it was commenced, the greatest irriga tion system in California was completed and for the first time water irrigated the sandy soil between the Tuolumne and Merced rivers. The Modesto Irrigation District be tween the Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers is now at a standstill, but suits are pend ing to oust the directors, and if it be successful, officers will be elected who will com plete the system. This will bring a total of nearly a quarter of a million of good irrigation land to the support of Modesto." THE OAKDALE IRRIGATION SYSTEM The Oakdale Irrigation District, organized in 1909, was the outgrowth and en largement of the old Knights Ferry ditch. There was formed in 1888 a corporation known as the San Joaquin Land & Water Company. They purchased the old Knights Ferry ditch, then used as an irrigation ditch by the ferry people, and announced that they would build it down into the San Joaquin Valley. It failed to materialize because of law suits and many other causes which beset those early day irrigation enterprises. Time passed on and July 7, 1899, a company was incorporated as the Stanislaus Water Company, with a capitalization of $450,000. Its incorporators were Alvinza Hayward, a capitalist of Alameda County; Mrs. Anna G. Lane, the wife of Charles D. Lane, the mining man; Charles Tulloch, the mill owner; R. R. Bigelow and H. G. Steven son. They proposed to supply water for irrigation in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties and electric power for Oakdale, Modesto and Stockton. Their canal, they stated, "was one of the oldest in the state. It starts at Six Mile Bar on the Stanislaus and parallels the river until it reaches Oakdale. It then turns toward Stockton and traverse one of the most fertile sections in the state." There were no results from this company, as Hayward and Lane, two of the largest stockholders, became very much embarrassed financially because of their extensive speculations in mining stock. There was in existence in 1890 an organization called the Oakdale Irrigation Company. They were struggling for existence and at a stockholders meeting, January 18, the president stated that there were funds sufficient to carry the canal work along until April. What happened after that is to me unknown. They must have done considerable work, for one of the party attending the Stockton business men's excursion to Oakdale in January, 1890, wrote: "Returning from Schell's vineyard the party stopped at the Oakdale irrigation canal and a number of the party went through the 800-foot canal. It heads in the river about one mile above Knights Ferry and, com pleted, will be eleven miles long, ten feet at the bottom and carrying four feet of water. It will be completed in October and Oakdale will have a great celebration." The canal was not completed, for "after the death of Louis Kahn, the Oakdale banker and principal owner of the stock, it was discovered that the company was in a bad shape financially. The few stockholders were at the mercy of outside interests," and they made proposals to the Stanislaus Power & Water Company to take over the irrigation company. At a meeting March 5, 1905, with Charles Tulloch, manager of the power company, they came to an agreement. Mr. Tulloch told them he could not furnish water at the former rates, ten dollars for water rights and one dollar and fifty cents per acre, but his rate would be three dollars per acre, and no water rights charge. This they had to accept. The company was always known as the Tulloch system. THE OAKDALE IRRIGATION DISTRICT Leading up to the organization of the district, I quote from an article by T. M. Maxwell in May, 1911. Near Oakdale, on what is now Brichetto's ranch, and in other places, pumping plants were put up and a few vegetables raised. In these small beginnings was the germ which developed later into the mighty system of irrigation, of which Turlock and Modesto were the first. Many of the discontented of the Modesto district sold their holdings and came to Oakdale. They later saw the land which they had sold at ten dollars, fifteen dollars and twenty dollars an acre increase in value (by irrigation) and sold at fifty dollars and $100 an acre and they knew wisdom at last. About two years ago it became apparent to the well-informed that Oakdale also must have its irrigation system. A mass meeting was held in the city hall to discuss 210 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY the advisability of forming an irrigation district under the Wright law. So great was the enthusiasm shown that the City Hall was not large enough, and larger quarters had to be obtained. A committee of twelve was appointed to take charge of the pre liminary work. Engineers under the instructions of H. S. Crowe were immediately put in the field to survey the boundaries of the district. As soon as the boundaries had been established, a petition signed by a majority of the land holders petitioned the supervisors to declare it an irrigation district. It was submitted to a vote of the people and carried 40 to 1. Officers were elected and bonds voted almost unanimously for $1,600,000. The Oakdale Irrigation District then joined with the South San Joaquin District, then being organized, and together they purchased the Tulloch system, paying Mr. Tulloch $650,000, the amount being divided equally between the two districts. "A partnership dam known as the Goodwin dam was built on the Stanislaus River," says Arlington Otis, "near Knights Ferry and the two districts agreed to share the use of eight miles of main canals, which has a carrying capacity of 1,700 cubic feet. The Oakdale Irrigation District comprises 74,146 acres on both sides of the Stanislaus River, 6,000 acres of the amount being in San Joaquin County." THE GOODWIN DAM CELEBRATION The Goodwin dam, named after Benjamin A. Goodwin, president of the San Joaquin Irrigation District, was built in 1912 at a cost of $350,000. "It is a double- arch dam, the main arch being seventy-eight feet high with a radius of 135 feet. It was designed to divert the waters to the north and south side of the river, the Oakdale district taking 600 second feet on the south side and 260 second feet on the north side through the enlarged Tulloch ditch. The completion of the dam was celebrated April 6, 1913, in great style. There were thousands of people in attendance from all parts of the state, including forty legislators. The legislators arrived at Stockton from the capital on a special traction car and from the Gateway City were trans ported to the dam in automobiles. Shortly after two o'clock the exercises were begun by W. A. Patterson, president of the day. Standing on the brink of the chasm, he said: "We have gathered to celebrate the wedding of the waters of the Stanislaus and the virgin soil of the South San Joaquin and Oakdale Irrigation districts. We have had an example set before us by the Modesto and the Turlock districts. We have seen what could be done with water. We are from Missouri and we have been. well, shown." He was followed in his speech by George W. Tatterson, president of the irrigation bureau. The speaker declared: "We have assembled here to dedicate the waters of the Stanislaus to the plains below. The two districts embody ing an area of 147,675 acres will cost when the work is completed $6,000,000." Addresses were then given by ex-Lieutenant Governor Alden Anderson of Sacra mento, L. L. Dennett and T. H. Griffin of Modesto and Senator W. A. Sutherland of Fresno. J. L. Craig of Stockton then being introduced, presented the board of directors a large bronze plate two by six feet, to be riveted on the side of the arch in commemoration of the event. On the plate these words were inscribed: Goodwin Dam Built jointly by the Oakdale Irrigation District and the South San Joaquin Irrigation District. Dedicated April 6, 1913. Mr. Craig also presented four gold spikes to be used in riveting the plate to the stone arch to W. A. Patterson, president of the Oakdale District; B. A. Goodwin, president of the South San Joaquin District ; Thomas K. Beard, the contractor, and Edwin Duryea, Jr., the engineer in charge of the work. There was more music by the Oakdale Brass Band, F. J. Pedro, leader. Then the chairman of the State Irri gation Committee, Senator D. A. Mott of Los Angeles, who came as the repre sentative of Gov. Hiram Johnson, presented the compliments and success to the enter prise of the governor. In closing he said: "Acting for the Governor of California and in the name of the sovereign people I command the gates of Goodwin dam to open." Immediately two Boy Scouts flashed a semaphore signal to two other scouts in the deep chasm a half mile below. The workmen began slowly lifting the im mense steel gates and as the first waters rushed out into the large concrete lined canal, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 2H William Gray, an Oakdale boy, and Helen Wurster, daughter of Fred Wurster of San Joaquin, showered golden poppies upon the water. It was a pretty symbol of the golden wealth being borne to the thousands of acres below. Then the Stars and Stripes were unfurled over the arch, while the three massed bands of Oakdale, Manteca and Riverbank played "America." "I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills, My heart with rapture thrills, Like that above." RESERVOIRS AND DAMS The irrigation district directors soon learned that reservoirs or dams were necessary to impound water for late in the season, when the rivers cease flowing. The Modesto District was the first district in the state to construct a reservoir. This was the so-called Davis reservoir, which is located in the foothills, a short distance southwest of La Grange. It has a capacity of 30,000 acre feet. The second reservoir constructed was that of the Turlock District. It was -con structed in 1915, and with a capacity of 50,000 acre feet, is known as the T. A. Owens reservoir. It covers 3,267 acres of land and cost over $500,000. The largest of all the reservoirs is the Don Pedro dam, soon to be constructed jointly by the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation districts at an estimated cost of $4,000,000. The dam is located near Don Pedro bar and will store up 300,000 acre feet of water. "When completed it will give the two districts the greatest supply of water for irrigation purposes of any district in the world," says W. E. Conway, secre tary of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce. IRRIGATION AND ITS RESULTS In 1904, the Modesto District was practically one wheat field of 82,000 acres. The tourist looked from the car window upon the combined harvesters, great cara vans moving in all directions, dropping in regular rows sacks of golden grain and piles of glistening straw. Grain wagons coupled together and drawn by long teams of horses or mules raised frequently clouds of dust along the highways. The Federal census ranked Stanislaus County as one of the leading grain-producing sections in California. Now there is a complete change in many parts of the county. Where were found immense grain fields and a few farmhouses a mile or more apart, indicated perhaps by a lone clump of trees, now one may see hundreds of homes, each with his small farm, cultivating fruits, berries and vegetables. What has caused this change? Irrigation. Statistics are, as a rule, very dry and uninteresting reading, but it is necessary to give briefly a few scattering figures showing the wonderful results of water flowing over the soil. In 1890, ten years before they had any water upon the land, Stanislaus County had farmers who boasted of their 1 ,000 acres, with only 243 taxpayers owning from five to 500 acres of land. Each one of sixty-two men paid taxes on 500 acres, ten men owned forty acres each and forty-one men had only five acres apiece. But in 1915 there was a remarkable increase in the list of taxpayers and 1,617 men paid taxes on the farms ranging in size from five to 500 acres. The number of 500-acre men had been reduced to sixteen, the forty-acre men had increased to 237, the twenty-acre men to 286, 185 men owned ten acres and 277 men were the owners of five acres. While the Modesto and Turlock districts were fighting lawsuit after lawsuit that they might have irrigation, the West Side was in alfalfa, for they had water, and the Newman creamery was making 100,000 pounds of butter a year. In 1903, the West Side produced 1,000,000 pounds of butter and in 1911 their 302,416 cows produced 7,873,114 pounds of milk, making 786,224 pounds of cheese. In that year the county produced 5,166,515 pounds of butterfat, which was one-tenth of all the butterfat produced in the state. This immense amount of butter could not have been 212 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY produced were it not for the extensive growth of alfalfa cow feed, grown from four to seven crops a year by irrigation. In 1912 there was shipped from Modesto, daily, 8,163 pounds of butterfat, which brought a return of $306,075. The Modesto canneries sent out 60,000 cases of canned goods worth $200,000. And this together with hay, corn, beans, alfalfa meal, grapes, green and dried fruits brought in a total of $1,607,450. In Turlock District alone that j'ear there were 56,604 acres in alfalfa, 6,125 acres in fruit trees, 5,695 acres in beans, and 2,539 acres in potatoes, these products realizing $9,154,602. Turlock shipped that year, from July to September, 821 carloads of watermelons and canta loupes, 18 carloads of sweet potatoes, 44 of peaches and one carload of pears. The products were not decreasing, but increasing yearly, and McDonald said : "The farm products of 1913 are the only ones at hand and when you realize that that year was decidedly lean, you may get some idea of the output of Stanislaus County in agri culture and horticulture. Grain, mostly barley, 1,060,000 bushels; beans, 10,000 bushels; sweet potatoes, 533,500 bushels; alfalfa hay, 991,000 tons; melons, 72,000 tons, and pumpkins, 25,000 tons, these products having a total value of $9,545,000. In addition to this there were dairy products amounting to $3,012,823 ; poultry sold, $370,000 ; animals sold and dressed and sacks of wool making a grand total of $16,054,000. Not desiring to weary the reader we give the last report, that of 1919, by A. L. Rutherford, horticultural commissioner, and statistics gathered by the Modesto Evening News. There was raised 22,500 tons of wheat, which brought in $1,510,000; 93,000 tons of barley worth $6,045,000, the price averaging sixty-five dollars a ton. Although the cantaloupe crop was partly destroyed by an insect, it brought in returns of $1,577,120. The bean crop was a slump, only $300,000 being realized because of an overproduction; in 1918 this crop brought in $2,269,880. Although the alfalfa tonnage did not equal that of 1918 by fifty per cent it brought the farmers $436,500 more than last year. Dairy products led all others, and the country produced $5,196,400 worth of butter and $4,054,100 in all milk products. It was the greatest daily yield in the county's history. The Turlock District proclaims in a big billboard advertisement, "A Great Producer. In 1919 shipped over two freight lines, 5,740 carloads of products, total value $6,000,000." The melon crop repre sented $300,000. And now, in these closing lines, tracing the history of the county as we have from the days of the Indians, through the cattle and sheep raising daj'S, the struggles for existence of the poor farmers, the splendid day of river and freight transportation, and the awakening period of irrigation and its grand results, just in their infancy, may we not with the poet Cowper say: "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform." CHAPTER FIFTEEN POLITICAL DOINGS IN STANISLAUS The California voter, in former days, had no direct vote in the election of United States senators. They were elected by the Legislature and many a hard contest was fought over the election. Since 1914 the United States senators have been elected by a direct vote of the people, and in that year the county gave Francis J. Heney, progressive, 3,609; James D. Phelan, Democrat, 3,137; Joseph R. Know- land, Republican, 2,337, and F. F. Wheeler, Prohibitionist, 1,481 votes. The representatives in Congress are elected by the people indirectly by con gressional districts. Each district included one or more counties, according to its population. The counties are subject to the partisan Legislature. Each dominant party schemes to favor its political leaders, hence a county is juggled from district to district in order that party candidates may obtain a majority of votes, and a majority HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 213 of power in the Legislature. Stanislaus County, because of her limited population, has never had a direct vote for representatives, but has been jointly connected with two or more counties surrounding her. This is true not only in the election of her con gressional representatives, but in the election of her state legislators. In her represen tative voting, the county was originally in the First district. In 1875 she was placed in the Fourth district; in 1884 the Second district; in 1896 in the Seventh district, and in 1902 the Sixth district. The representatives for whom she voted were as follows: 1867-68, Samuel B. Axtell, Democrat elect; 1871, Lawrence Archer; 1872, E. J. C. McKewen; 1875, P. D. Wiggington, Democrat elect; 1876, Wiggington; 1879, Wallace Leach; 1880, Leach; 1882, P. B. Tully, Democrat elect; 1884, Charles A. Sumner; 1886, Marion Biggs, Democrat elect; 1890, A. Caminetti, Democrat elect; 1894, Grove L. Johnson; 1896, Marion De Vries, Democrat elect; 1898- 1902-04-06-08-10, James C. Needham, Republican elect; 1912, Denver S. Church, Democrat elect. The county until 1898 went Democratic, but Republican voters began settling in the county and from that time on a solid county Democracy was a political event of the past. To show the solid Democratic majority and at the same time the growth of the county, let us record the political county vote for the first thirty-odd years, for the governor of the state. You will notice that for several years the state elections were held in every odd year. In this record the governor-elect is first named. 1855, J. Neeley Johnson 255, John Bigler 299. Bigler was elected governor in 1852-54, but the Know Nothing party were in power for just two years. 1857, John Weiler 419, Georgie Bowie, K. N., 130. Edward Stanley, Republican, 8 votes. 1859, Milton S. Latham, 389; D. John Curry, anti-Lecompton Democrat, 106; Leland Stanford, R., 13 votes. 1861, Leland Stanford, 247; John R. McConnell, the secession candi date, 415; John Conness, Union Dem., 231. 1863, Frederick F. Low, Union Dem., 347; John G Downey, 399. 1867, Henry H. Haight, 451 ; George C. Gorham, R, 219. 1871, Newton Booth, R., the farmers' candidate, 527; H. H. Haight, 817. 1875, Wm. Irvin, 788; T. G. Phelps, R., 323; John Bidwell, Ind., 137. For a constitutional convention, yes, 1,188; no, 423. 1879, Hugh J. Glenn, 994; George C. Perkins, R., 593; Wm. F. White, workingman's candidate, 74. 1882, George Stone- man, 1,360; Morris M. Estee, 714; R. H. McDonald, Prohibitionist, 89. 1886, Washington Bartlett, 1,086; John F. Swift, 596; P. D. Wiggington, American, 36 votes. 1890, Henry H. Markham, R., 918; E. B. Pond, 1,363; John Bidwell, Pro., 131. In 1902 the county gave the Republican candidate, George C. Pardee, 1,069 votes; Franklin K. Lane, Democrat, 1,458, and T. D. Kanouse, Prohibitionist, 44 votes. In 1914 there was a wonderful change in the political complexion of the countv, and it gave Hiram Johnson, Progressive, an overwhelming vote of 5,245; J. B. Curtin, Dem., 2,530; J. D. Fredericks, Republican, 2,201, and Clinton P. Moore, Prohibitionist, 1,131 votes, a total county vote of 11,990. COUNTY LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATIVES That the county polled a solid Democratic vote for so many years was unfor tunate, for the state as a rule is Republican and Democratic legislators in a Republican senate or assembly cannot expect many political favors. This is especially true where the representation is jointly with other counties. State Senators James W. Coffroth, '56-'57; James W. Mandeville, '56-'57; William Holden, '58-'59; George H. Rodgers, '58; Isaac Quinn, '59-'60; John J. Franklin, '60-'61 ; C. V. Williamson, '61; Tohn G. McCullogh, '63; Warren Montgomery, '64-'66 ; James H. Lawrence, '68-'70; Thomas L Keyes, '72-74; John Montgomery, '76-'78 ; David M. Pool, '80-'81; John D. Spencer, '83-'85 ; A. J. Meany, '87-'89 ; Thomas D. Harp, '91-'93; John B. Curtin, '99-'01-'03; Lewis J. Maddux, '13-'15. Assemblymen, John Cook, '55-'56; William Holden, '57; George W. Thomas, '58-'59; Miner Walden, '60-'61 ; Thomas W. Lane, '62 ; James Robertson, '63 ; W. L. Dickinson, '64 ; John M. New- son, '68; Miner Walden, '70; John B. Sensabaugh, '72; H. B. Davis, '74; John J. Scrivner, '76; Caleb Dorsey, '78; John D. Spencer, '80; Leonidas C. Branch, '81; Elihu Beard, '83-'85 ; C. C. Wright, '87 ; Vital E. Bangs, '89 ; John S. Alexander, '91 ; 214 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Frank H. Gould, '93 ; L. A. Richards, '95 ; John G. Elliott, '97 ; George R. Stewart, '99; J. W. Haley, 1901 ; Vital E. Bangs, 1903; Lewis L. Dennett, 1915; Miss Esto Broughton, 1920. James W. Coffroth, a famous lawyer and politician, died at Sacramento October 9, 1872. William Holden in early days was a ferryman on the Tuolumne River. A keen politician, he was elected lieuten-ant governor in 1867 and died at Healdsburg June 3, 1884. James Mandeville was surveyor general from 1857 to 1861. John J. McCullogh was attorney general from 1863 to 1867, and in 1903 was governor of Vermont. Warren Montgomery, one of Stanislaus' brightest minds, was later district attorney of San Joaquin County and died at Stockton February 20, 1894. J. D. Spencer, founder of the Tuolumne Times, was clerk of the supreme court from 1886 to 1891. He died at Modesto, December 13, 1895. Thomas D. Harp died at Modesto, May 22, 1900. Caleb B. Dorsey was shot and killed at Sonora March 28, 1885, by. his partner over land trouble. Elihu Beard passed away in Modesto in May, 1901. Miss Esto Broughton has the honor of being one of the first women in Stanislaus County elected to office and one of the first in California to sit in the Legislature. Miss Florence Boggs was the first woman official elected super intendent of schools in 1902. STANISLAUS COUNTY OFFICERS Judges— H. W. Wallis— (time of election) 1854, Robert McGarvev— 1858, Albert Elkins— 1862, A. G Stakes— 1872, George W. Schell— 1874, E. T. Stone— 1876, A. Hewel— 1880, Wm. O. Minor— 1882, L. W. Fulkerth— 1902-21. Sheriffs— Wm. D. Kirk— 1854, John Myers— 1857, Geo. L. Murdock— 1 860, Geo. W. Branch— 1862, Thomas W. Lane— 1868, John L. Miller— 1870, John Rodgers— 1872, A. S. Fulkerth— 1878, R. B. Purvis— 1884, A. S. Dinglev— 1906, Geo. A. Davis — 1914, Robert Dallas — in office. County Clerks— Robert McGarvey— 1854, Wm. D. McDaniels— 1858, T. A. Leggett— 1860, A. B. Anderson— 1862, John Reedy— 1864, A. Hewel— 1866, Thomas E. Hughes— 1868, L. B. Walthall— 1870, Geo. W. Branch— 1872, L. C. Branch— 1875, Elton Baker— 1876, J. W. McCarty— 1878, E. W. McCabe— 1886, J. A. Lewis— 1888, A. S. Dingley— 1896, W. J. Martin— 1902, S. B. Mitchell— 1906, Hugh Benson— 1914. Treasurers— W. S. Martin— 1854, Geo. W. Murdock— 1856, John Reedy— 1860, Thomas W. Lane— 1864, S. Bishop— 1868, Geo. W. Toombs— 1870, M. H. Hall— 1880, N. W. Baker— 1884, Geo. P. Ostrom— 1886, J. W. Dunlap— 1894, W. A. Downer— 1896— in office. District Attorneys— S. P. Scaniker— 1854, P. B. Nagle— 1862, A. G. Stakes— 1863, E. Basse— 1864, A. G. Stakes— 1866, Thomas A. Coldwell— 1868, J. J. Scrivner— 1872, C. C. Wright— 1876, Wm. O. Minor— 1880, T. A. Coldwell— 1884, John R. Kittrelle— 1886, L. W. Fulkerth— 1890, John M. Walthall— 1902, L. J. Maddux— 1906, Joseph M. Cross— 1914. County Assessors— E. B. Beard— 1854, Samuel Hoyt— 1856, E. B. Beard— 1858, Geo. M. Curry— 1862, E. D. Giddings— 1864, A. H. Jamison— 1868, H. G. James— 1875, Thomas A. Wilson— 1876, J. F. Tucker— 1885, J. T. Tulloch— 1886, J. F. Campbell— 1894, Geo. A. Threlfall— 1908-14. Surveyors— Silas Wilcox— 1854, R. B. Hall— 1856, Silas Wilcox— 1858, E. B. Beard— 1862, A. G. Stakes— 1864, James Ward— 1866, Geo. B. Douglas— 1870, A. W. South— 1874, R. B. Robinson— 1876, Geo. B. Douglas— 1 884, F. S. Lane— 1890, Geo. B. Douglas— 1894, A. L. Finney— 1902, E. H. Annear— 1906-14. Coroners— Heth Williams— 1854, I. D. Morley— 1858, A. C. White— 1860, H D. Latour— 1862, J. S. Colman— 1864, W. G. Sanders— 1868, H. K. Covert— 1870, J. H. Lowe— 1872, M. S. Duncan— 1873, James Burney— 1875, Wm. B. Howard— 1876 W. H. Robinson— 1878, Henry Lewis— 1884, J. Phelps— 1890, W K. McNeal-1896, D. P. Howell-1902, W. S. Bowker-1906, Harry W. Wood — 1914. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 215 Superintendents of Schools— E. B. Beard— 1854, W. D. McDaniel— 1856, T. A. Leggett— 1860, A. B. Anderson— 1862, Geo. W. Schell— 1864, T. T. Hamlin— 1866, B. F. Haislip— 1870, James Burnej'— 1872, Wm. B. Howard— 1876, W. H. Robin son— 1878, Wm. B. Howard— 1886, J. A. Hammond— 1894, J. A. Wagner— 1896, Miss Florence Boggs— 1902, Frank A. Bacon— 1914, A. J. Elmore— 1918. Public Administrators — L. M. Ramsier — 1855, W. W. Bowen— 1856, Thomas Ewing— 1858, I. D. Morley— 1860, J. McHenry— 1866, J. C. Davis— 1868, Wm. Maxwell— 1870, M. S. Duncan— 1872, James Burney— 1875, Wm. B. Howard— 1876, W. H. Robinson— 1878, Henry Lewis— 1884, J. Phelps— 1890, J. D. Bentley —1894, W. K. McNeal— 1896, D. P. Howell— 1902, W. S. Bowker— 1906, Harry W. Wood— 1914. Recorder and Auditor— Robert McGarvey— 1854, W. D. McDaniels— 1858, T. A. Leggett— 1860, A. B. Anderson— 1862, John Reedy— 1864, A. Hewel— 1866, T. E. Hughes— 1868, L. B. Walthall— 1870, Geo. W. Branch— 1872, L. C. Branch —1875, B. G. Weir— 1876, John McCoy— 1878, M. J. Sorenson— 1888, C. A. Post —1894, H. C. Keeley— 1902, H. C. Keeley— 1914. Regarding these county officers, Wm. D. Kirk, the first sheriff, died in 1857, and for one day John Clark, the town marshal, acted as sheriff, John Myers being appointed March 4, 1857, to fill the unexpired term of the deceased sheriff. A. G. Stakes, who was an associate judge in the Court of Sessions in San Joaquin County in the '50s, immigrated to Stanislaus County. He was a lifelong Democrat and in August, 1862, was appointed district attorney by the board of supervisors to fill the unexpired term of P. B. Nagle, who resigned. The following year the judge was elected county surveyor, and in 1866, district attorney. In 1872 he was elected county judge, and the following year, while riding on a wagon at Hill's Ferry, he fell to the ground and was so severely injured that he died December 26, 1873. Governor New ton Booth, on January 2, 1874, appointed Attorney George W. Schell to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Stakes. You will notice that in 1880 Abram Hewel was elected superior judge, the name having been changed under the new constitution from county to superior judge. CHAPTER SIXTEEN HISTORIC REMINDERS OF STANISLAUS If Davis S. Terry's statement be correct, the Southern Pacific Railroad was com pleted and cars running to the south bank of the Stanislaus River as early as April 6, 1872. The following notice was served on the San Joaquin supervisors in calling for the delivery of bonds, by Judge Terry at that time: "I have the honor to inform you that the railroad of the Stockton & Visalia Railroad is constructed from the waterfront in Stockton across and to the south bank of the Stanislaus River, and the track laid thereon. That said road is supplied with the necessary engines, cars and rolling stock and that said cars are running upon said road and carrying freight and passengers to the said south bank of the Stanislaus River." L. M. Hickman, who has just returned from his ranch in Stanislaus County some four miles south of Oakdale, says he never saw grain in that section looking so well. He estimates the probable yield at from twenty to twenty-five bushels to the acre, and thinks the county will, turn out 5,000,000 bushels, proving itself again the banner wheat county of the state. — Independent, April 15, 1878. A terrific windstorm swept through this place last Tuesday, June 4, 1878, about seven-thirty o'clock. The gust came from the east and drove through the town at rapid pace in a westerly course, throwing dust and sand in front of it. Before it reached here dark clouds could be seen concentrating near the foothills from which vivid flashes of lightning were emitted. A few heavy drops of rain fell before the storm and for a time the sky was overcast with clouds. — News. 216 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY In Oakdale, July 15, 1885, a fire broke out in the rear of Miller's restaurant and about one-half of the block was destroyed with a loss of fully $25,000. The fire alarm was sounded and the firemen responded promptly, but the waterworks were so long delayed in getting up steam that the fire obtained a great headway before the men could get a stream of water on the flames. The places destroyed were Williams & Company, jewelers and furniture; Freeman's dry goods store; Central restaurant and saloon; Emery's general merchandise store; English lodging house and restaurant, and Hubbell's saloon. The town is greatly excited over the event, as it is supposed to be an incendiary fire, and three attempts have been made during the past month to burn the town. Said the Modesto Herald May 14, 1880, "We learn from a reliable source that already arrangements have been made with the Central Pacific Railroad to extend the Oakdale Railroad to the Tuolumne River, striking it near Waterford. Bonds are to be given the Central Pacific by the farmers that on the completion of the railroad the company will be paid $50,000. The work is assured and the road will be completed in time to move this year's crop." A friend informs the News that there is not less than 10,000 tons of wheat on the river bank at Hill's Ferry, and at Grayson and Crow's Landing there is also a large quantity of wheat. At the three points named there is not less than 20,000 tons. At Patterson's Landing there are 20,000 sacks, and it is rapidly accumulating along the river banks, because of a scarcity of steamers and barges to move it to tidewater. — August, 1872. A correspondent stated May 31, 1880, "I have just returned from a trip through Stanislaus County ; I have traveled over the county during the past twelve years and never before have I seen things so prosperous. Modesto is improving very much, and business of all kinds is lively. Ceres is booming. They have just dedicated a large social hall which adds very much to the appearance of the place. The best feature of the towns is, they have only one place where they keep 'tangle-leg' and the bar keeper they say is not getting wealthy." The little stern wheel steamer Harriett, Captain J. W. Smith, arrived at Hill's Ferry February 13, 1872, with a load of grain and feed consigned to the farmers of the upper San Joaquin. "A few days ago the citizens of the Ferry found that they had a very undesirable transient population in the town, and a suggestion was made that a Vigilance Com mittee be organized to give them notice to leave. The deputy sheriff, however, be lieved that the boj's be given notice to 'git up and git.' He had notices printed stat ing that the young men's room was better than their company, and taking the hint thev quietly left Hill's Ferry, thus avoiding any trouble or 'hanging bees.' " — June 30,' 1880. The Modesto and Turlock Irrigation districts are figuring on securing reservoir sites on the Tuolumne River watershed for the purpose of constructing large reservoirs for the storage of. water for late irrigation. Superintendent Griffin of the Modesto district and Superintendent Smith and Director Mires of the Turlock district are now in the mountains looking for sites. If suitable locations are obtained the directors will take up the bond proposition for the purpose of constructing dams. — July 24, 1908. The Oakdale municipal election was held on Monday and 443 votes were cast, 1 85 being women. They voted without any trouble and asked but few questions and instructions. Some came with their husbands and others in groups of two or more. The trustees elected were A. L. Gilbert, William Gerry and W. F. Wheeler. Roy Acker was elected city clerk over Thomas Maxwell by a vote of 287 to 142. Alban Maxwell was elected city treasurer over Thomas Towell. — April 10, 1912. The Union Savings Bank and the First National Bank of Modesto have just, announced a change in their directorship. W. N. Steele has resigned as vice-president and director of the Union Savings Bank, and has been succeeded by C. R. Gailfus, formerly vice-president of the First National Bank. E. C. Peck, who was cashier of the Union Savings Bank, will be vice-president of the First National Bank. George HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 217 C. Nelson will be advanced to cashier of the Union Savings Bank. Both banks are largely controlled by the same interests. — May 22, 1912. The Republican Congressional convention assembled today in Modesto. The delegates, 100 in number, were met at the train by the leading citizens of the town and the leading Republicans and heartily welcomed. A parade was formed and the march led to the beautiful courthouse park, where a grandstand had been • erected on the lawn beneath the fine old shade trees. A large American flag hung over the stand and from the front of the stand a large banner bearing the Congressional record of James C. Needham through his five previous campaigns. These were as follows : 1898, Needham, 20,783 votes; Castle, 20,680; 1900, Needham, 23,450; Chichton, 18,981; 1902, Needham, in another district, 17,264; Ashe, 13,732; 1904, Needham, 18,824; Conley, 13,074; 1906, Needham, 18,928; Green, 12,868. The incumbent was again placed in nomination for Congressman by L. L. Dennett and the nomina tion was seconded by Frank Short of Fresno. He was elected unanimously and, appearing upon the platform, was greeted by tremendous applause. He said, "I want to thank the delegates and through them the people of this district. I regard my nomination at your hands not only as a signal honor, but as a call to duty. Many people hold the opinion that men in politics are ungrateful. I want to assure you this is untrue." — August 26, 1908. The case of the Oakdale Irrigation District versus Samuel Pratt in a condemna tion suit for a right-of-way for the main canal was partly a victory for the district. Mr. Pratt was awarded $1,528 in full payment for all claims. He wanted $26,000 for 2,600 acres of land and $2,000 damages. The outcome is an indication of the change of sentiment with which the people of Stanislaus * now regard irrigation. A marked contrast to fifteen years ago, when the fate of irrigation hung in the balance. — April 29, 1912. The electors of Turlock yesterday voted in favor of permitting the three saloons of the town to continue in business. Out of a total vote of 260 the wets polled 160 votes. The campaign was spirited and the saloon proprietors did not overlook any thing that tended to win votes. The anti-saloon men are more determined than ever before to wipe out the saloons, and it is only a matter of time when the question will again be brought up. — July 24, 1908. City Marshal George T. Morrison of Oakdale was summoned to La Grange December 29 on account of the death of his brother, Charles Morrison. The de ceased at the time of his death was a butcher doing business in La Grange. He was born in Knights Ferry some fifty-four years ago, and engaged in various occupations and was held in high esteem for his moral character and integrity. — January 1, 1912. The Riverbank Producers and Consumers Co-operative store opened for business this morning. The rush was so great that people were standing in line before the doors were open. It was necessary to send out an S. O. S. call for help. — Jan. 1, '12. The Boy Scouts, under Scout Master L. W. Miller, have collected close to $100 for a gymnasium and for their headquarters. The drive is still on and those who wish to contribute can hand the amount to any Boy Scout. — July 29, 1919. The sale of the Red Cross canteen building at Turlock closed the history of another institution that, during the heat of the Allied War, gained quite a reputation up and down the valley and in a way became famous. Thirty thousand soldiers and sailors going up and down the line in their work for Uncle Sam were served coffee and doughnuts free from this little canteen. — July 24, 1919. In a shooting affair which occurred in Modesto in a house of prostitution on J Street, Jerry Lockwood, a laborer, was shot and killed October 2, 1872, by Barney Garner, it is supposed. Lockwood was shot with a double-barreled shotgun, one charge taking effect in the left arm and breast and the other in the throat. It is said that the affair was started by Lockwood, who was abusing Garner and hit him over the head with a revolver. On July 17, 1905, the election in Ceres for the proposition of voting a special tax of $500 for the building and an addition to the school and to pay the salary of ar 218 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY extra teacher carried with only a few opposing votes. Ceres is not adverse to spend ing money for education, and they want ample school facilities. Oakdale's new service flag was dedicated with appropriate ceremony Saturday afternoon, April 2, 1918. It contains the names of sixty-eight young men of Oak dale now serving their country and this week a half dozen more will follow to the various army camps. The program included a prayer by the Rev. F. C. Farr; a short talk by Roy Acker, during which he read the names of the boys in service; "The Star-Spangled Banner," sung by Mrs. Roy B. Maxey, accompanied by the Oak dale Band ; address by Attorney F. W. Reeder, and "America," sung by the audience with band accompaniment. January 14, 1920. — Modesto Labor Temple will be the official name by which the Central Labor Council will incorporate with a capitalization of $20,000. The Labor Council will take over the labor temple recently purchased by T. F. Griffith for $13,000. A stock company will be formed and T. F. Griffith will take fifty shares, the carpenters' union one hundred shares, the painters' union twenty shares and the electricians' union twenty shares. "Archbishop Edward J. Hanna of San Francisco will be the guest of the people of Oakdale on Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12, 1918. A public reception will be held at Hughes hall on Saturday evening, which will be attended by the citizens of Knights Ferry, Eugene, Waterford, Thalheim and Oakdale. The Archbishop will deliver an address on the Red Cross at that time, this being the opening of the Red Cross drive in Oakdale. Sunday he will administer the sacrament of confirmation to a class of' forty-five communicants." At a meeting of the Modesto Woman's Improvement Club yesterday -Mrs. Edgar H. Annear was elected president; Mrs. Walter Garrison, first vice-president; Mrs, C. H. Griswold, second vice-president; Mrs. C. F. Gailfus, treasurer, and Mrs. A. A. Field, financial secretary. The new trustees are Mrs. Wm. H. Langdon, Mrs. W. H, Hutton and Mrs. C. A. Zander.— April 8, 1913. Modesto went wet j'esterday. The contest was a hot one, both sides working hard. The wets feared the result on the assumption that since the town went wet last July many of their supporters had left the city. The election was upon a drastic high license ordinance. It limited the saloons to one for every 1,500 inhabitants, and one saloon to every hotel with fifty or more rooms. Strict regulations were demanded and all entrances must be equipped with clear glass fronts. — April 9, 1913. October 29, 1873, Archibald G. Stakes was killed at Hill's Ferry by falling from a wagon. His neck was broken and he died instantly. A Virginian by birth, he came to California in 1850 and located at Stockton, and began the practice of law. In 1852 he was elected an associate judge of the Court of Sessions of San Joaquin County. Removing to this county in 1861, he was elected several times to office. The judge was fifty- five years of age. At Oakdale, August 29, 1890, Barr's general merchandising store was robbed of jewelry and several hundred dollars' worth of clothing. Some tools were also taken from the Copperopolis engine. Suspicion attaches to a gang of loafers who have been hanging about Oakdale for the past two months. It was said in August, 1872, that the farmers on the West Side of the San Joaquin River are in want of a railroad from Banta's to Los Banos, a distance of not more than fifty-six miles, as from that point the road can connect with the Central Pacific. Not more than one-third of the enormous crop raised between the two points named has been shipped the past season because of low water, and it will not pay to ship it by team. A railroad could be built cheaper than in any other section of the state for the same length of road. In Modesto, August 30, 1906, a fire which broke out about eleven . o'clock de stroyed property to the extent of over $10,000. Were it not for the splendid work of the fire department the entire block would have been swept away. The fire started between Frank Medina's grocery and James Harter's blacksmith shop. How it started ;s a mystery, as there was no fire in the forge and none in the grocery. Frank Medina HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 219 lost building and stock, $6,000; Charles Hunter, building and goods, $700; Mrs. M. E. Tucker, three store rooms in Tucker building, $1,500. 1905. — The First National Bank of Turlock was opened for business Monday, July 10, with C. A. Anderson cashier in charge. Although a distinctive corporation, it is a branch of the First National Bank of Modesto, Ora McHenry, president. In December, 1872, the question of building a new schoolhouse was being agitated by the citizens of Modesto. The citizens of that town have built one of the best courthouses in the state outside of San Francisco, with probably a single exception, that of San Jose, and they should have a fine school building. March 10, 1852. — The flood of a few days ago did serious damage in this county. The pontoon bridge and the ferry boats at Heath and Emory's Ferry are all gone, and there are 200 people waiting at the ferry to go to the mines, but the roads are impassable. Several horses were drowned at Islip's ferry. At Robinson's ferry also the boats have been swept away, and at McLean's ferry the current made a clean sweep of it and carried away ferry boat and houses. Reynolds' new ferry boat is gone. Dent & Vantine were compelled to cut away their large hawser at Knights Ferry and theirs is the only ferry boat saved on the Stanislaus. The waterworks a half mile below Knights Ferry was entirely washed away with a loss of $6,000. The storm commenced on Friday, March 5, and continued without interruption until Sunday, the 7th. At Knights Ferry the water arose twelve feet higher than in the flood of '49-'50, higher than ever before known, and the stream at that point was 300 feet in width and forty feet deep. April 16, 1872. — The trial of David Fine, charged with the murder of Richard Heath near Knights Ferry some time ago, was commenced today before Judge Samuel A. Booker of the district court. The prisoner has a number of very able attorneys to defend him — N. Greene Curtis of Sacramento, the ablest criminal lawj'er in the state; Judge Davis S. Terry of Stockton, and George Schell and J. J. Scrivner of Modesto. The prosecution is represented by the district attorney, Thomas A. Cold- well, and Abram Hewel. Fred A. Ruhl of Stockton, says the press of July 13, 1878, has just completed a deep well pump for a West Side farmer which is designed to lift water from a well 170 feet deep to a tank twenty feet above the ground. It is a combined suction lift and force pump. It sucks the water the first ten feet, lifts it to the surface and then forces it wherever required. Kahn & Haslacher, the well-known grain buyers of Oakdale, in May, 1901, pur chased the warehouses at Merced and at Athlone on the line of the Santa Fe Railroad. This gives them a string of twenty-six warehouses for the storage of grain, on the four different lines of railroad in this valley. These warehouses are all connected by 136 miles of telephone wires. Memorial Day, May 30, 1901, was celebrated at Oakdale under the direction of Oakdale Lodge No. 230, Knights of Pythias. The Native Sons, Knights of Pythias, the public school children and citizens took part in the parade, led by the drum corps. The following program was can ied out at the cemetery : Prayer ; song by the children; introductory remarks; song, "Sleep and Rest"; recitation, "Cover Them Over," Mrs. C. C. Woods ; oration, J. P. Hazen ; song, "Old Glory" ; decorat ing of gaves. Paris Kilburn, who has 4,000 acres of wheat near Hill's Ferry, states that the grain crdp is something wonderful all over that region. On the West Side in Stanis laus County alone there are over 100,000 acies of continuous wheat fields. On the East Side the acreage is probably three or four times greater, and all in most excellent growth.— March 21, 1872. The rowdy element committed a most outrageous act as the emigrant train pulled into Modesto from the south on the morning of November 13, 1883. As soon as the train stopped a half-dozen toughs boarded the cars and demanded money from the passengers. One of the fellows grabbed a purse held by a young woman and at tempted to take it away from her. She held on to it and was abused by the fellow in the most violent language. Her husband cane to the rescue and knocked the rowdy 220 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY down and finally threw him from the car. The other would-be robbers were simi larly treated and all five then ran down the track, followed by shots from revolvers and a Winchester rifle. Constable Walker of Lathrop happened to be on board and he pursued the men, succeeding in capturing one of them and lodged him in the Modesto jail. The other four were later arrested by the deputy sheriff. 1876. — The prisoners confined in the county jail at Modesto escaped on the night of August 4 by prying open the prison bars with a stove leg. The officers started in pursuit as soon as they learned of the escape, but no word has been heard of the criminals. A correspondent writing of affairs in Modesto in April, 1872, before it was the beautiful little city that it is now is said, "In about an hour and three-quarters after leaving Stockton over the Southern Pacific Railroad we arrived at Modesto. This cannot be called an attractive place. It is built on a sandy soil and the houses are not elegant, but its inhabitants have great confidence in its future and believe that it will be a thriving and interesting town. All are looking forward to the harvest and then Modesto will get busy and money be plenty. The district court is now in session and is engaged in the murder case of the People vs David Fine for the killing of Richard Heath. The court is held in a small frame building near the railroad depot, which is uncomfortably crowded. February 9, 1872. — The new town of Merced is rapidly building up and today the steamer Empire, towing the barge Franklin, steamed up the San Joaquin River with a large load of lumber consigned to that point. The San Joaquin Republican stated in February, 1852, "We are informed by Captain Vantine of Knights Ferry that a horrible murder was committed a few days ago on the Stanislaus River at Spanish Bar. Two men named Charles Baxter and William Donelly were murdered by Mexicans. Their heads were crushed and their throats cut from ear to ear. The two Mexicans who are supposed to have done the deed have disappeared from the bar, but there is little doubt that they will soon be brought to justice." July 19, 1885. — "The citizens of Oakdale are much excited over the recent fires and a watch was placed on all suspicious characters. Considerable surprise was mani fested at the arrest of E. Miller, proprietor of the Central Restaurant, where the fire broke out, on the charge of perjury. He made an affidavit to the effect that his loss was $1,600, being insured for that amount. The insurance agent, being sus picious that something was wrong, swore out a search warrant and found a large por tion of stock alleged to have been destroyed hid away. Later Miller was arrested for arson, it being charged that he set fire to his restaurant." Salmon of more than usual number are making their way ut the stream this year to the head waters of the San Joaquin River. In shallow places in the river the fish can almost be caught by hand. The Indians of early days were very expert in catching them by hand. — September 4, 1873. There was an epidemic of measles raging in Modesto in May, 1901. As a con sequence the public schools were all closed except the high schools. The school remained closed for a week. Even the Sunday schools were closed. 1905. — Fire which started about eleven o'clock Saturday night, September 16, totally destroyed the new cooperative creamery at Ceres, with a loss, plant and build ings, of $16,000. The creamery was constructed less than two j'ears ago, after the destruction by fire of the former creamery. The present officers are S. J. Irvin, of Modesto, president ; Dan Baldwin, of Ceres, vice-president ; J. U. Gortin, of Ceres, secretary, and Mr. Barnes, manager. The creamery was doing a splendid business and turning out 1,500 pounds of butter per day. There will be no pork raising in the city limits of Oakdale, notwithstanding the fact that the government wants plenty of pork. A. G. Reinn, agricultural instructor in the high school, has charge of the pork campaign in this county and he asked per mission of Mayor Endicott to permit the raising of hogs within the city limits. The mayor declared that if Uncle Sam is in need of pork, he had no objection. Attorney Reeder, however, said it could not legally be done. J. B. Stearns, a city trustee, also HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 221 strongly opposed it. "Before the city was incorporated," said Stearns, "I spent several weeks taking a petition over the county to stop the running of hogs at large, and I don't want all my work to go for nothing." Reeder declared that in the old days a butcher drove eighteen head of hogs through the town to the railroad for shipment, but before he arrived at his destination he had two carloads of hogs gathered on the way.— April 5, 1918. 1905. — The members of the San Joaquin county supervisors will visit Modesto today, August 9, to meet with the county supervisors and open bids for a bridge over the Stanislaus River near Ripon. The bids will be opened this afternoon and an effort will be made to have the bridge completed before the winter rains set in. The Union Democrat of Sonora says, March 30, 1872, "A Mexican who came from Modesto last Thursday reported that George Tubbs, Isadero, a Chileno, and a young Mexican were hung by a mob for horse stealing in that vicinity last week. The three young men had been living very dissolute lives in Sonora." August 19, 1873. — Oscar Baickan, while working on a threshing machine on Richard's ranch, four miles south of Oakdale, was killed today. He was standing on the table and fell into the cylinder while the machine was in action. His legs were crushed and one leg was torn from the hip joint. He lived only twenty minutes. The man was a resident of Knights Ferry and leaves a wife and five children. The trial of John Rech for the killing of Levi Arnold in May, 1883, com menced in the district court at Modesto October 15. Arnold and a number of friends were having a glorious time at Hill's Ferry, and Arnold proposed that they go into Rech's saloon and get another drink. As the glasses were placed upon the counter Arnold, reaching across the bar, struck Rech over the head with his heavy straw hat. This angered the barkeeper and, refusing to give Arnold any more liquor, ordered him out. Arnold then called the saloonist a vile name and Rech returned the compliment. The drunken man then grabbed a glass and threw it at Rech's head with full force. The tumbler was smashed into a hundred pieces and Rech, drawing a six-shooter, shot Arnold, who died in a few minutes. In 1854 the first drilled oil well was sunk at Oil City, Pa., in the garden of Samuel Smith, father of M. O. Smith of Knights Ferry. That was the beginning of petroleum and coal oil in the world's commerce. Smith that year came to California and, locating at Knights Ferry, he and Monell Locke assisted in building the flour mill that was washed out in the flood of 1862. He died six years ago and his son is still growing oranges at Knights Ferry. — Press report, June 5, 1901. The new town of Merced was being rapidly built up in February, 1872, and the steamer Empire City, with the barge Franklin, sailed up the San Joaquin River with seven loads of lumber for that place. One of the greatest grain and pasture fires in the history of Stanislaus County was that of July, 1906. Starting late Saturday night on the West Side, it burned until the following Wednesday, destroying over 20,000 acres of grain and pasture land. The fire burned on both sides of Georgias Creek and extended south along the foot hills as far as Merced County. Hundreds of men with gang plows, water wagons and wet sacks fought the fire, but failing to stop its progress it finally burned itself out. The Stanislaus Republican Club met in Ross hall, August 24, 1872, for a per manent organization and active work during the campaign. The following officers were elected: J. S. Alexander, president; W. Witherell and Fred Keet, vice-presi dents; J. C. James, secretary, and Charles Post, treasurer. The Honorable J. M. Cavis of Stockton addressed the club on the political issues of the campaign. He made a very able and forceful address and his speech was highly appreciated by those fortunate enough to hear him. Smith & Overheiser of Patterson's ranch, in this county, make it their exclusive business to raise Patterson's Merino sheep for themselves and the market, said the Herald, September 27, 1872. The flock numbers some 3,000 head of the purest blood in America. Their immense flock comes from sixty-seven head of Spanish Merino sheep imported into California in 1860 by the late John D. Patterson. The shearing of these sheep this season amounts to 30,000 pounds of wool of the finest 222 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY quality. At the state and county fairs they exhibited sixty-seven sheep and carried off the first premiums. The sheep were on sale and one buck was sold for $200. Thirty- eight pounds of wool was sheared from one of the finest rams this season. Mrs. De Yoe of this county a few days ago signed a contract with Clark & Henery of Stockton to build 430 feet of bulkhead along the levee of her ranch. — July 31, 1899. September 9, 1873. — Judge Samuel D. Booker, judge of the district court, arrived yesterday from his Stockton home to hold court in Modesto today. He was accom panied by the court reporter, Edward E. Hood, and by Judge David S. Terry, who comes on official business. The court will convene for the first time in the new courthouse. In August, 1906, between 700 and 800 acres of fine pasture land about four miles southeast of Oakdale was destroyed by fire in a rather peculiar manner. The fire was caused by the running away of a team of horses. The driver set the brakes and the wheels, coming in contact with rocks, struck fire, setting fire to the grass. This evening about six o'clock Chapman & McKennan's gas works took fire, causing considerable excitement. A Babcock fire extinguisher was soon on hand and the flames quickly distinguished. — Modesto News, November 6, 1873. Riverbank has a brass band. The new band effected its organization January 17, 1920, by electing J. A. Snively band leader. The membership comprises twenty-five men, all of them having instruments, and eighteen of them are expert players. They will meet for practice in the Harding building. One of the most important transactions in the history of Oakdale was completed April 2, 1918, when Armour & Company, the big Chicago packers, bought the plant and all of the stock of the Oakdale Creamery Company. This is the first entry into the California butter field of the Chicago capitalist, with a capital of $1,000,000. It will be operated as the Oakdale Creamery and will be in charge of A. D. Schadlich. In September, 1872, a press reporter, writing of the progress of Modesto, said, "The large building near the depot being erected by Mr. Peters already contains a large amount of grain in storage. Isaac Friedlander's warehouse is being completed rapidly and will hold 7,000 tons of grain. The brick work on Eastin & Wilson's two- story building, corner of I and Tenth streets, is finished ready for the fireproof roof. Mr. Farrish is- excavating for his new brick on the corner of G and Ninth streets, which he intends to use as a store. D. S. Husband will soon be ready to commence his new two-story brick structure on I and Tenth streets. Mr. Chapman contem plates erecting a brick next to Mr. Farrish and Mr. Brickman will shortly build a brick building on the site now occupied by his place of business. Mr. Brown, the photographer, will erect a second story on his building on Ninth Street to be used by him as a photograph gallery." The entire San Joaquin Valley is interested in the third annual festival to be held in Modesto May 3 and 4. Throughout the valley Modesto is known as the musical center and the Modesto Choral Society are working to make this festival larger and better than ever before. Among the famous soloists to take part in the concerts are Mrs. Zilpha Jenkins, soprano ; Mrs. Carroll Nicholson, contralto ; Charles Bulotti, tenor, and Lowell Redfield, bass, the famous San Francisco artists. Last j'ear the festival was held in a temporary covered pavilion in the center of the main street. This year it will be in the immense auditorium seating 2,000 persons. — April 29, 1912. The demands upon the Modesto Gas Company have been so large because of the growth of the city that the company have applied to the railroad commissioners for authority to issue $65,000 first mortgage bonds at six per cent. The company intends to erect a $45,000 gas holder and install generating apparatus at a cost of $12,000. Tn the year 1918 the gas consumers numbered 1,420 as against 1,308 the previous year.— July 12, 1919. The overwhelming defeat of the high school bonds makes it clear, says the News, that the people do not want to spend $110,000 for a high school on a single block of land, with the traditional courses of study as its principal feature. They want a high HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 223 school that will prepare the young people for their life duties in a better way than is done on the old traditional lines. They want manual training, shop practice, agriculture, and domestic science made the leading features. Furthermore, they want the students to have play room for their athletic sports and their practice work. — February 7, 1911. 1876. — Oakdale Lodge No. 228, I. O. O. F., will celebrate its first anniversary February 28 in Patterson's halk An oration will be delivered in the early part of the evening to be followed by a grand ball. The tickets, including supper, are three dollars. The Salida Library Society met Thursday evening in Maple hall and nine new members were added to the list. New books are being purchased and Robert Miller kindly offered to subscribe for the Library Digest for the use of the library directors. — February 5, 1912. January 3, 1920. — At their request, the Oakdale city council will license the laundrymen at a figure high enough to keep outside laundrymen from getting the cream of their patronage. Frank Grangers, one of the aggrieved laundrymen, says that he has expended $12,000 in putting in a first-class equipment and should be pro tected from outside laundrymen, who run wagons into the city and pay no city taxes. November 1, 1911. — Charles M. Hatfield, the so-called rain maker, has again signed up with the land holders in Stanislaus County to increase the annual rainfall. This is, his seventh yearly contract and it calls for not less than ten inches of rain between November 1 and May 1, 1912. The rainfall is six and a half inches, and last year he increased it to over thirteen inches. His territory extends from Volta on the south tp Westley on the north. His headquarters last j'ear were at Crows Landing, but this year he will set up his towers at Newman. A wedding of considerable interest to the citizens of Stanislaus County took place in Berkeley on October 12, 1911, when A. E. Schadlich and Miss Nellie Saunders were united in marriage by an Episcopal minister of Berkeley. The mar riage took place at the home of Miss Charlotte Nichols.- Mrs. Schadlich was for merly the bookkeeper in Hughes' store, where her fiance first met her. Mr. Schadlich is one of the best-known residents of Stanislaus County, and he and his brother own and conduct the Live Oak Inn. October 26, 1911. — The Central Baptist Association was organized in Ceres a few days ago. The association comprises eight churches in this district organized to carry on a more aggressive campaign in church work in the central part of the state. The following officers of the association were elected : Moderator, C. F. Daniels of Hughson ; vice-moderator, Rev. J. M. Hensley of Ceres ; clerk, Rev. D. J. Weddie of Turlock; treasurer, H. C. Leffingwell of Modesto. October. 28, 1911. — An irrigation convention was held yesterday in Modesto with W. A. Patterson of Oakdale presiding, and E. N. Pierce and Mrs. M. Sorenson, acting secretaries. During the order of business, Attorney L. L. Dennett was author ized to prepare a memorial to Governor Johnson asking him to incorporate in his call of a special session of the Legislature a provision that that body may pass irriga tion district laws. May 22, 1912. — The board of supervisors yesterday counted the returns of the primary election with the following result: Roosevelt, 1,591 ; Taft, 554; La Follette, 791. The high licensing of saloons was bottled with the following result; No, 5,250; yes, 2,106. As the result of this election the sixteen saloons in the county outside of incorporated cities must close their doors within the next ten days. May 4, 1912. — An amusing incident occurred in the auditorium last evening as the Modesto Choral Society were giving their first evening concert. Just as the orchestra were taking their seats after the ten minutes' intermission, an electric fuse blew out, leaving the room in total darkness. From out of the solemn silence there came a loud voice from the stage saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, the next number on the program will be 'Hold Thou My Hand.' " The laugh that followed relieved the tension, and everybody began talking to his neighbor. Mr. Redfield, the celebrated baritone, who had come up from San Francisco to take part in the concert, came out 224 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY in the darkness and sang the old favorite song, "Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes." In a few minutes the new fuse was placed and the concert continued. May 13, 1912.— The Modesto high school debating club defeated the Newman high school club in the Modesto auditorium Friday evening. The Newman club, represented by E. Beall, F. McGinnis and L. Hoyt, took the affirmative side of the question, "Resolved, That the Panama Canal should be operated by the Government for profit." The winning debaters were H. Breseiner, Jennie Commez and Wm, Moore. May 25, 1912. — Hog raising is becoming an important industry in Stanislaus County, and while it is the shipping of dairy products that this section is noted for, says the Herald, many carloads of hogs leave Modesto during the month. Kincaid & Sons report that they have shipped six carloads from Modesto to San Francisco since May 1. The large amount of hog business already done here has proven that this industry is a profitable one to the farmer. Considerable amusement was afforded the citizens in the business section of Modesto by the enforcement of the traffic ordinance when it went into effect. Policemen Elliott and Smith stood on the corner of I and Tenth streets, and they were busy all day directing the drivers of horses and the auto chauffeurs how to turn the street corners in accordance with the law. February 13, 1906. — Coroner Howell arrived at Modesto early this morning from Waterford, having in charge the remains of the young man twenty-four years of age who was accidentally killed at that place on Monday last. The young fellow, Harry Theinon, was a member of the railroad crew engaged in building a bridge across the Tuolumne River. While standing on the structure he failed to see the loco motive moving along, and the engine, striking him, he was knocked off the bridge and almost instantly killed. January 1, 1920. — The livestock breeders of Stanislaus County have started to organize a breeders' association to further their interests generally, and incidentally to establish a fair grounds in Modesto where they can exhibit animals and hold big sales from time to time. March 7, 1912. — Thomas Maxwell, an Oakdale boy, will run against Roy Acker, present incumbent, for city clerk at the next municipal election. Roy Acker has made a good and efficient officer and he has a host of friends. The fight will be a hot one, as both boys are very popular and capable. Alban Rydberg will run for city treasurer. December 20, 1911. — Work is rapidly progressing on the sewer and water system that is being installed in Oakdale and when completed it will be one of the most up-to-date systems in the San Joaquin Valley. The sewer pipe is laid in the center of the street from two to eight feet to get the proper grade. James Griffith, the local cement contractor, has just begun work on the big concrete reservoir on the Cottle hill about a mile from town. It will be about sixty feet in diameter and twenty-five feet above the top of the hill, will hold 500,000 gallons of water. This will give a water supply and hose pressure in case of fire, not excelled by any other city in the valley. May 25, 1912. — At a meeting of business men held in Druids hall Saturday afternoon, the Modesto taxpayers' league was formed. To block the coming pro hibition movement, they intend to present a petition to the city trustees requesting them to call a vote of the people calling for an ordinance licensing the saloon $1,000 a year, with specific regulations of the liquor traffic. February 22, 1906. — Ora McHenry, president of the First National Bank of Modesto, died at his home yesterday of cancer of the intestines. He was the wealthiest man in the county and one of the most enterprising and progressive men in the valley. As the owner of the Fresno meat market and the principal stockholder in the Henry Packing Company on the Bald Eagle ranch, he controlled largely the meat product of this section of country. His estate is estimated to be worth close to a million dollars, as he had stock in a number of banks and 20,000 acres of land in this county. June 21, 1912. — The plans for the annual festival of the Woman's Improvement Club of Modesto are being perfected and the fiesta will take place June 27-28. In HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 225 boosting the fiesta, five automobile loads of the members of the club made a tour of the eastern section of the county. The women who made trip comprised Mesdames H. Hart, E. C. Dozier, H. W. Husband, J. A. Edwards, C. A. Threfall, C. B. Husted, J. J. McMahon, J. Frank Russell, C. R. Weeks, Wm. H. Langdon, Geo. P. Schafer, J. P. Coffee, F. A. Cressey, W. H. Bowker, Taza Grollman, D. C. Wood, H. A. Bates, D. C. Davidson, and W. J. Scoon. July 2, 1919. — At a meeting of the Oakdale high school board of trustees they voted to raise the salaries of all the teachers $200 per year. This is the second in crease this month because of the high cost of living, the teachers having been given $50 per year increase some two weeks ago. This was an additional amount given by the trustees, as the teachers had already signed their contracts for the year 1919-20. April 25, 1912. — The gold medal contest given in Maple hall, Salida, on April 16 by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was won by Mrs. Reuter Joliff of Woodland colony, who competed with Inez Bowman, Leona Jennings, Isabelle Black- man and Wallace Van Leoz of Modesto, and Mrs. L. Lollich and Florence Wilder of Salida. June 7, 1912. — Auctioneer Clark Kefford held a sale of dairy cattle on the McDonald ranch Wednesday of twenty-six Jersey and Holstein cows, which sold at an .average price of $68.35 per head. June 2, 1901. — Oakdale will have a fine celebration this j'ear and Attorney Hugh R. McNoble, a prominent member of the Native Sons, born in "old Cala veras," will deliver the oration. Congressman James C. Needham of Modesto will be the president of the day. Twenty-five Knights Ferry Native Sons will appear in parade uniform, and the Modesto Native Sons will attend, accompanied by a band. March 9, 1912. — The powder magazine of the Utah Construction Company, now engaged in building the Oakdale canal, was blown up yesterday. Singularly enough, not a pe.rson was injured. The magazine contained two carloads of black blasting powder and about fifty boxes of giant powder, which did not explode. The magazine was located about a mile from the city and was constructed of three-inch plank, armored with quarter-inch steel. The town was shaken by the force of the terrific explosion and for a time the citizens were badly frightened. , January 13, 1906. — During the past year Stanislaus County jumped from the seventh to the fifth place as a producer of butter in California and is closely pressing Fresno for the fourth place in the butter world. Fresno in 1905 produced 2,166,048 pounds of butter, while Stanislaus produced 2,006,071 pounds of butter. January 19, 1911. — The Salida Library Association recently held a meeting in Maple Hall and elected officers for the ensuing year. The following officers were elected : President. Ralph Thompson ; vice-president, T. Scott ; secretary and treas urer, Sadie Fox. The books will be moved to Ralph Thompson's store and Miss Mar garet Byington will be the librarian. February 11, 1920. — At an election held yesterday in the Modesto Irrigation District, the question of issuing $2,550,000 bonds for the completion of the Don Pedro dam project carried by a vote of 1,556 for and 96 against the issue. The proposition of issuing $1,208,000 bonds for the putting in of a power plant also carried by a vote of 1,491 to 109. The $500,000 bonds for drainage carried, 1,499 to 92. December 16, 1881. — An exciting trial was in progress yesterday in Justice Burney's court when Ducker & Casebolt, restaurant and saloon proprietors, were on trial for violation of the Sunday law. The trial commenced the day previous and two venires were exhausted in obtaining a jury. The trial was held in the superior court room to accommodate the crowd who were deeply interested in the outcome. The saloonkeepers were defended by Russell Ward. June 2, 1901. — Clarence Hewel is on his way home from the Philippine Islands to visit his folks in Modesto, says the Herald, and will arrive in San Francisco June 15. He was on the battleship Oregon throughout the Spanish War. He received the orders from Secretary Long of the Navy granting him permission to return home jUst two hours before he was to start on a long cruise. 15 226 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY January 31, 1906. — The Modesto district school trustees met last evening in the store of Robert Elder for the purpose of considering the plans for the proposed new school building on the west side of the railroad track. Several plans were submitted, among them two from the Stockton architects, George Rushforth and Beasley & Son. The Rushforth plan is for a four-room brick building covered with cement, the ap proximate cost being $14,320. The Beasley plan also shows a four-room brick build ing, Mission style, with wide halls, costing $12,000. February 3, 1920.— The Odd Fellows and Rebekahs of Oakdale held a joint installation January 29 and the following officers were installed: Oakdale. Lodge- Noble grand, William Rafter; vice-grand, George Wilds; secretary, M. P. Kearney; treasurer, E. C. Crawford; warden, M. Hildberger; conductor, Earl Anderson. Rebekahs— Sitting past grand, Rosa Ames; noble grand, Lulu French; vice-grand, Ruth Lord; secretary, Ada L. Brooks; treasurer, Martha Arnold; warden, Luella Byington; conductor, Zeila Reynolds. July 1, 1919. — After some thirty years of continuous business seven days a week, the saloons of Newman closed their doors at midnight last night with comparatively little excitement or unusual features. A notable number of "last chances" were taken during the day and evening and under the particular conditions the officers were a little lenient in checking hard drinking, so that there were more drunks than for many moons. June 30, 1901. — The northern part of Stanislaus County near Eugene was visited yesterday and last night by one of the most disastrous grain fires in the history of the county. Ten thousand acres were burned over, half of which was in stands of wheat and barley of good crop. The fire is supposed to have started from a camp- fire on the county road. The heat was intense and many of the men were pros trated while fighting the flames. Two barns were destroyed and several combined harvesters had a narrow escape from destruction. The total loss is between $25,000 and $30,000. Edward R. Crawford, one of the best-known citizens of Stanislaus County, died at his home near Oakdale January 12, 1906. He was one of the earliest settlers of the county, coming from his native state, Michigan, and locating on the ranch where he died at the age of seventy years. He was regarded as one of the most practical and successful farmers of the county. He leaves behind a son, Henry, and three daughters, Gertrude and Margaret, who live on the home ranch, and Mrs. Archibald L. Finney, wife of the county surveyor, who lives' in Modesto. The second-named daughter is a teacher in the Oakdale school. July 10, 1919. — The long-standing controversy over the ownership of the Goodwin dam was settled yesterday when F. W. Reeder paid into the Tuolumne court $10,-500, which was the amount awarded the heirs of Howard Preston. Preston had a mine which he later abandoned as being of no value, and it was sold to the state for nonpayment of taxes. When, however, he learned that the dam had flooded his mine, he redeemed the mine from the state and commenced suit against the Oakdale and South San Joaquin Irrigation District for $15,000 damages. The trustees re fused to pay this holdup, claiming that he had abandoned the mine as worthless, but after a long litigation they concluded to pay the amount. January 31, 1920. — Real estate is again on the boom in Oakdale, due in a measure to the oil excitement a mile from town. One man, H. T. Griffith, has already profited by the oil excitement by selling 100 acres to James Coates and his associates of Stockton at $100 per acre. He offered the same land a year ago at $38 per acre, with no buyers in sight. In Modesto February 24, 1906, a no-saloon license meeting was held in Mc Henry hall to nominate a city municipal ticket. The call for the meeting, which was signed bv Henry Turner, L. O. Ferguson, C. W. Webster, J. M. Finlev, Garrison Turner, J. E. Saunders, J. W. Wherry, B. J. Smith, B. H. Kendall and J.'W. Webb, all strong no-liquor men, said, "All citizens interested in the material and moral welfare of our growing city are invited to a meeting in the McHenry hall February 24 for the nomination of a straight no-license saloon ticket for the coming municipal HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 227 election." The citizens met at the place named on March 5, 1906, and nominated B. J. Smith and J. H. Hudelson for city trustees, and L. S. Martin for marshal. As the nominees made by the other party were satisfactory to the no-license men, they made no nominations for city clerk or city treasurer. March 23, 1906. — The trustees of the Modesto school district will call for bonds in the sum of $17,000 for a new school building and furniture on the west side pf the railroad track. The election is called for April 14 and the following officers of the election have been appointed : L. B. Walthall, inspector, and H. P. Weyer and C. W. Perley, judges. The bonds will bear five per cent interest and run for twenty- six years. March 24, 1906. — A farmer from the West Side near Crows Landing says the ranchers of that section have entered into a three years' contract with Hatfield, the rain maker. They believe that his operations this season brought them rain and that he can repeat the trick. A valuable span of horses belonging to Miller & Lux were stung to death by bees on June 7, 1901, near Los Banos. While Frank O. Neal, an employee of the corporation, was driving the team along the road they were attacked by the bees. The animals jumped sideways, breaking the tongue, and the driver then cut the team loose from the wagon. One horse jumped the fence into the bees' nest and was stung to death in a few minutes. The other maddened animal ran into the plowed field and died in a few hours. Mr. Neal was badly stung, but escaped without any serious in jury, the insects apparently making their main attack against the horses. A grand ball was given in Snyder's hall at Oakdale November 1, 1878. Great preparations were made for the event and the music was furnished by the Stockton Mechanics' Band. January 29, 1873. — The Oakdale House in this city has been leased and will be conducted in the future by John Crofton and son-in-law, John McDougall, former residents of Stockton. March 10, 1876. — The newly elected assessor, Thomas A. Wilson, has appointed the following deputies : O.. Sorder to take charge of the office and make the assess- mnts in Modesto; F. H. Ayers at Westport; J. C. James at Salida, and Richard Lan- non at La Grange. Elton Baker, the newly elected county clerk, has appointed J. B. Coldwell as his deputy. August 18, 1905.- — Stanislaus County is sorely afflicted with a plague of grass hoppers and they are creating great havoc in the vicinity of Oakdale. They come in clouds and devour everything in their path. At the ranch of Dave Precert, five miles southeast of Oakdale, the insects have wrought considerable damage. They first attacked the fruit trees, devouring fruit, leaves and all. Then they preyed on the orange trees, eating the oranges and leaves, and over a third of the orchard was literally stripped by the pests. An interesting murder trial in June, 1873, was that .of George Davis, accused of the murder of Charles Thompson at La Grange. During the trial the courthouse was crowded and the jury brought in a verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree. Both the prisoner and the people were represented by able attorneys, the district attorney, John J. Scrivner, being assisted by Judge D. S. Terry of Stockton and George Shell of Modesto. The defendant's attorneys were J. H. Budd and ahd George Schell of Modesto. The defendant's attorneys were J. H. Budd and April 10, 1888. — The city trustees of Modesto have granted a franchise to F. A. Cressey,' L. W. Fulkerth, Charles Moore and G. W. Whitby to construct and maintain a street car line in Modesto. The franchise is for a term of twenty-five years, and the roadbed must be commenced within one year and completed within three years. "Last week a small run was started on the First National Bank," said the Modesto Herald, September 22, 1905. "It was started, no doubt, by persons jealous of President Ora McHenry's prosperity. The run was checked when word was feceived by telegraph from the First National Bank of San Francisco, 'You can have 228 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY all the money you want to the extent of your liabilities.' Ora McHenry can today pay all the indebtedness of the bank and of himself and retire with a half million in gold. His father laid a solid foundation for a fortune and his son continued adding to that fortune during all these years. Father and son Were and are asso ciates in business with the best men in Stanislaus County." As Mr. Ostrom was coming from church on the evening of October 26, 1878, while passing down H Street a bright light in the rear of the Old Corner saloon attracted his attention. He immediately gave the alarm of fire, and in a short time the flames were extinguished. On investigation it was seen that some firebug had collected paper, straw and light inflammable wood, and placing it against the Loven thal restaurant, had set it on fire. In a few minutes the entire block would have been in flames, but for the. discovery and promptness of Mr. Ostrom in calling out the fire department. October 10, 1878. — The Herald said, "The broad plains for miles around Modesto, during the past week, have been illuminated by the burning stubble from the many wheat fields. In fact, all over the vast valley looks like one limpid flame of fire feeding upon the earth's surface. The hundreds of acres that have been burned filled the atmosphere with smoke all day, giving the sky a dark, smoky appearance." Matthews Corrigan, who died in Oakdale Sunday, July 20, 1919, made his home in this section for more than a half century. He was for many years one of the largest grain farmers in this region. Hundreds attended his funeral. Mass was celebrated by Father Maher and he was interred in the Modesto Cemetery. The Oakdale automobile camp is getting to be its principal attraction. Every evening the camp is filled with those returning from the Yosemite Valley, and nearly every state in the Union is represented. Nearly all of the tourists come by the way of Big Oak Flat. The camp is on the Santa Fe Railroad ground, the company giv ing it to the city August 5, 1919. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN FARM CENSUS OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Stanislaus County's 748,678 cultivated acres during 1919 gave their owners $34,260,728 in crops, and in this year this banner county produced about one-tenth of California's milk supply. In cereals, 3,140,541 bushels were produced on 154,418 acres, and 253.410 tons represents the hay and forage yield from 78,889 acres. On farm property valued at $110,595,497, as shown by the recent Bureau of Census bulletins, which before irrigation twenty years ago were rated at $17,031,950, there is livestock worth $9,140,797, while in 1910 this livestock total was a little over a million and a half dollars. Stanislaus statistics are eloquent. They are a story of fast growth. Twenty years ago there were 2,687 farms, as against 4,566 at last report; and back in 1900, when irrigation began, their number was only 951. _ With 928,000 acres as the county's land area, over three-fourths is under culti vation. Incidentally, of the 4,566 farms mentioned, 946 are free from mortgage debt. The value of mortgaged ranches is $27,388,819, of which the mortgage debt is covered by $8,964,050. It is interesting to note that farmers owning entire farms aggregate 2,880, while 606 rent additional land. The native* white owners are 2,196, foreign- born white 1,278, while non-white owners are only 12— thus removing the drawback burdening some sections of California. An empire of trees in bearing and nearing the bearing stage affords potential wealth in Stanislaus. For instance there are 500,579 bearing fruit trees which harvested 922,757 bushels in 1919, and 150,832 trees, now non-bearing, will soon add . HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 229 their wealth. The bearing nut trees aggregate 139,205, with almost as many — 130,501 — soon to bear. The last reported crop was 1,144,550 pounds. Horses number 14,364, worth $1,341,445; cattle, 55,292, worth $6,176,164; sheep, 38,627, worth $427,715, and swine, 26,849 worth $412,823. The goat popu lation is growing, numbering 1,923, worth $14,524. Value of All Crops Cereals $ 5,368,193 Other grains and seeds 1,308,311 Hay and forage 5,454,448 Vegetables 1,468,143 Fruits and nuts 3,522,936 All other crops 18,383 Total $17,140,414 Value of Farm Property 1920 1910 1900 Land in farms $ 85,580,234 $ 35,324,243 $ 13,674,850 Farm buildings 10,665,305 3,320,475 1,237,900 Implements and machinery 5,209,161 820,079 537,280 Livestock in farms 9,140,797 4,323,090 1,581,920 All farm property 110,595,497 43,787,887 17,031,950 Average values, all property per farm $ 24,222 Land and buildings per farm 21,079 Land alone per acre 114.31 Selected Crops (Acres harvested and production) Total acres 154,418 Total bushels 3,140,541 Cereals : Corn Oats Wheat Barley Kaffir, milo, etc Rough rice Other grain and seeds: Dry edible beans. Vegetables : Potatoes, Irish and white Other vegetables kcres. Bushels. 3,835 83,027 13,326 392,205 51,397 797,106 68,006 1,463,700 15,048 336,414 1,246 45,566 20,710 268,749 183 11,849 1,970 Hay and Forage Total acres 78>899 Total tons 253,410 All tame or cultivated grasses Timothy alone Timothy and clover mixed Clover alone Alfalfa Other tame and cultivated grasses. Wild salt or prairie grasses Small grains cut for hay 58,991 207,922 346 260 50 25 32 34 58,214 206,959 449 644 300 447 16,454 23,936 230 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Annual legumes cut for hay Silage crops Corn cut for forage . Kaffir, sorghum, etc., for forage Root crops for forage Miscellaneous crops: Sugar beets grown for sugar. 32 2,425 259 339 99 93 51 19,095 480 1,155 324 465' Fruits and Nuts Small fruits: Total acres Total quarts .... 93 66,046 Orchard fruits: Trees not bearing 150,832 Trees of bearing age. ... 500,576 Bushels harvested 922,757 Apples Pears Plums and prunes. Apricots Oranges Lemons Nuts: Total trees, bearing age, 130,501. Total trees non-bearing, 139,205. Pounds harvested, 1,144,550. Walnuts (Persian and English) , Grapes : Vines not bearing age. Vines of bearing age. . Pounds harvested . . . Trees Not . Trees of Bearing Age. Bearing Age. Bushels. 2,645 10,172 15,821 94,343 410,394 791,863 8,266 12,294 18,872 23,334 40,513 63,868 Boxes. 1,705 11,626 17,301 137 1,484 1,445 12,174 4,582 160,100 . 2,096,576 . 39,343,953 Pounds. 82,531 Farms and Farmers *Number of farms 4,566 Farmers, male . . 4,417 Farmers, female 149 Farmers, native white 2,815 Farmers, foreign-born white 1,677 Farmers, negro and other non- white 74 •In 1910, 2,687 farms; in 1900, 951. Under three acres, farms 25 3 to 99 acres 3,739 100 to 174 acres 337 175 to 259 acres 98 500 to 999 acres 127 1,000 acres and over 139 Domestic Animals Number farms reporting do mestic animals 4,282 Value all domestic animals. .$ 8,645,423 Total number of horses. .. . 14,364 Colts, 2 years and over. . . . 1,061 Mares, 2 years and over. . . 6,632 Geldings, 2 years and over. . 6,615 Stallions 55 Total value .$ 1,341,445 Mules, asses and burros . . . 2,452 Value mules, asses, burros. .$ 272,752 Cattle : Total number 78,855 Total value ..$ 6,176,164 Beef cattle: Total number . 23,563 Calves under 2 years 1,579- Cows and heifers, 2 years and over 7,918 Steers under 2 years. .... 2,958 Steers over 2 years: 7,205 Bulls, 1 year and over 272 Total value $ 1,366,232 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 231 Dairy cattle: ¦Total number 55,292 Calves under 1 year 10,352 Heifers under 2 j'ears 7,390 Cows, heifers over 2 years. . 36,297 Bulls, 1 year and over 1,253 Total value $ 4,809,032 Sheep : Total number 38,627 Lambs, under 1 year 11,767 Ewes, 1 year and over 23,470 Rams, 1 year and over. . . . 392 Wethers, 1 year and over. . . 2,998 Total value $ 427,715 Goats : Total number 1,923 Total value $ 14,525 Swine : Total number 26,849 Pigs under 6 months 16,360 Sows and gilts for breeding, 6 months, and over 3,690 Boars for breeding, 6 months and over 361 All other hogs over 6 months 7,438 Total value $ 412,823 Poultry and bees: Chickens 330,488 Other poultry 10,855 Total valuation $ 469,077 Number beehives 3,485 Total valuation $ 26,397 Eggs produced, dozens.. . 1,388,135 Chickens raised 246,442 Chickens sold 127,530 Value of chickens and eggs produced $. 753,062 Receipts from sale of chick ens and eggs $ 515,933 Farms Operated by Owners *Number of farms 3,486 Percentage of all farms 76.3 Acres land in farms 515,095 Improved land in farms 312,031 Value of land and buildings. $65,377,063 Degree of ownership — Number farmers owning en tire farm 2,880 Number farmers hiring addi tional land 606 Native white owners 2,196 Foreign-born white owners. 1,278 Negro and other non-white 12 *In 1910, 2,200 farms; in 1900, 611. Livestock Products : Dairying products: 1920 Milk products, gallons 20,341,792 Milk sold, gallons 9,702,037 Cream sold, gallons. ..*.... 101,231 Butterfat sold, lbs 3,207,670 Butter made on farms, lbs. . 100,423 Butter sold, lbs 20,978 Cheese made on farms, lbs. 113,177 Value of dairy products $ 4,773,562 Receipts dairy products $ 4,687,736 Wool and mohair: Number sheep shorn 23,960 Wool produced, lbs 171,422 Value of wool produced, lbs.$ 66,483 Number of goats shorn. . . . 1,072 Mohair produced, lbs 2,180 Value of mohair $ 872 Honey and wax: Honey produced, lbs 117,659 Wax produced, lbs 1,836 Value of honey and wax. . .$ 24,248 Land and Farm Acreage Approximate land area 928,000 *In farms 748,678 t Improved land in farms 477,871 Woodland, in farms 98,320 Other unimproved land 172,487 Per cent land area in farms. . . . 80.7 Per cent farm land improved . . 63.8 Average acreage per farm 164 Average improved acreage per farm 104.7 *In 1910, 649,392; in 1900, 830,692. tin 1910, 512,189; in 1900, 622,700. Farms Operated by Managers *Number of farms 72 Land in farms, acres 32,934 Improved land in farms, acs. 19,690 . Value of land and buildings. $ 4,305,400 *In 1910, 46 farms; in 1900, 31. Farms Operated by Tenants *Number of farms 1,008 Percentage of all farms. . . 22.1 Acres land in farms 200,649 Acres improved land 146,160 Value of land and buildings. $26,563,076 Native born white tenants. . 562 Foreign born tenants 385 Negro and other non-white 61 Mortgage Debt Reports (Farms operated by owners) Number free from mortgage 946 Number with mortgage debt 2,138 Number with no report . . . 402 Enq buE.GVMiams 6>CL??l BIOGRAPHICAL ORAMIL McHENRY. — Rounding out his earthly span of years, so full of activity and honor, the late Oramil McHenry closed his eyes to the scenes of this world on February 21, 1906 — a world made so much the better for his having lived and toiled here. He was a splendid type of American, a typical Californian, and very appropriately the leading newspaper of Modesto said of him: "In the passing of Oramil McHenry, Modesto lost a man who was always foremost in the work of her advance ment, and Stanislaus County one who did more toward her development than anyone else, and California one of her prominent, substantial and enterprising capitalists whom she could ill afford to lose. His family, too, lost a friend, a tender husband and a devoted father who did all in his power to conduce to the pleasure and comfort of those about him." He was born on November 14, 1861, the son of Robert McHenry, a Vermonter who removed to "York State" when he had reached maturity, and later to Louisiana, where he had a large plantation. In 1846, during the Mexican War, he came to California by way of the Isthmus, and in 1849 he reached Stockton, where he under took draying. Later, for six months, he went to the mines at Chinese Camp, and then he came to Stanislaus County and commenced that identification with Modesto and vicinity which has associated his name forever with local annals. He took up the land that eventually became the Bald Eagle Ranch; and beginning with its 2,640 acres, increased his holdings to 4,000 acres. During 1878 he came to Modesto to live; and entering the field of banking, became cashier of the Modesto Bank, which position he continued to hold until 1884. When the First National Bank was incorporated, he was made president, and so he remained until 1900. On the second of June of that year he died, succeeded in the presidency of the bank by his son, the subject of our sketch, but leaving a void in the Modesto world that could not well be filled. Mrs. McHenry was Matilda Hewitt before her marriage, and she was a native of Ohio and the daughter of Samuel Hewitt, with whom she crossed the great plains in a train of ox teams early in the fifties. Her father located in the San Joaquin Valley, and there he spent the remainder of his life. She died in 1896, aged fifty-six years. Oramil McHenry attended the common schools of his neighborhood and grew up to manhood in Stanislaus County, topping off his formal studies with three years at the State University. Then he returned to Modesto and entered the First National Bank, where he was bookkeeper under his father ; and in that capacity he served until the latter's death, when he assumed the direction of the bank's affairs, and he continued to fill that position acceptably until he, too, was called upon to lay aside earthly cares. Upon the death of his parents, Mr. McHenry had inherited a large fortune, and by unusual executive power, wise investments' and general financial ability, he was able greatly to increase his inheritance and to leave his heirs an estate valued at more than a million dollars. This estate consisted of the controlling interest in the First National Bank of Modesto, and also the controlling interest in the Turlock and other bank stock, he having sold his interest in the Modesto Bank shortly before his death. He also had a controlling interest in the store of G. P. Schafer & Company, the leading merchants here, which he retained until his end. He owned much real estate, approxi mating 6,000 acres of valuable land in the county, as well as large holdings in Kern and Fresno counties. A short time before his death, he organized the O. McHenry Packing Company, with a capital stock of $1,000,000, and was interested in other meat producing concerns that are now a leading factor in the production and distribu tion of meat in the San Joaquin Valley, as well as in the sale of meat in the Bay cities in opposition to the meat trust; and he was carrying on a successful fight there in the interest of the imposed-upon public at the time of his untimely taking off. 16 234 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Notable were other beneficent undertakings or benefactions of Mr. McHenry. To him was due the financiering of the Turlock Irrigation District during its darkest days, and had it not been for his confidence in the future prosperity of Stanislaus County, and his ample means so freely invested in the bonds of both the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation districts during the crisis in its development, the system might never have been completed, for there was no other place to turn for money. To the liberal investments, therefore, of Mr. McHenry may properly be ascribed the present complete system, and much of the consequent development of the county during the past few years. He was a liberal man in his donations to various charities and undertakings of a public nature, and among other acts long to be thankfully remembered is his donation, by bequest, for a public library for Modesto, which has resulted in the purchase of the corner of Fourteenth and I streets, and the building of the McHenry Public Library. He attended the First Presbyterian Church, to which he belonged, and was member of the Stanislaus lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., of Modesto, and of Stockton lodge No. 218, B. P. O. E., and also of the N. S. G. W. of Modesto. Mr. McHenry was twice married. He was first married in Modesto, -March 3, 1886, when he was united with Miss Louise E. Bilicke, who was born in Boise City, Idaho, and came with her parents, when she was a child, to Dunsmuir, Cal; later the family came to Modesto. This union resulted in the birth of four children, two of whom are living, Robert A. and Albert H., who own and manage the Bald Eagle ranch ; through his second marriage, at Modesto, in 1902, he became the hus band of Miss Myrtie Conrteau, of Modesto, and a graduate in the class of 1900 of Stanford University. One child, a son, Merl, has blessed this union. Mr. Mc Henry had been in poor health for nearly a year, and when; about six months before he died, he realized that he could not overcome the dread disease, he became reconciled to his fate, and began at once to put his business affairs into good shape for his family. During all these months of suffering, although aware that his case was hopeless, he did not lose cheerfulness, and at the final summons, faced death with fortitude and calm. ROBERT McHENRY. — Among the pioneers who paved the way for the present greatness of Stanislaus County, and in his optimism saw its great possibilities, will ingly putting his shoulder to the wheel and pushing forward towards the present wonderful good that is now enjoyed by the present day residents, it is interesting to chronicle the life of the late Robert McHenry, a truly wonderful man of splendid business instinct and capabilities, who in his prime entered the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as his heritage and by unceasing toil and the endurance of hardships, the making of sacrifices and practice of self-denial, pressed forward to make this desert country burst forth with abundant crops furnishing sustenance for thousands of families and to be the means of bringing prosperity to coming generations. Robert McHenry was born in Vermont, where he was reared on a New England farm and from a lad made himself useful on the old homestead, learning habits of industry and economy, at the same time receiving a good education in the schools of that locality. On reaching manhood, he migrated to New York, then moving south, located in Louisiana, where he had charge of a large plantation. During the Mexican War, in 1846, he came to California via the Isthmus of Panama, being one of the number who came here before the forty-niners. In 1849 he located in Stockton, where he was engaged in draying and freighting, then going to the mines at Chinese Camp, he remained for a period of six months, after which he came to Stanislaus County and took up land which now constitutes the ranch known as the Bald Eagle. This place then consisted of 2,640 acres, but it was afterwards increased to 4,000 acres. In 1878 he located in Modesto and engaged in the banking business, becoming the cashier of the Modesto Bank, in which capacity he remained until 1884. Upon the incorporation of the First National Bank of Modesto, he became its president and continued as it head until he resigned, being succeeded by his son, Oramil McHenry. Mr. McHenry's marriage united him with Matilda Hewitt, a native of Ohio, who survived him until 1896, when she passed on at the age of fifty-six years, his death having occurred June 24, 1890. She had crossed the plains to California in an ox-team train in the early fifties with her father, Samuel Hewitt, who located in the San Joaquin Valley, where he spent the remainder of his life. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 235 They left an only child, Oramil McHenry, who proved. a worthy son of a noble father. Robert McHenry was a man of sterling integrity and great business acumen, who worked his way unaided from the bottom of the ladder to a place of affluence and an enviable high standing among his fellowmen. He has two worthy grandsons, Robert A. and Albert H. McHenry, the present proprietors of the Bald Eagle ranch, who are nobly emulating their father and grandfather's example. DANIEL WHITMORE. — Among the sturdy pioneers who deserve to be grate fully remembered, no one may occupy a higher place in the memory of many an old- timer than Daniel Whitmore, who was born on May 31, 1816, the son of Daniel and Martha Whitmore. His parents removed with him, when he was only one year old, to the now famous Chautauqua, N. Y., and two years later they went on to Conneaut, Ashtabula County, Ohio, and there remained for twelve years. He was fifteen years of age when they all went back East to Barnstable County, Mass., and from there, for six years, he following a seafaring life. In 1844, Mr. Whitmore was happily joined in matrimony with Miss Lucy Jane Lee, a native of New York State, by whom he had three children of promise and fulfillment. Clinton N. was the eldest, then came Leonard H., and after that Eugene E. Whitmore. Stirred by the exciting reports of the discovery of gold in California, Mr. Whitmore, in the spring of 1854, left Pittsford, Mich., in a wagon train and braved the dangers and privations of a trip across the plains. Good luck favored them for the most part, and they were able, after a hard day's travel, to group around the campfire at night with plenty of merriment and good cheer. On September 1, 1854, Mr. Whitmore, with his family and his fellow-pioneers, arrived at Stockton after a journey of five months, and in Stockton he remained until 1866, when he came south to Stanislaus County and engaged in the raising of wheat. He also turned to carpentering and building, and contracted to construct houses, barns and warehouses, and he also built cultivators. He came to have 9,000 acres of rich sandy loam, and part of this he rented out in tracts of from 800 to 1,000 acres. He merited and received the confidence of his neighbors as a man who operated intelli gently and with supreme faith in the future; and he enjoyed the affectionate esteem of all who knew the kindliness of his heart and the cleanness of his soul. Daniel Whit more did something definite to make California a much better place in which to live ; nor will the influence of what he did soon fade from remembrance. JOHN SERVICE. — California numbers many men among her citizens whose restrospective glance recalls active participation in the pioneer events of the state, none of whom, however, were more representative of that early period than was the subject of our review, John Service, whose name was well known beyond the confines of his home town of Ceres, and Stanislaus County. His death, which occurred July 5, 1920, was felt to be a distinct loss to the community, whose best interests he had sus tained with untiring zeal, and where he was known as one of its largest landowners and successful ranchers. A native of New York, John Service moved with his parents into Michigan when he was but two years of age, where they were pioneer farmers near Morenci. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and inherited the business instincts of his forebears, as well as their fearlessness and courage. He crossed the plains with ox teams in 1859 and was employed for a time in Napa Valley; he later went to Auburn, Placer County, and for a time freighted for a Mr. Hatch over the mountains into the mines. In partnership with Ed. Hill, he turned to farming, owning a small farm on Placer Creek, the improvements of which were completely washed away in the flood of 1862. He sold out his interest in the partnership to Hill, taking his note for $250, which was never paid, and which is now held as a souvenir by his family. The marriage of John Service in 1867 united him with a woman as brave and splendid as himself, Miss Julia Hall Warner, the adopted daughter of C. P. Warner. She came to California with her foster parents in 1856, when she was about six years of age, crossing the Isthmus of Panama by rail and mule back and eventually locating in Placer County; later removing to Stanislaus County, where Mr. Warner is one of the well-known pioneers. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Service came into 236 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Stanislaus County to make their home. From that time until 1885, they were prom inently identified with the farming interests of the county, where Mr. Service was extensively engaged in grain raising. He bought 640 acres at one dollar and a quarter an acre, and at one time owned 1,000 acres between Snelling and La Grange. He rented additional lands, and often farmed as much as 1,000 acres to wheat in one season. At that time Stockton was the one trading post and headquarters for the entire San Joaquin Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Service became the parents of eleven children: Walter Warner, born April 26, 1868, died November 22, 1878; Lewis H., born April 27, 1870, now a jeweler in Berkeley, Cal.; Wilbur P., born June 5, 1871, died November 19, 1878; Hubert E., born May 15, 1873; W. Roscoe, born October 22, 1874; Ida Irene, born March 24, 1877, now the wife of Dr. F. H. McNair of Berkeley; Robert Roy, born June 4, 1879, now a missionary in China; Lulu K, born January 29, 1881, now the wife of F. F. Goodsell, a missionary in Constantinople ; Lynda R., Mrs. Sperry, born December 16, 1883. John H., born August 31, 1888, died May 3, 1908; and Law rence E. Service, born March 3, 1890. Of these sons and daughters, all who have lived to their majority have proven to be men and women of more than ordinary worth. The golden wedding anniversary of John and Julia Service was celebrated in Berkeley on July 3, 1917, when all the living children but R. R. were present to add to the joy of the occasion. They had moved away from Ceres in 1885 because of the failing health of the husband and father, going first to Auburn, remaining there until 1895, when they came to the ranch, and in 1899 they went to Berkeley to reside, leaving the great ranches in charge of the sons, Hubert E. and W. Roscoe Service. The mother died at Berkeley in 1918, after an illness of six months, and the father passed away at Ceres on July 5, 1920, while on a visit to his sons there. The record of his life-work, his untiring energy and industry, his perseverance towards the object of his ambition, his unswerving integrity and unimpeachable honor, in short, his exemplary life, stands ever as an example well worthy of emulation. HENRY CAVILL. — Among the oldest and most highly-esteemed settlers still living in Stanislaus County are Henry Cavill and his good wife, who long endured the hardships of early days, and now, as residents of Modesto, are enjoying the fruits of courageous industry, foresight and thrift. Mr. Cavill came into this section, then a wilderness, to claim the virgin soil as his heritage, and by close application, hardest of work and considerable sacrifice, he has made not only a competency, but a fortune. He was born in Knowstone, Devonshire, England, on February 22, 1832, the son of John and Mary Cavill, who were extensively engaged in farming ; John Cavill and his father having farmed one place of 450 acres- — a large area for that settled country — for forty-one years. These good parents lived, labored and died in Old England. Henry Cavill followed farming there until August 14, 1857, when he took pas sage to New York, where he arrived on the eleventh of May. He did not find New York to his liking, so he pushed on westward, and for a while located in Janesville, Iowa. There he remained until April 15, 1859, when he started for the gold regions of California. He and a comrade, having equipped themselves with a wagon, team and necessary supplies, joined an ox-team train and came over the northern or Col. Andrews route, and they had a pleasant journey and no trouble through the Indians. They arrived in Placerville on October 15, having been six months en route, and like so many others, they first went to mining. They commenced at Montezuma in 1861, but not succeeding very well, Mr. Cavill in 1863 tried his luck in the Union Copper Mine at Copperopolis, in Calaveras County. Next he came to Stockton and bought a team, and with that outfit he teamed out of Stockton to the mines for seven years. Meantime, as early as 1867, Mr. Cavill came to Stanislaus County and preempted 160 acres which he used for winter quarters, and as soon as possible he began improving it until finally he quit teaming and commenced to raise grain. He first added a quarter section to what he had, until he owned 320 acres, and wishing to enlarge his possessions, he made a singular transaction with Otis Perrin of Stockton, who owned 640 acres near his place. He offered Perrin for his farm 5,760 bushels of wheat, or nine bushels of wheat to the acre, the wheat to be paid him as fast as he could produce /£-> 4 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 239 it from crops to be raised on the land, which was then valued at about $4,000. The two following seasons were not the best, but Mr. Cavill produced the required amount of wheat, and as wheat was then worth about one dollar and a quarter a cental, in two years he acquired title to the land, which in time became very valuable. After a while, he owned 1,028 acres, and he was rated one of the large grain growers. When Mr. Cavill retired from his arduous labors, he removed to Alameda to give his children higher educational advantages; and after their education was completed, he and his wife settled in Modesto, where they make their home at 1119 Thirteenth Street, surrounded by their affectionate children and many devoted friends. In 1873 Mr. Cavill was united in marriage at Stockton with Mrs. Matilda Elizabeth (Standiford) Cobb, a native of Cass County, Mo., and the daughter of John and Jane (Osborn) Standiford, natives of Indiana. Matilda Standiford was first married in Missouri to John W. Cobb, and they crossed the plains in 1863 with ox- teams and wagons, locating on a farm near Stockton; but in 1865 they came into Stanislaus County, and here farmed until Mr. Cobb died. Four children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Cavill: Rose is Mrs. Braswell, Edith is Mrs. Moss, Birdie is Mrs. Maze, while the only son is Walter. The daughters reside in Modesto, but the son lives in Oakland. Mrs. Braswell and Mrs. Maze are sharing the home with their parents, and giving them their loving devotion and care. An old-fashioned Republican, Mr. Cavill is. public spirited and takes a keen interest in all that makes for the upbuilding, as well as the building up, of the town and county. Among the many interesting recollections of Mr. Cavill are those going back to 1861, when it rained for three weeks without cessation, and from Stockton for ten miles stretched a veritable lake, compelling him and two other ranchers to make their way out into the country on horseback by following the high places and swimming where the water was deeper. In that year, in Sonora, 121^ inches of rain fell — something more than a series of showers! There was no mail received for thirty days, and then only by a man who brought it in on his back, swimming and crossing the streams as best he could, and receiving a dollar for each letter he brought. JUDGE A. HEWEL. — A Californian by adoption who became prominent and influential in Stanislaus County was the late Judge A. Hewel, a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born on May 9, 1835. He received his early education in the schools noted throughout the world for the thoroughness of their educational system, and there he learned both to write a good hand and to become an expert accountant — two accomplishments which served him well when he became clerk of Stanislaus County. Leaving Germany as a sailor, he reached New York City in 1850; and in September of the following year, he left the American metropolis and journeyed by way of Cape Horn to San Francisco. He sailed through the Golden Gate in July, 1852, and .pushing into Mariposa County, for a while he followed the venturesome career of a miner there. As early as 1854, he came into Stanislaus County, and nine or ten years later he removed to Knights Ferry, which was then the county seat. It was not long before his fellow-citizens prevailed upon him to become deputy county clerk, and soon after he was made clerk of the county. At first he served under John Reedy, and then he succeeded him. In 1867, he was defeated for county clerk by Thomas Hughes. Having improved his time, in the study of law, Mr. Hewel was admitted to the California bar in February, 1864, and in 1866 he formed a partnership with A. Schell, the popular lawyer at Knights Ferry, which continued until April 1, 1872. Mr. Schell then retired, and Mr. Hewel removed to Modesto, when the county seat was established there. He practiced law alone, until 1875, when he formed a partnership with W. E. Turner, then probably the leading lawyer of the section, and continued ' with him until the new constitution gave Stanislaus County a superior judge. Mr. Hewel was elected to that office, and for six years proved an upright, honest and im partial judge, serving the county with great credit to himself and the people who had elected him. After the close of his term, Judge Hewel quit the practice of law to devote his time to his large landed holdings and agricultural as well as mining interests. He 240 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY owned a third interest in the Utica mine at Angels Camp, having maintained his interest in mining from his advent into California, and in the long run he met with considerable success. He was also interested in oil development, and always did his share towards developing the natural resources of the earth. As a farmer, too, he was decidedly progressive, using only the latest methods and the most up-to-date machinery. The money he made in mining projects, with C. D. Lane and others, he judiciously invested in real estate, for the most part in Stanislaus and nearby terri tory, and at one time he owned 2,500 acres in Stanislaus County, 2,600 acres in Tuolumne County, and 320 acres in Merced County. When Judge Hewel died, therefore, on August 2, 1909, he left behind him a fine record as trustee of the city of Modesto, and also trustee of the first brick school- house built on Fourteenth Street. He had remained a director in the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Modesto until his death, and he was also a director in the First National Bank of Modesto, and a stockholder in the Modesto Bank. As a Democrat, he was honored with a high place in the councils of the party. The consensus of opinion was that when Judge Hewel said anything was so, it was so and his word was as good as his bond. On November 22, 1871, Judge Hewel was married at Knights Ferry to Miss Maria Fisher, a native of Schoharie, Schoharie County, N. Y., and the daughter of Jacob Fisher, who was born at Berne, Albany County, the same state, where he was a farmer. He had married Sophia Schell, a native of the same place ; and they both died in New York. They had six children — three boys and three girls — and a son and a daughter are still living. A brother, Addison Fisher, was in a New York regiment during the Civil War, and was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. Another brother, Albert Fisher, resides in Central Bridge, N. Y. Mrs. Hewel's uncle, Abraham Schell, came to California in 1850, was a merchant in Stockton, and then bought a grant of land at Knights Ferry, where G. H. Krause had set out a vineyard still known as the Red Mountain Vineyard. Mr. Schell studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced with Mr. Hewel until the county seat was removed to Modesto and he retired, to spend his remaining days in Knights Ferry, enjoying the honors due to his long prominence. Mrs. Hewel was educated at Schoharie Academy, and in 1868 she came to Knights Ferry, where she met her future husband. Four of their children grew to maturity. Blanche is the wife of H. T. Miller of Bakersfield; Arabella, who died in February, 1908, leaving a daughter, was Mrs. A. B. Shoemake; Clarence A. resides in Los Angeles; and Catherine Schell Hewel lives with her mother and assists in presiding over the latter's household. In 1894, Judge Hewel built the large modern residence where his family still lives. Judge Hewel was a Mason unusually well-posted. He was made a Mason in Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., Modesto, of which he was past master, and was past high priest of the Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M., and served as grand high priest of the Grand Chapter of California, one term. He was a member of the Knights Templar at Stockton. He was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and was a member of the Shriners, and was the first Knight Templar from Modesto to become a member of Islam Temple, San Francisco. He was also a member of the O. E. S. of Modesto. Mrs. Hewel is a member of the Electa Chapter No. 72, of the O. E. S., and with her daughter Catherine is a member of the Woman's Guild ; Miss Catherine is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Both mother and daughter are also members of the Modesto Woman's Improvement Club. One of Mrs. Hewel's lineal ancestors, Lieut. John Dominick, was ih the Revolutionary War; and on both paternal and maternal sides she is descended from Revolutionary stock, her great-grandfather being John Fisher, of the Revolution, and she also traces her lineage back to five other Revolutionary ancestors. Mrs. Hewel and Miss Catherine are charter members of the Major Hugh Moss chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Modesto. Miss Catherine Hewel was a delegate to the Continental Congress held at Washington in 1919, being appointed by the present head, President-General Sarah Elizabeth Guernsey, and was one of the floor pages at the memorable session. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 241 Since Judge Hewel's death, Mrs. Hewel has continued to look after the extensive estate left by her husband. She has improved the land under the Turlock Canal, largely devoted to vineyard, but two years ago sold all save two hundred acres given to alfalfa. In 1919, she built the Hewel garage at the corner of Tenth and G streets, in Modesto, a fine edifice, two stories, 125 x 140 feet in size, thoroughly fireproof, and the largest garage building in the city. She is a stockholder in the Bank of Italy, and she also owns valuable lands at Lerdo in Kern County. Mrs. Hewel has followed in the footsteps of her esteemed husband, having the greatest faith and optimism in the future greatness of Modesto. She has done much to build up the city and county in which Judge Hewel had such faith. Liberal and kind-hearted she continues as did the Judge to dispense the true, old-time Californian hospitality. REUEL COLT GRIDLEY. — In the annals of Stanislaus County, a name that will ever be honored as one of her representative pioneer citizens is that of Reuel Colt Gridley, identified, as he was, with the state of his adoption from the early '50s. Mis souri was his native state, and he was born there at Hannibal in the year 1829. He reached young manhood about the time of the Mexican War and for one of his pa triotic spirit it was but natural for him to give his services for his country in that conflict. In 1852, when the tide of emigration was still flowing to the land of gold, Mr. Gridley crossed the plains by Pony Express and on reaching California, settled for a while at San Jose. A year later he was joined by his wife, who made the journey by way of Panama; befose her marriage she was Miss Susanna Snider, a native of Pennsylvania, their wedding occurring in Louisiana, Mo. They located at Yreka, in Siskiyou County, then removed to Oroville, Butte County, whence he went on to Austin, Nev., where he was engaged in mining. In 1866, on account of his health, he moved to Stockton, and the following year came to Paradise, Stanislaus County, where he built a home and became closely identified as the postmaster and merchant. In 1870, after the Southern Pacific Railroad had built its line through and laid out the town of Modesto, the whole countryside was on wheels for a time, as the. residents of Paradise and other outlying communities, seeing that the new town would become the commercial center of this district, moved their stores and dwellings there. Among those who joined the procession was Mr. Gridley, and in the fall of 1870 was planning to move his store building to a lot he had purchased on Eighth Street, near H, in Modesto, where he intended to open the first store, as well as a lumber yard, in the new railroad town. No doubt he would have been the first postmaster, but he passed away November 24, 1870, in the prime of life, being only forty years old. He was buried at Stockton, and here in 1886 the Grand Army of the Republic erected a monument that is a fitting tribute to his memory. The memorial comprises a gran ite base and marble column, about ten feet in height, surmounted by a life-size figure of the patriot, standing with his right hand resting on a sack of flour. He was promi nent in fraternal circles, being a Knights Templar Mason and an Odd Fellow. In January, 1871, Mrs. Gridley moved both the store and residence which had been built in 1867, from Paradise to Modesto. The store was placed on Eighth street, while the residence was at the corner of H and Seventh streets, Modesto, where she made her home. She engaged in the mercantile business as Gridley & Com pany and as early as 1872 she built a large, two-story brick building on the corner of H and Eighth streets. Here she continued in business until 1881, when she sold out and retired, making her home in Modesto until her death in 1910. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gridley were devout Methodists and were noted for their hospitality and pro gressive spirit and were highly esteemed for their generosity and kindness. An interesting story is still told of this well-known pioneer which brought him into national prominence in the late days of the Civil War. While at Austin, Nev., he wagered a sack of flour that the Democratic nominee for mayor would be elected, and the wager was accepted by Dr. Herrick, a county official. If the latter lost, he was to carry the sack of flour from Clifton to Upper Austin, one and a half miles, to the tune of "Dixie," but if Gridley lost he was to carry the flour from Upper Austin to Clifton, to the tune of "John Brown's Body." Gridley lost and paid the debt. 242 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY The sack of flour was decorated with red, white and blue ribbons, and a procession was formed, led by the newly elected city officials, and the citizens filed in line behind Gridley as he carried the flour down the street, singing "Glory, glory, hallelujah!" led by the town band. When the march was ended, debate arose as to the disposition .of the flour; the Republicans wanted to make hot cakes of it and eat it themselves, but the Democrats opposed this, saying that they were just as loyal to the Union as the Republicans. So Mr. Gridley took the sack and proposed selling it, the buyer to turn it over for re-sale, the money to go to the U. S. Sanitary Commission for the care of the sick and wounded soldiers returned from the war. The novel proposi tion was quickly approved and Mr. Gridley took the sack of flour to other Nevada towns, then to Sacramento and San Francisco and later to the Eastern States ; in this way he raised $275,000 for the Sanitary Commission. Mark Twain was in Austin at the time and gives an account of it in one of his books. In 1914, the famous sack of flour with its many decorations was presented for preservation to the Nevada Historical Society by the pioneer's daughter, Mrs. Josephine Gridley Wood, the only surviving daughter. There is also one surviving son, the oldest of the family, Amos B. Gridley, who when thirteen years of age marched in the above historical proces sion carrying the American flag. He now makes his home in Oakley, California. JOHN DUNLAP COX. — Well-known among the most progressive and pros perous ranchers of Westley and vicinity, John Dunlap Cox is doubly interesting as probably the oldest pioneer of Stanislaus County still living, and also as a native of that pastoral section of Nova Scotia made immortal through Longfellow in the pathetic and beautiful poem, "Evangeline." He was born in Stewiacke, Colchester County, on March 22, 1836, the son of William Cox and Sarah Dunlap, and inherited from his parents just the right sort of elements needed for his later career. The forebears of both his father and mother came over on the Mayflower, and his maternal grand mother was a Putnam, of New England origin, and related to such distinguished Americans as Israel Putnam, the soldier ; Rufus Putnam, also of military fame ; James and John Phelps Putnam, the purists, and Frederick Ward Putnam, the anthropologist. The Coxes and Putnams migrated from New England to Nova Scotia at an early period, and there Mr. Cox became a teacher in the Navigation School at Halifax. After a boyhood passed with an uncle, a Mr. Dunlap, on his farm, where he operated extensively, raised stock and conducted a dairy business, Mr. Cox, in 1859, lured by the miraculous stories of opportunity along the Pacific, came out to California by way of Panama. He went from New York to the Isthmus on the sailing vessel "Baltic," and came from Panama to San Francisco on the "John L. Stevens" — as a matter of fact, on the last trip which that once sturdy vessel made, for it was piloted into San Francisco and never afterward used. Stopping for a short while in the Bay city, he came inland to Stockton on one of the San Joaquin River steamers ; and even there he stayed only long enough to get his bearings. Moving on to Grayson, Mr. Cox found employment with Messrs. Holliday & Russell, who had purchased the mules and oxen after the old Salt Lake War, and had taken the stock into the San Joaquin Valley and sold them to the settlers there. Holliday was from Illinois, and Russell from Missouri, and the two financiers, as is well known, made a fortune through this transaction. It took some time to carry it out, and Mr. Cox remained with the firm until they had sold all the mules and oxen, traveling on the road between Del Puerto and San Francisco. Returning to Stockton, in 1860, Mr. Cox worked for Mr. Overheiser on his farm for a couple of years, and then he went to teaming in the mountains. He hauled freight to Virginia City, Nev., and other mining points and camps in the mountains, and continued at the rather hard proposition until 1870. The times were rough, rob bery and murder were frequent occurrences, and Mr. Cox often transported valuables of particular worth to the pioneer, remote from great centers ; yet, although he is able to make the proud boast that he never carried firearms, he was never molested in any way, not even with a threatened attack. In 1870, he came to the region west of the San Joaquin River, where Patterson now stands, and farmed the land; and at first he worked m partnership with W. L. Overheiser, the two handling several thousand ^~ ,&>,,(% HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 247 acres together, but just how many they themselves never knew. At the end of two years, he preempted a quarter section in the same neighborhood, and afterwards he sold the same to J. D. Patterson. He then removed to Grayson and farmed the R. B. Smith ranch to 1875. Mr. Cox went to Tipton, Tulare County, and bought the sheep business of Dr. Stockton and Mr. Foster ; and in Tulare he raised sheep for two years. He had from 4,000 to 5,000 head when, in 1877, the price of sheep dropped to one dollar, and of wool from thirty-five to nine cents a pound. He had paid two dollars twenty-five cents a head for his sheep, and, when the bottom of the market fell out, he traded his herd, at one dollar per head, for the old Fowler Ranch, west of Crows Landing, on the Crow Creek, consisting of about 2,200 acres. He sold the land to Mr. McDonald in 1877, as soon as he returned to Stanislaus County, and he himself came back to Grayson practically "broke." He then bought a part of his present ranch, or 240 acres, and in 1877 he also rented land back of his own, so that he was able to farm in all about 1,500 acres. He continued to buy other strips of land until he had acquired all of the 1,500 acres, and this is at present his home ranch. In addition, he also purchased the 2,200 acres known as the old McPike Ranch, adjoining the home ranch on the south; and this has made him active in the Grayson district, leading the way by progressive methods, and pointing the road to prosperity to others, since 1877. For many years, aside from being a lar-re grain grower, Mr. Cox has engaged in cattle raising. In this he is associated with his son, Frank Cox, and owns over 7,000 acres of range land west of his valley holdings. At San Francisco, in October, 1878, Mr. Cox was married to Miss Rebecca Curry, a native of Iowa, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Curry, esteemed residents for years of San Francisco. Five children have blessed their union. W. T /. Cox is at present farming his own ranch at Grayson. Sadie is at home wi*.'-) her parents, adding grace to the household, as are also Mabel and John, the two yor ~ erst. And Frank, the third-born, is also farming at Grayson. He handles the old M -vton ranch of 1,800 acres, west of Patterson, and also runs the iBircham ranch of 5,000 acres lying north of the old Cox ranch, as well as the J. D. Cox ranch, making over ¦10,000 acres in all, which he is cultivating in the most approved manner and w.'th the best machinery and appliances available. Mr. Cox was bereaved of his faithful wife and helpmate in 1907, when she passed away at their Berkeley residence while they were living there, schooling the children. She was a devoted wife and mother and was mourned by a large circle of relatives and friends. This was the first and only death in the J. D. Cox family, and left a void that could not be filled. While on the Train and McMullin ranch, in the fall of 1860, when Linccln first ran for the presidency, Mr. Cox cast his vote for the Republican standard-bearer, and he has been a standpat Republican ever since, with broad and reasonable viev -. as to the inadvisability of partisanship in local political affairs. Very naturally, on recount of his long association with Stanislaus County, Mr. Cox has become very enth -"-.iastic as to its future, and indeed there could be no more loyal or enthusiastic Calirc.nian, not even among those proud of their nativity as native sons. Mr. Cox's youngest son, John or "Jack," as he is popularly called, also has an enviable record — that of his military service in defense of his country. He enlist: 1 for the World War on September 20, 1917, when, owing to his having studied for hur years at the San Rafael Military Academy, he was entitled to enter the regular a -my as a captain ; but he preferred aviation instead, and therefore chose to become a flier. He trained until January 29 at the Rockwell field, in San Diego, and arrived in France, by way of New York, on March 6, 1918, where he underwent training {or another twenty-five days at Issoudun, France. He used the Spad and Newport machines, each for one man, capable of traveling at a speed of 115 miles an hour; and being naturally equipped for that kind of hazardous undertaking, enjoyed singular immunity from accident. He was commissioned a first lieutenant, and has a flying record of 551 hours. He also trained for twenty days at a gunnery school at Cassaux, France, and learned to be expert in firing at balloons, motor boats and other moving objects with the Vicker machine guns. He was commissioned first 248 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY lieutenant at Cassaux, and then sent to Paris on patrol duty, and spent two and a half weeks in that capacity in the buzzing French capital. When he was transferred, Mr. Cox was assigned to the 89th Aero Squadron, in the same contingent with Quentin Roosevelt, and he was stationed at Monty, near Toul. where he operated a Breguet machine of 300 horsepower. He was then assigned to guard duty at Belfort, against daylight bombing raids, and there he happened to be when the news was flashed that the armistice had been signed. After the armistice, Mr. Cox, who had proven of the right mettle, was assigned, on December 17, to the vicinity of Chatillon, to bring aeroplanes back from the front. He was called upon, in particular, to fly French planes, which had been used by the Americans, back to the vicinity of Paris, and this he also did with credit to himself and the American aviation corps. On December 28, he was ordered to return to the United States ; but five days later he was taken sick with influenza and for three weeks he was laid up in a hospital at Tours. On February 14, 1919, he returned to New York by way of Brest, sailing on the "Saxonia"; and January 1, 1920, at the Presidio, he was honorably discharged. SIMON ENSLEN. — It is interesting to chronicle the life of the pioneer, the man who in his prime braved the dangers of the wilds and entered the wilderness, claimed the virgin soil as his heritage and by self denial, sacrifice, exposure and hard work paved the way for present day civilization. Surely these grand men have all too rapidly passed away, but their memory is ever appreciated and the story of their life prized by the present-day generation. Such a man was Simon Enslen, a native of the city of Brotherly Love, but reared in the state of Missouri, where he obtained the experience in that farming and stock raising region which later became so valuable to him when he came to this new and untried California. With two brothers, William and James, he crossed the plains in 1854, driving a herd of cattle from which they expected a good profit, which would contribute largely to their starting in business in the land of the new Eldorado. But the Indians stampeded and stole their cattle and they lost all of them, so they were forced to make their way as best they could over the mountains and arrived empty handed, except for a donkey which the brothers sold to obtain a little money to buy food. Nothing daunted, with youth and health, Simon went to work in the mines for M. McSauley at Knights Ferry until he saved enough money to purchase an interest in a butcher shop in the old county seat town. They met with such success that ere long Mr. Enslen purchased his partner's interest and con tinued the business, and it is interesting to note that this same partner, Mr. McSauley, afterwards worked for him. Mr. Enslen also started to raise sheep, in which he was very successful, his flocks growing to large numbers and aside from his home range he ranged the sheep principally in the Chowchilla hills. Associated with him were his two brothers, William and James. Later William sold his interest to his brothers and they continued together until Simon Enslen's death. Mr. Enslen was also for some years in partnership with Samuel Dingley and Robert Barnard, from the state of Maine, whose mother was a Dingley and a sister of the above Samuel Dingley, the three being engaged in the sheep business, ranging their flocks in the hills back of Knights Ferry. In this latter city at the bride's home, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha E. Dingley, a native of Boston, Mass., a lady of culture and refinement, and the union proved a very happy one. In 1879 Mr. Enslen located in Modesto and from his home there looked after his large interests, becoming one of the largest sheep growers in the valley, having 14,000 head of sheep in seven different bands, but he was not permitted to enjoy the •YoUltio0ofnhli kb0r and h'S honorable career was cut short by his passing, on January 22, 880, leaving a widow, now Mrs. Tucker, and two children, Mrs. Maude Holtham and Mrs. Eva McMahon, all living in Modesto. Mr. Enslen was a large-hearted, enterprising type of an American, and it is to such men that California owes much of its present day greatness, for without the pioneers of his type who were optimistic and not afraid to venture and to put their shoulder to the wheel to start the development of the wilds and lay the foundation that eventually has made this favored section of the United States a garden spot, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 251 thus giving to the present day generation the comfort and luxury they now enjoy. Mr. Enslen was liberal and progressive and it is to him that Modesto today owes the beautiful park which bears his name, which is the source of such enjoyment and pride to the people of the county. A temperate man with a high standard of morals, Mr. Enslen's honesty of purpose and integrity were never questioned and his example is well worthy of emulation. MRS. MARTHA E. TUCKER.— A liberal-minded, open-hearted, hospitable lady enjoying the good-will of a wide circle of friends, and highly esteemed by all who know her, is Mrs. Martha E. Tucker, a successful business woman who has been equally prominent in women's club circles. She was a Miss Dingley before her marriage, and she was born in Boston, the daughter of Samuel Dingley, also a native of Massachusetts. He came of an old and honorable New England family, and was a cousin of Nelson Dingley, Jr., the journalist who rose to be governor of Maine and the congressman who was the author of the Dingley tariff. He married Sarah Sherman, also a native of Maine, and preceded her to California in 1850, be ing joined by his wife and family two years later. He ran a hotel at Knights Ferry, where he mde his home, and had a stock ranch in the hills and followed stock raising until he died. His demise occurred in Stanislaus County on June 3, 1886, when he had rounded out seventy-five most fruitful years. He spent his last days with Mrs. Tucker in Modesto, Mrs. Dingley having died at Knights Ferry on September 21, 1879. Three of their five children are still living, among them being Albert, ex-sheriff of Stanislaus County; Ella, who is Mrs. Richards of Modesto, and the subject of our interesting review. Mrs. Tucker came to California with her mother by way of the Isthmus in 1852, and went to school at Knights Ferry. At her home she was married to Simon Enslen, a native of Philadelphia who had been reared in Missouri, his sketch appearing on another page of this work. He crossed the plains with two of his brothers in 1854, driving a band of cattle, from which he expected much profit; but the Indians stam peded and stole the cattle, and he finally arrived in California with one donkey. In 1877 Mr. and Mrs. Enslen located in Modesto, where they bought a lot and built the residence which she still owns at 918 Twelfth Street, and where she makes her home ; and from there he ran his stock business. He was among the largest sheep growers here, having 14,000 head of sheep in seven different bands. For about two years, however, he was handicapped with poor health; and on January 22, 1880, he died. He was a fine type of American, a typical old Californian, having strong faith in the future of the state, and he never failed to do what he could to contribute toward the development and building up of the community and county in which he had cast his lot. He was a strictly temperate man, and thus set an example more and more appreciated by educated American sentiment. Two children were born of this marriage : Maude has become Mrs. Holtham, and Eva is Mrs. J. J. McMahon, both of Modesto. After his death his widow sold out all his interest in the sheep business, and making her home in Modesto, she married, on February 15, 1882, John Franklin Tucker, a native of Kentucky, who was born on February 9, 1836, and came to Cali fornia in 1865. He settled for a while at Crows Landing, where he was a merchant until he was elected county assessor, an office he filled with signal ability for several J'ears. Then he engaged in real estate, and the abstract business, and with George Perley as a partner, organized the Stanislaus Land and Abstract Company. He was well posted on property and land values, and continued actively in business until his health became impaired, when he retired. He died on November 26, 1904, la mented by many, and mourned especially by his fellow-Masons. Two sons blessed this union: Clarence Eugene is county sealer of weights and measures, and during the war was food administrator for Stanislaus County, while Elmer Carlisle has been in the aviation section of the U. S. Army service. Mrs. Tucker has improved and built up valuable property in Modesto, and owns, among such edifices, the telephone building and also a business structure on Tenth Street, and has also built and still owns several bungalows. Some time ago she built 252 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY a cottage at Pacific Grove, where she spends each summer, and there, as well as in her Modesto home, she finds delight in dispensing an old-time Californian hospitality. Mrs. Tucker has always been interested in various plans for the development of Stanislaus County and Modesto. She has aided in the organization of different banks and enterprises as well as public movements for enhancing the importance of the county and the happiness of its people. She is a stockholder in the Modesto Bank and The Bank of Italy. Of a natural strong physical makeup and a pleasing personality and endowed with rare business ability, she is indeed a woman whom Stanislaus County is proud of. She was one of the original members of the Modesto Woman's Club, and is also active in the Ladies' Guild of the Episcopal Church. HERRICK R. SCHELL. — A worthy representative of one of Stanislaus County's most honored pioneer families and a Civil War veteran with an enviable record for valorous service in that great conflict, the forceful personality of Herrick R. Schell has been notably manifest in promoting" the material development and welfare of this section of California. A nephew of the late Abraham Schell, he was for a. number of years associated with him as a partner in the historic Red Mountain Vineyard. Descended from a proud old New York state family, with an ancestry qf hon ored French Huguenot and German forbears, Herrick R. Schell was born at Lyons Falls, N. Y., on June 3, 1844. His parents were Adam and Charlotte (Sherburn) Schell, the former a native of Lyons Falls, and the latter of Sharon Springs, in that state. The family of the paternal grandmother, whose name was Maria Theresa Du Pont, who lived to be ninety-nine j'ears, was descended from French Huguenots, who came to America to be free from religious persecution. Her nephew was Caleb Lyon, of Lyonsdale, N. Y., who came to the Pacific Coast from New York as a forty-niner around Cape Horn on tbe ship Tarolinta, and who designed the seal for the state of California; later he became governor of the territory of Montana. Adam Schell was a contractor and builder and the boyhood days of our subject were spent at the old home at Lyons Falls. He died at the age of ninety-four. Although but sixteen years old when the Civil War broke out, Herrick Schell was fired with the spirit of patriotism and offered his services to his country, giving his age as eighteen. He was mustered into Battery H, First New York Light Artillery, commanded by Colonel Bailey, a West Pointer who had been a lieutenant under Gen eral Magruder ; the latter subsequently sided with the South and became a Confederate general. This regiment, composed of fifteen batteries, was known as Bailey's Light Artillery, and Mr. Schell served under the command of Capt. Charles E. Mink. He was mustered in at Elmira, N. Y., September 23, 1861. Proceeding to Washing ton, D. C, they were equipped at Camp Barry, and from there went to the front to join McClellan, being assigned to the Fourth Army Corps under Gen. E. D. Keys. They first saw battle at Williamsburg, just after the evacuation of Yorktown. After this they proceeded from battle to battle, taking part in many of the hardest and most important engagements of the war. Among these may be mentioned the following: Chickahominy ; Seven Pines, where Mr. Schell fired the first gun ; Seven Daj's' Re treat from Richmond, including Malvern Hill and the fight in which General Fitzhugh Lee was captured in the outposts of Richmond. Mr. Schell then rejoined the Army of the Potomac at Gettysburg, just after the battle, and was attached to the First Army Corps; was at Mine Run under General Meade, and then the First and Fifth Army Corps were consolidated into the Fifth and Second and Company H was assigned to the Fifth Army Corps. This was in the winter of 1863 and these engagements fol lowed: Spotsylvania, Bethesda Church, crossing of North Ann River, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Peeblis Farm, Hatcher's Run, Five Forks, being de tached and under command of Sheridan, who relieved Warren, Farmville, and finally at the surrender at Appomattox Court House. After the surrender of Lee, the com mand marched to Washington and then took part in the Grand Review, the greatest military sight ever witnessed in America. They were mustered out at Elmira, N. Y., in June, 1865, with a record second to that of no command in the Civil War. vvi ^l-1611 se.rved most of the time as company clerk, with the rank of corporal, and while his services entitled him to much further promotion his usefulness in the position Hig by£G Williams & Bra NY t Historic Record Co. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 255 held by him retained him there and forbade his deserved advancement. During the entire period of his service, from his enlistment to the close of the war, he was never wounded and never was absent from his command on account of sickness — a record equalled by few. He veteranized by enlistment at Culpeper Court House, Va., in the same battery for the period of the duration of the war. Mr. Schell also had two brothers serving the Union armj' — Harris and Hiram H. The latter served as a first lieutenant in Battery D, Fourth U. S. Regular Artillerv. The battery to which our subject belonged fired 6,000 rounds at the battle of Spotsyl vania and General Sedgwick there met his death between a section of their guns. Thus in the Civil War as well as in the previous ones, the Schells took an active and honor able oart. The deeds of John Christian Schell and his sons in the cause of liberty dur ing the Revolutionary struggle are a matter of history, and are given further mention in the biography of Abraham Schell in this work; while in the War of 1812, Jacob Schell, the grandfather of Herrick Schell, served as a captain and took part in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. After being mustered out of service, Mr. Schell returned to his home where he remained until 1867. He then came to California via the Isthmus of Panama, locat ing at Knights Ferry," where he went into business with his uncle, the late Abraham Schell. He at first bought a fourth interest in the famous Red Mountain Vineyard, then became the owner of an undivided half interest, and later still became the sole owner of the winery, one of the first and most celebrated wineries in California. Soil and climatic conditions in 'this particular locality combined to produce a perfect habitat for the production of wine grapes, and this, with the elaborate mechanical equipment of the plant, made their product of superior excellence and their wines known widely throughout the East. Ever a patriot, Mr. Schell observes both the spirit and the letter of the Eighteenth Amendment, and makes no wine nor handles any. Although it is plain to be seen that he has suffered a heavy financial loss, Mr. Schell stands loyally bv the amendment and its constitutional bearing, and he is now considering to what use this valuable property with its expensive equipment can be put. Although identified with this business for many years, he never drank wine or any other liquor, and to this he probably owes much of his wonderful strength and virility at the age of seventy- seven. In the course of manufacture it was necessary for him to taste the wines in order to sample their bouquet and flavor, but he never imbibed. In addition to his viticultural interests, Mr. Schell became an extensive landowner and now holds title to 4,000 acres of valuable land, which includes the whole of the Red Mountain Vine- j'ard, and makes his home in the stately old mansion erected by Abraham Schell. On September 23, 1873, Mr. Schell was married to Miss Clara Church, a daughter of Artemus and Ellen (Higby) Church, natives of New York state, and they have become the parents of eight children: Artemus Church assists his father in the management of the ranch ; Pearl is Mrs. Schonhoff, a trained nurse and resides at Modesto ; Adolph Edison, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, is a partner with his father in the cattle business at Knights Ferry and has a grain ranch of 400 acres ; Violet is the wife of T. B. Boone, the proprietor of the Palace Market at Oakdale ; Herrick Romaine, Jr., lost his life while in the service of his country during the late war, passing away from an attack of influenza at Fort Rosecrans, a few weeks after enlisting; Lucile is the wife of J. F. Tulloch, who is manager of the electric light plant at Oakdale ; Charlotte met an untimely death through an automobile accident at Oak dale in. 1919, and Zoe, the youngest, was drowned in the ditch that brings water from Stanislaus River to irrigate the farm. Always broadminded, public spirited and progressive in his views, Mr. Schell has been closely identified with the business and civic upbuilding of the county during his long residence here. While never caring for political preferment, the community has profited in countless ways by his admirable citizenship ; he served on the first grand jury ever held in Modesto. He keeps alive the stirring memories of Civil War days by membership in Grant Post No. 9, G. A. R., an honored comrade whose recollec tions are always filled with interes.t. A genial, courteous gentleman, with a host of warm friends, he ranks high among the foremost citizens of the county. 256 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ABRAHAM SCHELL. — Honored and respected by all, no man occupied a more enviable position in the financial and business circles of Knights Ferry, Stanis laus County, than did the late Abraham Schell. His activities covered a broad scope and his efforts were of the character that contributed to general progress and pros perity as well as to individual success. Not only was he a leader in all the enter prises that made for the county's upbuilding, but he was widely known in professional circles of the California bar. Abraham Schell was born in Schoharie, N. Y., November 9, 1817, the son of Peter and Sophia (Dominick) Schell, both natives of that state. The mother was of French descent, her father having been born in Paris. Peter Schell was a lad of only twelve or fifteen years at the time of the Revolutionary War, when the Schells took up the cause of the patriots. The Schells of the Mohawk Valley were of the same blood, and being very prominent, John Christian Schell, his wife and eight sons, became the special objects of enmity of the Tories, on account of their valiant par ticipations in the Revolutionary struggles. History records, as one of the most-heroic affairs of that struggle, the defense of their home by John Christian Schell and his six-sons against the determined onslaught of the celebrated Tory, McDonald, leading a force of about a hundred Indians and Tories. Two of his sons were captured before the defense of the house began; assault after assault was made, and the attacking party resorted to every ruse and subterfuge to overcome the little band of heroes,. but all in vain. When most of the Indians and Tories were killed and severely wounded and they were sure of defeat, the siege was raised, as a result of a piece of sharp prac tice on the part of the beleaguered little garrison. Peter Schell lived to be eighty-four j'ears old and his wife being eighty-three at the time of her demise. Abraham Schell was reared in New York and on December 5, 1839, at Coble skill, Schoharie County, was married to the girl of his schooldays, Miss Catherine Bellinger. He engaged in the wholesale grocery business at Albany, N. Y., in company with a cousin named Daniel Weidman, when news came of the discovery of gold in California, and being young and impetuous, he, in company with seventeen others from Albany, started for the El Dorado of the West. They sailed from New York January 13, 1849, with 134 emigrants destined for California, via Cape Horn, in a "dugout" of 1,000 tons named "Tarolinta," meaning Floating Rose, which was owned by the Griswolds of New York City and commanded by Capt. Cave, a seasoned old salt. The boat started amidst the boom of cannon, ringing of bells, and the cheer of thou sands who had come to witness their departure, to bid their friends good-bye and god speed. They stopped at Rio de Janeiro for about one week; encountering a severe storm in the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina; doubled Cape Horn April 9; entered the Golden Gate and landed at San Francisco, July 6, 1849. For a while Mr. Schell engaged in mercantile pursuits, running a large grocery store at Stockton, Cal., and while there, loaned a large amount of money to the San Joaquin Water Company for the purpose of completing a mining ditch construction which was to bring water to the rich placer mines at Knights Ferry. In 1856, he was compelled to take over the ditch and was the loser to the extent of $25,000 by the company's failure. The ditch was later employed for sawmill purposes and was known as the Tulloch ditch. Subsequently it was acquired by the Oakdale Irrigation Company and now forms the north lateral of- the Oakdale Irrigation District. In 1868 Mr. Schell purchased three and a half leagues of land embraced in the Spanish Grant known as the "Rancheria Del Rio Estanislao," upon which the town of Knights Ferry was situated and upon a part of which was developed the celebrated Red Mountain Vineyard. A. Schell became interested in this vineyard, in 1866, and at first became a partner with George H. Krause, a viticulturist from the Rhine Valley in Germany. Mr. Krause died shortly after this partnership was formed, when A. Schell became sole proprietor. In 1867, he took in his nephew, H. R. Schell, as a partner and well and ably did they manage this magnificent property. In 1862 a wine vault or tunnel was made, fourteen feet wide and seven feet high, tunneled into the solid rock eighty-one feet and thence at right angles to the brow of the hill in the manner of the famed wineries on the Rhine. This vineyard is located in the foot- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 257 hills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Knights Ferry in Stanislaus County, and contains many different varieties of wine grapes, such as Muscat of Alexandria, Black Hamburg, Reine de Nice, White Malaga, Frontignac Golden Chasselas, Zinfandel, Tenturier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Bouschet, Petit Sierra Tannot, Trousseau, Matero, and Mission grapes. The soil of this vineyard is volcanic in origin, being composed of scoria, lava, decomposed iron rock, and alluvium mixed with clay. The wine house and cellar were constructed on the side of a hill and the distillery is in another building nearby. Vast oaken casks holding up to 600 gallons each fill the tunnel, while the winery contained a full complement of fermenting tanks, six in number, holding 1,400 gallons each. Mr. Schell always prided himself on making the best of absolutely pure wine. Both the soil and climate of the Red Mountain Vine yard were such as to produce a very superior quality of grapes and the bouquet of the wines from the Red Mountain Vineyard was exceptional ; these wines commanded the best prices and were sold almost entirely in Mr. Schell's home city, Albany, N. Y., where they found great favor and were demanded to such an extent that Albany alone took the entire output. Thoroughly identified with Stanislaus County from its early days, Mr. Schell is well remembered for his brilliant mind and forensic ability, not only by the bench and bar of Stanislaus County, but throughout the state. He was decidedly liberal in his views and a fighter for liberty and enlightenment, throwing the weight of his convictions on the side of justice. December 5, 1889, Mr. and Mrs. Schell celebrated their golden wedding in the fine home at the Red Mountain Vineyard, a stately old mansion, suggesting both New York and California in its architectural design. Gen erous and hospitable, they were royal entertainers, and had a multitude of friends. not alone because of their genial hospitality, but more particularly on account of their superior attainments and culture. Although these pioneers have passed away, Abraham Schell in 1892 and Mrs. Schell a few years later, they will ever live in the hearts and memory of all those who knew them. Their descendants have an inspiring example in the record of their kinsman, whose patriotism and loyal support of the country was manifested not only in the early days of Indian fighting, but throughout his entire career in his unfaltering support of all those interests which have had to do with the welfare of the commonwealth. J. D. SPENCER. — -The pioneer journalist of Stanislaus County, J. D. Spencer was a prominent figure in the early days when the county was formed and Modesto was established. When it became known that the new railroad town was to be located on the present site of Modesto, then followed that picturesque and now historic exodus of people from Paradise, Empire and Tuolumne to grow up with the newly created metropolis and participate in the golden era of prosperity to follow in its settlement. Modesto, the hub pf the county, grew apace and at the election in the succeeding year, aided by the vote of the railroad employes, became the county seat. With the influx of population there came to the town the pioneer newspaper man in the person of J. D. Spencer, for in those primitive days the journalist responded to the kaleidoscope changes in cities and conditions and followed the crowd to the more alluring fields of business activity. After two unsuccessful attempts to publish a news paper, there was no paper in the county until 1868, when the Tuolumne City News made its appearance with J. D. Spencer as its editor. It was Democratic and ex pounded Jeffersonian Democracy in a forceful manner and as nearly all of the citizens of the county were of that political belief, it soon enjoyed a large clientele. * Mr. Spencer wielded a trenchant pen and through his boldness of utterance the county weekly was closely interwoven with the industrial life of the first settlers. He created such intense feeling by his exposures that it resulted in the disruption of the crooked ring that controlled the land office at Stockton ; the paper also urged the repeal of the pernicious "Fence Law" and by its insistence procured the passage of the "Tres pass Law," which saved for the settlers on the plains the heavy expense of building fences to preserve their crops. 258 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. Spencer was born in West Virginia, July 23, 1840, the son of Wade Hamp ton Spencer, who moved to Arkansas in 1844, and in 1845 to Jackson County, Mo. In 1849, J. D. Spencer crossed the plains with ox-teams with his father and brother. He returned East in 1851, and in 1853 came back to Oregon and then down into California, where he followed prospecting and mining. He was reared in the hard school of experience, lived the life of the typical '49er in the open and encountered all the trying vicissitudes of the pioneer. A mere lad when he entered the state, his first impressions were gathered under the most adverse circumstances. The rough miners among whom he lived, the rude system of law and retaliation which then pre vailed, were not conducive to the moral or the mental improvement of the youthful settler. The crack of the revolver and the shrill cry of the victim were familiar sounds in his ears ; but he possessed a mind not easily overbalanced, and had a religious training and these deleterious associations failed to have any impression upon him. In 1862 he quit mining and became a photographer, but three years later entered the journalistic field as editor of the Woodbridge Messenger, later was with the San Andreas Mountain. News. J. D. Spencer was a fluent speaker and a forceful writer and became the acknowl edged leader of his party in Stanislaus County — a position he held without question until his death. Of incorruptible integrity, he was honored with election to the state assembly and to the state senate. He was quiet and dignified and ever wielded a strong influence among his colleagues. In the assembly he was the Democratic candidate for speaker and received a handsome minority vote. He was a hard worker, always in his seat, and watched every proposition that appeared in the legislative halls. He was one of the few anti-railroad representatives who emerged unscathed from the contaminating influence of the corrupt ring that held sway at Sacramento. In 1875 Stanislaus County was startled by a political scandal which involved many of Mr. Spencer's political allies and personal friends. It arose in the senatorial contest of that year, when R. H. Ward, Democrat, was elected to the senate over J. M. Montgomery, Republican, by a majority of fifty-five votes. In this county Ward seemingly secured a majority of 190 votes, which apparently assured his elec tion. Upon the legislative contest Montgomery was seated. The evidence showed that a prominent local politician, with the connivance of a deputy county clerk, had in the night taken the ballots of a certain precinct from the clerk's office to the back room of a saloon on Front Street and altered them in such a way as to give Ward a large majority in the county, and then returned the ballots to the clerk's office. Breaking with friends of years' standing, oblivious of the effect the disclosure would have in political circles, Mr. Spencer, in his paper, vigorously denounced the alleged tampering with the electoral machinery. The individual tampering with the ballot's* was indicted by the grand jurj' and upon trial was convicted. The verdict was reversed by the supreme court on a technicality of law and when the case was again called for trial all the evidence and even the marked ballots had mysteriously disappeared. When in 1885, J. W. McCarthy, clerk of the supreme court, elected in 1882 on the ticket with Governor Stonenian, absconded leaving the affairs of the office in a chaotic condition and the supreme judges refused to recognize any actions of the deputies of McCarthy, Governor Stoneman at once appointed Mr. Spencer to fill the vacancy, to become effective January 6, 1886. His bondsmen were Hon. A. Hewel and Hon. E. B. Beard. Mr. Spencer was subsequently elected that same year. When, later in the year 1870, Tuolumne City placed itself on wheels and entered the race over newly-made stubble fields, Mr. Spencer, with his residence, printshop, type, presses and forms, joined the caravan moving to Modesto. He located his home at the corner of I and Eleventh streets and his printing establishment on the adjoining lot. For the purpose of establishing a newspaper this property had been donated by the Contract and Finance Company. The Tuolumne City News was transformed into the Stanislaus County News and the first issue of the paper was December 2, 1870. It made a neat appearance with its four pages and was well filled with advertising. Both as a representative piece of journalism, and as a paper, this issue was a curiosity and so far as known there is but one copy extant. In 1884, the Democrats deemed it HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 261 good policy to publish a daily paper in Modesto and this was the beginning of the Daily Evening News. An early advocate of irrigation, Mr. Spencer took a positive stand on this im portant question and opened the columns of his paper to a broad discussion of the topic. He favored the two plans that preceded the Wright Act and he was the clerk of the supreme court when that body sustained the decision that rendered' possible the later development of this district. Unawed by power, uninfluenced by ambition, the pioneer editor held the esteem and leadership in the community he loved so well for twenty- five years and after a long life filled with good deeds he passed to that Great Beyond in December, 1895, mourned by the wide circle of friends he had gathered about him during his busy years as an editor, legislator, counselor, friend and companion. HON. JAMES CARSON NEEDHAM.— Through wise statesmanship and the promotion of measures for the benefit of the people, Hon. James Carson Needham of Modesto has gained a reputation which is not limited to the confines of his home city, nor to the state of California, but to the whole nation, through his services as congress man from California, and he is the kind of American this state has always been glad to welcome and proud to own. As judge of Department Two, Superior Court of Stan islaus County, he wields a strong influence in the legal profession throughout the state. James Carson Needham was born at Carson City, Nev., September 17, 1864, one of seven children born to Charles E. and Olive L. (Drake) Needham, who crossed the plains to California in 1864. The ancestry of Judge J. C. Needham is traced in a direct line from Anthony Needham, an Englishman, and his wife, Ann Potter Need ham,' who were charged as Quakers on June 25, 1658, and were duly persecuted. They were the progenitors of the Needham family in America, which has been traced in a direct line through succeeding generations to the present time by H. C. Needham, a well-known attorney of New York City. The Needhams were men of military habits and, despite his Quaker faith, Anthony, Sr., was corporal of the Salem Old Troop in 1665, and in 1675 he served during King Philip's War as a lieutenant under Captain Nicholas Manning of Salem. He had a son Anthony, and it is said that he was the first white settler within the present town of Wales, Hampden County, Mass., where he settled in 1726. The next in line was Jeremiah Needham, born in 1741 at South Brimfield, Mass., where he was town clerk in 1765. He was also a sergeant in Capt. Daniel Winchester's company, Col. Ruggles Woodbridge's regiment, serving from August 17, 1777, until November 29 of that same year, with the North ern Army; he was also a private in Capt. John Carpenter's company of guards from June 24 to August 4, 1779, and was stationed at Springfield, Mass. Jeremiah had a son of the same name who moved to Vermont in 1805. The next in line was Charles Needham, born in 1800, who moved to DeKalb, 111., in 1854, where he engaged in raising Morgan horses from the famous Black Hawk stock; in 1855, with his son, he opened up Gibson's Addition of 320 acres to DeKalb, and he also played a prominent part in the early development of agriculture in that state. Charles and Minerva (Porter) Needham had a son, Charles E. Needham, the father of Judge J. C. Needham, and he was born in Vermont on December 1, 1829. He married Miss Olive L. Drake, born in Crown Point, N. Y, but they both grew up on Lake Champlain and he crossed the ice in winter to do his courting. In 1862, leaving his wife and three children in the East, he crossed the plains to California and engaged in ranching in Santa Clara County, but being a strong Abolitionist, he deter mined to go East to lend his aid in freeing the slaves. He did return to Illinois intending to join the Northern forces but his three children were of tender years and he was persuaded that his first duty was to his wife and family. With his wife and family, he set out with an emigrant train for the Golden State, as soon as he could, and it was en route that our subject was born at Carson City, Nev. They reached their destination at Mayfield, Santa Clara County in the latter part of 1864, and Mr. Needham resumed his ranching operations. He was a strong Whig and Re publican and was a personal friend of Gen. John C. Fremont. It is said that he wept bitter1" when he heard of the defeat of Fremont for the presidency in 1856, and he 17 262 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY never shaved his beard thereafter. Besides James Carson, the following children were born to C. E. and Olive L. Needham: Harry B., employed in the U. S. Customs office in San Francisco; Cyrus H., a rancher at Patterson; Myrta L. is the wife of W. G. McKean and resides in Berkeley; Lillian V. is the wife of W. E. Holman, a rancher near Farmington, San Joaquin County; and Luella G. became the wife of James T. Holman and also lives near Farmington. When James Carson Needham was three years of age he was taken by his parents to Banta, San Joaquin County, where his father took up a homestead, and there the lad attended the public schools, and at the age of eighteen was graduated from the San Jose high school. Then he entered the College of the Pacific, where he received his Ph.B. diploma with the class of '86, although he worked in the harvest fields every summer until he was twenty-one. He then began reading law and entered the law department of the University of Michigan, graduating with the class of '89. In November of the same year he came to Modesto and engaged in the practice of law, soon after forming a partnership with L. L. Dennett, the firm being styled Needham & Dennett and they built up a large general practice, the fruits of which are still felt in substantial decisions obtained. The entry of Mr. Needham into the political arena of Republican politics was brought about by his ability as an organizer and at a time when the county was a Democratic stronghold. He and his partner were young and enterprising Republicans and the only attorneys of that political belief in the county, and they were urged to take part in selecting candidates by the Republicans outside of Modesto. Mr. Need ham became a candidate for the state senate but was defeated ; again he came up for district attorney and suffered a like fate. In 1894 he was made chairman of the County Central Committee and here he showed his prowess by calling into conference members who were strictly representative men of their various districts in the county and urging upon them the necessity of allowing their names to be presented to the voters for the various county offices. Heretofore all offices had been filled by the then Demo cratic ring with men who were residents of Modesto, where the majority of the votes were polled, and this was not always satisfactory even to the Democrats living outside of the "charmed" circle. After herculean efforts being expended, a ticket was made up of the best Republicans throughout the county and strange to say, and to the sur prise of the Democrats, the ticket was elected almost to a man, thus breaking the stranglehold the opposing party had upon the county offices. From that period Mr. Needham became the man of the hour and in 1898 he was elected to Congress from the Seventh Congressional District, then comprising Stan islaus, San Benito, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. The state was later redistricted and his became the Sixth district, which covered Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Santa Cruz, Mon terey, Merced, Madera, Fresno, San Benito and Kings counties and he was re-elected every two years and served continuously from March 4, 1899, to March 4, 1913. While serving in Congress he became well acquainted with McKinley, Roosevelt and other Republican leaders. Mr. Needham became such a recognized leader in Congress that he was appointed on the Ways and Means Committee and served for nine years; he also served on the committees of Education, Public Lands and Insular Affairs and did very efficient work on them all. He helped to shape and solve many of the perplexing questions relating to the Philippines, Hawaii, Porto Rico, Alaska. Panama, and was particularly active in enacting the laws for the governing of the Philippines. A warm, personal friend of Roosevelt, he helped shape matters in Panama, and for the building of the Canal. He became an intimate, steadfast friend of William H. Taft, while the latter was Governor of the Philippines and President; and he was on the committee to receive and escort McKinley, Taft and Roosevelt on their various trips through California. After leaving Washington, Mr. Needham went to San Diego in 1913, practiced law until 1917, when he decided to return to Modesto, where he had many interests, in order to look after them ; here he resumed his practice and continued till on January 1, 1919, when he was appointed Judge of the Superior ^ourt, Department Two, Stanislaus County, by Governor Stephens, and it is needless HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 265 to say that he has more than made good. He was elected in 1920 without opposition. A man of truly judicial mind, humane instincts, affable manners, an able lawyer, a forceful speaker, an eloquent orator, Judge Needham has the respect of the people, the bar and the bench. He has often been called upon to deliver orations on public occasions, and his Roosevelt memorial address, delivered at Merced when the whole nation was bowing its head reverently in honor of the great American, gave him the finest opportunity to eloquently express his public and personal regard for the patriot. Judge Needham's marriage in Modesto, on July 1, 1894, to Miss Dora Deetta Parsons has been productive of much happiness to them both. She is a native of Montana and the daughter of N. M. Parsons, now deceased. Three children have resulted from their union: Mildred married Edward T. Taylor, Jr., son of Congress man E. T. Taylor of Colorado ; he was a captain in the U. S. Army during the war and now a resident of Washington, D. C. ; Chauncey E., who married Miss Beatrice Flatt of Palo Alto, now of Modesto, was commissioned second lieutenant in the army while he was twenty and a student at Leland Stanford University, and was a combat flyer in France; Nathalie is living at home. The Judge is a Royal Arch Mason, affiliated with the Modesto Lodge and Chapter and no one there enjoys a greater or more deserved popularity. ALBERT L. CRESSEY. — Distinguished and esteemed as one of the early pioneers of Central California, Albert L. Cressey, until his death on October 5, 1920, was one of the halest and heartiest of octogenarians, enjoying the unique honor of being the strongest advocate of irrigation in the San Joaquin Valley, and therefore of having given a mighty momentum to the great agricultural industries along the waiting Pacific. He was born at Conway, N. H., on January 27, 1838, the son of Curtis Rice Cressey, who was born in the vicinity of the White Mountains and grew up to be a farmer. Grandfather Cressey was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his father before him was a preacher in the Baptist Church, who dropped dead while vigorously exhorting in the pulpit. This zealous devotion to the tenets of the Baptist faith was a characteristic of Curtis Cressey, who married as his first wife Miss Susan Llttlefield, a native of Kennebunk, Maine, lived to be eighty-three years old and died at Brownfield, in that state. The progenitors of the Cresseys" came from England, arid some early representatives of the family in America were prominent in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Mrs. Susan Cressey died in her thirty-sixth year, the mother of six children. - Brought up on a New England hillside farm, Albert L. Cressey began life as a Yankee farmer's boy amid conditions not very inviting, and for a few years he at tended the district school for from only six to eight weeks every winter, and such education as he acquired was obtained by self-directed reading and in the broad and instructive field of human experience. He did not like to pick cobble stones out of the field, the inevitable lot of the New Hampshire farmer's boy, and having obtained permission, when sixteen, to visit a sister at Great Falls, N. H., a cotton manufactur ing city on the Saco River, soon tried his hand at work in the mills, but did not like that work, and then went to Portsmouth, N. H., where he worked at shipbuilding. An elder brother was in Boston, and Albert made his way into that city and took a job driving an omnibus from Dock Square to Canton Street, before the advent of street cars in that section. He next became a brakeman on the railroad, and later a fireman on the Boston and Worcester Railway. Later on he went back to Boston and took a job with the express company. Young Cressey was ambitious to "go West," and for a while thought of migrat ing to Wisconsin, where he had some relatives. Just then he happened to meet a man from California, and the more that he talked with him the more he became interested. Fortunately, he had saved enough money, to bring him out to the Coast, and so was not long in traveling to New York, and in sailing from New York to- Aspinwall (now Colon) on the old side-wheeler steamship "George Law," on her last trip; for on her very next trip she went down when well out from New York. Albert crossed the Isthmus on the railway, and then took passage on the old "Golden 266 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Gate" steamship to San Francisco on what proved to be her last successful trip, for she, too, went down when next she breasted the waters. He landed at San Fran cisco about June 1, 1857. His money was then exhausted, but he borrowed four dollars from a friend to pay his passage up the river to Stockton, where he arrived penniless. A farmer by the name of Grattan offered him a job on his ranch, and his first work in California was binding grain after a cradler. He had been thus occupied for three days when D. C. Madison and his assistant came from Stockton to Mr. Grattan's place, to test out the first reaper ever built in California, a wonderful contrivance built at Stock ton by Madison. Mr. Cressey drove the machine and cut Mr. Grattan's grain and that of a neighbor. This was the first reaper ever made in California, and by means of it so much more labor was accomplished in a short time that he and Mr. Grattan made enough the first season to pay for the machine. While working for Mr. Grattan, Mr. Cressey took up 160 acres of Government land on his own account, and in 1859 put in a crop; but worms attacked the grain, and the crop was such a failure that he ran into debt $300. He put in a crop the next year, and then he experienced something of the greatest importance in its after effects He and all of his neighbors- had to build levees to protect their ranches from th< high water and overflow of the San Joaquin River ; but because he was a new settler. inexperienced and poor, his levees were not as high or as good as those about him, and when a great rain fell late that spring, his levees burst, the river flooded the land, and he and his fellow-ranchers thought that his wheat was ruined. On the contrary, it took a new start, so that his yield was ninety bushels per acre, while his neighbors had scarcely any wheat over eight inches high, and hardly any grain. It showed what water on wheat, that is, what irrigation would do, and was the first demonstration of the kind in the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Cressey was a neighbor of and became a good friend of Captain Charles Weber, an extensive San Joaquin farmer and landowner and founder of Stockton, and'obtained his consent to build an irrigation ditch through Weber's land, in a short time getting such results that he made money from his crops. He invested in horses • and mules, and commencing with six mules to a wagon, he undertook freighting be tween Stockton, Sacramento, Shingle Springs and Placerville to the mining camps in the mountains, going as far as Carson City, Genoa, Gold Hill, Virginia City and Chinatown in Nevada. His business increased, and he was able to expand to two eight-horse teams, with freight wagons and trailers. He lived through all the gold excitement in Nevada, and also through the Civil War, the effects of which were not much felt in the extreme West. Horses and mules were in such demand then and brought such high prices during the war that he in time sold his sturdy animals to the Government and bought a dozen oxen instead. With these he continued freight ing, working from four to eight yoke on a wagon, and meanwhile he sold grain to the Government at high prices. After a while he was able to buy a dozen mules in Stockton, and all in all he continued freighting for ten years. Once nicely on his feet, Mr. Cressey came to Stanislaus County near what is Modesto and bought four and a half sections of farm land. There was no Modesto then, and wild animals abounded. He herded his stock over the plains where there were antelope, deer and bear, even grizzlies in the mountains, and he also lived through the flood of 1862. He went shopping in Stockton in a rowboat and even rowed his boat into the stores and out again, bringing home the necessary goods. He next went to Merced County, and there purchased 15,000 acres, getting it for ninetv cents an acre. Coming back to Paradise, Mr. Cressey and his brother bought a half "interest in a mill operated for many years by a Mr. Perkins. He traded half an interest in the mill for half an interest in the Merced farm land, and the plant became known as the Perkins and Cressey Flour Mill at Paradise. Mr Cressey and his brother organized and opened the Modesto Bank, the first bank in Stanislaus County, of which Calvin J. Cressey became president and so re mained until he organized and assumed the management of the Grangers' Bank at San Irancisco, when Albert L. Cressey became president and manager of the Modesto HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 267 Bank. The two brothers were partners in these and various other business enter prises until the death of C. J. Cressey in 1892. Mr. Cressey also helped secure the right of way for the Southern Pacific Railroad, and in the fall of 1870 ran the first train to Modesto. And since Cressey Brothers continued to be the owners of the bonanza wheat farms, they built the first grain warehouse at Merced, and erected another warehouse at Modesto, soon after the railway came. Mr. Cressey bought several well-improved ranches near Hanford. As might be expected of one so long interested in the problem of rural transportation, Mr. Cressey was for some time road overseer in San Joaquin County, and also built the Sacramento road. Mr. Cressey was for years a hard worker, and to this fact and to his industry, together with his business acumen and his willingness to dare in order to share, must be attributed his well-deserved success. When, for example, he had harvested such a bumper wheat crop after a serious drought and a sudden rain in the Calaveras Valley, because his fields were irrigated, while his neighbors' crops were failures, he sold his wheat at his granaries at five cents per pound, and took notes from the purchaser at two and a half per cent per month ; and it was ten years, in some cases, before he received final payment. The Cressey brothers were for a while in the sheep and wool growing business, and it was the proceeds from that enterprise that enabled them to start in the banking business. From the one-story brick building of the Modesto Bank has come the more recent structure, one of the finest buildings in the Valley, a great credit to Mr. Cressey's spirit of enterprise. Among Mr. Cressey's farm hold ings must be mentioned ranches in San Luis Obispo, Kings, Merced and Stanislaus counties, and among his superior stock should be listed an imported Percheron stallion weighing 2,200 pounds with which he did much to improve the draft horses in his locality. His interest in the affairs of both the city and county was always active, and for every movement for the general benefit he gave his moral support and finan cial aid. He was the president for years of the Stanislaus County Agricultural Asso ciation. As a business man, through and through, he conducted enterprises which, while sources of profit to himself, have been of unquestioned community benefit. In 1870 Mr. Cressey returned East to marry Miss Sylvia Swan of Maine, who came back to California with him as a bride — a woman of great nobility of character who proved a most faithful wife and mother. She died in February, 1895. Four children were born of the union. Charles died in his sixth year ; Nellie S. is the wife of Claude M. Maze, a farmer of Modesto ; Alberta Sylvia now resides in New York, and George'A. is vice-president of the Modesto Bank. On November 18, 1901, Mr. Cressey married his second wife, Miss Hilda Marshall, a native of Georgia, and a woman of education, culture and genius. She has been a resident of California since 1884 and of Stanislaus County since 1901. Mr. Cressey was an Odd Fellow of more than thirty years' standing. FRANK A. CRESSEY. — Not often does it happen that a man's life ebbs to its close at the age of sixty-two years and leaves behind a stainless record for almost a half century of accountability; not often does it happen that a man's business asso ciates are among the first to declare him one of the noblest of men; j'et this is the character ascribed to Frank A. Cressey, whose death, March 10, 1918, was not only a loss to those of his name, but to the community as well. A descendant of old New England stock, Frank A. Cressey was born in Maine in September, 1856, and during the same year, his father, Calvin J. Cressey, migrated to California, settling in San Francisco, where he was prominent in the banking business, besides taking an active part in local activities ; also his vast real estate holdings required much of his attention. The early education of Frank A. Cressey began in the public schools of Modesto, later supplemented with a course at the Santa Clara College. After his graduation, he entered the Grangers' Bank of San Francisco under his father, and was finally promoted to the position of assistant cashier in that institution. He later resigned to enter the manufacturing business and was thus engaged for five years. Returning to Modesto, he entered the Modesto Bank as assistant cashier and director, with which institution he was actively connected for fourteen years. In 1895, he purchased the controlling interest in the Modesto Gas Company and became the president of the 268 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY company. Meanwhile, he acquired extensive real estate holdings in Merced, Stanislaus and San Luis Obispo counties, which required much effort and intelligent planning. In 1902 he, with W. R. High, I. W. Updike and several other prominent citizens of Modesto and vicinity, organized the Farmers & Merchants Bank, and Mr. Cressey became its first cashier. He was a prominent figure in the activities of Stanislaus County for thirty years. The marriage of Mr. Cressey united him with Miss Emily Collins, a native of Liverpool, England, coming to California with her parents when eighteen years of age, her father, Joseph C. Collins, being a realtor in San Francisco; she passed away May 15, 1903, the mother of six children, five of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Fraternally Mr. Cressey was active as a Mason and Odd Fellow. He was an official in the Episcopal Church, he and his family being active members of the local organization. His entire life was actuated by high and honorable principles and his activities have been far-reaching and resultant. During the year 1917 he journeyed to the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md., in search of relief from an ailment which was considered of a minor nature, but the operation performed did not restore his health and he passed away May 11, 1918. For many years he served the community in various ways, as irrigation director, school trustee, fiduciary agent, and in other responsible capacities, and his demise was a keen loss to the community. Mr. Cressey was identified with that class of men who place integrity, civic pride and public spirit above the more sordid ideas of existence. He found occasion, at various times, to lend his assistance in a practical way toward the promotion of the material welfare of the community in which he resided for so many years, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him best for his splendid traits of character and for the admirable example furnished by his industrious career. C. C. BAKER. — In the annals of Stanislaus County a name that will ever stand preeminently as one of its worthiest citizens is that of Christopher Columbus Baker, an Argonaut who cast his lot with the Golden State in the stirring days of '49. A true representative of the type of men who have made the West, his life is an example of perseverance and indefatigable energy, combined with an unflinching hon esty and integrity, which left an indelible impress on the community in which he made his home for so many j'ears. His wisdom had been largely gained by observation, as the advantages of his youth were limited, but he gained a greater degree of success than many who at the start were blessed with better advantages. C. C. Baker was born at Lexington, Ky., February 14, 1830. His father, Dudley Baker, was born on November 22, 1791, and his mother, Margaret Baker, on Septem ber 26, 1797. The family later removed to Missouri and resided there until 1849, when the excitement occasioned by the discovery of gold turned all eyes in the direction of California. Father and son joined an emigrant train that was starting on the perilous journey across the plains, and C. C. Baker, then a young man of nineteen, drove one of the ox teams on the long trip. Arriving in California, he settled on lands on the Tuolumne River and engaged in sheep raising, at which he prospered. In 1851 he went back to Missouri via the Isthmus of Panama, returning the follow ing year across the plains with a drove of cattle and mules. Later, when it was shown that grain farming in this section was profitable, Mr. Baker was not slow to take advantage of the new industry, and his uplands were farmed to grain, while on his river bottom lands he continued to raise sheep, mules, cattle and horses. At the time of his demise, on June 10, 1908, he. was the owner of some 4,000 acres in Stanislaus County, most of it along the Tuolumne River, west of Modesto. When the movement to form the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation districts was started in Stanislaus County, Mr. Baker was at once the front and sinew of the opposi tion, not because he believed that irrigation would not be good for the country in general, but because he had honest convictions that the law would not hold the test of time and the courts, and because he felt that it would work hardships upon others, who, as he did, owned vast stretches of bottom land which would be arbitrarily in cluded within the districts and which would not be benefited by irrigation, while each acre of it would be assessed for irrigation taxes. His fight against irrigation districts W&. fl*4U«, ^O^^L^l^^ J?JZ#UA HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 273 was a matter of principle, not selfish interest, as he viewed it. The districts formed, Mr. Baker was put up by the anti-irrigation element for election to the board of direc tors. He was elected, many of the people whom he had fought voting for him, because they knew that he was a man of rugged honesty and would work for a "square deal" for both sides. He vindicated the faith reposed in him and was reelected time after time, remaining a director until his death. On June 26, 1865, Mr. Baker was married to Miss Cornelia Frances Griffin, who was born in Lincoln County, Mo., February 24, 1849. She came across the plains with her father, Joel W. Griffin, in 1857, and after spending three years in Calaveras County, they located in Stanislaus County in 1860. Of the ten children born of this union, four grew to maturity: Mrs. Margaret Carter of Oakland; Mrs. Lena Young of Modesto ; Mrs. Zettie Young, who passed away at Fruitvale ; and J. Walker Baker, who is a rancher at Modesto. For a number of years Mr. Baker maintained a summer home at Santa Cruz, residing on his ranch the balance of the year, but about four years before his death he decided to leave the ranch entirely, and he and his wife and son went to Fruitvale to make their home, and here his death occurred in 1908. After his death, Mrs. Baker divided her time between Modesto and the summer home at Santa Cruz, where she passed away on August 31, 1920. Mr. -Baker never took part in politics other than as a private citizen, and yet he was a man whose opinions and suggestions were much sought. A contemporary of that stanch pioneer, the late Hiram Hughson, he was numbered as one of his closest friends and associates. A man of much business and executive ability, he was very successful in his undertakings, and among his many friends and associates his word was as good as his bond, for his life was ordered by strict compliance with the Golden Rule. Companionable, honest, hard working and frugal, yet generous, he was a man who held the friendship of the entire county and in his passing the whole community sustained a distinct loss. The older generation of the Modesto district, in particular, felt that one of the most prominent personal landmarks of Stanislaus' history had passed. MRS. CORNELIA FRANCES BAKER.— In the passing away of Mrs. Cor nelia Frances Baker on August 31, 1920, Stanislaus County lost one of its most inter esting pioneers, whose life was full of reminiscences of the early days with their halo of picturesque romance, and whose kindly nature and generous spirit made her one of Modesto's most highly esteemed citizens. Mrs. Baker was of Southern lineage, born in Lincoln County, Mo., on February 24, 1849; before her marriage she was Miss Cornelia Frances Griffin. Her paternal grandfather was born in Wales, and coming to America in the early daj's, settled in North Carolina, where he afterwards died. Mrs. Baker's father, Joel W. Griffin, was born in North Carolina, and when a young man removed to Missouri, where he met and married her mother, who was Miss Frances Smith before her marriage, a native of New Orleans, La., and a member of an old Southern family. Mr. Griffin farmed in Lincoln County, Mo., for some time, removing from there to Scotland County, where he continued in that occupation. In 1857 he started on the long trip to California by ox-team train, with his wife and seven children. There were over forty wagons in their train and they were four months making the journey. This was the year of the Mountain Meadow massacre, but although they encountered several un friendly tribes of Indians with whom they had conflicts, they fortunately escaped. The Griffin family first located in Calaveras County, and the father engaged in ranching and stock raising. After spending three years there they removed to Tuol umne City in 1860, where Mr. Griffin ran the rope ferry across the river. In 1873 they went to Redding, and after living there a short time, removed to Visalia. They afterwards located at Knights Ferry, later coming to Oakland, where Joel W. Griffin died at the age of eighty-four, Mrs. Griffin passing away there when she was seventy- two years old. There were seven children in the paternal home and all grew to maturity, but only one of them is now living. Robert died in Stanislaus County; Sallie died in Oakland; Joel died in Stanislaus County in 1917 ; Mrs. Cornelia Frances Baker of this review was the fourth child in order of birth ; Margaret is Mrs. Berry 274 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY of Lindsay, Tulare County ; John died in San Joaquin County ; Jennie, who became Mrs. Woolery, died at Salem, Ore. Cornelia Frances Griffin was seven years of age when she accompanied her parents to California ; she received her education in the public schools of Tuolumne City, rid ing horseback back and forth from the farm. She was married in Tuolumne City on June 26, 1865, to Christopher Columbus Baker, a native of Lexington, Ky., an Argonaut who crossed the plains with ox teams in 1849. He returned East via Pan ama in 1851, and in 1852 brought a drove of cattle and mules to California, locating in Stanislaus County, where he became a large landowner on the Tuolumne River and engaged in raising fine sheep. Later he turned his attention to raising grain, and also leased land, becoming owner of as much as 4,000 acres. He afterward located at Fruitvale, where he died in June, 1908, at the age of seventy-eight. After his death Mrs. Baker returned to Modesto, where she made her home, surrounded by her family and friends. About 1916 she divided the Baker lands between her children and lived care free and retired, in so much as her only surviving son, J. Walker Baker, assisted her in attending to her other business affairs, and with the other children, showered on her their affection and devotion, thus keeping her from needless worry and ministering to her comfort. While at her summer home at Santa Cruz, she suffered a stroke of paralysis on August 14, 1920, and survived only until the last day of that month. Of the ten children born to her, only four grew to maturity : Mrs. Margaret Carter resides at Oakland ; Lena is Mrs. Shruder Young and resides on the old homestead ; Zettie Belle became Mrs. William Young and passed away at Fruitvale; three sons, C. O, Oliver and George W., were accidentally drowned, September 10, 1889, while swimming in the Tuolumne River; Archie was killed by a fall from a windmill when he was two years and five months old ; J. Walker is a rancher on the old farm ; Robert Lee and Leeni died in childhood. In her religious convictions Mrs. Baker was a consistent member of the Methodist. Episcopal Church, South, of which she had been a member all her life. She was also a member of the Rebekah Lodge and of the Woman's Relief Corps, and in her politics she espoused the principles of the Democratic party. She was always very active and energetic and was apparently in the best of health when she was suddenly stricken with the illness that proved fatal, passing away only seventeen days later, deeply mourned by her family and friends — a true pioneer settler, having lived in Stanislaus County since 1860. Possessed of a very amiable and optimistic disposition, she spent the afternoon of a well-rounded and busy life profitably and pleasantly and had a host of warm friends who appreciated her kindliness and excellent qualities of mind and heart. GARRISON TURNER AND ELIZABETH JANE STARR TURNER.— A gentleman of exceptionally fine character who became one of the most prominent men of business among the early Modestoans, was Garrison Turner, who, with his wife, an intellectual and highly cultured lady, Elizabeth Jane Starr Turner, won an assured place in the annals of the San Joaquin Valley. Garrison Turner was born near Fort Wayne, Benton County, Ind., on Decem ber 25, 1838, the son of John and Mary (Bodfield) Turner, the latter of Scotch parentage and in her own right a slave owner on the eastern shore of Maryland, her birthplace, but who manumitted her slaves upon her marriage to John Turner, who was opposed to slavery. He was also born in the same locality as his wife in 1800, and was a planter owning his own plantation. Leaving Maryland the family settled in Indiana, where Mr. Turner became a farmer, thence moved to Iowa and from that frontier state came across the plains to California in 1850. For a short time they lived in the mining country, later in Contra Costa County, moving from there to French Camp, San Joaquin County, where Mr. Turner farmed with considerable success. It fell to his pleasurable lot to thrust the first plow into the soil about him at the beginning of the grain-raising period. He eventually moved to Tulare County where he continued agricultural pursuits until shortly before his death at the age of ninety-one years, in 1891. His wife had passed away at French Camp. The ma ternal grandmother of Garrison Turner, Nancy Andrews, was one of twenty-five children born to her mother, all of whom grew to years of maturity. -C^^^^^^^-Cl^^i md served for three years in Company H, Fifth Kentucky Cavalry. When attempt ing to clean out the rebels with a bunch of Tennesseeans, who were loyal and who were scattered by a force with artillery, joung Roberts went with the rest and eventually reached North Carolina, where a sister resided ; here he remained for three months, and when he returned home he found the rebels were after him, and he then started for Abingdon, Va., where a brother lived. He finally succeeded in reaching Abingdon, but he passed through many thrilling experiences, many narrow escapes from death by meeting rebel soldiers, but finally reached the Union lines, and enjoyed a stay of a month with his brother. He joined the First Ohio, but was with them for only two months; then joined the Fifth Kentucky Cavalry. The law which pave the soldiers the right of franchise, regardless of whether they had reached their 292 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY majority or not, enabled him to cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for President of the United States. He was attached to Major Estee's command as an orderly, serving under General Kilpatrick. He received his honorable discharge at Lexington, N. C, after the close of the war, when he went home. Following the war, Mr. Roberts went to Louisville, Ky., and from there to Hilliard, Wyo., then far on the western frontier. Here he remained for a number of years, being employed in the charcoal works as a stoker, but the lure of the Pacific Coast was in the air, and in 1876 he came to California, locating first at Bakersfield, Kern County, where he remained for three years. It was in 1880 that Mr. Roberts came to Stanislaus County and located at Ceres, where he engaged in general farming on the C. N. Whitmore ranch for the succeed ing twenty years, meeting with deserved success. He also bought a hay baling outfit, and has done baling for the farmers by contract for many years, often covering the entire county during the haying season. This gave him a splendid knowledge of the county, its lands and its possibilities, and also brought him into personal contact with the farmers themselves. Accordingly, there are none of the early settlers who do not know and admire this venerable pioneer, and give to him their confidence and esteem. The marriage of Mr. Roberts occurred in Bakersfield in 1876, and united him with Miss Lottie Rice. She was the daughter of John and Jane Rice, pioneers of Oregon and California, descended from good old American stock. She has borne her husband eight children, all of whom were reared and educated in Stanislaus County, where they are well known and highly esteemed. Of these, Lulu, the first born, is now the wife of John Gleason of Oakland ; Myrtle is the wife of M. R. Dunn of Rich mond ; Frank is a farmer in this county ; George is married and lives at Winters, Yolo County ; Bertha is the wife of Walter Elliott, bookkeeper for the Service Garage at Ceres ; Edward and Ruth are at home ; Hugh died in infancy. In 1911 Mr. Roberts met with a serious accident in a runaway, which disabled him for many months, and has greatly interfered with his many public-spirited services to the community. Politically he is a Republican of the staunchest party loyalty, and has never failed to cast his ballot for the Republican presidential nominee since 1864.- Locally he gives his support to progressive, constructive legislation, re gardless of party lines, supporting the best man for public office. Mr. Roberts is of the old school of Southern gentlemen, and his gentle courtesy and unfailing kindness has endeared him to his neighbors for these forty years. Withal he is a man of busi ness ability and integrity, and holds the confidence of the leading men of the county. CALVIN J. CRESSEY. — An outstanding type of the early pioneer spirit of the West was the late Calvin J. Cressey, who was born in New Hampshire, April 6, 1830. He married Miss Lydia Ann Cram, also of New Hampshire, who had been prom inently connected with educational work. In order to satisfy the larger vision which was ever characteristic of him, he felt the urge of the call to the far West and came to California, where he acquired a large fortune ; this consisted principally of extensive holdings of land and of controlling interest in two banks, of each of which he was the founder. He was president of the Modesto Bank until he organized and assumed management of the Grangers Bank of San Francisco ; this was established for the pur pose of loaning capital to farmers, that they might handle their wheat, stock and fruit more advantageously. Mr. Cressey was prominently connected with the Grange organization, and by his brilliant and convincing speeches he awakened an interest in such legislation as the farmers needed. It was at first a little difficult for the people to understand how, being formerly a banker, he had any interest in the Grange. But when they realized how deeply interested he himself was in' farming industries, how closely identified he had been in rescuing the wheat industry from the depression into which it had settled, and how much he had done toward finding a market for wheat abroad, they readilv understood why he was an enthusiastic member of the organization; it was through such workers that the reduction of the tariff on jute and jute bagging had been largely brought about. In like manner was effected the sale of grain, bags at San Quentin at largely cost price, thus rendering the growers free from the grain-bag trusts that would 1 V 4 y .i v3 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 293 otherwise have made prices very high. Mr. Cressey, with his commanding presence and brilliant conversational and oratorical powers, was a staunch type of the early California pioneer who made history for the state. At his passing in March, 1891, he left three children : Frank A. Cressey, of Modesto, now deceased ; Cora Cressey Crow, also of Modesto, and William C. Cressey, of San Francisco. ADMER NELSON STANDIFORD.— Among the most distinguished pioneer residents of Stanislaus County, Mr. and Mrs. Admer Nelson Standiford can not fail to receive from their contemporaries all the homage that is due, and from posterity heartfelt gratitude. They are still living on the old home place occupied by the family since 1876, and where they dispense that delightful hospitality for which California families in particular have long been famous. Mr. Standiford was born near Vincennes, Crawford County, Ind., on December 16, 1835, the son of John and Jane (Osborne) Standiford, his father being a native of Kentucky and his mother of Indiana. While he was a small child, the family moved to Cass County, Mo., and later they moved to Schuyler County, where Admer grew to manhood. In 1863, most of the Standiford family crossed the plains to Cali fornia, moving across the Missouri River at Omaha, and then following the old emi grant road along the north shore of the Platte, after which they traversed the Carson route, and when they had looked over San Joaquin County, they settled not far from where Mr. Standiford now lives in Stanislaus County. In 1864 our subject returned East as far as Denver, Colo., with a team of. horses, and at Boulder, Colo., on March 2, 1865, he was married to Miss Virginia M. Bu- ford, a daughter of William and Mary (Jones) Buford — the former a native of Vir ginia and of English and Colonial forefathers, and the latter likewise a native of the Old Dominion who accompanied her parents to Schuyler County, Mo., where she was reared in a period when the Indians were still numerous there. Grandfather Jones was farming on a large scale at Tippecanoe, Mo., and William Buford had. a store there and later at Lancaster, in that state. Mr. Buford came across the plains with ox teams to California in 1849 to mine for gold and. was very successful, and after two years returned via the Isthmus to Missouri, where he had left his wife and children. Then he removed to Denver, Colo., where he was for many years promi nent in the mercantile trade. He was in Denver, then a village, during the Civil War, and suffered a heavy loss by the emancipation of the slaves; he had really come to Colorado and Pike's Peak on account of the rush for gold, having left his family in -Missouri; but in 1863 they joined him in Denver. After the War, he went back to Missouri to take charge of his large farms in Schuyler County, one of which con tained as many as one thousand acres. He made a trip to California in 1897 with his wife, and after her death he made another in 1907, to visit his daughter. He died in 1914 in his ninety-third year. About the middle of June, 1865, Mr. and Mrs. Standiford set out for California as a part of a large train, and there was every reason to believe that no mishap could befall the 111 wagons; yet within a week the first danger was encountered as the travelers approached Medicine Bow. Although the settlers had never relaxed their guard, even when camping, the savages suddenly appeared at the rear end of the train, threw themselves upon the guard there, and killed one of the company, William Sharon, from Audrain County, Mo. The rest of the train prenared for a fight, but the Indians slunk off, and the emigrants were able to reach Medicine Bow and to pitch their camp, under a heavy guard, for the night. One of this guard, upon whom so much of the responsibility fell, was Admer N. Standiford, and so well did they keep watch that the pioneers were able to move off unmolested the next morning, and to reach Fort Halleck, where the funeral of their unfortunate comrade, Mr. Sharon, took place. During the rest of the trip, owing to the alertness of Mr. Standiford and his fellow guards, the Indians were kept at a safe distance, and eventually the party reached California and Mr. and Mrs. Standiford established their home where, except for one or two departures, they have since resided. In 1867, owing to the poor health of Mrs. Standiford, they returned to Missouri; but six years later they came back to Slanislaus County, where they have remained save for a year spent in Washington. 294 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY As fortune smiled upon Mr. Standiford, he added to his holdings, and finally possessed some 640 acres of as fine ranch land as could anywhere be found. He farmed wheat extensively, and both he and his devoted wife worked hard for all that they acquired. In 1888, when such modern conveniences as the electric light were not gen erally introduced into houses, they built their own substantial residence, and since then they have added all the desirable improvements, and now even cook by electricity. Mr. Standiford's first purchase of land was 160 acres, which he bought from William Brown, who had purchased it from Frank Wyruck, a homesteader, who built a house and resided there for years to hold his claim; this house still stands, and is popularly called the Pioneer Landmark House, and was for several years the home of Mr. and Mrs. Standiford and family. As the years passed and this family grew, the consid erate parents gave away most of their holdings, retaining ninety-five acres. On March 2, 1915, Mr. and Mrs. Standiford celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, first with a dinner party given at the home of their granddaughter, Mrs. A. P. Meily of Modesto. Golden acacias added to the lavish decorations of the cosy residence, and good-fellowship and keen appetites made each guest appreciative of the elaborate feast prepared by the hostess, assisted by her mother, Mrs. J. H. Boren, and her aunt, Miss Maggie Standiford. Those who were bidden to sit down were,, besides Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Standiford, Mr. and Mrs. Torence White of Denver, Mrs. O. A. Wise and Mrs. J. R. Forsyth of Longmont, Colo., Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Ladd, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Young, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Boren and son, Standiford, Miss Margaret Standiford, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Meily, Mrs. and Miss Ruth Reed of San Jose; and Leland Stokes of Oakdale. A surprise feature of the anniversary was the wedding party given at the Sylvan Club soon after the dinner. The stage was decorated with golden flowers and streamers, forming a canopy for the bridal couple ; there was a musical and literaiy program, Mrs. S. W. Hull played Mendelssohn's wedding march, Rev. E. R. Linn led the way, followed by Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Coffee— who had known the Standifords in Colorado before* they were married — as groomsman- and matron of honor, and little Florence and Thomas Giovanetti as ring- bearer and page, while Mr. and Mrs. Standiford: completed, the procession. "There, under the canopy," said the local newspaper of the day, "the solemn vows to love* 'until death do us part' were taken again in the words of the real ceremony — a ceremony that was indeed impressive to the friends who witnessed it, for every vow had been- faith fully kept for fifty years, and all who listened knew that this was merely a renewing of them, just as they must have been renewed many times in the steadfast years that have flown quickly." Mr. and Mrs. Standiford have two* children — Mary Etta, the wife* of J. H. Boren, and she has two children, Mrs. Mildred Buford Meily and A. N. Standi ford Boren ; and Margaret, popular among her large* circle of friends as Maggie. Both Mrs. Standiford and her daughter Maggie are members of the Sylvan Club. It will be seen, therefore, how far-reaching for good has been and still is the influence in the development of a larger, better, and greater California of this pioneer couple to whom have been granted, so many years, and with the j'ears' health, affluence, cul ture, ideals and friends. FRANK ERNEST CONNEAU.— A man of quiet temperament, whose modesty- might easily have led him to hide his light under a bushel, but who was really one of the truest friends of Modesto, always interested in the healthy growth and permanent development of the town, was the pioneer, Frank Ernest Conneau, who was born on the coast of France in 1822, but was reared amid the many educational advantages of Paris. With deep regrets, but an ardent desire to participate in the life of the New World, he left his beloved France on October 14, 1848, sailed around Cape Horn, and after a voyage of six months, arrived in San Francisco, in 1849. He was not long in pushing inland to Mariposa County, and for some time followed mining at Hornitos. Then he removed to Tuolumne City, where he set up as a mason and builder; and at Knights Ferry he was married, on March 4, 1869, to Miss Annie Waters, a. native of Kilkenny, Ireland, who came to California when she was eighteen years old. Then they resided for a while at Paradise City, where they engaged in ranching. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY >95 In 1871 Mr. Conneau came to Modesto and engaged in the manufacture of brick; and as he was a pioneer in that line, it fell to him to help erect some of the earliest brick structures here, many of which, including some notable business buildings, are still standing as monuments to the skill and honesty of his labor. They include, among other structures, the Wood & Turner building, and the Tynan Hotel. He was always popu larly known as "Mr. Ernest," and he continued actively in business until his death, on Washington's birthday, 1886. He was an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Encampment, and stood equally high as a Mason. Mrs. Conneau, his widow, continued to reside at Modesto until she died on May 13, 1910, the mother of eight children, six of whom grew to maturity. W. A. is in the Harbor Commission office in San Francisco, and resides at Ross, in Marin County ; Matilda is the wife of George P. Schafer at Modesto ; Myrtie is Mrs. W. H. Langdon,. the wife of the distinguished jurist; Ernest lives at Stockton, and Letty and Lena>, who is Mrs. George C. Nelson, are residents of Modesto. EMMALINE McPHERSON. — It is one of the pleasantly-inspiring features of human life that no man lives unto himself, and that such are the intertwining social relations of one being with another that the story of the one recalls, and often to great advantage, the struggles, triumphs and accomplishments of the other. This is certainly true in such an instance as that of Mrs. Emmaline McPherson, the widow of the late Miller McPherson and the daughter of the late Mrs. Mary Vivian. Mrs. McPherson was born about twelve miles to the southwest of Modesto on the San Joaquin River, the daughter of John Vivian, a native Englishman who came to California from Wisconsin, and settled at Sonora. He had been married in Wisconsin to Mary Ann Harris, and they were blessed with one child when they made the long journey to the Coast. That child, then a baby girl, was named Elizabeth Jane ; she is now Mrs. Vincent, a widow, and she resides at Fresno; The other children since born are Catherine, who has become Mrs. C. C. Haislip of Modesto; Harriett Ann, now Mrs. E. Wr Brush of Westport; William Henry, who resides in Modesto; Emmaline, the subject of our review; Mary Matilda, Mrs. H. E. Parker, near Modesto; Laura*, Mrs. G. T. Davis of Modesto; Stephen Vivian, also of Stanislaus County, in which district live Mrs. Lily White and Mrs. Rosannah Hosmer. As a little girl Emmaline attended the local county schools and when only ten years of age, in 1870, saw the first train pulled into Modesto. Eight years later, on Christmas Day, she was married to Miller McPherson, who was born near Healds burg, Sonoma County, on December 6, 1855, the son of Charles McPherson. Mrs. McPherson died in Sonoma County when Miller was a babe, and he was brought up by a step-mother. The elder McPherson passed away there in 1875. When seventeen years old, Miller came to Stanislaus County and started in as a farm hand on the Clark Ranch near Paradise Ferry, soon breaking wild horses. Later he was able to start out for himself on a ranch in the Westport district, and there he owned 640 aeres of land. In 1907 he retired to Modesto.- He and his good wife became the parents of two children. Eva Lillian is now the wife of D. D. Christman of Modesto, while Walter C, who married Miss Ila May of this town, also resides here. Mr. McPherson was one of the first directors in the Turlock Irrigation Dis trict, and served in that capacity for twenty years. He was a hard, but rational worker, and owned three ranches when he died on January 31, 1915.' Surviving him is a brother, Lycurgus McPherson, of Sonoma County, Cal. Curiously enough, although he contributed greatly to the success of irrigation, he was among the opponents of the enterprise when it was first proposed. Among various positions of responsibility held by him in his active life was that of a director in the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Modesto. He passed away at the Modesto Sanitarium, and the funeral was held at the family residence. Esteemed for her accomplishments as well as for her virtues, Mrs. McPherson has long occupied an enviable position of influence in Modesto. She belongs to the Rebekahs and the Woman's Relief Corps ; and she has been very active in Red Cross work. In the passing of Mrs. McPherson's mother, Mrs. Mary Vivian, death called another old and very respected resident of Modesto and pioneer of Stanislaus County. 296 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY She had lived in this community continuously since 1854, having come from England to the United States when only fourteen years of age. After coming to America in 1842, she settled with her brother at Hazel Green in Grant County, Wis., and five j'ears later married Mr. Vivian, who was mining in that section. In February, 1851, they left for California, sailing around the Horn, and arrived in this State the follow ing April. In 1855 they bought 4,000 acres in the Westport section, south of Modesto, and there they were very successful in stock raising, and Mr. Vivian died in his sixtieth year. In 1901 the family moved to Modesto, and when Mrs. Vivian died she was survived by ten children — two sons and eight daughters — thirty-five grand children and ten great-grandchildren. Had Mrs. Vivian lived a week or two longer, she would have attained to her eighty-second year. MRS. FLORENCE LANDER PORTER.— A highly-esteemed early resident of Turlock who has not only seen the town grow to a city, but with her lamented hus band, also one of the long-honored citizens here, helped in the building, is Mrs. Flor ence Lander Porter, who first came to California in the late '60s. She was born near Cassville, Grant County, Wis., on March 23, 1841, the daughter of Isaac Chrisman Lander, a native of Kentucky, who was reared there, and who later removed to Grant County, Wis., where he followed the trade of wheelwright. In those early days he also spent several seasons in the pineries of Wisconsin, assisting in logging and lumbering. Her mother, before her marriage, was Thurza Ann Ray, a native of Kentucky who came, in her girlhood, with her father, Capt. Richard Ray, to Galena, 111., the town so historic through its association with General Grant, and later removed to Cassville, Grant County, Wis. He served in the Black Hawk Indian War as captain of a company. Mrs. Porter -was the fourth eldest child, and was reared and educated in Wisconsin, attending the public schools in Grant County, and the Mazo- manie schools in Dane County. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Lander moved on to a farm at Cassville, but in 1850, Mr. Lander joined the rushing tide across the plains in ox-teams to the Pacific Coast, first going to Oregon, where Mr. Lander followed the industry of catching salmon. In 1856, Mr. Lander returned East to his family on the Wisconsin farm, and then. they moved to another farm at Mazomanie, near Madison, where they con tinued until 1872, when he migrated with his wiie and son to California and located at Turlock. He bought a farm of eighty acres in the western part pf the district, and Lander Avenue, named for him, is the east line of what was once his ranch. There he resided until his death, at the age of eighty-one, in 1880. Sometime after his death, his children sold the eighty acres, and it was afterwards laid out into lots, and is now entirely built up. Ten of their children grew to maturity. Eliza, Mrs. McCapes, died in Fresno ; Minerva, Mrs. Ransom, died in Albert Lea, Minn. ; Henry died in Sonoma County, Calif., he had come to California in 1861 ; Florence L. is the subject of this review- Richard, who came here in January, 1870, was an early settler of Turlock. He served in Company D, Thirty-third Wisconsin Regulars in the Civil War, and died in Healdsburg. Isaac also had the honor of serving in the Civil War as a soldier in the Second Wisconsin Regiment, and died in Iowa. Lavina, Mrs. Harvey, passed away in North Dakota; Clarke died in Turlock; Alice, Mrs. Mann, died in Minnesota, while Charles still resides in Oakland. Stephen V. Porter was born in Mammacating, Sullivan County, N. Y., the son of John Porter, who brought the family to Dane County, Wis., where he was a suc cessful dairy farmer. He had received a good training in the local schools in Wisconsin, and when he became a farmer, he operated in the most intelligent manner and enjoyed proportionate success. Mr. and Mrs. Porter were married on February 28, 1867, and the following year they came out to California, by way of Panama, on the old Constitution from New York to Aspinwall, and then journeying to San Francisco on the Henry Chancery, came to Turlock, where they leased 600 acres of John Mitchell's farm and. went in for the raising of grain. They went through many hardships, when for many sea sons there was a total loss of crops. Before the railroad was built to Turlock! the 1 urlock post office was in Mr. and Mrs. Porter's farm house, one mile north of what y^Z^LC^t C^-~ 4%> UtyzXlsL'' HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 301 is now Main and Lander streets ; her brother, Clarke Lander, was the first postmaster in the Turlock post office kept there in their house, and Mr. Porter was assistant post master, and carried the mail from Paradise to their house ; and when the town started, the post office was brought into the town, and Clarke Lander was postmaster until he died in 1876; then Mrs. Porter's father, Isaac C. Lander, was appointed postmaster, and held that office until he died in 1883, when his ^on Charles succeeded him. The first religious services' ever held in what is now Turlock was held in Mrs. Porter's home by a Baptist missionary, and the place became a civic and religious center in those pioneer days. In 1871 the Porters moved to near the present site of Newman, where they farmed for nearly three years; but having raised only one good crop in that time, they returned to Turlock. Mr. Porter finally entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railway as an engineer, and held that position from 1876 until 1912, or over thirty-six years, at various places on the road, and then he resigned on account of his health and retired on a pension. In the meantime, at Turlock, they had bought two acres of land at the corner of West Main and Lander streets, and there they built two houses. Mr. and Mrs. Porter gave the site for the First Methodist Episcopal Church at that same corner, and a church was built at a cost of about $6,000; but the congregation was small and the debt too large for them to pay, so the church building and the lot were sold to the Swedish Mission congregation. This gift by Mr. and Mrs. Porter must not be under estimated, because the lot in question is today one of the most valua ble business sites in town. After Mr. Porter resigned, he lived retired until he died on September 29, 1912, the father of four children. Bertha is deceased; Winifred has become Mrs. D. H. Goodrich of Berkeley, and the mother of four children — Clifford Stephen, Helen Martha, Dorothy May and Ervin Porter ; Grace and Hattie are also dead. He was a member of the Ancient Order of United Woodmen, and was a strong Republican. He had been a veteran of the Civil War, and had served in Company A of the Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry for four years lacking four days ; he was the color bearer and then the adjutant of his company, and his faithful service as a patriot in the cause of his country extended from August 8, 1861, to August 4, 1865, participating in the battles of Vicksburg, Champion Hills, Rajonond, Black River Bridge, Jackson, Miss., Pt. Gibson and others, all under General Grant. When the color bearer of the regiment was shot down, Stephen Porter picked up the Stars and Stripes and leaped to the head of his regiment and carried them through the thick flying bullets and planted the flag on the parapet of the fort they were besieging. He was an optimistic man and one who alwaj'S had a cheery and friendly word for all those" with whom he Came in contact. He had a fondness and love for children and they in turn appre ciated his thoughtfulness and showed a marked devotion to him. He was an honored member of the G. A. R. Since Mr. Porter's death, Mrs. Porter has made her home in Turlock looking after her varied and important interests. She is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps and- was a charter member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in. Turlock, with which she has been associated since 1859, "having joined that communion when she was eighteen years old. On March 23, 1921, the Ladies' Aid of the Methodist Church in Turlock gave Mrs. Porter a birthday party on her eightieth birthday, attended by sixty ladies, and she was presented with a beautiful electric lamp. An interesting feature was the poem written in her honor entitled "Eighty Years Young." JOHN VIVIAN. — A grateful posterity will never fail, to honor such pioneers as John Vivian, who. for years devoted, himself ,to. making straight and. easy the .paths to be trodden by those who were to come after him. He was born in England on Janu ary 1, 1821, the son of William and Jane Vivian, and while still a young man became a miner and continued to. work in the mines until 1845. He early established, a repu tation for both leyel-headedness and fidelity, and these virtues proved, of inestimable value when,' in that year, he crossed the. ocean to the New World. On April 3, 1845, he left England for America, and located at Hazel Green, in Grant Courity, "Wis!, where he found employment in the lead mines and made him- 302 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY = self equally useful and more prosperous. Two years later, he married Miss Mary A. Harris, a native of England, residing in Hazel Green; and on February 10, 1851, they set out for California. They took passage on the Steamer "Republic," com manded by Captain Hudson, and on the third of April arrived in San Franoisco. He wem at once to the mines at Springfield, and then proceeded to Sonora, in Tuolumne County, and during the period w-hen he sought for California gold, he averaged four teen dollars a daj' — which was better than many, perhaps, could boast of. In 1854 Mr. Vivian located in Stanislaus County and began to raise cattle; and so 'successful was he in his breeding and training, that he became the owner of 4,090 acres of land, mostly pasturage. He lived twelve miles southwest from Modesto, but soon identified himself with various movements in the growing town. Ten children honored Mr. and Mrs. Vivian in their devoted affection. They were named Elizabeth Jane Vincent, of Fresno; Catherine Haislip, Harriett Ann Brush, William Henry, May Matilda Parker, Emmaline McPherson, Laura Davis, Stephen, Lily White, and Rosannah Hosmer. With the exception of Mrs. Vincent, all are residents of Modesto and Stanislaus County. John Vivian, full of years and leaving behind an enviable record of usefulness and upright dealing, died in De cember, 1880. Mrs. Vivian survived until 1916. THOMAS RICHARDSON.— Whenever the real history of California is writ ten, the student must have recourse to such lives as that of the late Thomas Richard son, the distinguished pioneer of Oakdale, who died in November, 1908, at the ripe old age of ninety years. He was born in Bourbon County, Ky., on September 28, 1818, the son of Robert Richardson who had married Miss Catherine Bullen. That lady was also born in Bourbon County, and there she met and married young Mr. Richardson, who hailed from Virginia. He became a soldier in the War of 1812, where he fought with Matson's command, a part of Harrison's army, and spiked some of the British guns at the battle of the Thames. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Richard son took their baby Thomas and moved to Pike County, Mo., and eight years later they went on to Pike County, 111., where they pitched their tent at Martinsburg, not far from Pittsfield, and there remained while Thomas grew to maturity. When he was ready to push out into the world, Mr. Richardson went to Iowa, and for four j'ears he worked on the Government farm along the Des Moines River, at the Black Hawk agency. There were then only three or four white people on the farm, and all the rest were savage Black Hawk Indians, and he got to know rather intimately the most noted chieftains, among whom was the leader, Black Hawk, in his day infamous for his cruelty. Leaving the farm, Mr. Richardson returned to Pike County, 111., and in 1845 was married there. Five years later he set out for California across the great plains, traveling with an ox-team ; and having reached the American River, he mined for a couple of weeks. In December, 1851, be set out for the East by the route of the water-ways, and the next year came back to California, once more crossing the prairies and bringing along his family. On this occasion, as well as on his previous trip, Mr. Richardson was captain of his company. He located on the Stanislaus River, and by 1862 he had 700 acres of land, which he improved in a very creditable manner. In 1867 he erected his residence; and being a sensible man, and one fond of domestic life, he made the house commodious as well as ornate. He laid out most of the ranch for general farming, reserving about eighty acres for an orchard to be leased to someone else. He also went in for a vineyard, and in that way he easily made of the ranch a veritable "show place." Besides this, he bought lands in the Lone Star section, where at one time he owned 7,000 acres. Unfortunately he had sold this land to Tulloch and took bis note in payment. Tulloch failed and did not pay the note. About the same time Mr. Richardson had gone security for a $11,000 note for Coleman, the Stockton merchant. Mr. Coleman failed and Mr. Richardson had to pay the note; and so, with two losses, he lost the 7,000 acres of land. Mr. Richardson also owned 160 acres about one and one-half miles southeast of Oakdale, which he farmed. A man of wide experience and the strictest integrity, enjoying the esteem and confidence of all who knew him, Mr. Richardson, as a HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 303 Democrat, was accorded the honor of a delegate to that party's conventions, and was called upon to serve a term as justice of the peace at Oakdale. The marriage of Mr. Richardson, already referred to, occurred in Illinois on January 9, 1845, when he took for his bride Miss Lucinda Jane Wagoner, a native daughter of Tennessee. Two children were born of this union : the elder was John J., the younger, Ephriam. Mr. Richardson belonged to Oakdale Lodge No. 275, F. & A. M., in which he was steward, and to the Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M. Besides rearing their own children, Mr. and Mrs. Richardson brought up the late Thomas Snedigar, who was orphaned in Illinois. He accompanied them to California, and with the blessing of their parentage, became a wealthy landowner and leader. FRANCIS MARION COTTLE.— Among the pioneer representatives of the agricultural interests of Stanislaus County was the late Francis Marion Cottle, who came out to California in 1853 and became the owner of the beautiful Cottle Ranch, one mile east of Oakdale. He was born in Lincoln County, Mo., March 23, 1837, and was of English and German descent, although the family had been in America for many generations. The grandfather of our subject was a resident of Woodstock, Vt., and at an early date he moved to Missouri, where he was a pioneer settler. Ira Cottle, the father of our subject, was likewise born in Lincoln County, and was there reared to manhood, and there married Miss Sarah Smithers, a native of Kentucky. He followed agricultural pursuits, and was looked up to as one of the most energetic and prosperous men in his community. Both he and his good wife died the same j'ear, leaving four children, of whom Francis Marion survived all the rest. In 1853 he crossed the plains with oxen in a party of fifty men who brought with them much live stock, and when they reached the River Platte, Uncle Zora Cottle and his son, together with our subject, started on ahead, making their way direct to Stanislaus River, and taking with them a band of cattle. Francis was thus in his seventeenth year when he drove the stock across the plains. Once settled here, he continued in the stock business until 1865, and during that time he made two trips to Los Angeles to purchase cattle. This region was then one vast plain over which the stock could range without limit, and as the country afforded abundant pasturage, and there was little need of an outlay of money, the business proved very profitable, and at one time uncle and nephew had' as many as 4,000 choice cattle. In 1865 Mr. Cottle purchased 1,050 acres of land, including the site of Burnett Station, a very valuable holding indeed, containing as it did the home place of 500 acres one mile east of Oakdale, where his family still reside. This is one of the finest country homes in Stanislaus County, and bears testimony to Mr. Cottle's splendid constructive genius ; it has a very substantial frame residence, with all modern acces sories and conveniences. His family, consisting of his widow and three sons, continue to make their home on the place, which they maintain at a high standard. In 1869, the marriage of Mr. Cottle and Miss Harriet L. Kennedy — whose life is elsewhere sketched in this volume — was duly solemnized, and on the sixth day of December, 1916, Mr. Cottle passed into the Great Beyond, leaving behind, as a treas ure to his fellowmen, the benign influence of his useful and well-spent life. MRS. HARRIET L. COTTLE.— A broad-minded pioneer, Mrs. Harriet L. Cottle has the blessing, at the age of seventy-three, despite her enviable record as the head of a large household upon a bonanza farm and the mother of three worthy sons, of being hale and hearty, willing and able to dispense much charity. She was born in Harrison County, Mo., on April 6, 1848, the daughter of John and Catherine (Hight) Kennedy, and as a girl of nine years, she accompanied her parents across the plains to California in 1857, just two weeks ahead of the ill-fated Mountain Meadow massacre, where they settled at Gold Springs, in Tuolumne County. There, two weeks later, Mr. Kennedy died; and her mother was left a widow with six children, three of the nine she had had being grown up and married. Harriet Kennedy attended some of the earliest of California schools, including a private school at Gold Springs, and the first public school at Columbia, a large brick building still standing. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born near 304 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY "Philadelphia in 1803 ; her mother, on the other hand, first saw fhe light five years, later, in Juniata County, near Mifflin, in the Same state. ' The father was a carpenter and builder, and he also owned 160 acres of land, in Missouri, which be. farmed. His father, John Kennedy, was a native of Ireland, migrated to America and died in Pennsylvania. He had married Eliza Graham, a native of Northern Ireland, of Scotch descent. During her twenty-first year, Miss Kennedy married Francis M. Cottle, whose interesting life-story is given elsewhere in this volume. In partnership with his uncle, Zora Cottle, and Archibald Leach, he owned the Leach & Cottle ferry on the Stanis laus River, two miles east of where Oakdale is located ; and this ferry, be and his uncle operated for several years. More and more, however, Mr. Cottle became interested in farming, and at one time he owned some 900 acreswhere they now 'live, and'about 1,100 acres on the north side of Stanislaus River, west of Burnett Station. They moved to Mrs. Cottle's present place in the fall' of 1872, and there Mr. Cottle made valuable improvements in the erection of several buildings. On December 6, 1916, he passed to his eternal reward, revered and beloved by all who knew him, and the father of four children: Annie died in 1882, when ten years old; Ira S. was born in 1875.; Zora in 1877, and Francis Marion in 1887, who served in the heavy artillery in the great World War and became sergeant. They now operate the home place. DOUGLAS FRANCIS MULLIN.— A self-made, and therefore, a self-reliant man, is Douglas Francis Mullin, whose full name is Francis Stephen A. Douglas Mullin, one of the San Joaquin Valley's largest landowners and grain farmers, a native of Bellevue, Jackson County, Iowa, where he was born May 24, 1866. As an infant, he came with his parents to Missouri, where they lived for four years. In 1 872 the family came on to California and settled for a while in San Jose.' Francis Mullin, the father, was born in Maryland, came to Jackson County, IoWa, and there married Miss Elmira Cross, a native of New York. Francis Mullin was treasurer and recorder of Jackson County, Iowa, for seven years, making a good record as a county officer, and he was highly esteemed and respected. During his years of public office he resided at Andrew which was the county seat, until its removal "to Bellevue. He returned to that beautiful city on the banks of the Mississippi, and resided on a farm he owned near there until about 1868, when he located in McDonald County, Mo. ; in 1872 he moved out to California, engaging in general farming and horticul ture in Santa Clara County until his death in 1874, passing away in the city of San Jose. His widow survived him many years, passing away in Selma in 1915. They had four children: Hyder Allen of Oakland; Mrs. Mary Ellen Corbett of Selma; Emma Jane, Mrs. Boyd, died in Oakland, and D. F., of this review. When only nine years of age, Douglas Mullin started out to make his way in the world and he found a job on a grain field near Ceres, and there he worked for A. P. Boyd until he was nineteen years old. When he began driving teams he was obliged to stand on a box in order to bridle the animals, but he persevered and made a hand in the farm work and in time became one of the best horsemen in the county, holding his own with any one in any line of farm work. Having accumulated some means, when nineteen he resolved to go into farming on his own account, and the opportunity came to him to. purchase Mr. Boyd's stock and farm outfit, leasing his. ranch of- 1,000 acres at Ceres, and here he began his career as a grain farmer, in which he has been sp successful. While he worked for Mr. Boyd, he drove the first combined harvester and thresher ever brought to Stanislaus County. This was in 1882, and the machine was a Hauser, drawn by thirty-six horses. When he bought Mr. Boyd's farm machinery, he purchased this very harvester and today he has a large picture of the harvester and teams framed and hanging in his residence, a souvenir he prizes very highly. Two years after Mr. Mullin began farming he was married at Modesto, to Miss Sarah Anna Church, the ceremony occurring on October 16, 1887. She was the c-aughter of one of Stanislaus County's pioneers, Luke, Ancil Church, who was born at Republic, Seneca County, Ohio. A carpenter by trade, he came'to California via Cape Horn in 1851, and after arriving here, drove a stage to the southern mines in Tuolumne ^ounty He married Elizabeth Davis, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Cali- iornia irom New York when she was sixteen with her brother Lewis, and was married Ja^^^.%iLl£c^., HISTORY OF STANISLAUS OUNTY 309 here when she was nineteen. Mr. and Mrs. Church had six children, five daughters and a son, and Mrs. Mullin was the fourth in order of birth. The others were: Almina Jeanete, Mrs. Ross of Modesto, Nora Adelia died at thirteen, Mary Jane, Mrs. Spyres of Modesto; George Frank died when nineteen months old; Margaret Elizabeth, Mrs. Voice of Modesto. Mrs. Mullin was born on the present site of the Don Pedro dam, but lived in Paradise, Stanislaus County, for a while, where her father owned a home while he was engaged in contracting and building, but in 1870 he moved with his family to Modesto, where he followed the same business. In the early daj's his headquarters were at Coulterville, while he drove the stage between Coulterville and Stockton, going via Paradise. Mr. and Mrs. Church spent the remainder of their days at Modesto, where they were among the early settlers and most highly respected citizens, having reared a family who have become honorable and useful citizens. So it came that Mrs. Mullin attended school at Modesto, where she received a good education, remain ing at home until her marriage. After their marriage, Mr. Mullin brought his bride to his ranch, where they continued farming until 1891, when they purchased the old Hughes ranch of 800 acres three miles east of Hickman, and with this place as his headquarters, continued grain ranching on the plains and at Keyes. Later he gave up the lease on the plains and rented 2,700 acres of the Blodget place below La Grange and ran it for four j'ears. He then purchased the Pat Hanlon ranch of 1,362 acres adjoining the Hughes ranch, and gave all his time to farming the two places, raising grain and also engaging in sheep raising for some years, having a flock of nearly 4,000. During this time Mr. Mullin made many improvements on his property, leveling and checking about 150 acres which he sowed to alfalfa, and when he sold his sheep he engaged in dairying, in which he was very successful, having a dairy herd of 100 cows. He has one of the largest dairy barns in the county — 108x136 — and a large horse barn and warehouses for the grain as well as enclosed sheds for the machinery, and could thus house all his cattle and horses. Later on he disposed of his cows to devote his time to grain raising. Some years ago he sold the Hughes place but still owns the 1,362-acre ranch, known all over the country as the Mullin ranch. In 1917 he bought 1,240 acres at Sharon, Madera County, on the line of the Santa Fe Rail road, which he devotes to grain raising. He uses two seventy-five-horsepower Holt tractors in operating his ranches and also uses horses, having two ten-horse teams. He now pulls the combined harvester with his Holt tractor. He has been very success ful in raising grain while the land that is under irrigation is devoted to double crop ping, and he is extensively engaged in raising cattle and. hogs. The main canal of the Turlock Irrigation District runs through his ranch, so he is the first to use its water. Mr. Mullin is a very strong man of athletic build — is very energetic and is never idle. He has succeeded beyond his ambitions and has made a wonderful record for a nine-year-old boy, who started without a dollar and only his willingness to work and his ambition to succeed, so it is a far step from the little lad who had to stand on a box to harness the horses and mules to the present owner of two large ranches and a man of independence and affluence. He gives no small credit to the assistance of his devoted wife who has been a very active and energetic helpmate, and has always helped and encouraged him in his ambitions. She is a splendid woman, possessed of much busi ness ability and tact and their union has been a very happy one. They are the parents of four children: William Ancil married Abbie Tremain of Oakdale and is assisting on the home farm ; Nellie May is the wife of W. C. Turner and resides on the Mullin ranch in Madera County with her husband and four children ; Amy May, Elmer Douglas, William C. and Nellie Lorraine ; Elmer Francis, the third in order of birth, is also assisting his father ; the youngest, . Theodore Roosevelt Mullin, is attending school and shows marked ability; he is interested in ornithology and has a fine col lection pf birds' eggs native to Stanislaus County; he is also interested in bee culture and has a small apiary. He is a studious lad of whom his parents may well be proud. Mrs. Mullin, who is a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church at Modesto, joined that organization when she was fifteen years of age and she is now one of the oldest members. Her younger sister, Mrs. Margaret Voice, who lives on Burney 310 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Street, Modesto, was the first girl born in Modesto. Mr. Mullin is deeply interested in the cause of education and having lacked the advantages of good school training when he was a lad, is insistent on the boys and girls of today having the best obtainable. He has served acceptably and well as a member of the board of trustees of Tilden school district for fifteen years. CHARLES EDWIN WELCH.— Seldom has a pioneer of substantial attain ment left a more interesting, if unpretentious, record of his experiences than that which the late Charles Edwin Welch penned for his family circle in the early eighties. He came to California a poor boy, and by unremitting industry and unfailing loyalty to an ideal, persevered until he commanded a position of wide influence among the citizens of Stanislaus County and enjoj'ed with his near-of-kin a competency. What trials he underwent to reach his enviable station Mr. Welch has told us thus : "I was born at Athens, in the state of Maine, in the j'ear 1840. My father, Philip Hubbard Welch, was of the same county and state, and my mother, Delia M. Welch, was from Brunswick, Maine. During the fourth year of my age, my parents sold their little farm and migrated to the city of Portland, Maine; and my father's means being limited, we children only had the advantages of a common school edu cation. In 1849, when the gold excitement of California broke out, my father sailed in September of that j'ear around Cape Horn, in the brig Ruth, for the land of gold, arriving in San Francisco in the month of February following, after a five months' voyage. The vessel belonging to a joint stock company, thev sold her and disbanded, and started for the mines. Mv father located in Columbia, Tuolumne County, where be made money fast, got together about $15,000 and had it deposited with Adams & Company, at the time of the failure of that firm ; and then being somewhat discouraged and homesick, he sent back for the family to come. My mother, being unable to sell the property to advantage, could not come. I gave my mother no peace until she let me go in advance to my father. "On the 14th of November, 1854, I bade adieu to my kind and dear mother and three little brothers, and started on the broad and deep road to the Golden Gate by way of Nicaragua. Three days up the Nicaragua we had a nice trip shooting at crocodiles and alligators lying along the banks of the river, and crossed the Isthmus lying between Lake Nicaragua and the Pacific Ocean, twelve miles by land. The natives furnished the passengers with conveyances and ponies, the latter not larger than four-month colts, the saddles similar to pack saddles, cross-trees with rawhides stretched over them, and large black stirrups. These ponies are generally contrary ; after getting two or three miles on the road they will commence turning round and round, run backwards and fall, and jump and work their way nearly back to the place where they started from. My luck was to transport myself on one of that class of amiable animals, for I must say that I had the worst one in the crowd that I started with. My com panions got tired of trying to help me along, for they had about all they could do to navigate themselves. Finally, I and my steed were left alone in the road, and while trying to persuade the animal to move, a native lady came galloping up the road, and seeing I could proceed no further without aid, volunteered her valuable services, and riding up to that prostate brute, she administered about fifty cuts with her whip, when my pony became very anxious to go ; so mounting my steed in company with my lady friend, we dashed off at the rate of twelve miles per hour, arriving at the hotel some half an hour ahead of the parties I had started with. I shall never forget tbe kindness shown me by that lady. "The next morning I embarked in the steamer Uncle Sam, and arrived at San Francisco on December 9 — twenty-three days from New York. Remaining in San Francisco a few days, went to Stockton, and thence to Knights Ferry in company with two other parties on foot — my first black mud traveling experience, of which a few miles went a long ways, as shown by the distance gained in a hard dav's walk in the rain, which only got me to the Fourteen Mile House— fourteen miles from Stockton. obtained a good meal and lodged in the barn that night, as that was the only accom- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 311 modation. The next day we took passage on the stage for Columbia, Tuolumne County, where we arrived just about dusk, and stopped at a French restaurant. "Here, upon inquiry, I found that my father had removed to Sonora. The next morning the noisiest man I ever heard was old Sam Deligar, the stage driver from Columbia to Sonora, drumming up passengers. Old Sam was familiarly known by old residents of this county for many years afterwards, but he has long since been dead. At Sonora I found my father and oldest brother; they were engaged in mining their claim, which was located just east of Lucas' Star Hotel, on Shaw's Flat. I remained with my father and brother about six months, building reservoirs, ditches, etc. Water was very high — four dollars per day for a nine-inch head. The claim paid very well for a short time, but finally dwindled down. The placer mines at that time were generally paying very well. So I left our little mining camp and went on my own resources, getting a job with a man by the name of George Conant, from Massa chusetts at four dollars per day. I afterwards worked on a river claim on the Tuol umne, on Stevens' Bar, in the night gang, shoveling tailings from a dump box in water, knee deep ; not good pay, but a lot of hard, disagreeable work. "I then tried farming a while. I came down to the valley in May, 1856, and went to work through harvest for Mr. Langworthy, residing then near Stockton ; and after harvest I fell in with ex-Gov. Bradley of Nevada, vaqueroed for him in the San Joaquin for about eighteen months, when I came over on to the Tuolumne River and went to work for Frank Sturge, and have remained in this locality ever since. "In the year 1860, at Horr's Ranch, I was married to Sarah E. Ramsey, from Benton County, Mo. In 1864 I took up a homestead of 160 acres, on which I still reside. We have four sons and five daughters living, and one daughter dead. I came to this county in 1857, and engaged in farming. My farm consists of 982 acres, located thirteen miles from the county seat, and nine miles from the railroad." Mr. Welch was an Odd Fellow and a staunch Republican, but never aspired to office. His demise occurred November 8, 1897, his passing taking away one of the pioneers and upbuilders of Stanislaus County. MRS. EMELINE A. WOODSIDE.— A native daughter of Stanislaus County, born at old Empire City, August 26, 1855, Mrs. Emeline A. Woodside is a daughter of Eli S. and Emily (Pearsall)' Marvin, natives of Connecticut and New York, re spectively. The latter was a daughter of Samuel Pearsall, a business man who removed from New York to Michigan, where he became a successful business man. Eli Marvin had a brother, Jobn G. Marvin, who had made the journey on a sailing vessel around Cape Horn to California in 1849. He was a graduate of Cambridge Law School and became a very prominent man in the affairs of the new state of the Golden West and was superintendent of public instruction. He was taken ill and advised to seek the climate of the Sandwich Islands, and there he died in about 1858. A brother, Edwin Marvin, was ill in Michigan and was advised to seek a warmer climate, and this decision was communicated to Jno. G. Marvin in California by Eli, and the former advised him to bring him to California. Eli Marvin then sold his business in the early fifties and arranged for passage from New York on the steamer Independence for himself, his wife and his brother, but a man who owed him quite a sum of money failed to show up at the appointed time and he was obliged to Wait, and his brother went on alone and they came on the next steamer. Afterwards, it was learned the Independence was lost at sea, and the brother, no doubt, went down, for he was never heard from again. Eli Marvin and his wife located at Empire City, where he built a hotel and also a ferry, and there he continued business until he died December 19, 1860. He was a prominent man and serving as justice of the peace, was always called Judge Marvin. His widow remarried in 1862 to Dr. Thomas Tynan, who was born in Ireland, coming to the United States when twelve years of age. A self-made man, he graduated as an M.D. and came to California in the early fifties. Mining for a time in Tuolumne County, he finally located at Empire City, where he owned a ranch on the north side of the Tuolumne River, practic ing medicine all over Stanislaus County. Mrs. Tynan died September 10, 1881. Later, Dr. Tynan moved to Modesto and built the Tynan Hotel and- years later he 312 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY located in San Francisco, where he died. Of the union of Eli and Emily Marvia.wer'e born three children: Edwin died at three months; Emeline, Mrs. Woodside; Lucinda Elizabeth became the wife of Alfred Fuquay, who was a prominent, business man in Modesto; she died in San Diego. Emeline Marvin attended the local schools as well as in the city of Stockton. On October 19, 1875, she married Thos. F. Woodside, born in Shaw's Flat, Tuolumne County, August 16, 1856, a son of Daniel and Harriette A. (Blackwell) Woodside. Daniel Woodside was. born in New England and migrated to Missouri, where he married, and then crossed the plains in the Emmett Grayson train in the early fifties. He followed teaming, making his home at Shaw's Flat. Thos. F. Woodside and his wife engaged in farming on the Tynan place at Empire City; later they farmed the Eli Marvin place until 1887, when they rented it and came to Modesto. For a time they were proprietors of the St. John Hotel and later the Tynan House. In 1896, they gave up the hotel business and moved to Tuol umne County, where Mr. Woodside engaged in farming until his death, February 28, 1907. They had two children, but only one grew up, Chas. LeRoy Woodside, the merchant and postmaster at Cooperstown. Mr. Woodside was a member of the Odd Fellows, the K. of P. and the Druids. Mrs. Woodside was for many years a member of the Rebekahs and is a member of Anona Parlor No. 167, N. D. G. W., at Jamestown. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Woodside makes her home in Oakdale. She is well posted on the early history of Stanislaus County, and possessing a good memory, it is interesting to hear her narrate the stirring events of those early days. MRS. MARGARET E. BYRUM.— One of Stanislaus County's most interesting pioneers, perhaps now the oldest of the county's early residents, is Mrs. Margaret E. Byrum, whose husband, the late Martin Van Buren Byrum, crossed the plains when he was eighteen years of age. Descended from Scotch-Irish ancestors, who were identified with the pre-Revolutionary days of the South, Mrs. Byrum inherited from her forebears many of their distinguishing traits of character — traits that stood her in good stead in the strenuous life of California's primitive days, for during the early years of her life she well remembers the time when antelope, elk and wild horses were common in Stanislaus County. Born in Laclede County, Mo., March 30, 1847, Mrs. Byrum's maiden name was Margaret Elizabeth Feagins. Her parents were Pleasant Ruffin and Elizabeth (Jones) Feagins, both natives of North Carolina, the father coming from the Upper Yadkin country, which was the home of the famous hunter and trapper, Daniel Boone. Great-grandfather Feagins fought in the French and Indian Wars, and also in the War of the Revolution with General Nathaniel Greene, for whom Greensboro, N. C, was named, and the Feagins family were prominent in the early days of Virginia and North Carolina. Mrs. Byrum's parents were married in Guilford County, N. C, where Elizabeth Jones was born in 1816; in 1830 she accompanied her parents to Tennessee, where they remained a few years. Later the mother and her children returned to North Carolina and there, on August 22, 1840, she married P. R. Feagins, and two years later they moved to Missouri, where they remained ten years. In March, 1852, the family started, with oxen hitched to their wagons and bringing two cows, on their long journey across the plains to California. They left Lebanon, Mo., hoping to get ahead of the train that started from St. Joseph, as the cholera was raging there at that time. Notwithstanding this, cholera broke out during their journey, and Mrs. Byrum's two eldest sisters, Catherine and Caroline, and an aunt, Polly Jones, succumbed to the disease, and were buried on the Little Blue and the Big Blue rivers. There were six daughters born in Missouri, and three more in California; of the nine only Mrs. Byrum and Mrs. A. H. Ladd survive. The party came by way of Sublett's cut-off, finally reaching French Camp, San Joaquin County, in September, 1852, after six weary months on the trail. They took up their residence on the French Camp Road, Mr. Feagins keeping a wayside tavern and raising hay and grain which he sold to the teamsters. In 1857 the family removed MARTIN VAN BUREN BYRUM Taken at age of 42 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 317 to Stanislaus County, where Mr. Feagins became owner of some 1,400 acres of land lying along the river. It was in this locality and environment that Margaret E. Feagins grew up, attending the neighborhood school, and later the Presbyterian College at Sonoma, after which she taught school for a year in this county. When she was twenty, on September 12, 1867, she was united in marriage with Martin Van Buren Byrum, who was then farming land where now is the present town of Salida, and this land has been in the possession of the Byrum family ever since, Mr. Byrum having taken it up from the government. Martin Van Buren Byrum was a native of Missouri, born in Jackson County on January 22, 1835, the son of Eli Byrum, a native of Tennessee, who migrated to Ala bama and thence to Missouri, where he married Lydia West. His mother died when he was but eight years old, and one year later he lost his father by death and from that time until he was fourteen he lived at the home of an uncle, Samuel Munday, still later taking up his- home with a Mr. Payne, whose kindness to him was always one of the happy memories of his life. In the spring of 1853, allured by the tales of California's new-found wealth, with his brothers, Elijah and Middleton, he crossed the plains in Moore's train, coming by way of the Walker River route, arriving at Sonora in September of that year. Later Mr. Byrum began ranching near Knights Ferry and in 1862 he preempted and homesteaded 320 acres near what is now Salida. After his marriage in 1867, he added to his landed interests until he owned 800 acres, which he devoted to wheat. The location of the ranch, convenient to the railroad and to the county seat, together with its splendid improvements, made of it one of the most desirable places in the community. Mr. and Mrs. Byrum built a large, comfortable residence here and for many years their home was the social center of the neighborhood, the scene of many parties, weddings, musicales and reunions. Ever a gracious hostess, Mrs. Byrum dispensed the old-time hospitality in true California style, and their friends were numbered from far and wide. In the passing away of Mr. Byrum on January 2, 1892, the family was bereaved of a husband and father and the community of one of its staunchest and most esteemed citizens. Mrs. Byrum still retains 206 acres of the estate and, with her two sons as assistants, keeps it up to a high state of cultivation. They are planting it to grapes and fruit and already have a considerable acreage in Thompson Seedless and Malaga grapes, figs and alfalfa. About twenty years ago the home which they had erected burned to the ground and Mrs. Byrum then built, on the old site, her modern and beautiful nine-room bungalow, and here she now makes her home. Mr. and Mrs. Byrum were the parents of ten children : Bessie became the wife of Dr. H. C Stone of Leadville, Colo., and died on January 13, 1911 ; Edith is Mrs. J. E. McGinn and lives in San Bernardino County, she is the mother of two daughters, Bessie Tyler and Margaret Sasselli; Lillian married J. M. Rothenberger of Kansas City, Mo., and at her death, June 23, 1910, left a daughter, Mrs. Edith Neal of Bakersfield; Elbert H. makes his home on the ranch and assists with its management when he is not mining ; Estella is Mrs. Wafer, and has a daughter, Elizabeth Wafer, by her present husband. By her first marriage with James Jones she had two girls, Wesley Estelle, now Mrs. Floyd Wisecarver,, and Katherine; Martin Van Buren died at four years of age; Josie passed away at eighteen months; Winnifred is at home, as is Leland Cottle and Marguerite C, who was an infant of but four months when her father died. Leland C. manages the home place since his return from the service of his country in the late World War, where he served valiantly as a member of the Three Hundred and Sixty-third Regiment, Ninety-first Division. Mrs. Byrum is a prominent member of the Congregational Church at Salida and donated the bell for that edifice in memory of her great-grandfather, James Elbert Tyler, who died in July, 1918. Always a devoted wife and mother, she has borne her full share of labor and hardships' incumbent on the pioneer men and women in building up the great commonwealth of the Golden State, and to the women, no less than the men, is due dur appreciation for the work so nobly done. 318 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY FRANK P. GOMES. — A prominent and patriotic influential resident of Stanis laus County,* Frank P. Gomes lives retired at his beautiful bungalow at 1207 Four teenth Street. There he shares the comforts and luxuries of a modern home with his good wife who, as a devoted companion and mother is as much entitled to credit for his success. From a hard-working ranchman and sheepraiser he became a capitalist; and although he still owns two farms that are rented out, he has deeded considerable land to some of his children who are ranching in Stanislaus County. He was born on the Island of Flores, in the Azores, on April 9, 1855, the son of Frank J. and Maria R. Gomes, and when he was eighteen years old, he came to America and the Far West. He could speak no English when he landed in San Francisco in 1874, and he had only ten dollars with which to keep the wolf from the door; but he went inland to Hollister and there engaged to work on a sheep ranch as herder, an occupation at which he continued until 1875, when he came to the San Joaquin Valley. He first stopped for a while on the West Side, Fresno County, but in 1876 he came to Stanislaus. He worked by the month, while he saved his money, until September, 1880, when he formed a partnership with John Lesta, to transact a sheep business for themselves. They sustained this partnership for three years and prospered, when Mr. Gomes bought Lesta out, since which time he has run it alone. In 1882 he was married to Miss Anna F. Phillip, a native of the same town on the Island of Flores, and it was not very long before he owned some 5,000 sheep. In addition, he also bought and sold sheep. He purchased his first piece of land in Stanislaus County in 1884, situated eight miles southwest of Crows Landing, at Crow's Creek, and then- he built a house on Sixth Street, in Modesto, which he traded for a ranch of 160 acres five miles east of Modesto, where he. ran sheep until seven years ago, which was known as the Gomes home place. Then, when he had about 3,500 head of Merino sheep, he sold out. He still owns 1,960 acres at Crows Landr ing which he rents out for stock raising; At San Francisco in 1879 he was natural ized, and now he marches under the banner of the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Gomes have five children : Charles is a rancher five miles west of Modesto, and married, Frances Silva, by whom he has had one child, Dorothy. Mamie is the wife of Frank Monese, a stockman of Modesto, and. they have two children, Elvera and Nadine^ Anna has become Mrs. William E, Osborne, a. rancher, and. they dwell on the old- Gomes home place.. Clara is Mrs. Henry I. Ducoty, the wife of the carpenter and builder.. Their home is also in Modesto and they have one child, Maxine. The youngest is Frank P., cashier of the First National Bank at Newman, the husband of. Inez Van Sickle*, by whom he had one child, Gwendolyn. Mr. Gomes- belongs to the I. O. O. F. lodge in Modesto, and also the Encampment, and he is an active member in the I. D. E. S. and the U. P. E. C. Mr. Gomes served on the school board in Garner district for- sixteen years and helped to maintain the best of schools, and he served on the election board many years and he has always given his encouragement and support to all movements for the betterment of conditions in Stanislaus County, and has been a loyal supporter of all American institutions that have made his adopted country the best in the world. THOMAS F. SNEDIGAR.— Whenever the history of Stanislaus County is. written anew, cognizance will be taken of such active and fruitful lives as that of the lately-deceased pioneer, Thomas Fielding Snedigar, who died in 1919, lamented by many who did not know him personally, but who felt that he had helped to make better this corner of the world and to pave the way for others. He was born on December 25, 1840, in Pike County, 111., the son of Jeptha and Mary Jane (Wag ner) Snedigar, who lived there with their family upon a farm. These worthy parents died when he was very small, and he was brought up by his uncle and aunt, Thomas and Lucinda Richardson, who left Illinois with him in March, 1852, to cross the great plains, a journey that took six months. Half way across the continent, part of the company decided to separate and go north to Oregon instead of to California; and it chanced that Thomas Snedigar and his foster parents were among those who elected to cast their fortunes with the Golden State. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 319 After coming to Stanislaus County, Mr. Snedigar engaged in farming and stock raising. He acquired 950 acres, all in one tract, and soon proved that it was well adapted to the raising of wbeat, his yield being almost fifteen bushels per acre. He had fourteen head of horses and mules for work, and some fine horses, cattle and hogs besides. He also had a splendid equipment of implements, and thus fitted out, he demonstrated his practical ideas as a farmer. On March 24, 1864, Mr. Snedigar was married to Miss Emeline C. Dotson, a native of Missouri, by whom he had twelve children. In July, 1898, Mr. Snedigar was married to Miss Clara H. Millark, a native of Germany who was brought to America by her parents, Julius and Matilda (Walters) Millark, and taken to Illinois. They became substantial farmer-folk and landowners, and when they died, the daugh ter, Clara, and a brother and sister came out to California in June, 1896. The second Mrs. Snedigar, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, became indeed a de voted mother to the children, three of whom survive, as follows: Ole is now proba tion officer and resides at Berkeley, in wbich city he graduated from the University of California. He married Miss Essie Bernstein of Berkeley, and they have one child, John ; Mary is the wife of Ralph Betty, who is employed on a steam dredge at Sacramento. Their one child is named Wayne. Thomas R. is in Napa, the presi dent of an ignition company. One of the (now deceased) children by Mr. Snedigar's first union left an heir ; his name was Willis, and he will be remembered pleasantly as Dr. Willis Snedigar, late of Stockton, who married Miss Maimie Sollinger of Lodi. She is also among the great silent majority, but her daughter, Beatrice, survived and is the wife of Clark Welch, a rancher at Lodi. Mr. Snedigar died on February 4, 1919, and was buried in the Oakdale ceme tery, in the community in which he had been once a leading man. He helped to organize the First National Bank at Oakdale, and served as one of its trustees until he died. He also helped to organize the First National Bank at Riverbank, and be came a trustee of that. He and his first wife took an active part in the affairs of the United Brethren Church at Oakdale, and he contributed largely to the erection of the* edifice, and served on its board of trustees until his death, since which time Mrs. Snedigar has been his successor on the board. Mrs. Clara H. Snedigar is one of the trustees of the Mission Home for Children of Modesto. About 1914, Mr. Snedigar sold his fine ranch and the old home so familiar to many for several decades, and built his new residence upon the premises one and a half mile north of Modesto, where he was comfortably domiciled when he was called upon to bid adieu to the scenes of this world. His life was just the kind that was needed in the new commonwealth of California ; and it is inspiring to know that much of the good work started by him will be faithfully continued by his devoted wife. MRS. CLARA H. SNEDIGAR. — A noble Christian woman, worthy of every body's confidence and respect,, is Mrs. Clara H. Snedigar, the widow of the late Thomas Fielding Snedigar, who continues to reside on the old home place about one and a half miles north of Modesto. She was born in Germany, the daughter of Julius and Matilda (Walters) Millark, and her parents brought her and the other six children, in 1882, to Henry County, 111., she being then just three years old. They were farmers and came to own one large farm in Henry County, and a home at Colona, where the mother died in May, 1920, aged seventy-five years, outliving her husband, who had also died in Illinois, at the age of seventy-two. There were thir teen children in the family, and six are now living. In June, 1896, Mrs. Snedigar came out to California with a brother and sister; and in July, 1898, she was married to Thomas F. Snedigar, whose life story is given elsewhere in this volume. He was born in Pike County, 111., in 1840, lost his parents when very young, and in 1852, with his foster parents came across the great plains to California. Fate brought him first to Stockton and then to. Stanislaus County; and here he engaged in farming and stock raising, and came to have nearly 1,000 acres. In 1864 Mr. Snedigar was married to Miss Emeline C. Dotson, a native of Missouri, who became the mother of twelve children, three of whom are still living. 320 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY These three the present Mrs. Snedigar brought up with loving care, and she became the mother of six children of her own. Charlie, the eldest, married Miss Alma Sea- blom, and is a rancher residing at Turlock ; Louis is now eighteen years old ; Leonard L. was drowned when three years old ; Robert R. and Iva Mae come next ; and Irvin V. is four years old. Mrs. Snedigar is the administratrix of the estate, and manages everything with commendable fidelity and admirable judgment. She has retained eight acres of the ranch for a home place, and resides in the handsome residence built by her husband and herself. She is a prominent member of the United Brethren Church at Oakdale, in which congregation, its life and its varied and far-reaching good works, she and her lamented husband long took an active and much appreciated part. JAMES JOHNSON. — A pioneer enjoying the enviable distinction of being now the oldest settler in Modesto, and thus able to look back through the years when he saw the whole town develop and much of the county grow, is James Johnson, who came here when there was no depot and a box car served for a railway station. He was born at Bornholm, Denmark, on June 27, 1848, the son of Hans Kofoed John son, a farmer who died in 1878. He had taken for his wife Miss Martha Bertelsen, and she passed away in 1867, the mother of seven children, among whom James is the youngest. He was educated at the public schools, and when fourteen was appren ticed to a shoemaker, with whom he remained for four and a half years. Then he served in that vicinity as a journeyman for six months, at the end of which time, he decided to come to the United States. The year 1868, therefore, found him at work at his trade in Peru, 111., where be remained until February, 1870, when he resolved to continue his migration west ward, and .never to stop until he reached the Golden State. Arrived in Paradise City, Stanislaus County, he opened a shoe-shop, which he continued to manage, until the latter part of October of that year, when he moved into the new town of Modesto. Here' he ran a shoe-shop and soon started the first shoe-store in Modesto. He was located for a while on H Street, between Ninth and Tenth streets, and soon afterwards he bought a lot, built a store and occupied it until 1884, when he sold the stock and leased the building. His sales had gradually increased, until they were over $3,000 a month, so that it is evident that he was a success in his original trade. In 1884 Mr. Johnson branched off into the field of real estate and insurance, becoming a notary public and doing auctioneering. He was the first man hereabouts to cut up or subdivide large farms or tracts, and sell to the public. He bought the McDonald tract of 440 acres at $22.50 per acre, cut it into ten and twenty-acre tracts, and sold the first sixty acres for twenty-five dollars per acre, and the balance a little more, the highest price asked being only thirty-five dollars. The same land is now selling for from $500 to $800 an acre. This was the beginning of sub dividing at Modesto, which has done so much for the building up of the county. As an auctioneer, Mr. Johnson was also a success, being ever in demand. He erected a building for business on I Street, known as the Johnson Block, and built business property at Fifth and H streets. Among tracts laid out by him were two sections for the Richard Whitmore estate south of Ceres, and he laid out the Johnson & Jones Addition to Modesto. He was both interested in and active himself in the organization of both the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts, and improved lands for general agriculture and the growing of alfalfa, and he owns a ranch on the Tuolumne River. Mr. Johnson was a member of the first board of trustees of Modesto when it was incorporated in 1883, and he served a second term. As early as 1872 he took an active part in the county seat fight that resulted in a choice of Modesto, and after serving as trustee he was city treasurer for six terms, or for twelve vears. For more than twenty years, however, he was active in the direction of city affairs, and he was a member of the first charter commission. On November 23,. 1873, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Emma Bacon, who was bo™ near Columbia in Tuolumne County, the daughter of Walter Bacon, one ol the first miners there and later an early settler of Modesto. She was reared in uoiumne and San Joaquin counties, and belongs, with her husband, to the Rebekahs, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 323 where she is past noble grand. She and her husband are also members of the Christian Church, in which Mr. Johnson is a trustee, and joined him in war work and the response to the bond drives. Mr. Johnson is the oldest Odd Fellow initiated in Modesto lodge, having joined in 1871, and is a past grand, and a past chief patriarch of the encampment of Odd Fellows, where he was district deputy. A Democrat in national politics, he was active in former years on the county committee of that party. A live business man, he has very naturally done his part in the work of the Board of Trade and the Chamber of Commerce. Since 1873 he has resided in a comfortable home on Seventh Street, although he has recently built himself a new residence there. Mr. Johnson returned for the first time to Denmark in 1877, when his wife accompanied him, and in 1899 they made a second trip. In 1905 he retired from business and made his third and last visit to his native land, acting on the advice of phj'sicians; and having stayed there a couple of j'ears, he happily had his health restored. On his return to California, he decided to quit active real estate business, and now only looks after his buildings and property. His figure is familiar to thou sands, as his genial face is welcome to many, and by all who know him and his devoted wife, they are highly esteemed. GEORGE P. SCHAFER. — Prominent among the substantial and active, as well as wonderfully organized agencies for not only ministering to the comforts of ordinary social life in Modesto, but most important in the processes of guiding com mercial affairs and giving stability to the finances of the city, so that Modesto may well claim to be both one of the most aggressive and progressive of cities of its size in the Golden State, must be mentioned the extensive establishment of The G. P. Schafer Company, the largest mercantile house, with its six departments, in the San Joaquin Valley north of Fresno. Its president and manager, George P. Schafer, was born at Stockton on July 29, 1869, and when a year old was brought by his parents to Stanislaus County, where they settled on a 640-acre ranch south of Ceres. His boyhood was passed on the ranch, and in that district he attended the common schools. Later, when his parents removed to Modesto in 1881, he attended the Modesto high school, from which he was graduated in 1888. While attending school, beginning when he was fourteen, Mr. Schafer drove a delivery wagon for and clerked in W. A. Harter's grocery in Modesto, a pioneer store doing a pioneer work. In 1888 he entered the University of California and became a member of the class of '92 ; but at the end of three years he accepted a position as clerk, bookkeeper and teller in the First National Bank of Modesto, of which Mr. Oramil McHenry was then president and J. E. Ward was cashier, while G. R. Stoddard was Mr. Ward's assistant. For ten years Mr. Schafer remained in the First National Bank ; and then, since he and Mr. McHenry married sisters, he joined Mr. McHenry in partnership and bought out the department store of I. E. Gilbert & Son of Modesto, an interesting firm, for Mr. Gilbert had started here the first general store at the time of the build ing of the Southern Pacific to Modesto in 1870. The firm, which became The G. P. Schafer Company, was started as a co-partnership on May 17, 1900, and was later incorporated. The store has six departments, one being devoted to dry goods and shoes; another to gents' clothing and furnishings; a third to groceries; a fourth to a groceteria; a fifth to household goods, such as kitchen hardware, and a sixth to a bakery. Its mottoes are: "Everything for Everybody," "Quality Good, Prices Fair," and the good housewife has come to look forward to the newspaper announcements of "Schafer's" as to the most logical solution in her vexatious problems of housekeeping. For years Mr. Schafer was also active in the Modesto Creamery, which was organized in 1903, and served for a number of j'ears as its vice-president; and he was vice-president of the First National Bank for four years, during the settlement of the O. McHenry estate. He owns over 200 acres of highly improved, double-crop ranch land four miles northeast of Modesto. He served as a councilman in the first board of trustees of Modesto under its present charter of the commission form of govern ment, and stands high in the councils of the Democratic party, and for twenty years served as a member of the Democratic Central Committee of Stanislaus County. He was an alternate to the Democratic National Convention at St. Louis in 1916. He 19 324 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY was a member of the committee at Modesto on all the loan drives, and active in all the war work in the county. At Modesto, on October 14, 1893, Mr. Schafer was married to Miss Matilda Conneau, a native of this city and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Conneau, by whom he has had two children: Lena is now Mrs. Charles George Maze, the wife of the rancher and insurance man of Modesto; and she was an honor student and a speaker at the commencement of her class in 1916 at the University of California, where she took the literary course. They have one child, George S. Maze. Ward C. Schafer graduated in May, 1921, from the University of California. Mr. Schafer is a member of the session of the First Presbyterian Church at Modesto, and was on the building committee when the new Presbyterian Church, costing $45,000, was built in 1911, the finest church edifice in Modesto. Socially, both Mr. Schafer and his family stand high and enjoy enviable positions, while serving their fellows in society. He is a member of all the branches in Odd Fellowship, is a past grand of Wildey Lodge No. 149, I. O. O. F., of Modesto; and is treasurer of both the lodge and encampment. Mrs. Schafer is a member of the Golden State Rebekah Lodge of Modesto. Mr. Schafer belongs to the Modesto Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West, of which he is a past president ; he is also a member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. Elks. He was elected first president of the Modesto Rotary Club. GEORGE J. WREN. — A leader in business and political circles, and the head of a highly respected family carrying on the distinguished name of a long line of famous British ancestry, is George J. Wren, the ex-mayor and ex-councilman, and the junior member of the firm of Maze & Wren, the prime operators in realty in this section. He was born at Quincy, 111., on August 15, 1858, and as a child of four was brought to California by his parents, who crossed the great plains with a train cf horse and ox teams from Missouri. His father was John Wren, while his mother was Elizabeth Martin before her marriage, a member of the well-known Scotch-Irish family. The maternal grandfather, General Martin, served in the Mohawk War against the Indians, and both Mr. Wren's grandfather and father were very active in the early history of Missouri. The Wren family ranched in Solano County and also in Napa County. From there they moved to the San Joaquin Valley in 1869, and settled in Merced County. George Wren attended the public schools of Napa and Merced counties, and later the State Normal School at San Jose. All his life, however, he has been identi fied with farming, and has owned several ranches in Stanislaus County. He now owns two vineyards near Ceres, Stanislaus County, one of which contains forty, and the other twenty acres. Mr. Wren has also been extensively interested in the real estate business since 1888, when he first went into a real estate office under the firm name of Maze & Wren. First they operated at Madera, and then Mr. Wren moved to Modesto. In January, 1911, the firm was incorporated. While Mr. Maze con tinued the office at Madera, Mr. Wren came to Modesto in 1902 and opened up their office; and when they sold out their Madera interests in 1913, both partners put their shoulders to the Modesto wheel, and they have been pushing at it ever since. While living at Madera, Mr. Wren was assessor of Madera County for four j'ears, and on coming to Modesto he served for four years in the city council from 1903 to 1907. He championed the commission form of city government and in 1911 was elected the first mayor of Modesto under the new charter, at the same time that George P. Schafer, Geo. Perley, C. D. Swan and L. T. Moss were chosen with him for the city council, and in both cases he sought to give the people a clean administra tion. He also sought the most progressive aggressiveness likely to make for the per manent development of the section. Realizing, for example, that irrigation must ever be the making of Stanislaus County, he has always stood firmly by the Wright law, and consistently allied himself on the side of the worthiest irrigation projects. During his mayoralty, the municipal waterworks system was organized and instituted. Now the city is outgrowing its plant, which was designed to have a capacity for 10,000 peo- J*^o.}&>< MJdz^iX^- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 327 pie, and another unit, sufficient for an additional 12,000 inhabitants, was added, and a third project is now under way. Besides being extensively interested in lands here since 1888, Mr. Wren, with his partner, has dealt in fire insurance ; and since 1903 he has bought, sold off and colonized land in eight tracts or colonies, aggregating some 12,000 acres. These tracts are the Maze-Wren Colony, the Maze Colony, the Spencer Colony, the Hall Tract, the Central Colony, the Seminary Tract, the Christ Colony, and the Wren-Maze Tract. Mr. Wren is the father of four children: Eva, Mrs. J. N. Nightingale; Mabel, Mrs. C. S. Northcut; Marie, and Lawrence J., all of Modesto. Mrs. Wren was formerly Miss Ida M. Musick, daughter of James J. Musick, pioneer of Fresno County. Modesto congratulates itself on the acquisition of such citizen-power of the first order represented by Mr. Wren and his busy circle. GEO. H. WHITWORTH.— After many years of faithful public service in Merced County, Geo. H. Whitworth has been reelected time and again to the respon sible office of supervisor, while his associates have honored him with a term as chair man. So long has been his identification with this county, and so intimate his associa tion with local development that, viewing the remarkable transformation wrought within his memory, he may well exclaim, "All of which I saw, and part of which I was." Great, however, as has been his activity in general, it is as supervisor that the people of his home county most appreciate Geo. Whitworth, who has served them in that office for more than twenty years, being chosen by a good majority each election. His mind and heart have been engrossed in the well-being of the county and such has been his success in the solution of many difficult problems that his fellow-citizens more and more have reposed their confidence in him. Geo. H. Whitworth was born at Dutch Bar, on Woods Creek, Tuolumne County, March 10, 1856, the son of Henry and Ann (Hall) Whitworth, natives of Lincolnshire, England. His father left Liverpool for America on September 12, 1848, and pushed his way west to Chicago. On learning of the discovery of gold in Cali fornia, he with others planned to reach the new Eldorado. They outfitted at St. Louis, Mo., and with a train of wagons drawn by mules, there being fifty men in the party, he crossed the plains, coming by the southern route. During the trip each night the train was guarded with military precision and particularly was this necessary while passing through the Apache Indian country. On reaching California they made their way up the coast to San Jose Mission and from there they traveled south to cross the Coast Range at Pacheco Pass, and after crossing the San Joaquin River at Hill's Ferry, they went into the Mariposa mines. Later, Henry Whitworth came to Tuolumne County, where he hauled provisions with an eight-mule team from Stockton to the stores and miners at Chinese Camp and vicinity, and later he kept a provision store for Walkerly Bros, at Dutch Bar, where our subject first saw the light. Later he was engaged in mining at Chinese Camp, and then, still later, near Crimea House, Keystone Flat, where our subject first went to school, Henry Whitworth acquired an interest in the old Eagle Quartz Mining Company at Blue Gulch, on Woods Creek, where they had a mill. Henry Whitworth had so won the confidence of his associates that it was his task to divide their gold, and George well remembers how his father divided the gold and weighed each one's share as it was handed to the different parties interested in the mine. Henry Whit worth and Miss Anna Hall had become engaged to be married back in England and she made the trip to California, coming via the Isthmus of Panama, and on her arrival in San Francisco, early in 1855, she was met by Mr. Whitworth, and their marriage was immediately consummated and he then took his bride" back to the mines, where he continued until 1863, when the family moved by teams and wagons to Contra Costa County, taking three days for the journey. There he farmed until 1869. In 1868 he had homesteaded and preempted land on Quinto Creek, in Merced County, about twelve miles south of Newman, and in 1869 located on the place and engaged in farm ing and stock raising, in which he was very successful. He was bereaved of his faith ful wife in 1877i while he survived her for twenty years, passing away in 1897. 328 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Of the three children born to this worthy pioneer couple, George was the oldest and is the only one living. As has been stated, he first went to school near the old Crimea House on Kej'stone Flat, and later for a short time attended the Berkeley preparatory school at Berkeley, and since then his education has been obtained by his own efforts, reading and studying at night and through first-hand practical expe rience, and is today a well-informed man. In 1877, George Whitworth started out for himself, embarking in grain raising on Quinto Creek on a farm of 600 acres. He really acquired for his enterprise 450 acres and then leased adjoining land. In 1882 he came to his present location and purchased 120 acres three miles south of Newman, under the San Joaquin River canal, and since then he has added eighty acres adjoining. This he has leveled and checked and sown to alfalfa. The soil is very rich and productive and yields large crops. The 200 acres has been divided into two farms, each leased to tenants and improved with a set of farm buildings with sanitary barns for dairying, the two places carrying about 160 cows. He also owns eighty acres across the canal, where he expects to install a pumping plant and also raise alfalfa. In December, 1892, Mr. Whitworth was married at Santa Cruz to Miss Agnes Mahoney, by whom he had three children: John Henry and Geo. Hall, and the youngest was Carol, who died when she was six months old. Mrs. Whitworth, who was born in San Francisco, passed away in 1903. On May 27, 1905, Mr. Whitworth married the second time, being united with Miss Harriet Collier, the daughter of W. G. and Anna (Jackson) Collier, who was born at Sonora, Tuolumne County. On her mother's side she is related to Gen. Stonewall Jackson and to Gen. Robert E. Lee. Her parents moved to Merced County when she was only three years old, where her father was a large stock raiser, and came to have as many as 2,500 head of cattle and a ranch of 2,500 acres on the Merced River. He was born in Kentucky, while his wife was born in Missouri. In 1853 he crossed the plains to California and settled in the mountainous district of Tuolumne County, where he was a lumberman before he started as a stock raiser. Mrs. Whit worth attended the grammar schools of her district and later graduated from the San Jose State Normal and became an instructor in the schools of Merced County, where she spent twenty years in the noble work of educating the young. She inherited 156 acres of the Collier estate on the Merced River and later Mr. Whitworth purchased 104 acres adjoining, making a total of 260 acres, which they improved with a large pumping plant and devoted to alfalfa and later sold to good advantage. Mr. and Mrs. Whitworth have recently completed a thoroughly modern stucco residence of fine architecture and very artistically planned, the inside being finished in ivory and mahogany, and is one of the finest residences in the entire San Joaquin Valley. Mrs. Whitworth is a woman of culture and with her artistic tastes, the home is most beautifully furnished. In 1900 Mr. Whitworth was nominated on the Democratic ticket for supervisor of the Fourth District in Merced County and was elected and so well has he dis charged his duties that he has been reelected five times by good majorities. In the primaries in August, 1920, through the apathy of his friends, who were away on vaca tions and who were confident of his nomination, his opponent won out by 124 votes. Then Mr. Whitworth and his friends instituted a write-in campaign and his long and efficient service was rewarded by his election by a safe majority and he entered upon his sixth term of service as supervisor, serving longer than any former incumbent of the office in the county. During his years of planning with other members of the board, Mr. Whitworth has seen much permanent improvement and building accomplished. This includes the new jail and the new county hospital and some very substantial bridges, among them a steel bridge over the Merced River a mile above its mouth, also the San Luis bridge and the bridge over the Merced River near Livingston, and another over the same river known as the Millikin bridge, a beautiful reinforced- concrete structure and one of the finest in the valley ; also the Merced Falls, McSwains and Arundale bridges, and he was very enthusiastic in building the bridge at Hill's Jerry. There has also been much building of new roads, and the expenditure of a ^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 331 $1,250,000 bond issue constructing county highways. A Democrat in national poli tics, Mr. Whitworth fraternally is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World at Newman and also of the Woodcraft and Degree of Honor at the same place. All in all, Mr. Whitworth, in his long years of residence on the West Side, has an enviable record, and his life has been an open book, so much so that his integrity and honesty of purpose have never been questioned and in his unselfish way he has tried to do all he could to build up the community and enhance the facilities for the comfort and happiness of the people. JAMES GORDON ELMORE.— One of Stanislaus County's leading citizens is James Gordon Elmore, Stanislaus County pioneer. He was born in Pike County, Mo., November 28, 1843, and is the son of Anderson P. and Sarah Jane (Kerr) Elmore. The father was born in North Carolina and the mother is a native of Missouri, in which state the parents were married. The eldest child in a family of fourteen, James G. grew to maturity upon his father's Missouri farm and received his education in the common district schools, attending only about three months in a year ; the balance of the time he worked on the farm. He crossed the Mississippi River and worked out by the month in Pike County, 111., and later in Schuyler County, 111. Then imbued with the desire to come to Cali fornia, crossed the plains in 1865 with his brother, Benjamin. The journey from Hannibal, Mo., to Stockton, Cal., consumed four months, and they reached their destination, one and a half miles north of what is now Salida, August 14, 1865. In 1867 his. brother Benjamin returned to Missouri via Panama and brought the father, mother and the rest of the family back to California in 1869 by railroad. After coming to California, James G. worked for wages a year or two, and in 1867 settled on what was called the Rollin Grant, an old Spanish grant without a good legal title. Legal proceedings decided that it was a bogus grant, then the railroad came in on the settlers and claimed the odd-numbered sections, and Mr. Elmore found himself involved in a second lawsuit, this time with the railroad. Decision was favorable for the settlers, which left Mr. Elmore with 320 acres of land. He had originally bought out a squat ter's claim and homesteaded it, and he preempted 160 acres, making 320 acres alto gether. He sowed his land to wheat and barley and hauled many a load of grain to Stockton, a distance of twenty-three miles from Salida, over what is now the State Highway. The purchase of another half-section brought his holdings up to 640 acres, which he later disposed of in various sized pieces from time to time until it was all sold. In 1880 he purchased a place at Salida, comprising 220 acres, from his brother- in-law, Mr. B. F. Parks, who is now living at Madera. Mr. Elmore built a new two-story ten-room house on his new property, and this house is still standing near Salida. He continued to farm and improve the place and also ran a threshing outfit and a barley crushing mill at Salida. In 1918 he sold this place, reserving twenty-two acres for a home, upon which he built a beautiful new six-room bungalow. Mr. Elmore has always been active in furthering the best interests of the com munity, and was a prime mover and stockholder in the Salida Grange Company at Salida, which continued to exist as long as that section produced grain as the principal crop. When the country became a horticultural center the grange warehouses and other interests were sold. In early days before Salida and Modesto were in existence, Mr. Elmore recalls riding horseback over their sites. Both these places came on the map with the advent of the Central Pacific Railway, now the Southern Pacific Railway. Mr. Elmore has been twice married. In 1867 he was united to Miss Sarah Feagins, a sister of Mrs. Margaret E. Byrum, and after a union of twenty years death claimed his life-partner and left him and six children to mourn her loss. The children born of their union are : Pleasant Anderson ; Mary Louisa, who became the wife of C. S. Abbott, secretary of the Modesto Irrigation District. Mrs. Abbott was instantly killed in an auto collision on the road to Modesto, leaving one child named Elmore; Susan B. is the widow of Joe Love; she resides in Turlock, where she is the librarian. A. G. Elmore is the very efficient superintendent of schools of Stanislaus County and resides at Modesto. Grace Elizabeth died in 1915, single. Sadie L. is 332 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY the wife of Phil. Hessler, and resides at San Francisco. Mr. Elmore has three grand children. He contracted a second marriage, July 22, 1888, with Mrs. Mary M. Burks, nee Orr, a most estimable lady. She is the mother of three children by her first husband: Leslie E. Burks, attorney-at-law in San Francisco, Chester W. Burks, engaged in the real estate business in San Francisco, and Mrs. Ella W. Davis, of Fresno. Mrs. Elmore is state evangelistic superintendent of the W. C. T. U. ; a mem ber of the Eastern Star of Modesto and the Women's Improvement Club of Salida, of which she is a charter member and the first treasurer. She was the first woman in the county to run for the Assembly. Among his other interests, Mr. Elmore is a director in the First National Bank at Salida. He was a member of the Cumberland Pres byterian church from 1866 until the congregation dissolved; he then, with others, organized the Congregational church at Salida. He was vice-president of the Stanis laus County Farmers Alliance and president of the Salida organization. Although a Democrat in his political convictions he is liberal, and considers the character of the individual and correct principles of government in casting his vote, regardless of party affiliations. A hard worker and a man of keen business judgment, he is esteemed for his breadth of mind, generosity, integrity and kindly spirit, and in the afternoon of life is spending his declining years in the enjoyment of a well-earned competence and the well-merited confidence and respect of the people of his community. ROBERT L. DALLAS. — Endowed with those sterling traits of character that win the respect and esteem of mankind, R. L. Dallas stands high' in the regard of the citizens in the community of Modesto, Stanislaus County, as the sheriff of the county, and has proved an efficient and popular public officer. He is a descendant of one of the oldest families of the pioneer daj's, being the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dallas, who were born in Scotland and, having heard of the wonderful opportunities presented in the new country, they came to America and first settled in Iowa, then in 1849, during the days of the gold rush, they crossed the plains, a daughter having been born in Sierra Nevada Mountains on the way, then settled at Horseshoe Bend, Mariposa County, Cal., where Mr. Dallas engaged in mining. In 1850 they located on a ranch on the Tuolumne River near what is now Hickman, Stanislaus County, where the old ranch house, which was built in 1851, still stands, a memorial to the days of the pioneers. He first engaged in farming and stock raising, later locating in Stockton and operating a livery bus and at the same time looking after his ranch. He lived to be sixty-four years old, his death occurring in 1881. They were the parents of five children: Robert, William, John, Mrs. L. M. Hickman and Sierra Nevada, the latter two living in Sausalito. Mr. and Mrs. Dallas were members of the Presbyterian Church. John Dallas, who was born in Tipton, Iowa, in 1847, became a tinsmith in Stockton, then engaged in ranching in the eastern part of Stanislaus County until a few years before his death in 1915, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife, Made- lame Roegik, who was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, came with her parents to New York City, then to California via Panama in the early sixties; she died in Oakland in 1917 at the same age as her husband. They were the parents of three children : Herbert L. is a rancher near Modesto ; Robert L., and John A., a member of the Modesto city police force. Robert L. Dallas, the subject of this sketch, was born on his father's ranch near Hickman, September 12, 1872, and was reared there, attending the public schools of that locality, then attending the College of the Pacific at San Jose, where he completed a business course, after which he continued on the ranch until he reached the age of twenty-one. Learning the jewelry and watchmaker's trade he engaged in business for himself in Salinas for a period of two years, then returned to the valley and at Stock ton engaged in the jewelry business there for another two years. Entering the employ a S°uthern Pacific Railroad as agent, he was sent as agent at Hickman and con- a"^ tv Cre f°r S'X years' later res'gning to accept the office of under sheriff under th ffitu-n 19°9' He held this P°sition until July, 1911, when he was offered ne ottice of chief of police in Modesto under the commission form of government, and ?^~C3*^,. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 335 went in as a first chief of police of Modesto. He has served so well that in appre ciation of his good services he was reappointed each year until the year of 1918, when he was a candidate for the office of sheriff of Stanislaus County, and was the choice of the people by 497 votes majority; on January 6, 1919, he took the oath as sheriff. The marriage of Mr. Dallas took place in Lodi in 1896, when he was united with Miss Martha R. Turner, born in Canada. They were the parents of three children : Vera is a graduate of the Modesto high school and is now a student at the University of California; Madelaine is a graduate of the Modesto high school, and William. In January, 1919, Mrs. Dallas was accidentally killed, being run into by an automobile, taking not only a faithful wife and a loving mother, but one of the most useful lives in the community. In religious faith, Mr. Dallas is a member of the Presbyterian Church, while his political endorsement is given the Republican party. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Elks. JAMES R. BROUGHTON.— An influential old-timer who enjoys the enviable distinction of having lived to be the oldest banker in the county, associated with the oldest bank and one that has never yet repudiated payments, is James R. Broughton, whose retentive memory has enabled him to keep well posted on California history. A native son, he was born near San Jose, at Berryessa, Santa Clara County, in No vember, 1854, the son of Job Broughton, who was born in Bourbon County, Ky. His grandfather, Job Broughton, was a native of Virginia, and was an early settler of Kentucky. He married Elizabeth Cartwright, and in 1830 removed to Callaway County, Mo. Major William Broughton, the great-grandfather, was a Virginian and served in the Revolutionary War under Washington. Grandfather Broughton resided in Callaway County until he died. Job Broughton, the father, was one of eleven children, and he lost his parents before he was of age. When he carne to manhood, he served in the Mexican War, and saw valiant service at Vera Cruz. He also had two brothers in that war. After ward, he located in Arkansas, and at Des Arc engaged in mercantile trade. There, too, he was married to Celia Ann Erwin, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of Boyd Erwin, a man of affairs. Job Broughton had a brother, Samuel Q., who had come to California in 1849, and had located in the Santa Clara Valley, returning to Missouri in 1850 and again crossing the plains to California. In December, 1852, he once more returned to Missouri, by way of the Isthmus, and in the fall of that year Job Broughton and his wife had returned to Missouri from Arkansas, preparatory to starting for Cali fornia in the spring of 1853. The two brothers and their parties traveled together with ox teams and made the journey in about six months; and in September, 1853, they arrived in the Santa Clara Valley. Soon afterward Job Broughton went to the mines, but he was not successful there, and coming back to Santa Clara, he purchased a ranch near San Jose. He farmed until 1860, when he sold to a Mr. Shaw, and afterwards purchased another place and there followed farming. He died in 1872, aged forty-seven years. Mrs. Broughton died in Arkansas, while on a visit to her sister. They had four children, and two are now living. James R. Broughton, the eldest, was reared on a farm while he attended the public schools, and grew up to the raising and care of stock. His first trip to Stanis laus County was in 1870, when he came with his father and for a season engaged in farming, after which he returned to Santa Clara. In October, 1878, he located in Modesto, and in November, 1878, entered the Modesto Bank, where he has con tinued ever since. He is, therefore, the oldest banker in the county. He began working up from the bottom, in 1884 became assistant cashier, and in 1885, cashier of the bank; and since that time he has managed the important and constantly expanding institution. About 1905 he was elected president of the bank. The bank originally was the Farmers' Savings Bank, and then the name was changed to the Modesto Bank, which was organized in 1873, with a capital of $50,000, which was increased to $150,000. Later, the savings department was added, and there was a capital stock of a quarter of a million dollars. In 1893 they built the Modesto Bank building, at the corner of Tenth and I streets, and 336 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY there they have since had their quarters. About fifteen years ago they started a separate savings institution known as the Modesto Savings Bank, with a capital stock of $150,000. The Modesto Bank's capital stock is now $250,000, with a reserve fund of $75,000. Mr| Broughton was for maney years interested in farming and stock raising, owning several ranches; but now he gives his time entirely to banknig. A member of the Democratic county and state conventions, Mr. Broughton was city treasurer for four years, during which time the waterworks and sewer-system were built. He was also for years a member of the city board of trustees, and was president of the board for eight years. During that time, the first paving was started and accomplished against much opposition, but the people are now generally pleased with the results. He was a member of the board of freeholders that framed the present city charter, and immediately elected a member of the board of education, serving for four years and acting as president of the board for the last two years. At San Francisco in 1885, Mr. Broughton was married to Miss Jennie Bates, a native of Tuolumne County and the daughter of Norton G. Bates, of Pittsfield, Mass., who became an early settler of Pittsfield, Pike County, 111. In 1849 he crossed the plains to California, and was among the first to mine at La Grange, where he was a pioneer. Mining was always interesting to him, and he followed it more or less until he died. His wife was Martha Hammond before her marriage, and she was born at Knoxville, Tenn. She crossed the continent with her parents in 1854, and spent her last days with Mr. and Mrs. Broughton. The latter is the jnly daughter of three children. Mr. and Mrs. Broughton have been blessed with two children. Irvin R. was i graduate of the University of California and spent five years in the Modesto Bank, after which he entered the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco, beginning there in 1917 and continuing until his death in January, 1919. He left a wife and two sons. Miss Esto is a graduate of the University of California, with the degree of LL.B., and is a practicing attorney in Modesto; she is now serving her second term as a member of the Assembly of the California Legislature. She is a prominent mem ber of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1879 Mr. Broughton was made a Mason in Modesto Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., and later he became a charter member of the Oakdale lodge of Masons. He is also a member of the Modesto Chapter, R. A. M. He belongs to the San Fran cisco Consistory of the Scottish Rite, and is a member of Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. in Oakland. In 1880 he joined the Odd Fellows here, where he is a past grand and served as treasurer of the lodge for twenty-four years. He belongs to the Modesto Lodge of Elks, and also to Parlor No. 102, of the N. S. G. W. He, his wife and daughter are members of the Rebekahs and of the Eastern Star. MRS. BIRDIE G. MAZE. — A business woman whose parents are old settlers, and whose exceptional success in the conducting of her drug store is doubtless due, in part, to the inheriting of pioneer traits, is Mrs. Birdie G. Maze, a native daughter, born near Modesto, and the daughter of Henry Cavill, who came from Devonshire, England. He arrived in California in 1859, and after mining for gold for a while, he became a farmer. As such he was one of the early settlers of Stanislaus County, locating here in 1867, and now, with most interesting recollections of stirring days, he is enjoying a retired life at Modesto, eighty-nine years of age. He had married Mrs. Matilda Elizabeth (Standiford) Cobb, a native of Missouri, who, as the wife of John Cobb, had crossed the plains to California in an ox-team train in 1863. They settled on land eight miles from what is now Modesto in the primitive period, when they had to haul both their produce and lumber from far-away Stockton ; and there Mr. Cobb died. Mrs. Cobb, who is still living at Modesto, later married Mr. Cavill, and their union has proven very happy. Mrs. Maze's grandparents, John and Jane btandiford, also came to California. , . Mrs- Maze was educated in the Wilson School at Oakland and at the Alameda nigh school, and in 1905 she became Mrs. Maze. One son was born of this marriage, ' -cng*a BV Campbell Bramavs ray ™«id>-1c R=™-0 Co HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 339 Albert Cavill Maze. In 1916, she started her career as a druggist, and since then she has continued actively in that field, meeting with more and more success. Her drug store is located at the corner of Tenth and H streets, and with its well-appointed balcony and its complete, fresh stock, makes an attractive place of business. Mrs. Maze is an influential leader in the Alameda Drug Association ; she belongs to the Rebekahs, being a member of the Golden West Lodge No. 110; and she attends the Episcopal Church. MRS. FRANKLIN C. DAVIS.— A large-hearted, broad-minded pioneer whose activity and public service in development will long be remembered with gratitude by those who come after him, was the late Franklin C. Davis, a native of Franklin County, Ark., where he was born on the banks of the Arkansas River, in that portion of the state known as the Fever Banks of the river, because the fever and plague was so prevalent among the early settlers. He was the son of Noah and Kate Ann (Scott) Davis, who settled in Arkansas where Franklin was reared on the farm. With J. B. Covert, Mrs. Davis' father, he and his brother and Mr. Covert drove cattle across the plains, and after arriving in California, Franklin Davis and his brother Edward took care of the cattle on a ranch known as the Rock Creek cattle ranch. On January 21, 1864, Mr. Davis and Miss Rachael Rosella Covert were married at Stockton. She was born in Ozark, Franklin County, Ark., and her parents were John Bates and Hester Ann (Warner) Covert, born in Indiana and Virginia, re spectively. They were farmers in Arkansas until 1856, when they crossed the plains with their family coming in an ox team train of forty wagons besides bringing a lot of loose cattle. Six months, were necessary to complete the journey, which they accom plished safely, coming by the way of Salt Lake City. John Covert settled on the old Ashe ranch, ten miles east of Stockton, but soon afterwards he purchased a ranch of 300 acres about two miles west of the Ashe ranch where he carried on farming. His wife died in October, 1862, while he spent his last days in Hanford, Tulare County, where he passed away in 1 890. The result of this union was eight children : Lucas served in the Civil War and was never heard from ; the rest all came to California ; William died in this county; Shelby resides in Modesto; Henry died at Redwood City; Zadoc died here in 1866; Sarah, Mrs. Madison Walthall, died in Modesto; Rachael Rosella of whom we write and Wasson is Mrs. Rickart of Oakdale. Rosella Covert when a girl enjoyed but limited opportunity for schooling, the school nearest at Rand being two and one-half miles from her home. However, she was always studious and has been a . constant reader, so she had acquired a fund of information and today is well-informed and an interesting conversationalist. At the time of their marriage Mr. Davis was farming on the Copperopolis road, but in July, 1864, he moved to what is now Salida, Stanislaus County, where they purchased a quarter section of land for which he paid $500. Mrs. Davis recalls vividly those daj's and sees a marked contrast between them and the present. Mr. Davis drove a six- horse team, walking to and from his work each day and received for his day's pay just $1.50, working from daylight till dark. Mr. Davis added to his quarter section at Salida until he accumulated 800 acres of land, adjoining Salida, and just across the tracks from the site of the old Salida schoolhouse. Of this old homesite Mrs. Davis still owns 200 acres, the balance having been sold. About thirty acres are in peaches, ninety acres in alfalfa, and the balance in grain land, and the land has of late been leased to others. Mr. Davis was a very prominent and progressive man and was intensely interested in the cause of education, serving as school trustee and clerk of the board for many years. He was elected a member of the board of directors of the Modesto Irrigation District, serving as its president for seven years. In this position he rendered valuable services, giving the district the benefit of his years of experience and sound business judgment. In 1906, his health becoming greatly impaired, Mr. Davis retired from farming and moved to Modesto with his family and there on February 23, 1910, he died, lamented by many and especially by the Masons, having been a member of Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, at Modesto, for many years. He was a Democrat in matters of national political moment, but too broad-minded to be partisan and, therefore, narrow. 340 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Ten children were born of their happy union, and five are still living: John Noah, the eldest, is deceased; Ora A., is the wife of Wm. H. Hatton, the attorney at Modesto ; Madison H., is a warehouseman at Madera ; Mary Rosella has become Mrs. Wall and is living in Honolulu; Franklin Shelby is deceased; Porter Burdette, an invalid from his childhood, lived to be twenty-seven; Hatton died at the age of five; Frankie A. is also deceased ; Edward C. is an insurance broker, and also secretary of the Merchants Association of Modesto; Grace is Mrs. Whitney of San Diego. Mrs. Davis for many years cared for her invalid son, never leaving him alone and showered on him devoted care and thoughtfulness as well as nursing others with rare fidelity in that manner rendering the highest service to humanity. So it is no wonder she has not been able to take an active part in women's clubs or lodge work, much as she would have liked. She continues to reside at her old home, 827 Thirteenth Street, fully enjoying a large circle of friends and looks after, the large affairs left by her hus band and of which she renders a good account. A woman of a pleasing personality and rare business ability she is generous and kind-hearted and is much loved for her affa bility and many acts of kindness. SOLOMON PHILIP ELIAS. — Prominent among the most progressive men of influence in Stanislaus County whom Modesto iri particular will long delight to honor, is Solomon Philip Elias, manager of the clothing firm of D. & G. D. Plato, in Modesto. He was born, a native son, at San Francisco, on October 29, 1868, the son of Philip Elias, whose father was a rabbi, and Jenny (Plato) Elias, daughter of the late David Plato, and sister of the late Gabe Plato. He first attended the gram mar schools in San Francisco, but in 1879 he accompanied his parents to Modesto, when Philip Elias, David Plato, his grandfather, and G. D. Plato, an uncle, organ ized in that city the firm of D. & G. D. Plato. He attended the Modesto High School, graduated in 1886 with the first class sent out by that well-grounded institu tion, and became the first president of the Modesto High School Alumni Association; and then, for a while, he was in the employ of Messrs. D. & G. D. Plato. In 1895 Mr. Elias matriculated at Leland Stanford University, and for four years studied law; and in 1899 he was graduated with- the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was then admitted to practice law in the courts of this state, and also in the Federal courts, and he commenced actual practice in San Francisco ; and there in that field of strenuous activity he continued until 1905 when, upon the death of his father, he entered the well-known firm of D. & G. D. Plato as a partner and assistant manager, and he has been connected with said firm continuously ever since. When G. D. Plato died, in 1915, he became the firm's manager. Although never having held any public office, Mr. Elias is public-spirited and experienced and progressive to such an extent that he is, on the one hand, continu ally sought for advice and cooperation, and on the other hand, is ever ready to lend a helping hand. In 1910, he led the campaign, with the late Lawrence E. De Yoe, for a new charter for Modesto, and with facile speech and trenchant pen advocated the adoption of Modesto's commission government charter. He was elected president of the board of freeholders, and in collaboration with Mr. De Yoe wrote the charter needed, providing particularly for an aviation landing in Modesto, the first of its kind, bj'-the-way, in California. He refused the repeated importunities of friends to become a candidate for the first mayor of Modesto, but served as a director of the old Stanislaus County Board of Trade in the early days of Modesto's development, and later was a director of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce for several terms. With no axe to grind, and neither desiring nor receiving any remuneration for his services, in fact, with the single-eyed enthusiasm of one who believes iri Modesto and is ever anxious to do all that he can to keep it on the map, Mr. Elias has been active in all movements for the development of the city and the county, and has served on all public committees in civic and development work. A recognized author ity on local history, as also on municipal government, Mr. Elias, commanding both language and diction, has contributed articles for years to the local press on subjects of a municipal nature, as well as concerning the history of Stanislaus County, and has spoken in various parts of the state on commission government. j$^,H^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 343 A member of the Stanislaus County branch of the Stanford University Alumni Association, and of the Stanislaus County Bar Association, Mr. Elias is also a mem ber of the Progressive Business Club and of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce. He also belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine; and he is a member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282 of the Elks, and of the Modesto Lodge of the Native Sons of the Golden West. Per haps there is no more prominent man in the City of Modesto, whoever he may be, nor one more deserving of eminence ; and if Solomon Philip Elias takes stock in Central California, it is certainly true that the fast-developing, up-to-date towns and counties, long familiar not only with his name and genial features, but with his magnetic enthusiasm, his good works and their fruitful results, heartily reciprocate. T. J. CARMICHAEL. — A former wheat raiser now well-known in political circles, is T. J. Carmichael, the constable and recently a candidate for the office of sheriff. He came here in the early seventies, and ever since he has more and more participated in the county's upbuilding. He was born in Cherokee County, Ga., on November 11, 1854, the son of W. M. Carmicliael, who made four trips to Cali fornia as a sightseer, and each time returned to Georgia, where he died aged eighty- six years. He married, for the first time, Mary Susan Raggsdale, who died in Georgia in 1861 and left four sons — Thomas J., the subject of our review; James H., who came to California and settled in Stanislaus County, and farmed, dying at Waterford, in 1914, leaving several children, two of whom are employed by the Modesto Gas Works; W. C. Carmichael, who passed away at Oakdale, Calif., in 1913, and George W., who is in Oklahoma. A second time the father married, in Georgia, and by that union had two children — D. W. Carmichael, who is president of the commissioners of Sacramento, and Mrs. Orizaba Moore, who lives near Lodi, and is the wife of James Moore, the rancher. W. M. Carmichael was a soldier for three years in the army of the Confederacy, so that the lad lived through the troublous years of the Civil War. T. J. and his four younger brothers went to live with their grandparents, Wil liam and Annie Carmichael, at their plantation home in Cherokee County, Ga., and as the war left desolation and ruin, and the schools were few and far between, he enjoyed but few educational advantages. At the early age of ten he began to work at the plow ; and he continued to labor on plantations until he was nineteen ; and then he came to California, accompanying his father. In the Centennial Year, he was married in Stanislaus County to Miss Mary Ellen Carver, of Modesto, a native of Tuolumne County, whose father was Albert Gallatin Carver, a native of the state of Maine. He was a seafaring man, who sailed around the Horn and through the Golden Gate in 1850; and he died in Stanislaus County in 1891. In 1877, Mr. Carmichael set up for himself and rented land in Stanislaus County, and for many years he raised wheat north of Modesto, and he helped to break some of the virgin soil. He rented 2,500 acres, and farmed that one piece those many years. In 1878 Mr. Carmichael bought his first quarter section of land, and at times farmed up to 4,000 acres, mostly in wheat. He also became the owner of threshing rigs, and during twenty-four years wore out two threshing outfits, thresh ing his own grain and that of his neighbors, and during the season he employed twenty men and twenty horses. In early days he hauled as fine wheat as was ever raised in California and sold it in Modesto for seventy-five cents a hundred weight. He improved the Carmichael ranch two miles northwest of Modesto and sold in 1914. In 1895 Mr. Carmichael was elected supervisor of the Third District in Stanis laus County, and for twelve years served as representative of his district, economizing and giving entire satisfaction to his constituency. He was also chairman of the board for six years. In 1906 he became a candidate for sheriff on the Democratic ticket. He had previously been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death, in Septem ber, 1906, of the previous sheriff, R. B. Purvis, and to accept that appointment, he had resigned the supervisorship. Mr. Dingley won out by only eighty votes. In 1914 he was elected constable of Modesto Township ; and four years later reelected. 344 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael have had thirteen children, of whom nine are living: William M. resides in Stanislaus County, a rancher, and he married Mrs. Hamilton; Annie M. is a widow, her husband having been G. R. Dial, she lives two miles north west of Modesto; Eva is the wife of W. S. Butts of Oakland; Albert G., unmarried, is a rancher in Stanislaus County; Thomas J., Jr., farms in Madera County; Maud is the wife of T. G. McCarthy, the policeman in Modesto; Catherine is the wife of Clair Tullier, the plumber of Turlock; Loren D., a U. S. marine, saw service in France, is now on the police force in Modesto, and Blanche is the wife of Robert Murphy, who is employed by the Modesto Gas Company. The Carmichaels proudly trace their lineage back to Scotland, and quite as proudly follow the stream of de scendants who settled in Georgia and Maryland, and other parts of the South. THOMAS K. BEARD. — Among the citizens of Stanislaus County who have helped to shape the destiny of this favored section of California, Thomas K. Beard of Modesto holds an assured place. A native son of the Golden State, he was born near the present site of Waterford on August 15, 1857, the son of Elihu B. Beard, who is mentioned on another page of this history. The only survivor of four children, Thomas K. attended the public schools of Stanislaus County and San Jose. In 1878 he was united in marriage with Miss Grace Lewis, born in Calaveras County, this state, and daughter of Alfred and Diana (Brown) Lewis, pioneers. In the years that have intervened since the ending of his school days, Thomas K. Beard has been closely identified with every progressive movement for the building up of Modesto and Stanislaus County. He has had much to do with the development of irrigation by grading and construction work; the Modesto storage reservoir, an agency for the conservation of flood waters, completed in 1911; the Goodwin dam, which diverted the waters of the Stanislaus River into the systems of the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts, completed in 1913; also the completion of fourteen miles of the main canal of the South San Joaquin Irrigation district, com pleted the same year; the construction of the Foothill reservoir on the Turlock main line canal and the enlarging of tunnels, ditches, reinforced concrete flumes and gen erally improved the canal system for the Turlock Irrigation District; the prime mover in the Waterford Irrigation District; all these agencies reclaiming thousands of acres arid land into rich and fruitful farming sections upon which are to be found hundreds of contented and prosperous ranchers with their families. He organized the Interurban railway, which connects the Santa Fe with Modesto, thereby adding to the transportation facilities of this section. Nor have his energies been confined to California alone, but in Nevada he carried out several contracts of railroad and reclamation work. Mr. Beard has been a factor in agricultural circles, has developed fruit, alfalfa and ranch lands in the county ; has been closely identified with the educational advance ment of the city of Modesto by his services on the board of education from 1898 to 1901. As a real benefactor to the city he and his coworker, Mr. Wisecarver made it possible for the city to have a splendid park — Graceada, laid out through a subdivision that is now built up with some of the best residences of the city; West Side Park and Dry Creek Park are both deeds of gift to the city from Mr. Beard. Besides these many activities he has been the means of adding to the growth of Modesto by laying out several subdivisions and by erecting business blocks and residences. He served from 1901 to 1907 as a director of the Modesto Irrigation District. While a resident of the state of Washington, from 1883 to 1887, he served a term as a super visor of Yakima County. Interested in the cause of prohibition, he served on the state and national committees and was a delegate to the National Convention of that party held at Columbus, Ohio, and is a member of the State Y. M. C. A. board. It is said of Mr. Beard that he has never neglected an opportunity to advance the gen eral welfare of the city, county and state since his advent into the world of business, and with his wife and family he holds an assured place in the esteem of the citizens of the county. of 7 7CXg_^J? HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 347 THOMAS HENRY KEWIN.— A self-made man of affairs whose influence for good is widely recognized throughout Stanislaus County, is T. H. Kewin, of Modesto, vice-president of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bank, owning and operating a string of banks from Sacramento to Fresno, and connected with the Federal Reserve Banks. Mr. Kewin was born in Gardner, Grundy County, 111., November 14, 1871, the sbn of William and Elizabeth (James) Kewin, the former born on the Isle of Man, and the latter a native of England, whose brother, Captain H. G. James, entered into the early history of Stanislaus County as an extensive and pioneer cattle rancher who first began the cattle business at old Tuolumne City in early days. William Kewin came from his native land in 1857 and settled in Wisconsin, where he was married, then in Illinois. The children are: W. E., Modesto; R. J., Griswold, Iowa, and T. H. T. H. Kewin was reared on a farm in Grundy County and at the early age of" nine began to drive a team and plow and harrow and he attended the public schools of his native county. His father had come to California in 1874, but after spending six months, moved back to Grundy County, and it was there that he died in 1896, aged sixty-eight years. Mrs. Kewin had died when T. H. was a lad of twelve. At the age of fourteen he struck out for himself and two years later came to Cali fornia. The lad had studied shorthand and typewriting in Chicago but on account of ill health, in 1888, at which time he was given just a year to live, he made for Modesto, Cal. Upon arrival there he went to work on a ranch nearby and was greatly benefited, then he worked in the office of the county recorder ; but was com pelled to give that up, and he then went to Sacramento and entered the employ of Weinstock-Lubin & Company. Thinking to have sufficiently improved he again went East, but two months later he was compelled to go to Oklahoma, where he acted as newsboy on the trains running out of Kansas City. Finally he arrived in Sacra mento with $1.75 in his pocket. For the following ten years he drove mules, freighted to the mountains, moving up and down the valley and continued hard work until 1899, when he opened a general merchandise store at Salida. As he prospered he invested in land and still owns his home place of 160 acres. He became greatly interested in irrigation and he planted the first wine grapes under irrigation at Salida. He also owns 800 acres near Hickman which is devoted to grain raising. As an extensive vineyardist, Mr. Kewin has taken tbe winegrower's side of the prohibition question, in the handling of which he has proven both an able, concise and convincing speaker and writer, and an address, "The Menace of Intolerance," delivered by him at a meeting of wine- grape growers at San Francisco, and greeted as a strong argument against fanaticism, was ordered published and has been widely circulated. In that address, in which he refers to the freedom we have enjoyed as a nation for 140 years, he declares himself a firm believer in temperance and the proper use of wines and liquors, but absolutely opposed to prohibition, for he does not believe that it is a solution of the evils con nected with the use of ardent spirits. In keeping with his public-spirited nature and principles, Mr. Kewin has also worked hard for various movements unreservedly regarded as for the highest public good. In 1913 the work on the State Highways came to a standstill in Stanislaus County for lack of funds and Mr. Kewin went before the commission with the asser tion he could raise funds to finish the work in Stanislaus County if he were given to understand that the money so raised would be spent here. This assurance was given and he at once arranged for funds through the sale of the State Highway bonds to the amount of $85,000 in this county. This was the beginning of a movement throughout the state that soon brought more than $2,000,000 from other counties and the road work was continued and thus saved the day for Stanislaus County and/ good roads. He is still much interested in the question and always gives of his influence to the building up of roads and irrigation facilities which have so much to do with the prosperity of the community. As a result of such campaigning Mr. Kewin has been roundly abused by those ignorant of the benefits derived therefrom. In 1897 Mr. Kewin was united in marriage with Miss Nova Melton, a native of Iowa who came to California with her parents in early days. Two children have 348 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY blessed their union, Mona M. and George M. The latter enlisted in the Naval Reserve, and served in the convoy and patrol service on a submarine chaser. The family reside at 203 Magnolia Street, Modesto. Mr. Kewin is a Republican in political preference. During the World War he setved on the Loan Drives and helped put Stanislaus County over the top in every instance, and in other ways he did war work. He is vice-president of the Sacramento- San Joaquin Bank, which institution absorbed the First National and the Union Savings Banks of Modesto; is president of the First National Bank of Salida; a director of the Bank of Ceres; and a director of the California Grape Growers Ex change. He is a past master of Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M. ; past high priest of Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M.; past commander of Stockton Com mandery No. 8, K. T. ; commander of Modesto Commandery No. 57, K. T. ; mem ber of Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Oakland, and past patron of Electa Chapter No. 72, Order of Eastern Star. GEORGE PERLEY. — A liberal-minded, public-spirited citizen and a leader in formulating plans and carrying out projects for the development of Modesto and Stanislaus County, is George Perley, who came here in the late sixties. He was born at Frederickton, N. B., in 1849, a member of a family hailing from Wales and trans planted into this country by Allan Perley, who came to Ipswich, Mass., in 1632. The stock has been productive of eminent engineers and jurists, and these have done honor to the citizenship of both the United States and Canada. From the Canadian branch our subject, whose father was J. E. Perley, a New Brunswick lumberman, was de scended. The latter made his first trip to California in 1851, coming by way of Cape Horn and engaging in farming near Woodbridge, San Joaquin County; and in 1854 he returned East and brought back his family, wife and five children, by way of Panama. They traveled on the steamer Aspinwall from New York to the Isthmus, and from the Isthmus to San Francisco on the Golden Gate ; and after reaching here and getting settled, he conitnued for years at farm work. In 1862 he was elected a member of the Assembly of the State Legislature, and in 1867 was chosen for the State Senate, in which body, as a Republican, he was serving at the time of his death. During the Civil War he was instrumental in forming the first Union Club in Cali fornia, organized at Woodbridge. As a Mason he was well known, and received Masonic honors at his burial. Mrs. Perley was Mary McLaughlin before her marriage, and she was born at Strabane, in the North of Ireland. From there she came out to New Brunswick, where she met her future husband; and she died at Woodbridge in 1880. Eight of her children grew to maturity, our subject being the youngest of them all; but only two are now living. George Perley came to California in 1854, traveling by way of the Isthmus with his parents, and up to his sixteenth year received a public school edu cation. Then he started for himself, clerking for two years in a San Francisco com mission house ; and during this time he attended night school, taking a business course. In February, 1868, he came to Stanislaus County as bookkeeper and clerk in a mercantile house in Tuolumne City, and from there he went to Empire City, where he filled the same kind of a position from May, 1868, until November, 1871. Then he came to Modesto and started business for himself. He had an office on Ninth Street, and built the first grain warehouse in Modesto, locating it on the railroad reservation between I and J streets. It stood for twenty years before it was torn down, and was afterwards known as the J. G. Peters warehouse. After three years in the grain trade, Mr. Perley embarked in mercantile business at the corner of H and Tenth streets, now occupied by the Tynan Hotel. In the Cen tennial Year he sold out and again followed the grain business until May, 1879, when he started the abstract and title business that became so familiarly associated with his name. It was the first abstract office of the kind in the county, and had a full set of the county records. In 1902 he incorporated the Stanislaus Land and Abstract i«7QPany- and aS princ'Pal owner, took the offices of president and manager; and from 1879 until November, 1916, continued, when he sold the businses in which he had been so interested for thirty-seven and a hajf years. ?C^ty. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 351 During all these years when he did conveyancing, Mr. Perley was a notary pub lic, and attended to both insurance and real estate, so that he grew to be well posted as to the values of property; and he next engaged in the real estate business. He sub divided a number of tracts, including the Broughton Colony tract, and also the Del- mas Tract, and in 1917 he entered into partnership with R. S. Marshall, the firm being known as Perley and Marshall; and they carried on a splendid business in both real estate and insurance. However, January, 1921, they dissolved part nership and Mr. Perley continued as the oldest realtor in Modesto. He built the Perley Building on 11th Street, 50x120 feet. He has always been interested in agri culture, and at present owns a farm of 200 acres eight miles west of La Grange, fifty acres of which is a walnut orchard. Mr. Perley was a member of the board of freeholders that framed the present city charter, and in 1911 was elected a member of the first city council under the pres ent charter and served as commissioner of public works until he resigned, just before the close of his term. He has always been a member of all civic organizations such as the Board of Trade and the Chamber of Commerce, and the first board of trade was organized in his office. He and John F. Tucker circulated the first petition for the Board of Trade and so set the ball rolling. He was also always interested in irrigation, and in 1877 he was the organizer of a private irrigation company, which held several meetings ; but when they found that they could not get enough private capital to build the canal, they turned their attention to securing an act by the Legis lature, favoring the proposed irrigation districts. The result was that Mr. Wright was elected to the Legislature, and the Wright law was passed. Mr. Perley spent much valuable time lobbying for the bill, and the result is demonstrated by the success of the various irrigation districts. There was at first much opposition by landowners in the district, who did not wish to pay the assessments and so fought the bill, carry ing their appeal even to the Supreme Court of the United States, but they lost out and the law stood as valid and reasonable. At lone, Cal., Mr. Perley was married to Miss Caro P. Cookson, a native of the state of Maine and a charming woman of Yankee culture, who is now deceased. Two children were born of this marriage — one a son, George E., of Fresno, and the other a daughter, Mabel, who is now Mrs. B. F. Stone and resides in this county. Mr. Perley was made a Mason in Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., of Modesto, and exalted in Modesto chapter No. 49, R. A. M. He joined the Odd Fellows at Mo desto in the year 1872. He is both a past grand and a past district deputy grand master, and belongs to the Encampment, in which he is past chief patriarch and past district deputy. He is a member of the Canton in Stockton and of the Rebekah Lodge. WILLIAM M. SNEDIGAR. — A well-known pioneer family of Stanislaus County is that of the Snedigars, now represented by William M. Snedigar, who has been a resident here from the early days. Born at Martinsburg, Pike County, 111., on January 8, 1863, he was the son of Robert R. and Harriet B. (Worth) Snedigar, the father a native of Pike County, 111., and the mother of Knoxville, Tenn. When he was but a j'ear and two months old, his parents made the long trip to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, coming to Stanislaus County by way of Stockton. The family settled about five miles from the present site cf Oakdale and here the father became extensively interested in ranching, growing large crops of grain, and also owning many sheep. Mr. Snedigar's great uncle, Thomas Richardson, was one of the largest sheep raisers of that vicinity, owning thousands of sheep and operating 20,000 acres of land. R. R. Snedigar was one of the big farmers of Stanislaus County, having at one time 1 ,440 acres in barley and wheat. Growing up thus in pioneer times and under pioneer influences, William Snedi gar is a Californian in all but birth. His boyhood was spent on the home, farm, where he early became familiar with all the duties of the ranch, and his education was received in the neighborhood school, fortunate in having for his teacher Hon. Vital E. Bangs, whose name is enrolled high among Stanislaus County's worthy citi zens. Nor was his association with that eminent teacher closed when his school- 352 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY days were over, as when he reached the age of twenty-eight he was united with Mr. Bangs' daughter, Miss Susan Bangs, a woman of charming personality who has been a true helpmate to him. Upon reaching young manhood Mr. Snedigar began ranching on his own account and he is still actively engaged in grain farming. He is the owner of a fine farm of eighty-five acres north of Modesto on the McHenry Road, which was a part of the Vital E. Bangs farm, and here he has erected a large, attractive stucco residence, modern and up-to-date. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Snedigar: Harriet Victoria, Mrs. Joseph D. Cozad, Jr., resides in Modesto with her husband and son, Philip D. ; Merwin H., a graduate in mechanics through a correspondence course, enlisted as a chauffeur in the U. S. Army on May 19, 1917, assigned to M. T. Corps, served on the Mexican border until discharged on March 19, 1920. He is now at home. Lloyd M. is the third child of the family. The youngest, Gerald M., a bright, handsome lad of fifteen, a great favorite in all the neighborhood, passed away in March, 1920, a sad blow to the family circle. Although his busy life as a rancher occupies Mr. Snedigar's time, he takes a live interest in all public affairs and in 1907 he served his county as deputy assessor. THOMAS C. HOCKING. — Prominent among the most progressive journalists of California who have done much to hasten the development of the great common wealth into a veritable Golden State, Thomas C. Hocking, who recently retired as owner of the Modesto Morning Herald, may well be proud of his unusually interest ing career as a newspaper man. A native son favored from the hour when he first saw the light, he was born in Grass Valley on August 10, 1864, and so passed his boyhood in Nevada County, replete with its many historic and literary associations. He began his newspaper experience as "devil" at the age of seventeen in the em ploy of the Grass Valley Tidings, and soon rose to the position of reporter, of business manager, and later to editor of the same paper. His active participation in local civic affairs led to his being chosen by his fellow-citizens as a councilman of Grass Valley and then as a member of the state legislature; but he declined renomination in order to join a number of prominent Stanislaus County Republicans in the purchase and conduct of the Modesto Weekly Herald. He was made manager and editor, and under his sensible, far-seeing direction, the newspaper took on new life, increased rapidly in circulation, and became one of the acknowledged agencies for optimistic views and helpful influence ; and in time he bought out the other stockholders. Mr. Hocking Was first attracted to Modesto by the promise of irrigation develop ment, and through the Modesto Herald he contributed materially to make that dream come true. During all the ten years of litigation in the district, when the anti-irriga tion element was in control, the Herald was an earnest champion of the enterprise as originally designed, in season and out of season. With the completion of the Turlock district, Mr. Hocking revived the interest of a score or more influential Modestoans, and a Board of Trade was formed that was really a pro-irrigation organization. Mr. Hocking was president of the board, and it is needless to say that he left no stone unturned to forward the vastly important work it had planned and, despite various forms of opposition, had courageously undertaken. This body, through propaganda in the Herald, and lawsuits, finally succeeded in ousting the "anti" directors, and in 1904 the Modesto district became a reality with the irrigation jubilee of which Mr. Hocking was manager, as the culminating feature. The Board of Trade then became a real factor in colonizing and developing the county; and under Mr. Hocking's leadership, much literature written by him was issued and advantageously distributed far and wide. In 1903 Mr. Hocking founded the Modesto Morning Herald, thereby making a daily newspaper out of the old weekly, and from that time he and his wide-awake journal were active in both the building up and the upbuilding of Modesto, the Herald backing every forward movement. Among the activities which Mr. Hocking lavored was the promotion of the first Modesto creamery, the parent of our great dairy industry ; and he was also instrumental in inaugurating the first cannery and the paved street system. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 355 The Herald, under Mr. Hocking, was always an active supporter of the Repub lican party, and was a big factor in changing this region from a Democratic to a Republican county. He was a member of the Republican State Convention until the old plan was abolished, and for many years belonged to the State Executive Com mittee. He is one of three survivors of the group which originated the Lincoln- Roosevelt League, later the Progressive party, at Los Angeles, and attended the national convention of the Republican party, and was one of the bolters at the famous 1912 Republican convention, which resulted in the formation of the Progressive party. The Morning Herald was founded originally by Mr. Hocking as a seven-column, four-page newspaper, gotten out by a staff of twb journalists; since then the Herald has grown with the city and county to the paper of today, with a staff of twenty or more well-trained workers, turning out eight or twelve pages, with extra Sunday edition of carefully-edited news daily, with leased wire Associated Press service. The Herald under Mr. Hocking gave Modesto its first telegraphic wire service and Associated Press franchise; and it installed the first typesetting machine seen here, the first linotype, and the first perfecting newspaper press. All in all, Mr. Hocking may look back upon his strenuous years in the journalistic field in Stanislaus County with_a good deal of complacence, and forward with extreme optimism. Mr. Hocking was united in marriage in San Francisco with Miss Nellie Gilbert and they have two daughters: Florence, who married John H. Mead of Hollywood, Cal., in October, 1920, and Constance, who is attending Stanford University. SAMUEL M. UPDBKE. — A practical, self-made man, whose industry and ex perience^ — often freely placed at the disposal of others — have enabled him to attain to a position of independence and influence, is Samuel M. Updike, the dairy farmer on the Beckwith Road about six miles to the southwest of Salida. He was born in Franklin County, Ind., near the Ohio line, the son of Virgil McCracken Updike, who moved to Decatur County, in that same state, where he became a farmer with his own eighty acres, and passed away when our subject was only seven years old. He was only thirty-five years of age when he died, and he left a widow and eight children. He, too, was a native of Franklin County, and his father, who died in the Civil War, came of good old Pennsylvania Dutch stock. Virgil Updike married Ruth Ann Cythens, a motherly woman of English descent, and she lived to be fifty-five years old. The eighty acres thus left to the widow and her numerous children were not enough to furnish support for all, and Samuel Updike had to go away from home, at an early age, to work out for others. In doing this, he followed in the footsteps of his mother, who had been left an orphan and was bound out; but such was her experience that she struggled valiantly, and with success, to keep her family together, and in time she was helped by each of them. Emily M. is now the wife of Jasper Pattison, a prosperous farmer in North Dakota. Margaret Ann became the wife of William Patrick and lived on a fawn in Iowa, where she died, the mother of two girls arid a boy. Monroe resides in Oregon. I. W. Updike is a resident of Modesto. Samuel M. is the subject of our review. John M. resides in Visalia. Claracy Eliza beth, of Modesto, is the widow of the late Charles Butler, a rancher of Stanislaus County; while Aaron is deceased. Samuel Updike first saw the light on February 17, 1851, and at the expense of a thorough schooling he contracted to work for his uncle for his board and forty dollars a year. He stayed in Decatur County until he was seventeen, and then he, his mother and the rest of the family moved to Monona County, Iowa, where he rented land near Onawa. From there, in 1874, he and his brother, I. W. Updike, struck out for Cali fornia, reaching Stockton in January, 1875. Samuel went to work at thirty dollars a month driving eight or ten mules ; and he also plowed on grain ranches. The first work, however, that he did was to pick grapes for the making of wine. Then he engaged to work for Johnny Jones, the extensive rancher at Atlanta, twenty miles southeast of Stockton; and being apt, he soon learned the ways of California industry. This included the running of the machinery used in those times, and the various methods of farming found best to suit California conditions. 20 6 356 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. Updike then went to Franklin, Nev., and worked in the lumber camps and sawmills ; he surveyed for water ditches and built flumes, and whatever he undertook he applied himself to in the most intelligent and painstaking manner, and with the determination to succeed. He saved his money and came back to Stockton, but soon went north to Walla Walla, Wash., where he again entered the lumber camps, and also worked in the sawmills in the Blue Mountains. After nine years of successful activity in Washington, Mr. Updike returned to California and Modesto, and there, in 1888, he and his brother, I. W. Updike, began ranching and ten years later were among the stockholders that started the Farmers & Merchants Bank, which was later sold to the Bank of Italy. Since then he has owned several ranches, and his present home-holding is the fourth he has acquired. It consists of 525 acres, which he devotes to dairy purposes, in which he is ably assisted by his son. Like his brother, Isaac Wesley Updike, he is a good judge of land. I. W. Updike, by the way, has been for years the land appraiser of the Bank of Italy in Modesto. In 1897 Mr. Updike was married to Miss Christena C. Patrone, a native of Stan islaus County, on June 16, 1873, to whose intelligence, hard work and loyalty to husband, family and country, he gladly gives credit for much of their prosperity. Her father was Joseph Patrone, and her mother was Rosena Breckley, both ^arly settlers of this county. Two children have blessed the union : Joseph Wesley, who is a part ner with his father in the operation of the ranch, and Alice Elizabeth Updike. Mr. Updike is a member of Wildey Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Encampment of Modesto, and in the same lodges his son has risen to prominence and influence, being also a member of the Canton and Rebekahs. He is a Republican in his preference for national parties, but by no means partisan when it comes to supporting the best men and the best measures for the community in which he lives and thrives. JOHN E. THOMPSON.— Not many pioneers of California at John E. Thomp son's advanced age of eighty-three years can make a better showing for able-bodied- ness and daily, vigorous activity, and it is not surprising that he is looked upon as one of the representative men of Stanislaus County and exerts an enviable influence beyond Crows Landing and vicinity. In Bowling Green, Ky., which has given so many sterling settlers to the West, he was born on April 26, 1838, and he received his schooling in a log house near Huntsville, Mo., to which section in Randolph County his father had removed, purchasing there some 1,280 acres of land. As a planter, he raised tobacco and hemp, and was known as a man of progressive ideas. When eighteen years of age, Mr. Thompson left home and went to Benton, Lafayette County, Wis., where he worked in the lead mines for five years. At that place, too, in the fall of 1860 he was married to Miss Mary Oldham, who was born and educated in Pike County, Mo. This marriage was a fortunate affair, and five children, four of whom reached maturity, have blessed the union. Julia is Mrs. W. N. Winter of Hughson, and there, also, lives Amanda, who has become Mrs. W. T. Carson. Nona, Mrs. Frank Poole, and May, who is Mrs. Frank Matlock, reside in Los Angeles. Walter died when he was two years old. Mrs. Thompson died in 1895, at the age of fifty-five years. From Benton Mr. Thompson returned to Missouri, and there, for two years, he lived with his folks on the plantation, or until he came out to California in 1873. Then he settled near Stockton, and worked at the blacksmith trade for Messrs. Mattison & Williams. In 1876, he came to Stanislaus County and purchased the blacksmith shop on Crows Landing-Modesto Road ; and not being over busy, he worked part of the time on the San Joaquin River boats running down the stream from Los Banos. Then, with the aid of John Brad Crow, he purchased the grocery business from Mr. Armstrong and located on the lot adjoining his blacksmith shop, and after that he acquired the twenty-acre tract, on a part of which the store now stands. Since then he has been in business on the same spot, and he has his twenty acres in alfalfa. He knows almost everybody for miles around, and he has what _ many a business man of large affairs would covet — a host of friends. Usually march ing under the banners of the Democratic party, Mr. Thompson prefers to vote inde pendently if he is persuaded that another party has a better candidate. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 359 CHARLES EDWIN SPERRY.— Prominent among the good old California names destined long to be remembered and honored by an appreciative posterity, is that of the late Charles Edwin Sperry, who died on New Year's Day, 1906. He was born on October 28, 1847, in a picturesque village on the coast of Maine, and when only eleven years of age accompanied his parents to the Pacific Slope, traveling in sailing vessels to the Isthmus of Panama, then across the narrow neck of land, and finally up to San Francisco and inland to Stockton, on the San Joaquin River. His father, Eli N. Sperry, was a cousin of Austin and Willard Sperry, founders of the famous flour mills, now an international institution ; and under his lead, Charles Edwin early took up agriculture on the home farm eight miles north of Stockton in the San Joaquin Valley. As a j'oung man, he also worked in the Sperry Mills at Stockton for a number of years, and then, when he decided to make a start for himself, he pushed into Stanislaus County. At Stockton, on November 7, 1874, Mr. Sperry was married to Miss Clara Sabin, who was born on a farm near the border of the Catskill Mountains, in New York State, not far from the upper Hudson, the daughter of Egbert and Elizabeth (Lord) Sabin, natives of Manchester, England. When they first came to America, they lived for a while in New York State ; and then they migrated to Ohio, and after that to Wisconsin, where Mr. Sabin followed his trade as a carpenter or wagon- builder for a number of years. He also had a small farm. Reared in the localities in which her parents had dwelt and having taught school in Lesueur County, Minn., a number of terms, Miss Sabin came to Stockton in 1872. In the spring of 1875, therefore, Mr. Sperry came with his bride to the Whit more ranch in Stanislaus County, and while they were there two of their four children, Charles and Louis, were born. Charles A. is now a rancher at Denair, and Louis N. is farming near him. Florence E. was superintendent of the Lane Hospital at San Ftancisco, and now the wife of Frank B. Scholz, and as a nurse in the Stanford No. 2 unit of the American Red Cross, she served overseas in the U. S. Army for fourteen months, braving much exposure. Willard E., the youngest of the children, is both a rancher and a business man at Ceres. Mr. Sperry, as a man of strictest integrity and commendable public spirit, supported every movement making for progress in the county; and since his death, Mrs. Sperry has been continuing the good work begun by him, while caring for her mother, an interesting pioneer now ninety-three years of age. Mrs. Sperry recalls the difficulties which greeted a young woman when she came here in the early '70s. Then there were only three dwellings between the Sperry ranch house and the village of Turlock, whereas now there are hundreds of valuable, prosperous farms in this district. The Lateral Canal No. 2 borders the Sperry Ranch on the north, on which account the ranch is abundantly supplied with water. The home place now consists of forty acres on which stands the old ranch house, built about sixty years ago by John Fox on the old Dr. Ashe ranch. LEMUEL EARL DRAKE. — A representative rancher of Stanislaus County is Lemuel E. Drake, whose ability and enterprise are evidenced in his well-kept eighty- acre dairy, grain and fruit ranch. Of English origin, the Drake family is numbered among the old and respected American families of early Colonial daj's. Lemuel E. Drake was born at Louisville, Clay County, 111., March 18, 1860, and is the second child and oldest son in a family of eight children. His father, Jacob Drake, a native of Ohio, was a California pioneer who made his first trip to California across the plains in an ox team train in the early fifties. He Was a cabinet-maker, wheelwright and millwright, and a master mechanic in his line. He built a grist mill near Sutter, in Yuba County, and also erected the first water grist mill on the Sacramento River, near the site of the city of Sacramento. He was single when he made his first trip to California, and after a few years he returned to Clay County, 111., where he mar ried Miss Mary J. Coffee, who is a Tennesseean by birth, and a sister of the late S- W. Coffee, well-known Stanislaus County pioneer. After his marriage, Jacob Drake made his home at Louisville, 111., where he ran a cabinet maker's shop and where his three oldest children were born. Leaving his Illinois farm in 1863, he 360 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY preceded his family to Virginia City, Nev., where he spent the winter and worked until the following spring. The spring of 1864 his wife outfitted a wagon of her own with ox teams, hired a man to drive it and crossed the plains in company with her two brothers, S. W. and A. J. Coffee and her two children, one child having died in Clay County, 111. There were about sixty wagons in the train. Her husband met her at Salt Lake City, and they spent their first winter at Virginia City, Nev., later going to sunny California, locating temporarily at the town of Linden, where Jacob Drake took a contract to manufacture washing machines. In the fall of 1865, he came to Paradise Valley, Stanislaus County, in what is now Bel Passi School Dis trict, where his brother-in-law, S. W. Coffee, was located on a homestead. Jacob Drake also homesteaded 160 acres, the west half of which his son, Lemuel, now owns, and which has never been out of the family. Jacob Drake and William Brown built the first Bel Passi schoolhouse with their own tools and hands, about the year 1871, and the district was named by its first teacher, the late Hon. Vital E. Bangs. Lemuel E. Drake was reared on the old homestead and in 1875, when fifteen years old, his father died. The mother never remarried, and the first year following her husband's death, rented out the land. The next year young Lemuel assumed charge of his mother's large grain ranch, a responsible task for his young shoulders. The mother kept the family together and nobly and successfully coped with the difficulties that fell to her lot. She attained the age of seventy-nine, lacking about nine days, dying in Stanislaus County in 1913. Her surviving children are well known in Stanislaus County. The eldest child, a daughter named Fannie, died in childhood in Clay County, 111. ;' the other children are : Lemuel Earl ; Homer A., who was reared in Stanislaus County, married Eunice Brooks, became the owner of 100 acres of the home place and died in 1915; Aletha Gertrude, who was born in California, died at the age of nine; Mary Martha, widow of the late W. R. High, who was president of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Modesto; Z. E. Drake, engaged in the real estate business at Modesto ; Dialtha Lulu, the wife of L. W. Krohn of Areata, Humboldt County, Calif. ; Jacob William is employed on a ranch near Crows Landing. In addition to ranching Lemuel E. took up the work of a carpenter and builder ; has built fifty-two barns in Stanislaus County since he came back from Santa Barbara County, where he ranched on 600 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley. He was engaged in raising wheat twelve years and for two years was inter ested in the cattle business with the Canfields, who later became millionaire oil men. Returning to Stanislaus County in 1902, he resided at Modesto from 1902-4, where he was engaged with his brother, Z. E. Drake, in the real estate business. Since 1904 he has engaged in farming his ranch and also carpentering and contract ing ; 42 acres of his ranch he has set to Thompson seedless grapes. Mr. Drake's marriage occurred in Santa Barbara County in 1883, and united him with Hester Ann Torrence, who was born in Illinois and came to California as a little girl with her parents and their family. The Torrence family are of Scottish origin.. Her father, James W. Torrence, was born in Missouri, and her mother, Nancy K. Skief, was a native of Illinois. The parents were married in Clay County, 111., where the father followed the occupation of a farmer and brickmason. Some of the oldest chimneys in Stanislaus County, many of which are still standing, were built by him. Mrs. Drake has four brothers and one sister living. Mr. and Mrs. Drake are the parents of six children, namely: Jessie Ethel, the wife of Ora Russell, an electrician, residing at Modesto ; James Lynn, a raisin grower in High precinct, who married Clara Cover, they are the parents of two children, Donald and Lynn Earl; William H. is in partnership with his father and married Miss Alma Weldj', of Modesto; Mary Martha is a stenographer for the Thompson Brothers Grain Company at Modesto; Annie Genevieve is in Modesto High, and Mercedes Lucile. Mr. Drake loves the great outdoors, and the hunt, the forest and stream are his wholesome diversions. He goes into the high Sierras for a hunt every year, and is an excellent shot. He deservedly ranks among the foremost highly respected and enter prising pioneer citizens of Stanislaus County. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 363 WILLIAM W. COX. — Among the most extensive and successful agriculturists of Stanislaus County is William W. Cox, who is carrying on grain farming with profit, in addition to paying considerable attention to varied business interests. Born in the rural district near Grayson, Cal., February 17, 1879, a son of John D. Cox, a successful farmer of that district, his boyhood was spent on his father's ranch- and his early education obtained in the district schools ; later he attended Heald's Business College in San Francisco, from which institution he was graduated in 1896. After his graduation he returned home and entered into partnership with his father in the grain and stock-raising business, and remained there until 1905, when he leased a large tract of land from the Patterson Ranch Company, and started out to make his own fortune. Frorn time to time he added more land until he was operating 4,500 acres, planting about one-half of it to grain each year. It required the services of sixty head of mules and with the necessary plows and harrows to prepare the land for grain. When harvest time came the crops were gathered with a Best steam tractor and com bined harvester, his outfit being the largest in the valley. This extensive ranch was successfully operated until 1909, when Mr. Patterson started an irrigation project and sub-divided the lands. Mr. Cox then purchased his present ranch of 1,646 acres two miles north of Westley, continuing the operation of this ranch until the present time. He had also purchased a ranch of 220 acres at Crows Landing, where he resided until 1915, when he rented the Crows Landing ranch and removed to his ranch near Westley. He erected a large and commodious modern residence, two large barns, complete with blacksmith shop and other necessary buildings. He continued to run his ranch with mules until 1918, when he changed to tractors. One Best seventy-five horsepower tractor runs night and day during the busy season, plows and harrows, and the only use for teams is in the sowing of the grain. The grain is gathered with the 'Best steam tractor and cqmbined harvester. The gasoline tractor pulls three fifty-inch plows, each plow having five bottoms, plowing 150 inches on each round. The combined harvester is propelled by the Best steam tractor and has a thirty-five foot cut. From sixty to 100 acres of grain can be cut in a day, getting from 1,400 to 1,800 sacks. The greatest number of sacks cut in one day was 2,250. On August 16, 1920, Mr. Cox was one of the organizers of the Commercial Bank of Patterson, having a capital stock of $75,000, fully paid. He has been the president of the institution since its inception and is also one of the largest stock holders. For the first eighteen months, the bank occupied temporary quarters. On June 10, 1921, the erection of a new, concrete bank building was begun, costing $50,000 and located in the center of Patterson. The building is an ornament to the town and is furnished complete for banking purposes, with safe deposit vaults and all necessary equhment for carrying on a successful and conservative banking business. This building was completed in September, 1921, and the bank now occupies the com modious and modern banking building. Mr. Cox is also a director of the Bank of Newman and of the Modesto Bank; also as chairman of the board of directors of the West Stanislaus Irrigation District, a new district organized in 1920 for the purpose of irrigating 36,000 acres of land. Mr. Cox is also serving his community as a member of the board of trustees of the Patterson Union high school. The first marriage of Mr. Cox occurred February 17, 1909, in Modesto and united him with Miss Edna Finley, the youngest daughter of the late John M. Finley, a California pioneer and a prominent Stanislaus County rancher. She was born in Modesto and was a graduate of the Modesto high school and the San Jose State Normal. The union resulted in the birth of two daughters, Rebecca and Margaret. Mrs. Cox passed away October 13, 1915. He was united in marriage the second time at Crows Landing, November 28, 1917, to Miss Lois Stanley, a daughter of F. S. Stanley, a pioneer of the West Side. She is a graduate of the Newman high school and of the University of California. They are the parents of twin boys, John Stewart and William Stanley. Fraternally Mr. Cox is a Mason in Patterson Lodge No. 488, F. & A. M. ; also a member of the Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M., and of the Modesto Com mandery No. 57, K. T. He enjoys the distinction of being a charter member of the 364 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Orestimba Parlor of the N. S. G. W. at Crows Landing. For three years, from 1917 to the present time, Mr. Cox has served as a member of the grand jury. Politi cally he is a stanch Republican, serving his chosen party as a member of the county committee and delegate to county and state convention. During the World War he served as chairman of the Westley district in the Liberty Loan drives and each time his district went over the top ; he was also active in other war drives. The family are actively identified with the Presbyterian Church at Crows Landing, giving of their time and means to the advancement of the cause there. Mr. Cox is actuated by a spirit of advancement in all that he does and his life has been characterized by high ideals, so that he has sought not only to promote material progress, but also to aid in rhe intellectual and moral development of the communities in which he has lived. His has been an active useful life, winning the confidence and honor of all. ZACHARIAH E. DRAKE. — The unlimited possibilities of the realty business are constantly attracting to this vocation some of the most enterprising and pro gressive men of the community, and Zachariah E. Drake, of the well-known firm of Drake and Elliott, real estate dealers at Modesto, has perhaps sold more land in Stanislaus County than any other person. The son of an honored pioneer of Cali fornia, Z. E. Drake was born July 31, 1869, about three miles northeast of Modesto, in the Bel Passi school district, Stanislaus County. The Drake family is among the oldest notable American families of Colonial days, and trace their genealogy to the eminent English navigator and explorer, Sir Francis Drake. Jacob William Drake was the progenitor of the branch of the fam ily represented on the Pacific slope, and his wife, Mrs. Mary J. (Coffee) Drake, was born November 13, 1833. Jacob William Drake crossed the plains with an ox team in 1864, landing in Carson City, Nev., and a year later, in 1865, he and his family came to Stanislaus County, Calif., where the father homesteaded 160 acres, pre empted another 160 acres and purchased 160 from the railroad company, totalling 480 acres, against which there was never any indebtedness up to the time of the death of the mother in 1913. Jacob William Drake was prominent in the affairs of Stanislaus County in early days, and helped move the first residence from Paradise City to Modesto, which was located on the corner of 13th and J streets. Z. E. Drake acquired his education in the grammar school in the Bel Passi dis trict, and later took a course in the Stockton Business College, graduating from that institution in 1890. He was engaged in the hardware business at Madera from 1891-1894, then took a position with the Holt Manufacturing Company of Stockton as traveling salesman, remaining with the firm eight years. After this he was in the grocery business one year, 1899-1900, at Modesto, and in 1901 embarked in the real estate business with A. B. Shoemake, under the firm name of A. B. Shoemake Com pany, Inc. While with Mr. Shoemake they ran an advertising train through the states of the East and Middle West, exhibiting Stanislaus County products, one of the greatest moves toward the development of Stanislaus County ever promulgated. This brought many people to the county who have remained and prospered in their investments. They maintained offices in Los Angeles, Fresno, Turlock and San Jose, with headquarters at Modesto, and Mr. Drake traveled extensively in the East in the interest of the firm. He was elected councilman of the city of Modesto and served in that body four years, during which time he helped frame the present com mission form of city government. While serving as councilman he and George J. Wren caused the first street paving to be done in Modesto. During the slack years in real estate, from 1913 to 1917, Mr. Drake engaged in the business of street paving, and paved several of the streets of Modesto. In 1918 he again engaged in the real estate business and became a member of the firm of Drake and Johnson, which later became Drake and Elliott, the present firm name. In San Francisco, December 16, 1889, Mr. Drake was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Mannion, and they are the parents of five children: Grover E. ; Mae L., who is now Mrs. Harding; Gladys, Mary and Carleton Emerson. Always interested in horses, during the palmy days of horse racing, he followed the various circuits an i developed several excellent pacers and trotters, among them 7 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 367 being Lotterj'-T,. with a record of 2:10, and De Witt Talmadge, a pacer, who was exhibited the last time by Mr. Drake in Kahoka, Mo., and he was pronounced by Dr. Carver, of Chicago, to be the guideless wonder pacer of the Pacific Coast. Mr. Drake's political views coincide with those of the Democratic party in national issues, and in local politics he votes for the man best fitted to represent the interests of all concerned, regardless of party. Fraternally, he is identified with the B. P. O. Elks, receiving his first receipt for dues from that organization in 1902, which, with every receipt to and including the last issue, he has encased in the original case given him by the Stockton- Lodge. He is now a member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282; is also a member of the Modesto Club and the Elks Central Club. He is thoroughly familiar with the real estate situation in Modesto and Stanislaus County, and heartily lends his influence to those enterprises that tend to upbuild his home town. One of the movements with which he was identified that meant so much to help the irriga tion projects of the county become a success, was when he was acting as one of the buyers of the bonds for the First National Bank of Modesto. His business success is due to efficiency and rightly directed energy, and he and his estimable family de servedly enjoy the high position they occupy in Modesto social and economic life. CHAS. THOMAS KENNEDY.— Emphatically a man of energy, Chas. T. Kennedy of Knights Ferry is one of the enterprising and active men in Stanislaus County, giving substantial encouragement to every plan for the promotion of . the public welfare. He is among the pioneer settlers, having emigrated from Pennsyl vania with his parents, Andrew Thomas and Jane (Murphy) Kennedy, and an older sister, arriving in Knights Ferry on Christmas day in the year of 1868. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., May 9, 1867, being the only son living; Bessie is the widow of W. E. Lutz and resides at Berkeley, Cal., a brother and sister having passed away in infancy. Andrew Thomas Kennedy had worked in the Pennsylvania machine shops, but seeing the great possibilities in the cattle business, he immediately took up this work and became very successful in this line, enjoying the fruits of his toil until September 25, 1898, when he passed away at the age of seventy-eight years, his faithful wife having preceded him on April 28, 1896. The father had become joint owner with his brother, Robert Kennedy, of a 1,500-acre stock farm and cattle ranch near Knights Ferry which later became the property of our subject. C. T. Kennedy spent his childhood days in Stanislaus County, enjoying the educational advantages of the district schools of Knights Ferry. He was married in Batchelor Valley, February 23, 1898, choosing for his life companion Miss Magda lena D. Jorgensen, who was born in Batchelor Valley, the only child of the late William and Maria Jorgensen; they also were pioneers, having come to California in 1867 and engaging in the sheep and cattle business at Knights Ferry, became very prosperous. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are the owners of the old Dent home, which they purchased some fifteen years ago and which has since been their home. It is considered one of the historic places of Stanislaus County, being the home of John Dent, who upon several occasions entertained his brother-in-law, then Capt. U. S. Grant, here in the early days. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are the proud parents of three children; Clarence E. is employed by Davis-Heller-Pearce, contractors and architects at Stockton ; Frances E. and Lloyd C. are at home. During the late war, Mr. Kennedy showed his true patriotic spirit by serving our country as captain of all the Liberty Loan, Red Cross and other war drives in the Knights Ferry section. Mr. Kennedy possesses a pleasing personality, is endowed by nature with a very optimistic spirit, and has the happy faculty of making and retaining many friends. He is highly esteemed for his manly qualities, high ideals of citizenship and business acumen. Mr. Kennedy was made a Mason in Summit Lodge No. 112, F. & A. M., Knights Ferry, and has served two years as master of the lodge. He is a member of Modesto Chapter No. 49 R. A. M. at Modesto, Sonora Council R. & S. M. at Sonora, Pacific Commandery No. 3, K. T. at Sonora and Islam Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. at San Francisco, and with his wife is a member of Summit Chapter No. 138, O. E. S., Knights Ferry, in which Mrs. Kennedy is past matron, while he is a past 368 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY patron. Mr. Kennedy is well posted on the local history of Stanislaus County, par ticularly the mining region in the eastern part of the county, and it is interesting to hear him tell of the happenings of the early days: and note the great changes that have taken place. Liberal and enterprising, he has always done his share towards the community's development and welfare. MRS. EUNICE DRAKE.— A woman of high ideals, Mrs. Eunice Drake, widow of the late Homer A. Drake, has bravely faced and successfully solved the many problems that fall to the lot of a woman left to fight the battle of life alone. A native of California, she was born in Sutter County, a daughter of the Rev. J. Brooks, a native of Ohio, and a pioneer Baptist preacher of California. He married Miss Frances M. Hacklej', of Oregon, in that state, and later they came to Cali fornia to live. Mrs. Drake was a baby when the family removed from Sutter County to Colusa County, and thirteen when she came to Stanislaus County, and she was united in marriage with Mr. Drake near Salida, Stanislaus County. Homer A. Drake was the son of Jacob Drake, a prominent California pioneer and a native of Ohio, who first crossed the plains to California in the early fifties. Unmarried at that time, he returned to Clay County, 111., and was united to Miss Mary Janett Coffee, a native of Tennessee. Jacob Drake preceded his family to California in the sixties, and his wife outfitted a wagon of her own the following spring, and with her family crossed the plains in the train of which her brother S. W. Coffee was the leader. Homer A. was born in Clay County, 111., July 24, 1860, and was a child when he accompanied his mother in the memorable trip across the plains. He was educated in the public schools of California and after his marriage for a j/ear farmed the old Drake home place. Afterward Mr. and Mrs. Drake went to Modoc County, proved up on a preemption claim, later returning to Stanislaus County and going thence to Merced County, where they lived three years. Finally returning to Stanislaus County, they rented different places and ran the Drake gro cery store in Modesto. Mr. Drake had been in failing health for several years before his death on December 6, 1912. Then Mrs. Drake, with the aid of her eldest son, Leonard Arthur Drake, now of Santa Rosa, continued to operate the home ranch of 100 acres, which was Mr. Drake's inheritance from his mother, until 1916, when she rented it out and came to Modesto to make her home. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Drake, Leonard A. is an electrician at Santa Rosa; Charles A. resides in Modesto and is interested in the Turner Hardware Company; Ruth E. resides in San Francisco ; Josephine is the wife of Albert Giovanetti, a rancher ; Louis C. is at home; Dorothy E. and Lulu Katharyn are students in the Modesto schools. Gifted with good business judgment and tact, Mrs. Drake has proved to be an ex cellent mother and is deeply beloved by her children and highly esteemed by her circle of admiring friends. She is a member of the First Methodist Church and is serving (1921) her second year as vice-president of the W. C. T. U. She resides at 1015 Twelfth Street, Modesto. ALBERT GORDON ELMORE.— The wide-spread fame of California for its up-to-date and decidedly superior school systems is easily explained in the character, training and accomplishments of such noted educators as A. G. Elmore, the scholarly superintendent of schools of Stanislaus County. No better choice for an incumbent of his high office could be found ; and that the electors well know his worth is shown in the fact that he was elected at the primaries, on August 27, 1918, by a four-to-one majority. A. G. Elmore was born about four miles north of Modesto, on July 13, 1876, the second son and fourth child of James G. Elmore, who was twice married, and nad six children by his first wife, Sarah Feagins, before her marriage. She was a native of Missouri, and died when the lad was only eleven years old. James Elmore was a Missourian who crossed the plains in 1865, became a well-known wheat farmer of Stanislaus County, and is now living at Salida, still actively engaged in farming, although he has disposed of much of his land. His second and present wife, also a HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 369 native of Missouri, was originally a member of the historic Orr family, and through a first marriage, when she had three children, became Mrs. Mary M. Burks. A. G. Elmore grew up on a farm in Stanislaus County and attended the district schools and the high school at Modesto, and in 1899 passed a teacher's examination. From that year until 1902 he taught the school at Hughson, and from 1902 until January, 1919, he served as supervising principal of the Turlock schools, where he brought the schools of that growing city up to their present standards. At the same time that he was effecting this great gain for Turlock, he was establishing for him self a reputation for affability as well as ability, and it was not difficult, when once he entered the lists for the office of county superintendent of schools to capture the prize. Both as a just official, discerning and appreciative, and a man among men, he won the confidence of his fellows, and especially of those who were to serve under him. On December 22, 1902, Mr. Elmore was married to Miss Lourien E. Fuquay, a native daughter of Stanislaus County, where she was also reared ; and now they reside at Modesto. Naturally, he is a member of the State Teachers' Association, and there as well as locally, his influence for progress in popular education is felt. According to the latest report of the superintendent, the schools of Stanislaus County may well be regarded as equal to any_ of their grade in the state. The board of education consists of five members, among whom Charles S. Morris of Modesto is president ; A. G. Elmore, secretary, and James W. Bixby of Patterson, J. Perry Ratzell of Turlock, and C. E. Overman of Oakdale, members. Mr. Elmore is abh assisted in his official work by Deputies Mrs. L. M. Annear and Mrs. Lourien Elmore ; and these trustees and superintendents have charge of sixty-four elementary school* and eight high schools and oversee and direct the work of 375 teachers. CHARLES RICHARD LITTLE.— An old-time Californian who has taken a very active part in the development of the country round about him, is Charles Richard Little, the popular supervisor, who is very naturally proud of the roads and bridges he has been instrumental in getting built. A native son, he was born at Amador on April 27, 1860, the son of Thomas B. Little, who was born in England and- came to the United States and Rockford, 111., when he was five years of age. His grandfather was the Rev. William Little, a Presbyterian minister, who did heroically-patient service in pioneer church work at Rockford until his death. Thomas Little was by trade a harness maker; but when the Mexican War involved the sovereignty of the United States, he enlisted and fought under Gen. Winfield Scott, following him clear to the City of Mexico, retiring as a non-commissioned officer. About 1853 or '54, he crossed the plains with ox-teams, and made for lone, Amador County, where he started as a harness maker and saddler; and he also tried his fortune at mining. In 1869 he located at Stockton, and at Center and Washington streets, under the firin name of T, B. Little did a successful business until he died in 1884, aged sixty-one. His wife was Sarah Jane Livingston before her marriage, a native of Kentucky, and she died in 1865, the mother of three children, two of whom are still living. Brought up at Stockton, Charles Richard attended the common and high schools, and after graduation learned the harness trade- under his father, with whom he con tinued until his death. An older brother, William H., then took over the shop, and our subject continued to ply his trade there and at San Francisco. In 1881 he worked for a year at his trade in Modesto, and then he came and went, spending part of his time in the bay metropolis and other cities. In 1895 he was here, and four years later he settled in Modesto and made harness for ranchers, continuing until 1914. He was then elected supervisor from the third supervisorial district, and in January, 1915, he took office. In 1918 he was reelected at the primaries over two opponents, and he is now serving his seventh year. He has always been independent in politics, and is therefore the prouder of his record. Not only has he given the heartiest endorsement to the building of good roads, and helped in the construction of 126 miles of concrete highway in the county, but he has personally supervised the building of thirty miles of the road in his district. He has also personally directed the erection of the substantial and highly artistic Tuolumne River bridge which was com pleted in 1916. In his private affairs, Mr. Little is a partner with J. W. Hvddson in 370 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY the manufacturer of the Red Star squirrel poison. This deadly mixture has been made by them for twenty years, and being very effectual, enjoys exceptional popularity. At San Francisco on August 8, 1896, Mr. Little was married to Mrs. Florence (Marsh) Arbuckle, who was born near Kankakee, 111., the daughter of John Marsh, who was born in Ohio of English parents. Her grandfather, Benjamin Marsh, served in the Revolutionary War, and her father was a carpenter and builder in Illinois, who died while on a visit in Minnesota. He had married Miss Rhoda Gardner, a native of Columbus, Ohio, of English descent. Having been half-orphaned in the death of her mother when she was five years old, Mrs. Little was reared in Illinois and first came to California in 1895. Two children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Little. Paul Livingston is a graduate of the Modesto high school and has spent two years at Stanford, and is a graduate of the Stockton Business College and now assisting his father, and Esther attends the high school. The family attend the Christian Church. Mr. Little is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and belongs to the Sequoia Camp No. 7657, of Modesto. MRS. MARY J. FINE. — What one woman of foresight and optimism, industry and thrift may accomplish in the face of adversity and through the long years, especially when fortunate in the fidelity, grit and co-operation of a gifted family, is happily demonstrated in the life story of Mrs. Mary J. Fine, daughter of a well known Stanis laus County pioneer, the widow of a very successful grain grower, and herself today an extensive land owner and grain farmer. She was born at Merced Falls, the daughter of William Grenfell, a native of England who -was related to Sir Wilfred Grenfell, who attained lasting fame in his relation to the history of Labrador and Canada. Wil liam Grenfell was married at Empire City, Calif., to Miss Lucretia I. Ward, born in Missouri, who crossed the plains with her parents in 1854 to Oregon and in 1855 they migrated to Stanislaus County. They had thirteen children ; seven of these are still living, and among them our subject was the oldes't in the family. He came to Cali fornia in 1851 via Panama and settled on the San Joaquin River; he was a butcher by trade, and in 1863 he removed to La Grange, where for ten years he ran a butcher shop. Then he bought land and began farming in the La Grange precinct ; and so successful was he, through his agricultural knowledge, his own progressive methods, that the 800 or more acres owned by Mrs. Fine were once part of his estate. Mary Grenfell attended the public schools at La Grange, and in 1886 was mar ried to Louis Fine, a native of Little Rock, Ark., who had come to California in 1857, when he was only three years old. The first ten years of his boyhood following were spent at Stockton and Tulare, and then he came to Stanislaus County and lived around at various places on the East Side. Mrs. Fine had inherited a part of what she later had in common with her husband, and together they bought another portion of the estate. They engaged in grain farming, and raised cattle and horses and mules. Mr. Fine passed away on September 11, 1915, with the honors and friendships of sixty-one years of honest toil, the father of twelve children, nine of whom, with his widow, are still living. Willis resides in Fresno. Clara became the wife of Zina Moodey, a rancher situated two miles northeast of Modesto. Elmer L. is a rancher in the La Grange precinct. Ellis David is assistant manager for the Pacific Gas and Electric Company at Oakland. Royal A. resides at Stockton, where he works for the United Motors Company; he served in France as an ambulance driver for two j'ears, and while performing his humanitarian service, he was wounded. Loren A., an engraver, is employed by the Sperry Flour Company at Stockton. Clinton R. is a well-driller, and lives at Oakdale. Rhoda C. is the wife of Walter A. McCollum, carpenter for the Merced Falls Lumber Mills. Oliver E. Fine lives at home and manages the farm. Oliver was born on November 23, 1899, and attended the grammar schools at La Grange. He finished the courses when he was sixteen; and the next day after graduation, although he was the youngest of the family, he assumed a man's responsi bility in undertaking to run the ranch, which was heavily in debt. He worked hard and was fortunate from the first in his management, with the result that he was able to pay ott every obligation and make a deal of money for both his mother and himself. In K^jAj-CS jl . i^c^> l<4sC-<^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 373 addition to running the home ranch for his mother, he rents a section for his own enterprise ; he owns forty-eight head of horses and twenty head of cattle, has a Deering combined nine-foot harvester and thresher, being the first man in this part of the county to invest in such a machine. He is fitting it up with a fifteen-horsepower gaso line engine, and he has 550 acres planted to wheat, barley and oats, a promising crop. The success attained by all of her children testifies in no uncertain terms to both the high moral character and exceptional intellectuality of Mrs. Fine, who is a devoted member of the Episcopal Church and finds the most acceptable civic standards endorsed by the Democratic party and its platforms. Her memory is remarkable, and she is able to recall so much that is interesting and suggestive from the historic past that she is never at a loss to entertain those interested in such topics. She remembers the La Grange of the early '70s, when it could boast the most extensive gravel hydraulic mining claims in Southern California, and the town had 500 population, three stores, two hotels, three saloons, two blacksmith shops, one drug store, two physicians, an express and post office, a public school, a church, a justice of the peace and constable, and two lawyers. Oakdale was called Oak Dale, Knights Ferry was more properly named Knight's Ferry, after a man known as Knight, who built the first ferry there, and the changed boundary of the county line on the south was dubbed the "Merced Grab." A city designed to be famous as Stanislaus City was laid out near the steam boat landing at the junction of the Stanislaus with the San Joaquin River, but it grew to have less than 100 inhabitants and then passed from the crude early maps. Tuolumne City was another place which rose and fell. Salmon fishing used to be very good in the Stanislaus, San Joaquin or Tuolumne rivers in early days, and when the water is low, one can spear the fish with no difficulty. DANIEL B. BISHOP.- — A native lowan long identified with the development of the great commonwealth of California, is Daniel B. Bishop, whose paternal and maternal grandfathers were active early settlers in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they grew into prominence in civil affairs. There, too, our subject was born on December 18, 1872, the son of John and Sarah (Farnum) Bishop, and in Cedar Rapids he at tended the grammar schools. According to an old Cedar Rapids newspaper, Grandfather Mowry Farnum was born in Uxbridge, Mass., where he spent his boyhood days. In later years, he moved to Millbury, Mass, where he engaged in cotton manufacturing, being also identified with several banks. The family came West in January, 1855, and located in Cedar Rapids, where for a short time he was a plow manufacturer. He will also be remembered by old settlers as one of the toll-bridge tenders. Besides holding the office of mayor, he served as justice of the peace of Cedar Rapids. Grandfather Homer Bishop was born in Bristol, Conn., and left there about the year 1846, coming direct to Iowa and locating in Muscatine, where he resided for a short time. He came to Cedar Rapids in the following year. He left his family here and with his eldest son, John, joined the gold-seekers in '49 and started westward. John went to Australia and his father returned to Cedar Rapids in the early fifties via Panama. Homer Bishop was postmaster in 1856, his clerk being W. W. Higley, an old and prominent citizen of early Cedar Rapids, and one who played an important part in the early history of the city. Mr. Bishop was secretary and toll-keeper for the Cedar Rapids Bridge Company in 1860. He left Cedar Rapids about 1878 and passed the remainder of his life in Brookfield, Mass., where he died late in the eighties. In 1895 Daniel Bishop left the States and went to South Africa, where he stayed until 1907. He was in the so-called Washington Corps, composed of Ameri can troops in South Africa, looking after American interests, and was an auxiliary of the Jameson Raid. In 1907 he went to Australia and spent five months there; and on returning to the United States and California, he became a building contractor, and put in a year at San Francisco and Palo Alto. Mr. Bishop then came on to Modesto and formed the firm of the Bishop & Stevenson Company which in 1910 laid the main sewer for* the city of Modesto. Two years after the accomplishment- of this project, Mr. Bishop went to Stockton 374 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and there engaged in building operations until 1916. He specialized in large buildings of the first class. In 1916 he returned to Modesto and continued contracting, doing a general mason contracting business, including the masonry work on the Thompson and Ward buildings. In far-away South Africa and at a town called Bishop — an interesting coinci dence, to be sure— Mr. Bishop was married, on March 17, 1899, to Miss Daisy Holding, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, "and the daughter of a Scotchman who, when she was a little girl, was sent to South Africa. And there he became a head man, or governor, of three small islands — Juten, Itisbo and Kajiba. Their marriage was blessed with one son, Rupert, born in Johannesburg, South Africa, a promising lad whose death in April, 1920, was a severe blow to his parents. JOHN ROBINSON. — A worthy pioneer citizen of Stanislaus County now living retired in Modesto where he is recognized as an honored and highly respected up- builder, is John Robinson, who was born on April 2, 1837, twenty miles from Xenia, Green County, Ohio. He is a son of Samuel and Rachel (Campbell) Robin son, Virginians, in which state they were married. They later settled in Ohio and after their son, John, was seven years old, they again moved, this time into Iowa, settling in Van Buren County, where Samuel Robinson was engaged in farming and owned his own land. John attended the common schools and was reared to farm life in Iowa, and it was in that state that he married his first wife, Miss Nancy B. Crandall before her marriage and a native of Iowa, having the distinction of being married in the house in which she was born. Their first child, a son, Andrew Jack son, was born there, while the second child, a daughter, Jennie, was born in Nevada while they were en route to California in 1862, with oxen and wagons. Mr. Robinson made his first location in San Joaquin County, settling between Stockton and the San Joaquin River, where he hired out to a market gardener and rancher. Failing to receive the promised wages and owning the cabin that was on the land, Mr. Robinson held the property until it was sold and thereby got the money due him. He then brought his family to Stanislaus County and settled in the Wood Colony where he bought 160 acres in 1864. He raised grain and hauled it to Stock ton, returning with lumber, groceries and other needed supplies. Selling this land he bought 160 acres of Government land west of Modesto, adding to this purchase another 160 acres of what he supposed was Government land. He had paid the Government for it when it was claimed as railroad land before the patent was issued to him. After a suit the land was proven to belong to the railroad company and they got judgment of $500 and first costs, and levied an attachment on his first 160 acres and took it away on an execution. This occurred in 1875. In the intervening years six children had been added to the family: Emma Josephine, who married William Nailor and died in Modesto, leaving one child ; Samuel died when eighteen ; Arabelle, married W. D. McLaughlin, and they live at Big Oak Flat, Tuolumne County ; John D. is a rancher west of Modesto ; Grace is the wife of L. L. Baxter and mother of three children and lives in Modesto, and Henry died aged three months. Andrew J. resides in San Francisco and has a daughter, and Jennie married William Allington, who died, and then she married his brother, John Allington. She died leaving nine children. The wife and mother passed away in 1873, leaving seven children ranging in age from thirteen to two years, and a husband who bravely faced misfortune and had to begin anew. After losing his land he bought a place in Modesto at what is now 908 Burney Street, where he has since made his home except for the time when he was ranching on property he owned in Merced County. Besides his home in Modesto he also owns fifteen acres on California Avenue and an apartment house on Pierce Street, San Jose. In 1875 he was married a second time, Mrs. Phoebe (Brown) Van Wert becoming his wife. She lived but a little over two years and she, too, passed away- On July 4, 1880, Mr. Robinson and Mrs. Adeline (McLaughlin) Martin T^k6 m,arr'ec* anc* their union has proven a very happy one. She was the widow of John T. Martin, by whom she had two children, John and Ollie, both now dead. this union with Mr. Robinson resulted in the -birth of a son, Leonard O. Robinson, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 377 who married Miss Mary Rippadan, a native daughter, and they have a daughter, Norma, attending the graimmar school in Modesto. Leonard is an expert mechanic and conducts an auto repair shop in Modesto. Mrs. Adeline Robinson is a native daughter of California, born in San Francisco, where her father, Cornelius McLaugh- lan, of Scotch extraction but born in New York, came to San Francisco from Aus tralia, when the metropolis was a tent city and in it he erected the first pretentious hotel, the lumber for which was cut and shipped ready for framing, as well as were the furnishings, even to the carpets, etc., around the Horn to San Francisco. Her mother, Margaret McHaugh before her marriage, was born in Ireland, taken to Australia when a child and there was married. Mrs. Robinson inherits the true hospitality so notable in the old Californians. John Robinson has been long identified with Stanislaus County affairs, not only as a rancher who has improved many acres of land in this county and owner of considerable town property at one time, but as a pioneer livery stable keeper, and with the late Captain H. G. James as a partner, carried on a meat business for several years in Modesto. He helped organize and build up the Modesto Irrigation District and was a director of that organization for years. While he was living in Merced County on 640 acres of land he had purchased, he helped organize the Tur lock Irrigation District, the greatest project of its kind in the county of Stanislaus, and he was on its directorate six years and for six years served as a city trustee. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows since 1873, and for years Mrs. Robinson was a member of the Rebekahs. Mr. Robinson, though in his eighty-fourth year, retains his upright carriage and his mental faculties are but little impaired with the passing of time. He has ever been interested in the upbuilding of Stanislaus County and with a clean, honor able record of a life well spent he and his wife enjoy the love and esteem of a wide circle of friends in the county. Their home is one of the oldest in the city and it radiates good cheer and a true Christian hospitality. JOHN ROBERT HUDELSON.— The debt which California owes to such men as the late John R. Hudelson is one that never can be cancelled, for the very na ture of the state itself has been established by such sturdy, God-fearing, humanity- loving pioneers. For Mr. Hudelson is a pioneer in the truest sense of the word. Born in Benton County, Mo., February 22, 1853, his parents, James and Mary Hudelson, came to California when he was a babe in arms, crossing the plains with an ox. team. Soon after reaching this state his mother passed away, and the mother less little lad was taken into the home of his father's sister, Mrs. Sarah E. Browder, and to her splendid training and the influence of her Christian spirited home, Mr. Hudelson always gave much of the credit for his success in life. The father died when past eighty at the home of his daughter near Waterford. The marriage of Mr. Hudelson and Miss Eliza Vandalia Howell occurred October 15, 1874, at Waterford, Cal. Mrs. Hudelson is no less a pioneer than her late husband, having crossed the plains with her family when she was a tiny girl. She was born in the southern part of Arkansas, on July 11, 1851, the daughter of James, and Sarah E. (Bonds) Howell, both natives of Tennessee. She was one of triplets, three beautiful little girls, who so appealed to the Indians that various offers were made for their purchase, and the father was obliged to hire a special guard to be always with them. Both Mr. and Mrs. Howell were Christian charac ters of more than ordinary strength, the type that carved its fortune from the western world, and were descended from lines of professional men, doctors, lawj'ers, ministers, especially on Mr. Howell's side. They located first in San Joaquin County and near Woodbridge farmed and raised stock, then moved to Vacaville, Solano County, and in 1871 came to Stanislaus County, where they engaged in stock farming with marked success and for a time Mr. Howell conducted a general store at Waterford. Mrs. Hudelson received a careful education, attending the Methodist College at Vacaville and the Normal School in San Francisco, and entering immediately upon a career as a teacher, which she followed successfully for a number of years in Stanis laus County, before her marriage to Mr. Hudelson. They engaged in farming for 378 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY many years, becoming among the best known wheat and barley growers in the county, operating on an extensive scale, and also extensively engaged in stock raising and in later years were in the dairy business. At the time of Mr. Hudelson's death they owned their beautiful home place of twenty-six acres, on Ohio Avenue, off the Para dise Road, fifty-four acres near Newman, and 160 acres eight miles south of Modesto, which was deeded to James T., Albert H., Mrs. Maude Edwards and Mrs. A. W. Winning. Mr. and Mrs. Hudelson became the parents of six children, all but the first born, a daughter who died in infancy, being honored citizens of this county. They are James Thomas, the eldest son, a rancher on the West Side ; Cora H., resid ing at home with her mother; Maude, Mrs. L. E. Edwards; Albert Howell, also a rancher, married and with two children, Glenn and Grace, and Lee Viola, the wife of Artie W. Winning, a dairy rancher on the Tully Road, and the mother of two children, Evelyn and John Robert. Mr. Hudelson was active in irrigation movements and all projects for the up building of the county and he retained his health and vigor until within a few months of his death, taking an active interest in all matters of public welfare and re taining the personal management of his large affairs. His death, which was a distinct loss to the county to whose development and upbuilding he had applied the full years of a grand life, occurred July 4, 1920. He lies in the Citizens' Cemetery, at Modesto, mourned and honored by the entire community. JAMES ALFRED DAVIS. — An influential native son, prominent in both Masonic and Odd Fellow circles, who made an honest, substantial supervisor, and whose integrity has never been questioned, is James Alfred Davis, familiarly known to his large circle of friends as Alf Davis. He had the good fortune to be born near Stockton January 25, 1858, thus becoming a native son of the Golden State. His father, I. H. Davis, was a native of Kentucky, where he was born on March 9, back in the year 1819. He was descended from an old Virginia family, and carried their pleasant family relations into Arkansas, where he married Miss Martha K. Harp. She was born in Tennessee on December 7, 1826, the daughter of a pioneer who came to Arkansas from Tennessee and then removed to California. Here he was a pioneer of San Joaquin County, where his sons are large landowners. In 1849, I. H. Davis brought his family across the plains with ox teams and wagons, taking six months for the trip to Sacramento, where he followed mining. Those were the days for high prices, at least in certain commodities, for eggs cost fifty cents apiece and butter was a dollar a pound. Later the Davis family came to San Joaquin County and located on land near Stockton, where they began farming. In 1869 Mr. Davis removed to Stanislaus County and settled on a ranch that he had purchased near Paradise, three miles south of Modesto, and there he improved the place and engaged in grain raising until his death on July 29, 1882. Mrs. Davis passed away on October 21, 1893, sixty-seven years old, the mother of thirteen children, and of them four daughters and two sons are still living. The second eldest, James Alfred was educated in the public schools, but went to work in the grain fields early in life, to assist in putting in the crops. When only eleven years old, and while it was still necessary for men to harness the mules for him, he went to work on large ranches and drove six-mule teams. Thus, building on what little instruction he could get in the odd times of the year, he has become, by self study and wide reading, a well-informed man. For a couple of years, 1876-77, he worked on a ranch near Biggs, in Butte County. Mr. Davis was married to Miss Julia McCumber near Modesto on October 1, 1878; she was born near Sparta, Monroe County, Wis., the daughter of Thomas C. McCumber, a native New Yorker of Scotch descent, who came to Ohio and then gradually moved west to Wisconsin, finally settling on a farm at Sparta. During the Civil War he enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment and in 1870 he brought his family to California, locating at Knights Ferry, Stanislaus County, and went in for grain raising. He purchased a farm of some 800 acres near Modesto and died there, a 0, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 381 mourned by many, especially by his comrades in the G. A. R., in which organization he was prominent. He had married Miss Lucinda Oswalt, a native of Ohio, who died on the home farm in this county. One of the eight children still living in a family of ten, Mrs. Davis received her education in the Wisconsin and Stanislaus County schools. At the time of their marriage, Mr. Davis was running the ferry at Paradise, and for two years he continued to make a success of the venture. Then he decided to engage in farming and bought 1,400 acres at La Grange, where he began raising grain. He also rented 1,000 acres from Warner Bros, for several years, so operated 2,400 acres, on which he raised immense yields of grain, and to accomplish this he ran five big teams and often had in 1,200 acres of grain a year. At the same time he engaged in stock raising and had 150 head of cattle. Returns were often dis appointing, however, on account of low prices and Mr. Davis sold wheat as low as ninety cents per cental and barley at fifty cents. When the Turlock Irrigation District was planned, and the canals and ditches were being built, his ranch became the site of the reservoirs. The district finally purchased his entire holdings in 1912, and it is now called the Davis reservoir. Mr. Davis then located at Modesto and purchased his present commodious and attractive- home at J and Sixteenth streets, where he resides with his family. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mr. Davis: Melroy C, who married Miss Florence Boyd, is ranching near Oakdale ; Pearl is assisting her mother in presiding over the hospitable home; Cassie is Mrs. Eugene Hinckley of Hickman; Raymond is a general contractor at Santa Barbara ; Rosa is Mrs. Howard Bartlett of Modesto ; Nellie has become Mrs. LeRoy Holverson of Modesto ; and Thomas Alfred is with the Tuolumne Lumber Company and resides with his parents. For thirty-two years Mr. Davis was trustee of Lafayette school district and was also clerk of the board for that entire time. In 1888 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket and elected supervisor of the second district through a majority of 125 votes; in 1892 he was re-elected by a majority of 237 votes, and again in 1896, with a majority of 161 votes, serving until January, 1901, after twelve years of service to the county, being chairman of the board for the last six years of his in cumbency; he was not a candidate for the succeeding term. As supervisor Mr. Davis made a splendid record, being active in the building of good roads and bridges and doing all that he could to advance the county in importance. The present county hospital was built while he was serving as supervisor. A real pioneer, he saw the first house moved from Paradise. to Modesto in 1871, and has beheld the great expan sion that has taken place since that time. In 1892 Mr. Davis was made a Mason in Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, Modesto, and he has been treasurer of the lodge for the past seven years. He was exalted in Modesto Chapter, No. 49, R. A. M., in 1895 and is past high priest, and has been treasurer of that lodge for seven years. In June, 1908, he was knighted in Pacific Commandery No. 3, at Sonora, and demitting with Charles Kin ter, he was the principal in organizing Modesto Commandery No. 57, K. T., and has been the treasurer from its inception. He is a member of Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Oakland, and of San Francisco Consistory No. 1, of the 32nd degree, Scottish Rite. He has been president of the Masonic Temple Association since its organization, now serving his fourth term, and superintended the building of the beautiful Masonic Temple at J and Fifteenth streets. He has been honored with the degree of knight commander of the Court of Honor, this honor being conferred on him at Sacramento, November 28, 1919. In 1885, at La Grange, he joined Lafayette Lodge No. 65, I. O. O. F., and is a past grand of that order and has served as district deputy grand master. Mr. Davis has also been prominent in the councils of the democratic party, having served as chairman of the county convention. Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis enjoy traveling and together they have made three extended trips East, traveling in nearly every state in the Union. They have also visited Canada, and were in that country when the first Canadian troops to leave for the bloody conflict were starting on their momentous way. 382 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY CLAUS JOHNSON. — One of the leading and influential citizens of Turlock, and also a very prominent man in Stanislaus County, particularly on account of his spirited advocacy of the Don Pedro Reservoir, is Claus Johnson, who came to Cali fornia immediately after the beginning of this century and soon after his arrival decided that of all sections of the Golden State, none appealed to him so much as Turlock. He has improved over 1500 acres in the Turlock Irrigation District, and has been a director of the same since 1914. He was born in Smaland, Sweden, on October 29, 1860, but his father died when he was only two years of age, and he was reared by his mother on the home farm where she courageously brought up the family. After Claus came to the United States and Nebraska, he faithfully arranged for her to follow him, in the spring of 1888, and she lived there until 1917, when she passed away at the age of ninety years. Claus had received an excellent education in the schools of Sweden, and in 1879, when only eighteen, left home and country, and came to the United States, where he set tled in Gladstone, 111., and for three years worked about on farms. Then, for another three years, he was at Red Oak, Iowa, and after that he removed to Wakefield, Dixon County, Nebr., where for seven years he engaged in farming. He next went to Wausa, Nebr., bought land and for twelve years engaged in farming. In 1902, he made a trip to California and bought 260 acres at from twenty- five to thirty dollars an acre three miles west of Turlock, and in the fall of 1903 he located here. He then bought 160 acres more in the same vicinity, and he continued to buy more land until he had over 500 acres, all under the canal west of Turlock. He engaged in grain farming, leveled and checked the land, and sowed alfalfa; he set out an orchard, built a residence, and continued to farm there for nine years. Then he sold out to twenty-three parties. He has since bought and improved several ranches. Mr. Johnson laid out a tract of 40 acres now almost in the heart of Turlock, lying north of Olive and west of the Southern Pacific Railroad. This was platted and laid out into residence lots and sold, and it is now built up, being the North Broadway section, one of the most beautiful business and residence sections of the city. He also donated the land for North Broadway Park and this beautiful park is now much enjoyed by the citizens as well as the visitors to Turlock. In 1907, Mr. Johnson organized the People's State Bank and was its first president, and so he continued until he resigned and sold most of his stock; but he is still a director in the bank. He was a director in the Turlock-Rochdale Company, and also its president until that was sold and dissolved. He organized the Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Stanislaus County and incorporated it, and he was a director and the president from its organization until it was well started, when he resigned. He is, however, still a director and an agent of the company, assisting it to roll up its record of $3,00.0,000 worth of insurance, representing a saving of thousands of dollars of insurance to its holders, because the service is offered at a much lower rate. In 1914, Mr. Johnson was elected director of the Turlock Irrigation District, which has just voted $4,000,000 of bonds to build the Don Pedro Reservoir, and expects to put in a power plant giving 20,000 horsepower at a cost of $1,500,000. The approximate cost of the dam will be about $3,500,000. The height of the dam will be 279 feet and will impound about 265,000 acre feet of water, and this responsi bility he assumes the more gladly because he himself is still interested in ranching west of Turlock, where he raises alfalfa and goes in for general farming. He was for ten years a trustee of the Turlock Union high school, and for one year was president of the board, and during his incumbency the new school building was completed. He has been a director of the Tidewater & Southern Railroad since its organization. While in Iowa, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Lena Warn, a native of Ostrejotlan, Sweden, by whom he has had eight children. Oscar L. is a rancher near Turlock; Edward E. farms near by; Martha has become Mrs. Wm. Swanson of Turlock; Anna is Mrs. Theo Sjoquist; Joseph V., also a rancher, was in the Fortieth Division, serving overseas in the World War ; Esther is a graduate of the high school and also Heald's Business College of Long Beach, and Emil and Elmer are ranching. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson attend the Swedish Mission Church, where, from almost the /^^^^^^t^n HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 385 start of that congregation in Turlock, Mr. Johnson was a trustee and treasurer when the church was built. He has been a Sunday school teacher for forty years. He had also been one of the organizers of the Swedish Mission Church at Wakefield, Nebr., was for years a trustee, and chairman of the trustees when the church was built. At Wausa he was active in the organization of the Swedish Mission church ; beginning with five members it grew to be one of the largest, if not the largest, of that denomination in Nebraska and during the years of his residence there he served nearly all the time as chairman of the board of trustees. WILLIS RUSSELL HIGH. — No fallacy is greater, eya-a when proposed by the immortal Bard of Avon, than that of supposing that all the good men do lies buried with their bones, and this is well illustrated in the career and memory of the late Willis Russell High, president of* the Farmers & Merchants Bank, and also ctf the board of education of Modesto. He was a self-made, self-educated man, who worked his way up in the world, but a man who, having attained to affluence, position and influence himself, found delight and his highest duty in helping others to follow and io rise, also. He was popularly known as "Russ" High, and it is no exaggeration to say that the term was one of endearment to those who came to know and appreciate him at his true value. He was born in Smith County, Tenn., on March 30, 1860, and while still in his teens equipped himself for school work and taught for a while in Tennessee. About 1882 or 1883, he came to California, and after working for a short time on ranches in Stanislaus County, became foreman of the Coffee ranch, in which capacity he remained for five years. Then, wishing to engage in farming on his own account, he resigned and leased a large ranch of nearly six sections not far from Minturn, in Madera County, and there for fifteen years he raised grain with success. He then moved into Modesto and purchased a ranch on the McHenry Road. When the Farmers & Merchants Bank was organized in March, 1903, he became its president and with his exceptional ability built up such a strong and flourishing institution that he remained at the head of the bank for years. When he came to Modesto, the irrigation fight was on ; and having been one of the few men who realized that irrigation would not only retrieve the losses to grain farming, but build up cities and towns, he took the pro side of the controversy, and was an influential factor in changing the sentiment of the taxpayers and in securing the necessary support of the project. Afterward, too, he was the mainstay in influencing the still recalcitrant "antis" and leading them to the adoption of those ways and means that resulted in the completion of the irrigation system of the district and the placing of water on the lands. During this latter period he was a member of the board of directors, and for several years was president of that body. As president, and working incessantly for practically the wage of a day laborer, he came to know the many problems of the irriga tion districts as few if any other citizens hereabouts. In 1911, when the commission form of government was adopted by Modesto, Mr. High was elected a member of the board of education, and later was made presi dent of the board; and in April, 1913, he was reelected, and was serving his second term when called by death, on June 20, 1913. He took an unusual interest in the problems of popular education, and did much to elevate educational standards in Modesto. On his death, the leading newspaper said of him editorially, "Mr. High was perhaps the only man of all of us who could go among the taxpayers and obtain signatures to petitions and subscriptions of money for propositions that would* other wise have been lost, and his services as president of the school board were well con sidered invaluable." At Modesto, on October 20, 1887, Mr. High was married to Miss Mary Martha Drake, who was born on the old Drake place, four miles northeast of Modesto, the daughter of Jacob Drake, a native of Ohio. He was a wheelwright and carpenter, and came to Illinois, where he married Mary Coffee, who was born in Smith County, Tenn., and became a school teacher in Illinois. When a young man Mr. Drake had crossed the plains for the first time, and followed mining in Calaveras County, but he soon returned to Illinois. After a few years, he again crossed the plains to the mines, 21 386 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and was later joined by his wife and their two children, who had crossed the prairies in an emigrant train. Jacob Drake met them in Nevada, but it was too late to cross the Sierras, so they wintered in Nevada and arrived in Calaveras County in 1864. Then they came to Stanislaus County and located on a farm four miles northeast of what is now Modesto, and he hauled his provisions from Stockton, and delivered his wheat to the same town. There Mr. Drake died in 1875, leaving a wife and seven children. Five of these are now living, and among them is Mrs. High, who received her education in the Stanislaus County schools, and remained at home to assist her mother until her marriage to Mr. High. After his death M^. High continued to operate the home ranch, which was devoted to the raising of Malaga grapes and alfalfa, and specializing in pure-bred Holstein cattle, having some of the finest bred Holstein-Freisians, among them the Skylock Ormsby strain, and also to manage her mother's old ranch, given up to dairying; and in this arduous work she was assisted by her sons, three of the five chil dren that blessed her union. Benjamin H. was a graduate of the Modesto high school and the Los Angeles Business College, after which he studied at the agricultural col lege at Davis, and he is now operating the home ranch; Delma is Mrs. Herron of Modesto ; James, a graduate of the University of Nevada, is farming the Mary Drake ranch, which Mrs. High still owns; Leslie enlisted in the United States army and served overseas in the ranks of the engineers and now is a realtor in Modesto; and Vera, just returned from a trip abroad, makes her home with her mother. The chil dren are all talented, especially in music, and have often favored the people of the home city with uplifting song. Mrs. High, a talented woman oi pleasing personality, is prominent in civic and social circles, being a member of Modesto lodge of Rebekahs and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Modesto ; while Mr. High was a charter member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. E., and a past grand in Wildey Lodge, I. O. O. F. The admirable success of Mrs. High, when thrown upon her own resources, recalls the equally stimulating example set by her mother, under even more trying circumstances. When Mr. Drake died, Mrs. Drake continued on the farm and there reared her family. She was successful in both the making of improvements and the management of the estate, and there never was a mortgage on the ranch. This was due in part to her education, above that of the average woman, and to her energy, resourcefulness and natural business ability. This determination was developed when her father died while the children were young, leaving the home farm. Mary Coffee was eighteen when her mother married again, and determined to keep the children together and to. educate them, she ran the home farm with the aid of her brother and sisters, and at the same time engaged in teaching school. She also wove the cloth for and made the clothes that the family wore. At the same time, she kept up her reading, and never seemed to forget what she read ; she was well posted on political questions and history, as well as on general information, and being a good Bible student, knew a great part of the Bible by heart. She was a Presbyterian in religion ; but the minis ters of all the denominations delighted to listen to her interpretation of the Scriptures. She kept her mental faculties to the last, and passed away peacefully and full of honors in 1912, at the age of seventy-eight. JUDGE JAMES M. KERR.— No history of Stanislaus County would be com plete without mention of Judge James M. Kerr, prominent judge, business man and rancher, who was born in Jackson, Mo., on August 1, 1860, the son of John J. and Margaret (Braley) Kerr, farmers of Missouri. The family lived for a short time in Nebraska City, but did not dispose of their holdings in Missouri until they came to California, where they settled in Contra Costa County near Danville, the father engaging in grain raising, and here James M. Kerr received his early education and spent his boyhood days. When he was seventeen years of age his parents removed to Oregon, where his father took up farming on a ranch near Eugene, while James M. Kerr attended the University of Oregon. After completing his education in the uni- VfrS'rT' ^C Came t0 t'le ^an Joa9u'n Valley, where he taught school for one year near old Dutch Corners, just east of the present city of Newman. His father also came /•*• ^t^tyt HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 389 South, locating on a farm in the Cottonwood district, in the northern part of Merced County, where he raised grain, wheat and barley. At the expiration of four j'ears he sold his farm in Cottonwood district and moved to Fresno, where he died in 1915. Mr. Kerr also engaged in farming on a small scale in the Cottonwood section, but in 1887 he removed to Fresno and engaged in grain farming near Coalinga, where he cultivated about 2,000 acres with mules, as this was before the day of the tractor. He at first leased large tracts of land, but during his eleven years of residence in this vicinity acquired 640 acres of land, which he disposed of on moving to Fresno in 1898, at which time he was elected county recorder, holding this office for four j'ears. For the next eight years he was employed by the Standard Oil Company at Fresno and in 1910 he came to Patterson, where he and Herman Selback established a hardware and plumbing business. In 1914 he purchased his partner's interest and the following year the Kerr Hardware Company was incorporated and a year later bought out the entire stock of the Taylor & Alcorn Company. The business then embraced hard ware, plumbing and farm implements, but in 1917 the plumbing business was sold to E. L. Fink and shortly after ShimminxBrothers bought out the implement stock, Mr. Kerr continuing in the hardware business exclusively until disposing of it in 1920 to T. W. McCracken of Berkeley. In 1912 he was appointed judge and two years later was elected to the same office, in which capacity he has served ever since. In 1919 Judge Kerr formed a partnership with George L. Munson and together they operate one of Patterson's most up-to-date and live real estate offices. On June 10, 1908, in the Cottonwood district, Judge Kerr was married to Grace Edwards, born in Suisun, Cal, the daughter of J. H. and Sarah (Ish) Edwards, the mother being a native-born daughter and the father coming to California in the early days of 1849 via the Panama Canal. In political matters Judge Kerr entertains liberal and independent views, particularly in local affairs, and fraternally is a Mason, belonging to the Patterson lodge. Prominent in the activities of the Chamber of Commerce, Judge Kerr -was instrumental in its organization, serving as its first president for two years. JOHN R. WILLMS. — A pioneer who was considered one of the foremost farm ers and stockraisers near the city of Knights Ferry was the late John R. Willms, who was born in Hanover, Germany, December 17, 1829, came to America with his parents when six years of age and settled in Illinois. At the age of twenty, he joined the gold rush to California, crossing the plains with some friends, and after traveling for about six months, meeting many Indians on the way but always on friendly terms, landed in Sacramento, October 12, 1849. He spent some time in the Southern mines. Then, too, in partnership with John H. Kappelmann who came West with him, he engaged in the hotel and butcher business at Buena Vista, Stanislaus County, and later, in company with Mr. Kappelmann and John Dent, a brother-in-law of U. S. Grant, conducted a trading post on the Stanislaus River near Knights Ferry. Mr. Willms and Mr. Kappelmann built the Table Mountain Water Company ditch which was six or eight miles long and in those days quite an undertaking, the water being used for mining in the Buena Vista gravel mines. In 1852 they settled on the old Willms homestead which is about two miles from Knights Ferry on the La Grange Road, where they took up what claims they could and bought out claims from other settlers until they had a tract of 3,600 acres where they engaged in the raising of horses for the market, each year driving them across the mountains to Virginia City and Bodie to market. After the death of Mr. Kappelmann in 1881, Mr. Willms carried on the business by himself. He later went into the cattle business and kept increasing his holdings until at the time of his death, he was the owner of 8,600 acres and a large herd of cattle. In 1867, he was married to Elizabeth Kappelmann, who became the mother of seven children: John H. Willms, is a resident of Woodbridge, San Joaquin County, operating a fruit ranch ; Etta A. is the wife of A. L. McMillan, an extensive wheat grower east of Waterford, Stanislaus County, but for the purpose of schooling her children, she is temporarily living in San Jose, with her sister, Miss Clara Willms, who is also a resident there; Fred H. passed away in 1909; Arthur F. and Walter B. 390 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY are residents of Oakdale, Stanislaus County; and Camilla I., who passed away in 1914. John R. Willms' death occurred in 1910 at the age of eighty-one years, his wife having passed away in 1898. Two sisters of Mrs. Willms, Mrs. Henrietta Lowe and Mrs. Fredricka Maxwell, reside at Oakdale. About a year before his demise, Mr. Willms, desiring his holdings should be held intact, incorporated the Willms Land and Cattle Company in 1909. The present officers are Walter B. Willms, president; Arthur F. Willms, secretary, and John H. Willms, treasurer, and the additional stockholders are Mrs. A. L. McMillan and Miss Clara Willms. The holdings of the Willms Land and Cattle Company now comprise a little over 10,000 acres of land and an extensive herd of cattle. A man of greater foresight and better judgment could not be found and the community in which he lived is proud to have. had such a man in their midst. MINER WALDEN. — An historic character of the early days of Stanislaus County and of Modesto, was Miner Walden, a man who yielded a strong influence in the early political circles, as he did in business affairs. A native of New York, he was born in Schoharie County, May 23, 18*23, the son of Hiram Walden, who served in the state legislature. The lad grew up in his home county, attended the public schools there and made that section his home until in 1850, when he came to Cali fornia by way of the Panama route in search of gold. It was soon after that he ap peared upon the scenes in the San Joaquin Valley and here he lived and labored. In August, 1855, Miner Walden was united in marriage -with Miss Lucinda Hildebrand, a native of Indiana, where she was born on April 17, 1840. Her father was Abraham Hildebrand, a Pennsylvanian of Dutch extraction and he settled in Indiana at an early day and carried on farming with the aid of oxen. With the tide of emigration he went into Iowa when that was a virgin country, and still later, in 1853, came overland to California with his family. They used oxen-drawn wagons and took six months to make the journey. They left the Platte River to cross the plains and mountains to Salt Lake City, Lucinda walking much of the way bare footed, beside the wagon. Fortunately they were not molested by Indians and their trip was without incident. They came by Strawberry Flats, took the Walker Route to Sonora, where they spent a few months in the gold mines. In 1854 they moved to Stanislaus County and settled on the north side of the river at Knights Ferry and Oak dale, wnere Indians predominated. They were well treated by the miners, however, who found in them some true friends. A sister of Mrs. Walden is a survivor of that eventful trip, Mrs. Eliza Wilson, of Gilroy, and she has three brothers in California; Valentine is at San Jose, Thomas is in San Francisco, and Stephen is living in Lodi. In 1857 Miner Walden and his happy wife came to the Junction Ranch, consist ing of 3,000 acres, which Mr. Walden had acquired on the east side of the San Joaquin and on the north side of the Tuolumne River, and here they were engaged in raising stock and grain for many years. In the meantime, Mr. Walden engaged in freighting; and he was also in the merchandise business at Springfield, Tuolumne County, ran a stage line, conducted a livery business and acted for the Wells Fargo & Company express. He prospered and became an active figure in Democratic circles, where he wielded a strong influence and served in the state legislature for two terms, during which he framed and was influential in having passed the No Fence Law. In Tuolumne City he served as a justice of the peace and it was in that place that he helped to establish the first newspaper, the Tuolumne City News, now grown into the Modesto Evening News. He was a member of the Odd Fellows, at one time serving as noble grand of the Tuolumne Lodge. When the new town of Modesto was founded, Mr. Walden came with the others from Tuolumne City, bought considerable real estate in the new townsite and began to build up the place. Among the pieces of property he owned was the present site of Hotel Modesto; G. P. Schafer's store, which was the family residence site, the house having been moved from Tuolumne City. For many years he conducted and owned a livery business in Modesto. Of the original Junction Ranch, 1,000 acres are still in the possession of the Walden family. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 393 Six children were granted Mr. and Mrs. Walden : Mrs. Ella Brand, who is liv ing with her mother at 817 Eighth Street, Modesto; she was born May 1, 1856; Louis, born September 6, 1857, makes his home on the Junction Ranch; Minnie, now deceased, was born on January 8, 1863; Miner Walden, Jr., first saw the light on May 9, 1867, and lives on the old home ranch; Stephen was born on June 20, 1870, is employed in Modesto; and Budd, born on August 28, 1878, is also in Modesto. On May 22, 1916, the date of the death of Miner Walden, there passed away in Stanislaus County one of the sturdiest of the pioneers who helped to lay broad and deep the foundations of the present great commonwealth of California. EDGAR BAXTER. — A progressive rancher who has been especially prominent and serviceable in his rational advocacy of irrigation as one of the most necessary pro visions for the future in California, is Edgar Baxter, who was born near Rockford, the seat of Winnebago County, in Illinois, on February 16, 1851, the son of John Baxter, a native of Ulster County, N. Y., who had married Miss Maria Horton, of Tompkins County in that state. They emigrated to Illinois in 1834, and settled on a farm near Rockford, and both died in the latter place after well-spent lives. Edgar Baxter, growing up in those pioneer days, finished his schooling at the age of fourteen, and then went to work in earnest on his father's farm, which engrossed his attention until 1873, when he came to California. He threshed during harvest time in Stanislaus County, and came to Turlock in the same year, when it was merely a railroad station, store and express office, and has thus spent most of his life here. At twenty-eight years of age he took up extensive grain farming on his own account, and the first j'ear he controlled 640 acres, which he farmed to wheat. For a number of years thereafter he farmed at different places as many as two thousand acres, which he planted to wheat and barley. In 1881 he purchased 340 acres of land at twenty dol lars per acre, and the following year he added to that 260 acres at thirty dollars per acre. Twelve years later the land valuations slumped, but he stood by his investment, and recently he has realized handsomely by subdividing a part of the land into various small farms, each now prosperous in the hands of others. Mr. Baxter was a strong advocate of irrigation, and in May, 1887, he cir culated the petition of his district for the bond election, and met with unusual success. He has been a "booster" for Turlock and Stanislaus County ever since, and during the recent World War he helped along greatly the drives for the sale of Liberty Bonds, and served as a committeeman. He has kept pace with all forward, really progressive, movements of the state and nation, and while duly conservative, is a very able gentle man. He is a director of the People's State Bank at Turlock, and has been one of the guiding spirits in Turlock's financial circles since the bank, in which he is a stock holder, was established in 1907. He supports all of the churches, if called upon, with out having any religious preference, and believes in the principles of Democracy. At Turlock on October 9, 1879, Mr. Baxter was married to May Fulkerth. Mrs. Baxter died August 4, 1891, the mother of two children: William J. Baxter, born in Turlock, June 29, 1881, finished the courses of the Turlock grammar school in 1896 and three years later the courses of the Modesto high school. He was gradu ated from the University of California in 1903 with the Bachelor of Laws degree, and the same j'ear entered the law department of Harvard University, where he was a member of the A. T. O. fraternity. He gave promise of a brilliant career ; but in the spring of 1904 he was suddenly taken ill with pneumonia and he died, lamented by many, on March 16. Etta Pearl, also deceased, was born at Turlock, October 4, 1883, and died February 4, 1901, in her eighteenth year. SHRUDER YOUNG.— The romance of the Old South and of the Far West, spanning the j'ears from the Civil War down to the present, combine to fill _the pages of the life story of Shruder Young, now one of the extensive landowners in Stanislaus County, a man of wealth and unflagging industry. For when Shruder Young left his father's impoverished plantation in Tennessee and came to Stanislaus County in 1883, he brought with him none of the treasures of wealth, but only youth, energy, and the determination to work and to win, and today he is recognized as one of the most substantial men in the county. 394 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. Young was born on July 18, 1862, on his father's plantation near Gallatin, Tenn., just across the line from Franklin, Ky. His father, Wright Young, a cotton' and tobacco planter, was wearing the Gray on the blood-soaked battlefields of the South at the time of his birth, and the new son was two years old before his father returned home. In the meantime the fortunes of war had so impoverished the fam ily, that the mother, a woman of remarkable force of character, was obliged to work the plantation to support herself and her five children until her husband returned from the service at the close of the war. She was Miss Narcissus Brackin before her marriage, a descendant from a splendid old Southern family of Scotch-Irish descent At an early date her parents had migrated to Tennessee, where she was born, leaving the old family home in North Carolina. At the age of twenty years, having just completed his high school course, Mr. Young answered the call of the West and came to California, arriving in Modeste March 3, 1883. With him were his brother, William, and a cousin. They were entirely without money or resources, but work was plenty, .and they soon found em ployment. For a number of years, Mr. Young worked with a threshing crew, operat ing Harvester No. 5, which in the summer of 1886 handled the crops for Mr. C. C. Baker, in Shiloh precinct, and it was while thus employed that he met Miss Lena Leota, daughter of the late C. C. Baker, and destined to be his wife, their marriage taking place the following year, 1887. Their marriage has been a very successful one, and Mr. Young attributes a very large measure of success to his wife's cooperation. Mr. Young soon became right-hand man to his father-in-law, and for many years before Mr. Baker's death, took a large measure of responsibility for his ex tensive business affairs. He has made a careful study of agricultural methods and conditions in Stanislaus County, and is one of the ablest managers as well as one of the best informed land owners in the county. He has shown a marked ability for marketing farm products and for the handling of large financial problems'. His faith in California in general and in Stanislaus County in particular, is a by-word among his friends, and he has contributed largely to their development and upbuilding. It was in 1903 that Mr. Young moved onto the old ranch of his father-in-law, the late C. C. Baker, eight miles southwest of Modesto, on the Tuolumne River, where he now resides. The original Baker ranch consisted of several thousands of acres, and Mr. Young's property, which includes the old home built by Mr. Baker, contains 1,061 acres, 320 acres of which lie in Paradise precinct, and 741 acres lie in Shiloh precinct, and on which are the residence, and a splendid system of barns and modern farm buildings, in a very symmetrical arrangement. Of this latter tracts 200 acres are in alfalfa. Mr. Young formerly engaged extensively in dairying, and still' maintains a herd of eighty-five fancy high-grade Holstein cattle. He also has other blooded stock and a fine line of thoroughbred fowls, being a fancier of prize winners. Mr. and Mrs. Young are the parents of five children, three sons and two daugh ters: Chester, residing at Santa Ana, Cal., has an excellent record for service in the navy and aviation service ; Leota is the wife of Otto McCIure, of Santa Ana, and the mother of two children : C. C. and Fleetwood, are ranchers, living at home and associated with their father; and Ruby, the wife of Lyle Willett of Modesto. C. C. Young is an active member of the Stanislaus Farmers' Union. Mr. Young takes an active interest in all matters of public import. He has been president of the board of trustees of Shiloh school district for fourteen years. He is also a member of Wildey Lodge No. 149, I. O. O. F., of Modesto. ELZA E. FREEMAN. — Owner of one of the most famous herds of registered Holstein cattle in the state, holder of innumerable prizes taken by his record-holding cows, a member of the National Association of Holstein Breeders and a, breeder of national importance, Elza E. Freeman may well feel proud of his achievement since 1910, when he entered upon his work along this line. He now owns a herd of forty head of blooded stock, headed by a valuable herd sire, and including such famous prize winners as Bellfaskie Hengerveld De Kol 2nd, grand champion of the Cali fornia State Fair in 1918; her daughter, Bellfaskie De Kol Witkop, bred and developed by him, held the state record for yearly production of milk in 1919, and still holds HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 397 the record for milk produced in seven days, eight months after calving. In 1919 she won the most prize money of any cow in America. A native of Joplin, Mo., born September 28, 1882, Mr. Freeman is the son of Zenas Freeman, a native of Illinois, and his wife, Sarah (Glasscock) Freeman, a native of Missouri, and the third son born to them. They came to California in 1886, locating at Fallbrook, San Diego County. Here they bought forty acres and engaged in farming. After completing his education in the high school at Fallbrook, E. E. Freeman started out for himself. He was then twenty and his first venture was grain farming, wheat and barley being his chosen crop, and so successful was he that soon he was operating 1.000 acres of leased land. The marriage of Mr. Freeman and Miss Blanche French, of San Marcos, was solemnized at that place, February 24, 1909. Mrs. Freeman is a native of Iowa, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. D. French, likewise natives of Iowa. Her father is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have six children, of whom they may well be proud: Edith A., Maude E., Irene F., Blanche O., Harold Rex and Myrtle Grace. It was in 1910 that Mr. Freeman came to Modesto and purchased forty acres in Hart precinct, where he has built up such a profitable business. He is a leader in the Stanislaus County Holstein Breeders Association, and in addition to his business as a breeder of registered stock, Mr. Freeman conducts one of the profitable dairy farms in the county. His cream returns an especially high average under tests, and his entire farm is a model of its kind, being one of the showplaces of the county. In 1920, Vina Pietertje Hengerveld De Kol 2nd produced 29,009 pounds of milk and 1,150.8 pounds of butter, being the highest production of milk and butter in the county at that time. For the number of cattle in the herd he has the highest num ber of yearly record cows of any herd of Holsteins in the state. JAMES W. SCOTT. — A dairyman who has succeeded in establishing an enviable reputation for his scientific methods and his thoroughly sanitary plant is James W. Scott, who was born on September 9, 1850 — the very day and year when California was admitted to the Union — in Terre Haute, Indiana, the fifth son of Capt. W. P. Scott, who migrated to California and Diamond Springs, Eldorado County, in that year with W. C. Ralston, and who became interested in the mines at Placerville, and built the Eureka ditch south of the American River to carry the water to the mines. W. P. Scott was born in Boston, attended as a boy a private academy there, and was graduated from Harvard College in 1838. When twenty-two years of age he went to Corpus Christi, Tex., and erected in that place the first two-story frame house that was placed there by white people, and which was brought from Boston in sections on a sailing vessel. He established a trading post, went through thick and thin to make his contribution to the founding of a great state, and had more than one thrilling experience and adventure. In those days the Mexican Government owned and held on to the land, invited the whites to come and settle, but afforded them no adequate protection for life and property ; and W. P. Scott joined the Texas Rangers, and was elected captain, filling that post with signal ability. Having settled at Placerville and undertaken to furnish a water supply, Mr. Scott suffered severe reverses with the decline of mining, the property he then owned becoming for the period useless; and what he who had done so much to help organize and develop the commonwealth had to bear was what so many pioneers had to endure, with little or no recognition from posterity. He framed and had passed the No-Fence Law, inaugurating the grain era. James W. Scott was reared in Eldorado County and there attended the public schools; and about 1868 he came to Merced County with his father, who purchased extensive lands there. At the end of three years, however, he sold off his holdings and removed to San Francisco; and about 1883, our subject went to Oregon and there engaged in the raising of stock. He was married to Miss Emma J. Hammers- ley, a daughter of A. Z. Hammersley, a prominent stockman who had extensive hold ings in Oregon from pre-emigrant days; and one child blessed the union — Harold R. Scott, who was born in Oregon. This son is now ranching in Stanislaus County on forty acres of land near that of his parents. He married Miss Vannie Daflfron, who came to California from Kentucky. 398 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY In 1905, Mr. Scott came down from Oregon to Turlock and purchased eighty- five acres, six miles from Turlock and formerly a part of the Maze & Wren Tract; and there, with seventy-five head of fancy pure-bred cows, he maintains a Jersey dairy. He was instrumental in establishing the Keyes Creamery Association which flourished for a number of years until the farmers took up the Cooperative Associa tion and discontinued the local creamery, and he has always shown a commendable public spiritedness. As a Progressive Republican, Mr. Scott has been a member of the Stanislaus County Central Committee ; and he has also served on the grand jury. EUGENE McCABE. — An exponent of scientific modern methods in farming and of a carefully developed system for bringing land to its highest state of pro ductivity, Eugene McCabe, successful rancher of Stanislaus County, has demonstrated the value of his ideas through their practical application in the management of his own property. Mr. McCabe owns a place of thirty acres near Modesto and formerly had 248 acres nine miles west of Modesto, on Paradise Road. The home place is one of the most attractive in the vicinity, fifteen acres being devoted to alfalfa and fifteen to double cropping, with forty head of high-grade cows and calves. Mr. McCabe is a native of California, born at Marysville, September 25, 1859, and descended from well-known pioneer families. His father, Owen McCabe, pioneer of the Golden State, was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1807, and came to the United States when a young man. He remained for a while in New York, and in 1853 began the long overland journey to California with an ox team. He had hoped to find his fortune in the mines, and after landing at Marysville, then the head of navi gation and the center of supply distribution to the mines of the north, he mined for a time, but without attaining the results that he had hoped for. He was a brickmason by trade and he followed that for a livelihood until he was appointed a deputy sheriff of Yuba County. He was fearless in the discharge of his duties and served to the satisfaction of every one. He married Mary Fitzpatrick, also a native of Ireland, who came to California with her two brothers during the early '50s. Two of their children are now living, Eugene McCabe and Mrs. Ella Ervin, both residing in Stanislaus County. Mrs. McCabe passed away in 1865, and in 1866 Mr. McCabe came to Stanislaus County and homesteaded 160 acres, which he farmed for many years. When he retired, he made his home with his son Eugene, and died on December 9, 1906, aged ninety-nine years, then the oldest man in the county and active to the last. The vicissitudes of early pioneer days were an every-day event to young Eugene McCabe, his first disaster being the washing away of his parents' home by a flood, when he was a babe in arms, and his rescue from a perilous position in the flood waters of the Sacramento River, in a row boat. His education was obtained in the Junction school of Stanislaus County, and at an early age he entered upon an active career, his first enterprise being dry farming on 900 acres of land, where he raised barley. In this he was very successful and for seven years remained on the Fanney tract property, in partnership with his brother-in-law, W. S. Ervin. He moved to his present place in December, 1919, and the care and attention he has given it are clearly made manifest. In Modesto, in 1888, Mr. McCabe was married to Miss Teresa Patrone, who was born on Duggan Street, in San Francisco, March 2, 1868, the daughter of Joseph and Rose (Brackley) Patrone, who came to California in the early '50s and are both now deceased. Mr. Patrone was a farmer and dairyman in Stanislaus County and well known in this section for many years before his death. Mrs. McCabe received her education in the schools of the county, and, with her husband, has many friends in this locality. Mr. and Mrs. McCabe are the parents of seven children: Lena J., wife of Edwin A. Hughes, chief clerk with the San Joaquin Light & Power Company at Madera for several years ; James W. is employed by the Modesto Milk Company and served in the World War, being stationed at both Camp Lewis and Camp Kearney ; he married Eva Corson ; Maybelle T. married Arden Foust, a machinist, and they have two children— Arden, Jr., and Arlyne June; Eugene L. is an expert machinist and employed in the county ; he is an ex-service man, having been stationed at Gulfp-ort, OWEN McCABE HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 401 Miss., and is still a member of the Reserves ; Alvin J. is an employee of the Ford Motor Company in San Francisco; Rose E. and Elmer J. are at home with their parents. While deeply interested in all public matters, Mr. McCabe has had no desire for official preferment, but has steadily declined all efforts to induce him to run for various public offices. Blessed with a happy home, he gives to his wife much of the credit for his success, as she has always stood shoulder to shoulder with him in all his enterprises. FRANK CARPENTER CHAPMAN.— The fruit industry of California and that of Stanislaus County in particular, owes a debt of grateful appreciation to Frank C. Chapman, now of Modesto. He is the son of a California pioneer of '49, himself a native son, veteran orchardist, fruit grower, dryer and shipper and one of the best informed men on problems of shipping and marketing fruit and similar questions, of any one on the Pacific Coast. Together with his brother, George L. Chapman, he successfully invented the process of extracting the kernel from apricot pits by a salt water solution process, which has been so successfully adopted by many companies in the state since 1895. The fast-growing sale of Kermal Oil makes the enterprise an industry which is exceeding the expectations of its most sanguine promoters. Mr. Chapman has also perfected a dehydrating system known as the Chapman Common Sense Dehydrator, and is the only system which has proven to be a success, . both from practical, economic and scientific standpoints. Evaporators have been built and experimented with for over fifty years, but it remained for this practical orchardist to discover the system to meet the needs of the fruit grower. There are two plants in Santa Rosa and two in Modesto, all of which handle as high as fifty tons, each, of green fruit every twenty-four hours running time. By this method the green fruit is changed to the finished dried product in from six to twelve hours, a work which when dried in the open air by aid of the sun generally takes two weeks. The life story of Frank C. Chapman is linked at every step with the develop ment of California. He was born at Petaluma, Sonoma County, March 4, 1864, the youngest of four children born to Lafayette and Fannie (Carpenter) Chapman, the former a native of New Hampshire, whose paternal ancestors were natives of Scotland who settled in the American colonies before the Revolutionary War. The mother was born in Australia and came to California when she was sixteen years of age. Of the four children, two were girls and both are now deceased. The elder Chapman came to California in 1849, making the trip from Boston around the Horn in a sailing vessel. After landing in San Francisco he went to the mines and for a time was engaged in mining and prospecting but later turned his attention to agri culture, settling on a ranch near Santa Rosa, where he owned 3,000 acres known as the Mark West Creek Stock Ranch. It was on the Sonoma County ranch that Frank C. Chapman passed his boy hood days, doing such work about the ranch as he could arid attending the schools of Santa Rosa until he was thirteen years old, at which time was apprenticed to learn the trade of harness maker, serving three years and becoming expert in that line. When he was twenty he went to Vacaville, Solano County, and engaged in businass as a saddler, carriage and harness maker, continuing there for eight years with grow ing success. But the great and growing fruit industry of the state was to claim Mr. Chapman and in 1892 he went to Pomona, Los Angeles County, where he was one of the pioneers in the drying and shipping of fruits. For thirteen years he was in that same business in Los Angeles, blazing the way in many new lines of endeavor as the business of drying steadily increased until it reached 2,000 tons per season, a great volume of business for the primitive methods of that period. In 1901 Mr. Chapman came to Stanislaus County, where he has since made his home. He purchased a ranch of 160 acres, six and one-half miles southwest of Modesto and was the first man in this county to set out Thompson Seedless grapes. His entire acreage is planted to grapes of various varieties and he has given the ap propriate name of the Morning Star Vineyard to his property. He is now engaged in growing, drying and shipping fruit, having for his partner his son, George C. Chapman. Mr. Chapman thoroughly understands every branch of the fru:t industry 402 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY from the nursery to the table and his vineyards and orchards are the best in the county and his nursery stock is much sought after by discriminating vineyardists. The marriage of Frank C. Chapman occurred in Vacaville, March 4, 1891, when he was united with Miss Clara Elizabeth Cargill, a native of Michigan. Her parents were Pardon and Delphina (Wilds) Cargill. The former came to California across the plains on horseback in 1852, mined for a time and returned to his eastern home via Panama, studied medicine and later returned to California with his family on one of the first trains that crossed the continent. Dr. Cargill was a man of un usually fine physique and easily took his place among the pioneer physicians of the coast. He first located in Monterey County, then moved to Vacaville in 1880, where his two daughters were reared and educated. Mrs. Chapman was two years old when she was brought to this state and her sister, Ora B., was born in Monterey County. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman became the parents of three children: a son, George C, his father's partner, and he rendered splendid service during the World War. He was a student at the College of the Pacific at San Jose when war was declared, just com pleting his first year, and he enlisted at once in the U. S. Navy, trained at Pelham Bay and became an ensign on the U. S. Destroyer Orizaba. After the armistice he was honorably discharged but is still an ensign in the Naval Reserves. He is a mem ber of the Elks, the Progressive Club and the American Legion. One daughter, Helen, is Mrs. John W. McCabe; and Esther is a stenographer in Modesto. Mr. Chapman is of the true type of California pioneer and has the most un bounded enthusiasm for the state and county in which he resides. He has always had unlimited faith in the fruit industry and has backed his judgment with his capital, with the result that he has made exceedingly large profits. He is a member of the Modesto Board of Trade, and for several winters represented this county at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, during the time he spent at his winter residence in the Southern city. Fraternally he is a merhber of Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. Elks, and is very popular among a wide circle of friends, who respect his judg ment, wisdom and wide fund of knowledge. LUKE A. CHURCH. — Occupying an honored position among the many worthy citizens of Stanislaus County was the late Luke A. Church, a man of integrity, in dustry and sterling worth. He was a native of Ohio, born at Tiffin, on December 28, 1831, and when he was a young man of twenty years, in 1851, he left home and friends and started on the long and eventful trip to California. Leaving New York on the S. S. Illinois, with some companions, he came to Chagres and crossed the Isthmus on foot and embarked on a vessel of the Panama line for San Francisco, where he took a ship to Sacramento. He came down to Stockton and from there, went into the mines of Mariposa and Tuolumne counties where he began seeking for the shining metal. He prospected, mined and drove stage for a time. On April 3, 1863, Mr. Church was united in marriage with Elizabeth Davis, born in Minersville, Pa., and a daughter of David and Margaret (Williams) Davis, both natives of Wales. Great-grandfather David Davis was one of the first men to discover anthracite coal in Schuylkill County, Pa. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Church went to Don Pedro Bar in Tuolumne County where they conducted a hotel for a time and where four children were born: Almina J., widow of James Ross; Mary J., wife of S. Spyres; Sarah A., wife of D. F. Mullin, all residents of Stanislaus County. The second child, Nora A., died at the age of thirteen years. In 1868, Mr. Church moved his family to Paradise, hauling the lumber from his hotel at Don Pedro Bar and building his house of it. While he was living at Para dise Mr. Church ran a stage from Stockton to Paradise and continued that occupa tion until the railroad was built to Modesto. In 1870, with the trend of events, Mr. Church moved his house from Paradise to the new town site of Modesto and located it on property he had bought at the corner of what is now Burney and Lane streets, where it still is situated and occu pied by their youngest daughter, Margaret E., wife of W. V. Voice. She was born in Modesto on June 3, 1872, and is one of the first female children to be born in the town of Modesto. There was a son born in their Modesto home on March 20, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 405 1871, and named George Frank, and probably he was the first American child born there. He died October 23, 1872, one of the first buried in the cemetery. The house that Mr. Church moved from Paradise and located in Modesto was the third house to be brought into the place and after locating here he took up the trade of carpenter and followed that the remainder of his active life. Associated with him in the building business were Moses Adams and Benjamin Hutchings, both still living and well past eighty years of age. Mr. Church was bereaved of his wife, who died on March 1, 1883, when in her forty-first year. He never remarried but kept his little family together with the aid of the older girls. He was a well-read man, made and retained friends, was a conscientious worker and always did his part so far as he was able, to promote the best interests of his home locality and was an ardent Republican. His death, .February 6, 1901, removed from the community a man loved and revered by all who knew him. STEPHEN VIVIAN. — A prosperous farmer who eventually subdivided his land so that, although he has retained a comfortable home place, a dozen other farmers, also prosperous, now operate individual ranches where he once carried on agriculture on an extensive scale, is Stephen Vivian, the son of John and Mary A. (Harris) Vivian, the well-known pioneers of Sonora, Tuolumne County. Mr. Vivian was born on March 17, 1866, on the old Vivian ranch of his parents about twelve miles southwest of Modesto, and he attended school in the old Adams ville district. As a lad, however, he also had to work hard, helping early and late to herd the sheep and cattle on his father's vast ranch; and owing to this early ap prenticeship, he came to know and to love both horses and stock. In 1899 he pur chased 560 acres of the Tom Harp ranch and he also became freeholder of his father's estate, having farmed for his father for thirty years. In 1880 John Vivian passed away; but his devoted and honored widow survived until 1916. Following, there fore, in the footsteps of his father, Stephen Vivian has been identified with stock rais ing in Stanislaus County since his boyhood; he also long farmed to grain, harvesting never less than fifteen sacks of barley per acre, and planting as many as 500 acres yearly. At Modesto in 1896 Mr. Vivian was married to Miss Rosa Wallis, a daughter of W. K. Wallis and a gifted lady who has worked loyally to bring about Mr. Vivian's success. Six children have blessed their union: Rosetta M. is a stenog rapher at the Modesto Garage ; Serena attends the high school at M0Q,esto ; while the younger members of the family are John H., Kate H., Martha and Stephen E. These promising children ought to reward Mr. Vivian's services of twenty years as a trustee of the Jones school district. In national politics, Mr. Vivian is a Republican ; but he endeavors to keep himself above all partisanship in his attitude toward local movements and candidates. For two terms he was deputy assessor. When Mr. Vivian subdivided his land and at a reasonable profit shared with others what he had for years toiled to produce, he retained for himself and family some forty acres, where some years ago he erected a very substantial and beautiful residence. He enjoys his home, but he also enjoys the great outdoors; and as a good marksman of the Modesto Gun Club, he makes a sortie each season after game. The season just passed he was especially fortunate, and had the honor of bringing home a buck of 300 pounds, with antlers spreading wider than any ever known, from the preserved records, to have been brought into Stanislaus County. PROFESSOR HERMAN HINTZE.— Fortunate in being able to enter his chosen vocation, Prof. Herman Hintze concentrated his efforts in the musical field, and as he entered heart and soul into his work, his success was an assured fact. His love for music of a high order left its imprint on the residents of Modesto and vicinity, and by his artistic and scientific instruction has led many to appreciate the most classical compositions. A German by birth, he was born in Duisburg, Germany, a town of Rhenish Prussia, a son of Dr. Hintze, also prominent in his native province. Professor Hintze began his education in the public school of Duisburg, later graduating from the gjm- nazium. From his earliest recollections, he excelled in the study of music, and after 406 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY his graduation, he went to Cologne to study under Professor Frederick Heller, where he made rapid progress in his chosen profession. When he arrived at the age of twenty-one, he emigrated to America, locating in San Francisco, immediately enter ing upon the profession of teaching all branches of piano, in harmony, counterpoint and composition, and was, for many j'ears, director of the orchestra in the San Francisco Theater, also serving later in the same capacity at the Columbia and the California Theaters. During the year of 1874 he removed to Modesto, when that now thriving city was but a small village, and established the first music house in the San Joaquin Valley. This store was known in later years as the Hintze Pioneer Music Store He also established a music store in Stockton, and owned and operated them both foi a number of years. After disposing of his two stores, he became manager for the Wiley B. Allen piano house in Modesto, meanwhile instructing a large class of students in piano, and was an acknowledged leader in musical circles, enjoying a host of friends, who remember him with feelings of delight and pleasure, intermingled with regrets at his death. The marriage of Professor Hintze united him with Miss Marie Brooks, a native of San Francisco and where she was educated, being a graduate of the San Francisco Normal school, and was following the profession of teaching when her marriage occurred. She was amply able to assist her husband in all musical and social affairs and their home on the McHenry Road, consisting of ten acres of finely improved orchard, was the scene of many brilliant social events. Professor and Mrs. Hintze were the parents of two children : Viola, now the wife of C. J. Cressey, residing on the old home place, and Karl, a graduate of Annapolis, now serving in the U. S. Navy. Mrs. Hintze passed away August 10, 1907. Fraternally, Professor Hintze was an Elk and an Odd Fellow. He was a kindly, genial man, a staunch believer in the underlying good of humanity, and the sincerity and loyalty of his friends and associates. JOSEPH N. LONG. — A Californian of remarkable character and a fortune in his many friendships with representative Central Californians, Joseph N. Long is especially esteemed in Turlock and its environs, where he is best known as Joe Long. He was born on December 29, 1854, in Iowa, and when a lad of seventeen left home to see his native land, and finally rounded up at San Antonio, Texas. In 1870 he took a job with a company of cattlemen, owners of 4,000 head of stock; and in two separate bands these cattle were driven overland by way of Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas. At Leavenworth, in the latter state, forty miles north of the Arkansas River, they stopped to winter; and having resumed their journey in the spring, the herders and the herds reached Carson, Nev., where the stock was left, at the end of a trip of eighteen months from Texas. This experience was full of hardships; but the lad was game for all the wild adventure. Next year, 1872, safely landed in California, Joe Long was working for wages as a foreman on a sheep ranch in Stanislaus County, spending the summer in the foot hills of the high Sierras, and in the winter roaming the plains of the great San Joaquin Valley, and in that kind of occupation he continued until 1879. He had taken close cognizance of the fertility of the soil, especially on the rolling plains of the Montpellier country, and for a period of twenty-five years following, he farmed for himself from 1,000 to 3,000 acres of the land then owned by Dr. Dickin son. The chief crop was wheat ; and to show that he understood the natural conditions ahd profited from them, it need only be stated that his crops averaged better than ten sacks of winter-sown grain to the acre. Later he became the owner of an extensive grain farm, south of Montpellier, which he sold in 1912, enabling him to retire from hard ranch toil. In 1906 Mr. Long had purchased a tract of eighty acres of land about three miles from Turlock, which was set out to a vineyard ; and three years later he added forty acres to this fine ranch, and as the market price for wine grapes at that time was very low, with no hope for betterment, he rooted up the vineyard, except the forty acres, which, with the prices several times increased, are now bringing in a handsome for tune. The balance of the ranch Mr. Long leases out to tenants, who produce bumper HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 409 crops of melons — some weighing eighty-five to ninety pounds — as well as sweet pota toes and alfalfa. Mr. Long is a stockholder in the T. M. & G., Inc., at Turlock. At La Grange, in 1883, Mr. Long was married to Miss Caroline Olson, who was born in Sweden, but who came to Stanislaus County with her pioneer parents who settled at La Grange and have been long deceased. Two children were born to this fortunate union: Edith is the wife of Ervin Holt, the editor of the Merced Sun; and Lucile has become Mrs. James Monocchia, and resides at San Francisco. Both daughters, graduates of the State University, are very accomplished. The eldest was active in her profession as a teacher in the Turlock high school five years prior to the war, and she also served as a Red Cross nurse for a year overseas. The j'oungest daughter is now a special tutor at the Presidio, San Francisco, and her husband is general manager of the Pacific Long Distance Telephone & Telegraph Company at the Bay City. In 1912 a terrible automobile accident occurred which resulted in the almost instantaneous death of Mrs. Long, and which has naturally thrown a deep shadow over the life of the family circle. Mrs. Long was accompanying her husband on a run from Turlock to San Francisco, and when on the Altamont grade the mishap occurred which called for her sacrifice, and from which Mr. Long escaped with not a scratch. _ HARRY A. BATES.— No better illustration could be afforded of what the society of today and the posterity of tomorrow owe to those who have gone before, opening new paths, paving the way, and making it easier and safer for all who follow, than in the life and accomplishments of the late Harry A. Bates, a man of sterling worth and pleasing personality, who was born at Don Pedro Bar, in Tuolumne County, Cal., in 1863. He was reared on a farm in the vicinity of La Grange, and there attended the public schools, after which he joined a surveying corps and for a while carried the rod and chain in the survey of landed areas. He then entered the employ of Hammond & Bates, and for some years followed general merchandising at La Grange, where he came to Modesto, where for fourteen years he had charge of the Haslacher & Kahn warehouse, as its manager. Next he was engaged in Modesto as a realtor, and proved very successful in buying and selling land, and during this period he was also engaged as a grain buyer. His rare judgment and wide knowledge of land values enabled him to make important deals for himself and to serve the many who came to him for advice ; and the enterprise brought him added prosperity. He was interested, besides, in local investments, among them the Tidewater Railroad. He had moved into Modesto in 1893, and soon afterward he selected the corner of McHenry and Downey avenues, and there erected a large, beautiful home, where Mrs. Bates still lives. He had been married at La Grange, in 1893, to Miss Ora R. Randall, who was born across the river from La Grange, in Tuolumne County. After completing the courses of the Modesto schools, she taught school for about three years, but having a predilection for the study of medicine, she entered Toland Medical Col lege in San Francisco, where she from the beginning did good work. She did not complete the full course, however, giving up her studies at the time of her marriage to Mr. Bates. The union proved very happy, and two children were born to them. C. E. G. Bates, the right-hand assistant of his mother, and a daughter, Florence L. Mr. Bates was a prominent Odd Fellow, and was popular, socially and politically; and when he passed away, at his residence on September 9, 1909, he was deeply mourned by a wide circle of admiring friends. He had lived a useful, influential life, successful for others as well as for himself; and among the most precious fruits of his long years of unselfish endeavor may be noted the affectionate gratitude of the many he directly and indirectly helped. Since his death, Mrs. Bates continues to look after the large affairs entrusted her by her far-seeing husband, property interests of much original value which she is further developing. Meanwhile, a woman of culture, and exceptional personality, she has become prominent in civic and social circles, so that without doubt her influ- 410 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ence for good, like that of her esteemed husband, is far-reaching. She is a member of the Golden State Rebekah Lodge, of which she is a past noble grand, and also a dis trict deputy, and she is an ex-president of the Modesto Woman's Improvement Club. She is also a past president of the San Joaquin Valley Federation of Women's Clubs, and was a member of the State Federation when Mrs. Orr was president. As a pre siding officer, she was experienced, tactful and popular. In politics as well as in civics, she is nonpartisan, endorsing the principle of the person rather than the party. JAMES WARNER — JAMES F. WARNER.— Associated with the early days of Stanislaus County, Warner's ranch was well known throughout this part of Cali fornia through the extensive operations of its owner, James Warner, one of the county's most prominent ranchers. Born in England, he came to the United States when a boy, settling at first in Wisconsin, from which place he came to California in 1852, by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He mined for a time and then settled above Waterford, where he engaged in stock raising and grain farming on a large scale, operating 15,000 acres in partnership with his brother, Joseph Warner, operating during the lifetime of both men under the name of Warner Bros. In those days, the country was sparsely settled and the Warner ranch was the center of much of the community life of those early times. Identified with all the pioneer development, James Warner was a promi nent figure and was elected by his fellow-citizens to be a supervisor for Stanislaus County in the eighties. He was a Republican and was affiliated with the Masons and Odd Fellows. Mrs. Warner passed away at Oakland in 1892, at the age of forty-nine, Mr. Warner surviving her until May, 1910, dying in Oakland, age seventy-four. Mr. and Mrs. James Warner were the parents of nine children: Edith is Mrs. L. C. Collins of Ceres; Joseph W., of Oakland, is married and has two children;" J. E. Warner is the father of four children, he is a merchant at Marshfield, Ore., as is his brother, Guy Warner, who has one child ; Myron lives at Planada, is married and has two children ; Roy lives with James F., of this sketch, on the latter's ranch ; Elmo, formerly a deputy U. S. marshal under Elliott at San Francisco, is married and lives in Stanislaus County; Irma met accidental death at Oakland in November, 1919. Born on the Warner ranch, ten miles above Waterford, on December 23, 1876, James F. Warner was reared on the old home ranch, attending the local school and later the high school at Oakland, where his parents had removed. When he was twenty-two, he struck out for himself and farmed in the hills above Waterford for about ten years, coming in 1914 to the Warner ranch of 200 acres in the Orr precinct, which had been acquired in the eighties by James and Joseph Warner. Here he became one of the firm of the Warner Company, the ranch being devoted to the raising of stock and grain farming. Having early acquired an all-around, practical knowledge of agricultural problems, and following modern ideas, he has met with success. A worthy representative of his pioneer forebears, Mr. Warner takes an active interest in all that concerns the welfare of his community and is a staunch Republican. REVEREND FRED A. KEAST.— A naturally-gifted, finely-educated repre sentative of the self-sacrificing Christian ministry, is the Rev. Fred A. Keast, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Turlock, a gentleman who, having only the best interests of his people at heart, is always planning, always doing something for those committed to his care. He was born at St. Agnes, Cornwall, England, on August 17, 1869, a section of the English coast often spoken of as the Cornish Riviera, and so commenced life amid a most beautiful environment. His father, Sampson Keast, was also born there, of an old South of England family, and as Captain Keast, he was widely and well-known as a superintendent of mines, and he died where hehad so long and so faithfully labored. Grandfather John Keast was a minister in the Brianite Methodist Church. Captain Keast married Miss Augusta Elizabeth Phillips, a daughter of Scotch parents ; her father and brothers were in the Government service for many years. In Sampson Keast's family there were thirteen children, and eight of them grew to maturity. Our subject was next to the youngest in the order of birth, and he is the only one now in the United States. JAMES WARNER HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 411 He was brought up and educated in the common and secondary schools of St. Agnes, a region visited several times by John Wesley and which has an atmosphere of religious life and tradition such as might inspire anyone to the highest and noblest things; and from this a community of some 2,000 souls have gone forth, some very notable Christian men, and over fifty inspired preachers who are today filling pulpits in various parts of the world, so it is not surprising that Mr- Keast should have early turned to theological study. He was trained under able Wesleyan Methodist teachers, and in time became himself a licensed preacher. As a lad, he had worked as a miner ; and commencing from the lowest rungs of the ladder, he worked up even to a post in the surveying corps, so that while he was studying, he was also supporting himself. Starting out in the world, Mr. Keast went to South Africa as a promoter of mines,, representing the Leopards Vlea Estate Gold Mining Company of London; and he opened for them gold mines in the Transvaal, but after two years of successful operation, he resigned and returned to England on account of the illness of his mother ; and after her death he came out to America, and reached New York on May 24, 1890, not yet having attained his twenty-first year of age. He proceeded to California, and went to Grass Valley, where he followed mining for a year. Then he heeded the call to the ministry that had come to him years before, and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he joined the California Conference and became a pastor on the Ophir circuit, Forbestown circuit, then Hart and Keswick and next Biggs. During this time he took a five years' course under divines in the conference, and was ordained a deacon in September, 1894, and two years later ordained an elder. For four years he was pastor of the Epworth Church in San Francisco, and while there he started a mission on Mission Street, and organized the congregation and church of that name, purchasing the site of the present Mission Church in San Fran cisco. His next appointment was to Santa Clara, where he was pastor of the First M. E. Church at the time of the earthquake, when their church was destroj'ed. The pastor and congregation worked tremendously hard and built anew; but the severe strain told on him to such an extent that his health was impaired. The way opened, and he and his good wife were able to make a trip back to the Old World. In Grass Valley, Mr. Keast had married Miss Mary Elizabeth Nettle, a native of Grass Valley, but of English parents, her father being Charles Nettle, a pioneer mining man who had come to California in 1851. Mrs. Nettle took Mary as a girl back to England, and there she received her education, and she returned to California a young lady. Rev. and Mrs. Keast had an interesting and most enjoj'able trip to and through parts of Europe, visiting childhood scenes and the large centers of popu lation in England and on the Continent, where he made a special study of social conditions ; and they returned to America and California with renewed vigor. He was appointed to Watsonville, and served there for three years with renewed vigor ; then he spent five years at Lodi, where the congregation was wonderfully blessed, for it grew from a few members to one of the largest churches in the conference. He was next appointed to special work in Sacramento— that of uniting the two downtown churches — and he succeeded in starting the movement which is now- culminating in one of the largest congregations in California — that of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church. Completing his work after a year, the bishop ruled that the pastors of the two churches should give way to a new one, and then amalgamation came. In 1918, the Rev. Mr. Keast came to Turlock, as pastor of the First Methodist Church, and here, too, his indefatigable work has borne fruit, for the church has grown from less than 500 to more than 800, and can boast of the largest and best- organized Sunday school in Northern California. The various societies of the church also are all thriving as well. Additional lots have been bought, and a movement culminating, it is to be expected, in the building of a new modern edifice comprising an up-to-date Sunday school equipment, a magnificent auditorium, a community center, with a gymnasium and club, extra and special rooms and all else necessary for the social life of the young people of the church and community, has been begun. All these good things will be placed at the disposal of everyone, regardless of creed, and provision will be made in the assembly rooms for gatherings pertaining to ccmmunity 412 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY welfare. Rev. Mr. Keast believes that the Church of Christ should serve the people ; and at Lodi he put his convictions to the test, with the result that the church, com pleted, is being operated there on that plan with wonderful success. In his arduous church work, Mr. Keast is most ably assisted by his accomplished and genial wife, who takes an active part in all religious and social life of the congregation. Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Keast have been blessed with five children. Lysia is a graduate nurse, and as such was in the Government service in the late World War, in the hospital base at Fort Douglas, Utah ; since then she has married, and is now Mrs. Oscar M. Holden of Oakland. Frederick Elon, a graduate of Stanford Univer sity, is now a city salesman for the H. S. Crocker Company in San Francisco. Alice is a graduate of the San Jose State Normal, and is teaching. Edith, who was educated at the College of the Pacific at San Jose, is now Mrs. Howard Totter of Berkeley. And Helen is attending the Turlock high school. Rev. Mr. Keast was assistant' secre tary of the California Conference for seventeen years, and resigned on account of added work, which took too much of his time. He has always had an active interest in temperance work, and the movement that finally made the Eighteenth Amendment possible received his hearty support, as does the present enforcement of the law. He is now president of the Turlock Ministers' Association. WALTER F. BEARD. — An efficient executive whose experience and ability are appreciated by all who commit their interests to his care, is Walter F. Beard, the superintendent of the Modesto & Empire Traction Company, a five-mile steam railway which is devoted wholly to the hauling of freight. The Beards built it, run it and operate it, and as it puts the Santa Fe into Modesto, connecting Empire on the Santa Fe with Modesto, which is located on the Southern Pacific, and thus gives the growers a chance to ship over the two railway systems, it is a local venture of importance. Mr. Beard is the son of T. K. Beard, one of the leading financiers and citizens of Stanislaus County, and he was born in Stanislaus County on February 27, 1881, the second of ten children. When twenty-one, he started to contract in partnership with his father, and they have many large undertakings to their credit, including the Modesto canal irrigation system, the San Joaquin Irrigation District, and the enlarge ment of the Turlock main canal, which involved the enlargement of tunnels through the mountains at La Grange ; also employed by the Government for a year in con structing the Truckee-Carson irrigation project; and built the Ocean Shore Railway at Santa Cruz, in 1906, the Modesto Reservoir, the Oakdale-San Joaquin Irrigation dam, the South San Joaquin Irrigation District main canal, of which he put up three sections, the Turlock Irrigation District or Davis reservoir, being the Foothill reser voir in the eastern part of Stanislaus County, and the enlargement of the canals and tunnels of the Turlock Irrigation District. In addition to his responsible work of operating the railway of the Modesto & Empire Traction Company, Mr. Beard owns a valuable ranch of some 100 acres in the Laurel Lodge precinct on the Empire Road, about three miles east of Modesto, where he lives with his wife and family. He married Miss Zeila Hambleton, a daughter of Mrs. Emily M. Hambleton, and they have three children, as follows: Kennan H., Walter Franklin Beard, Jr., and Emily E. Beard. Mrs. Hambleton is the widow of Elbert Ansley Hambleton, of Davis County, Iowa, who died at Venice in 1910, aged fifty-four years. She was born in Clark County, Ind., and has happily survived. GEORGE A. KNOX. — A native Scotchman who enjoys the highest respect of his associates and many friends is George A. Knox, who lives about seven miles south of Modesto on the Crows Landing Road. He was born in the famous city of Edinburgh, Scotland, on May 18, 1868, and when he was a year old, he was brought out to America by his parents, Henry and Catherine (Amos) Knox, who also brought along another of their children, his brother, J. A. Knox, now of Oakland. They sailed around the Horn, reached California in safety, and then located at Oakland, after a more or less eventful trip of six weeks. They had a daughter born after coming to California, now Mrs. Belle Wallis, living near Modesto. In 1874, Mr. and Mrs. Knox, who had been farmers in Scotland, came to Stanislaus County and bought 160 /u/^v<^l^^ i^X^y^du^-T^^^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 415 acres of land in the Westport precinct of the Jones district ; and to this they kept adding until, in after years, they had 600 acres, all good grain land. After finishing the eighth grade of the local schools, George A. Knox attended the Ramsey Business College at Stockton, and then he took up agriculture in the Westport region, in which he has always farmed. Now he owns a ranch of eighty acres, and grows alfalfa for hay. He also manages the estate of his mother, Mrs. Catherine Vincent, who had remarried and died at Modesto on June 19, 1920, leav ing him executor of her property. Mr. Knox is a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers' Union and ever ready to advance the interests of California agriculture, and to bring the county of Stanislaus into the front rank of productive, profitable areas. At Richmond, Contra Costa County, Mr. Knox was married to Miss Nellie Parker, a daughter of H. E. Parker of the Dry Creek district, one of the earliest apd most esteemed of Stanislaus County pioneers. Together, Mr. and Mrs. Knox have worked hard for the war drives in the Westport district, and Mr. Knox served on the committee. He is a true lover of outdoor sports, and enjoj's both hunting and fishing. On the Vincent estate, where Mr. Knox now lives, is the old water hole where the stock of the plains were watered. It is a natural depression and was hollowed out by the stockmen to make it available for water. HIRAM HUGHSON. — A California pioneer of extraordinary force of character and intellect, whose busy life of work and care leading on to success for himself and all associated with him well illustrates that characteristic in thousands of Americans, the will to do, to continue to do despite all odds, and finally to triumph over seemingly impassable obstacles, was Hiram Hughson, who closed his eyes to the scenes of this world on January 15, 1911. He was born at Middleburg, Schoharie County, N. Y., on November 22, 1840, the grandson of George Hughson, a farmer who was an old- time Whig distinguished for his fighting qualities in the Revolutionary War. While leading a spirited attack on the British, he had an arm blown off and, what was doubly unfortunate, the right arm at that ; but he was able later to use his left arm in writing, and so was welcomed by his fellow citizens as constable, collector and county treasurer. When his end came, he was in New York state and had reached his seventy-fifth year. Nicholas M. Hughson, the father of our subject, was a native of Long Island, N. Y., and grew up' to be a successful farmer in Schoharie County. He was prominent as both a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married Miss Charlotte Duncan, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, who came to the United States when she was ten years of age. Her father was Charles S. Duncan, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, who supported himself and family as a farmer and a blacksmith, and preached the Gospel freely, without money and without price. He rounded out eighty-two years, and they were four-score and over devoted to the welfare of his fellow men. Six sons and four daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hughson, among whom Hiram was the fifth in the order of birth. He attended the public schools of his birthplace, and then finished his studies with three j'ears at the Norwich Academy, when he clerked in the general merchandise store of Covell & Co., at Elmira, N. Y., where he worked for four years. He then joined his brother, O. M. Hughson, as partner in the same line of business at Norwich, N. Y., sticking to that venture until the much greater one, of migration to the "Golden West," appealed too strongly to be resisted. In 1857 he came out to California, via Panama and the steamer so well known in those days, the Star of the West ; and he arrived at San Francisco on Christmas night. After a week in the bay metropolis, Mr. Hughson pushed on to Marysville and there engaged to clerk for Kirby & Burns, with whom he remained for a year and a half. By 1858 he had plunged into the mines at Monte Christo, but after six months he went to the Fraser River mines in British Columbia, where for seven months he struggled to make good what he had steadily lost. In the end, he was glad to work his passage to San Francisco and to borrow twenty dollars from George Walton, a friend in Marysville, for whom he worked for six months on his ranch, and then he engaged with John Campbell to take beef cattle to the mines. He succeeded so well in 22 416 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY this, that he went into the cattle business for himself, and by so doing cleared up over three thousand dollars. About that time, perhaps somewhat earlier, he returned to Norwich, N. Y., and took charge of the dry goods store of his brother, who had been elected county treasurer. On coming back to California, Mr. Hughson teamed over the mountains to Virginia City and Gold Hill, Nev., charging $100 per ton for carrying freight from Sacramento, and in two and a half years he made $7,000, abandoning the venture only when the railwaj's made it unprofitable to continue. Then he removed to San Joaquin County, and rented 500 acres near Stockton, which he farmed to grain for three years, and in 1872 he bought 500 acres in the vicinity, at $25 an acre, which he farmed for fourteen years and then sold for $50 an acre. The result might well have been accounted success, had it not been for a distressing accident which deprived Mr. Hugh- son of his left arm. The spring of his mowing machine broke and he was thrown out against the scythe. His friends advised him to secure a small store somewhere and start again in a new field ; but they did not know Hiram Hughson, who persisted in the field he had already half-mastered. In 1882 he removed to Stockton with his family, and somewhat later bought 1,000 acres eight miles east of Modesto, near what is now known as Hughson ; he made improvements, and acquired more and more land ; nor did he ever mortgage one property in order to purchase another. In 1901, he rented out his land and located at Modesto, where he lived retired until he died. It is said of him that, handicapped as he was by the loss of his arm, he made his fortune in rais ing grain, taking over section after section of land from men who had utterly failed. Having accumulated a large sum of money, Mr. Hughson invested it in land mortgages and securities, and became one of the wealthiest men in the San Joaquin Valley. While at Stockton Mr. Hughson was united in marriage with Miss Luella R. Avery, a native of Keokuk, Lee County, la., and the daughter of Demas and Mary ( Reid ) Avery, natives of New York City, who moved" West to Iowa, and from that state came by way of Panama to California. For a while Mr. Avery tried his luck as a miner, then he took up farming, and as an agriculturist continued in the San Joaquin Valley until his death. Ten children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hughson, nine of whom are still living. These are Belle C, Mrs. Fred Suppiker of Riverside; Mary, Mrs. Joseph Diel of Stockton ; Edna, Mrs. Charles Craig, of Salida ; Minnie L., Mrs. H. H. Sturgill, also of Salida; Olive V., Mrs. Frank Hatch, resides near Modesto ; Ora Hughson of Stockton ; George Hughson of Woodland, and Hiram and Lester of Modesto. After Mr. Hughson's death, his widow continued to reside at Modesto, and here she has come to take her place among the leading women of the city, not only because of her social accomplishments and her interest in affairs generally, but because of her business sagacity and the successful management of her estate. She still owns the old home at the corner of Twelfth and J streets, as well as considerable other property of value, and she selected and bought the corner at Tenth and J streets, whereon she erected the Hughson Hotel, six stories and a basement in height, the largest hostelry in Modesto, and one of the finest in the San Joaquin Valley, as well as the largest building in town. Besides these properties, she owns and operates several ranches, upon which she installed pumping plants and all the other necessary modern improvements. Altogether, she may well be accounted a remarkable woman, and one who has done her share in the development of Modesto on broad and substantial lines. Mrs. Hughson is a cultured woman, endowed by nature with much business acumen. She has abundantlj- demonstrated her optimism and faith in the progress of her town and county, and her exampe and success have spurred others on to do likewise. So it is to men and women of the type of Mrs. Hughson and her lamented husband that Stanislaus County owes much of its present greatness and development, for without their pioneering sacrifice, hard work, coupled with foresight and energy, properly ex pended in order to help bring about this wonderful transformation, the generation of today would not now be enjoying the present day comforts and conveniences, which are continually being augmented and enhanced. (Zaiolti^^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 419 THOMAS R. GADDIS. — A well-read, farseeing citizen of Turlock who has been prominent in Turlock every since the early days of the town, and who, therefore, has been privileged to assist in the work of laying the foundations of the community, is Thomas R. Gaddis, a native of Uniontown, Fayette County, Pa., where he was born on August 17, 1862. His father, Perry Gaddis, also came from the same vicinity, and besides being a bricklayer and a contractor, was a merchant and a farmer. He met death accidentally through an explosion, and passed away in his sixty- fourth year. He had married Miss Eliza J. Shaw, who was born in Fayette County, Pa., and was a cousin of H. C. Frick. She died in Pennsylvania in 1914, the mother of six boys and two girls, all of whom, save one of the sons, are still living. The fourth in the order of birth, and the only one of the family in California, Thomas Gaddis, was brought up in Fayette County, where he attended the schools until he was twelve years old, when he entered upon his mercantile career. He began as a clerk in a general store in Dunbar, and received $100 for his first year's service, while he boarded at home, and he worked from six o'clock in the morning until nine o'clock at night. The next year he entered the employ of the Blythe Coke Company, Mr. Blythe agreeing to pay him fifty dollars a month ; but instead he tendered him seventy-five, and he continued with him for twelve years, having charge of the com pany's store at the coke furnaces, and when he quit he was receiving $100 a month and his expenses. In 1886, he came to San Francisco; and after looking over the state, he selected Turlock as his first "camping place," and here became a clerk for J. E. Fuller, general merchant and lumber, coal and ice dealer, who gave him fifty dollars a month to take charge of the store. This was a grain country and devoted to wheat, barley and rye, and the general activity was during the harvest season. After a while he became a partner in the firm of Gaddis & Reiley, merchants on Front Street at the corner of East Main, and they continued together handling general merchandise three years. They then sold out to H. A. Osborn and dissolved the partnership. Mr. Gaddis, however, continued in Mr. Osborn's employ and for about four years managed the store for him ; and then he resigned and started in business for himself. He purchased the corner of West Main Street and Broadway, and in time built up an extensive trade in general merchandise, erecting the corner block there. In 1908, he sold out to Messrs. Osborn & Son, and having leased out the building, which he later sold, went in for ranching. Many j'ears before he had been engaged in grain raising, having 2,200 acres in grain leased from the J. W. Mitchell estate and he also farmed 640 acres of Mr. Bonnett's place to grain. He bought twenty acres north of Turlock devoted to alfalfa. Later, he bought forty acres east of Turlock, which he devoted to alfalfa, but after a while he sold the forty acres at a handsome profit. Then he bought eighty-two and a half acres on the Geer road, which he leveled and checked, and sixty acres of which he put into alfalfa, setting out the other twenty acres to vines; and this he also sold. He has also owned, bought and sold other valuable property here. He became a stock holder and one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Turlock at the time of its organization. He laid out his twenty acres north of town, known as Boulevard Park Addition to Turlock, which he sold out in lots and now nearly all built up. Near Turlock, on September 15, 1894, Mr. Gaddis was married to Miss Etta M. Bonnett, a native of Turlock and the daughter of David Dade and Elizabeth (Ronk) Bonnett, natives of West Virginia and Indiana respectively. In 1864 they crossed the plains to California and settled in Stanislaus County, where they were farmers near what is now Turlock. Mr. Bonnett was a grain raiser and owned 640 acres three miles out in the country; and there he died in February, 1915, ten years after his devoted wife had preceded him to the Great Bej'ond. They had four children, among whom Mrs. Gaddis is the j'oungest, and one of three now living. One child, Gladys Leona, has blessed this happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Gaddis. While handling his ranches, Mr. Gaddis purchased the corner of Broadway and Florence street, and built the large, beautiful residence now known as his hospitable home. The family 420 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY attend the Brethren Church. Since coming to this state in 1886, Mr. Gaddis has crossed the continent six times. A Democrat in his preferences as to national political policies, Mr. Gaddis has always refused public office. He has been active and helpful, however, in such excel lent organizations as the Business Men's Association and the Board of Trade in Tur lock, and all movements for keeping Stanislaus County before the eyes of the people, and did his duty during the recent war in ably working for and supporting the various bond and Red Cross drives. WILLIS BLEDSOE. — Through a close identification with the San Joaquin Valley from the early days of 1862, the name of Willis Bledsoe is prominently enrolled among those pioneers who foresaw and steadfastly worked to attain the present prosper ity of Stanislaus County, and whose personality and worth while endeavor have been impressed upon its development. Coming from a family whose lineage goes back to France, Willis Bledsoe was born in Gallatin County, Ky., on March 22, 1841. His father, who bore the same name, was born in Virginia, aifd after residing for some years in Gallatin County, Ky., moved to Missouri in 1846, and settled near Paris, in Monroe County, where he made his home until his death in 1888. The mother, before marriage, Jane Donnely, was born in Kentucky, and passed away in Missouri in 1870. Of the five children of these worthy parents only two are now living, and Willis Bledsoe, the third eldest, is the only one in California. Going to Missouri with his parents when he was five years old, his boyhood days were spent on the farm there, while the schools of the neighborhood furnished his educational opportunities. In 1862 he joined what was known as Dr. Glenn's train of ox teams and wagons, and they also brought 146 head of mules with them. They left Missouri on April 1, 1862, a party of forty-six men, all well armed, and they made the journey in the record time of sixty-one days from Omaha. The way across the plains was comparatively without the harrowing experiences of so many parties, as the Indians happened to be in a quiet frame of mind, and were neither hunting for scalps nor cattle. A month after his arrival Mr. Bledsoe went to the mines at Shaw's Flat in Tuolumne County, but as the life of a miner did not appeal to him he remained there only three days and then started to walk back in the direction of Stockton. Stopping at the John W. Jones place about twenty miles out of Stockton in San Joaquin County, Mr. Bledsoe secured employment there, continuing there for the next five years. Investing his savings in sheep in partner ship with Mr. Jones, he engaged in .sheep raising, ranging his flocks in Stanislaus and Merced counties, and making his headquarters on a ranch he had purchased at Montpellier. In 1871 Mr. Jones and Mr. Bledsoe dissolved partnership and the latter con tinued farming and stock raising. He had purchased 4,480 acres of land lying on the county line of Stanislaus County; thus he was the owner of seven sections of land. He carried on his ranching operations on a large scale, running six big teams and a combined harvester. In raising grain he began with winter plowing and sowing, but five years later he began to summer fallow and found such an increase in the yield, that he continued to use that method. Although he has had some hard years and low prices, as in 1893, for instance, when wheat sold for seventy-five cents a cental and barley for only fifty cents, but in the long run he has met with exceptional success. In 1885, Mr. Bledsoe built his large residence on J Street, Modesto, but while he made it his home, he continued actively in the operation of his large ranch interests until seven years ago, since which time he has rented his land. In 1870 Mr. Bledsoe was married to Miss Edna M. Jones, the daughter of his former partner, John W. Jones. Mr. Jones was born in North Carolina and later settled in Missouri, where Mrs. Bledsoe was born. In 1852 Mr. Jones started with his family across the plains to California, but the trip was saddened by the death of the wife and mother while on the journey. Edna M. was a baby in arms. Bringing his children on to California, Mr. Jones engaged in farming in San Joaquin County, and was also the owner of a large tract of land on the Tuolumne River in Stanislaus 9°u,nty- Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bledsoe: Effie was educated at Mills College and at the University of California and is now Mrs. Leek' of Modesto; ^rzv*^- Jto. $-&<*&** HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 421 Walter Denair, a graduate of the University of California, is a rancher in Stanislaus County; Alfred is also a graduate of the University of California, and is engaged in ranching in Merced County, but makes his home at Modesto. Mr. Bledsoe was bereaved of his faithful wife and helpmate June 21, 1921, a truly wonderful pioneer woman, mourned by her family and all who knew her. Mr. and Mrs. Bledsoe were among Stanislaus County's earliest settlers and they occupied a distinctive place in the life of the community for their sterling traits of character and exemplary lives that will ever bear fruit in their examples. They were both for many years active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Modesto, in the work of which they were warmly interested, as well as being generous contribu tors to its maintenance. Mr. Bledsoe was made a Mason in Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., at Modesto, and is a member of Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M. In terested in all that made for the county's welfare, he served as a director of the Modesto Irrigation District for one term and was a member of the board at the time of the build ing of the original Modesto-Turlock Irrigation District dam. The wonderful results of this great work can better be estimated in comparing the amount of taxable property then and now, showing what the impounding of water has meant for this county. It is a far cry back to the .days when the Knights Ferry bridge was built in 1862, but Mr. Bledsoe can well remember this event. At that time there was not a house in Stanislaus County except on the Stanislaus River, and at the mines. It was not until the following year, 1863, that people began locating and building on the plains on land preempted from the Government, land that has since been at times one vast grain field and yielding untold wealth to those farsighted enough to discern its possibilities. Even as late as 1865 cattle ranged on the present site of Modesto, and he has camped here with others while rounding up cattle, a fact difficult to believe for those who now reside in this attractive city and enjoy its many comforts and conveniences, and made possible by the labor and indomitable energy of those early pioneers. LAUD C. GATES. — A native son of California, a pioneer in the development of Stanislaus County, a true lover of the great outdoors, a hunter and fisherman and a splendid sportsman, L. C. Gates is one of the influential and highly respected citizens cf the county, where he has spent his entire life engaged in farming and grain raising. He now farms 1,060 acres of choice land in Hart precinct, ten miles west of Modesto, just off the Maze Road, a part of the old Gates ranch, which originally numbered 2,000 acres. And even this is destined to go, for Mr. Gates has recently had most of it leveled and checked for irrigation and alfalfa growing, and plans in the im mediate future to plat it into forty-acre farms and put it on the market as the Gates Colony. He now maintains sixty-five head of horses on his ranch, although the farm ing is done with modern machinery. Mr. Gates has been one of the most extensive wheat growers of the county for many j'ears, operating as high as 2,500 acres a j'ear. His father was the late Samuel Gates, who pioneered into Stanislaus County in the early '50s and was one of the largest and most successful grain growers of his day. He was one of the promoters of the irrigation projects of the district and had many roj'al battles in his efforts to successfully bring irrigation plans to completion. He was a director of the Modesto Irrigation District for many years, having been largely instrumental in the foundation of the organization in the early '90s. In the early '60s Samuel Gates was engaged in the teaming and freighting business between Sacramento and Virginia City, Nev., using six yoke of oxen in his teams, with two wagons, carrying eight tons each, and was identified with many interesting events in early California historj'. Samuel Gates married Margaret A. Owen, a daughter of Washington Owen, who crossed the plains to California in 1860, bringing his family with him, among them being Mrs. Gates, who had married Mr. Gates in Dubuque, Iowa, prior to his coming to California in 1852. He came West in search of adventure and gold and to prepare a home for his bride and son, George, now a resident of Oakland, and who was eight years old before he saw his father. Mr. Gates had settled in Yolo County and there they lived and had another son, Emery, now of Modesto, born to them. 422 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY The home was on Cache Creek, but on account of the ill health of Mrs. Gates, the family came down to Stanislaus County, where Mr. Gates had acquired the property on the old stage road and it was there a daughter, Maud, now the wife of Dr. Green of Modesto, was born, and the son, Laud C. Gates, now living on the old homestead, also saw the light of day. Mrs. Gates died while on a visit to Yreka, in 1916, at the age of seventy-eight years. Mr. Gates passed away in 1913, at the age of eighty. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and one of the most highly esteemed and con structive men of the San Joaquin Vallej'. The ranch house where L. C. Gates was born, August 14, 1874, held an important part in the history of that time, being the station for the overland stage which crossed the plains from Tuolumne City to Stock ton and Sacramento in the early '50s. It was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1916. Mr. Gates has been twice married and is the father of two sons, Laud O, Jr., and Donald, both in school in Modesto. He served as a director of the Modesto Irrigation District for years. Politically he is a Republican and a loyal supporter of party principles. All matters of public welfare may be certain to command the support and ¦ cooperation of Mr. Gates, and if they tend toward the ultimate betterment of farm conditions they are apt to have passed his approval before being given to the public. A matter of local pride and of almost national interest is the great old Gates Capri fig tree, which stands on the old homestead. It is said to be the largest fig tree in the world and is a tree of wonder and beauty, although it was injured when the old home burned in 1916. It has been a source of wide interest, and Mr. Swingle, of the United States Horticultural Bureau, made several trips to the ranch during the time our Government was spending $50,000 making the Smyrna fig a producer. JAMES B. FORD. — A native son of Stanislaus County, James B. Ford was born on the old Patrick Ford homestead at Twenty-six Mile, in North precinct, February 27, 1863. His father, Patrick Ford, was a native of Ireland, who migrated when a young man to the land of the Stars and Stripes, making the journey from the Emerald Isle to New Orleans, La., in a sailer, consuming ten weeks en route. When the dis covery of gold in California was heralded, he came via Panama to San Francisco in 1849. He mined on Feather River for a time and then returned to San Francisco, where he was married to Catherine Birmingham, who was also born in Ireland and had come to San Francisco when in her latter 'teens. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Ford located on his present place on Johns Creek, Stanislaus County, where he entered Government land and engaged in farming and stock raising. He was one of the first settlers in these parts and purchased land ad joining until he had 1,000 acres, which he improved with substantial farm buildings. The place took the name "Twenty-six Mile" because it was just that distance from Stockton, and was a popular stopping place for the teamsters and freighters for their first night out before going into the mountains. Patrick Ford was interested in the cause of education and established the Farm Cottage school district, built the schoolhouse and was a trustee from its organization for many years. He resided on the place until he died, January 27, 1903 ; while his widow survived him only until June 1 1 of the same year. Of the eight children born to this pioneer couple, James is the sixth in order of birth. He was brought up on the farm at Twenty-six Mile and from a lad assisted his father, learning to drive the big teams in the grain fields, ride the range and to rope and brand cattle, his father's brand being the letters P. F. He was kept very busy, so his attendance at Farm Cottage school embraced only about one year. However, this was supplemented with a course at the Stockton Business College. Fond of liter ature, he has been a wide reader as well as a close observer and he is today a well- informed man and a good conversationalist. It was not until he was twenty-eight years of age that James Ford took unto himself a wife, when he was united in marriage at Modesto to Miss Mamie Brennan. Her father, Michael Brennan, brought his family to Stockton and there Mrs. Ford was educated in St. Agnes Convent, after which she engaged in teaching, and it was while thus engaged at Farm Cottage school that she met Mr. Ford, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage, a union that has proven a very happy one. They have three <§ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 425 children: Eileen, Mrs. Fitzgerald of Stockton; William and Monica, who are both attending St. Agnes Academy at Stockton. After his marriage Mr. Ford began stock raising on his own account. For many years he was engaged in raising cattle and then took up sheep raising for eight years, acquiring a large flock, which he fortunately sold in 1919 at the height of prices, when he again began growing cattle. He owns a valuable ranch of 480 acres adjoining his father's old home, which is improved with comfortable buildings. Mr. Ford has served several times as trustee of Farm Cottage school district and politically is a strong Democrat, and has been a member of the county central committee. Mrs. Ford is a well educated and cultured woman, her refining influence being felt among their wide circle of acquaintances. Mr. Ford has" led a useful life, doing for others and helping all he can do to aid in the upbuilding and betterment of the community. CHARLES D*. BUTLER AND J. WESLEY BUTLER.— A resident of Stan islaus County from 1875 until the date of his death, on September 18, 1912, Charles D. Butler was one of the best known citizens and ever had as his watchword "progress" to spur him to greater achievements. He was born in New York state and spent the years from the date of his birth, April 4, 1851, until 1860 in his native place, went with his family to Eastern Iowa, settling in Jones County, then, when about nineteen years of age, he settled in Monona County, and remained there until his marriage, and with his wife came to California and almost immediately settled on 160 acres of land near Modesto, on the Modesto-Salida road. This land he improved with modern build ings suitable for his needs and as he prospered he added to his holdings until he owned some 680 acres. He was one of the pioneers in irrigation of this part of the valley and among, the very first to level and check their land for the raising of alfalfa. He took an active part in all matters of importance to the benefit of the settlers, believing that as they prospered so would he reap some of the reward due himself. He was a member of Wildey Lodge of Odd Fellows and always ready to comply with the tenets of that bond of fellowship. When he chose to marry, on March 17, 1875, he was united with Miss Claracy Elizabeth Updike, who was born in Westphalia, Ind., and when but thirteen years old was taken by her parents to Monona County, Iowa, where she was reared and com pleted her schooling. Their marriage took place at Onawa, Iowa, and for their wedding trip they started for California. Of this marriage two children were born, J. W. Butler and Etta J., now the wife of W. G. Adams, living on the Maze Road west of Modesto. Mrs. Butler still owns 360 acres of land in Hart precinct and her com fortable house in Modesto. To their children, Mr. and Mrs. Butler gave the best of educational advantages, enabling them to take their places in the business world to advantage. -Upon the death of the husband and father, Stanislaus County lost one of her prominent citizens and there was a wide circle of friends to mourn his death. Mrs. Butler remained on the ranch two years after his death, then moved to Modesto, where she now makes her home. J. Wesley Butler inherited much of his father's talent and worked with him in the development of the home property: He was born on the home ranch north of Modesto on February 5, 1876, grew to manhood in the Jackson district, where he also attended the public school, after which he graduated from the Stockton Business College in 1897. His father's health being impaired, he returned to the ranch to assist in its development and was closely associated with him during the pioneer period of obtain ing the needed irrigation to enable the ranchers to attain to the success that was assured with abundant water. J. W. Butler had marked business ability from the start, for when he was only sixteen he was loaning his money earned from labor he performed on threshing machines, harvesting crews and other jobs he performed when he could be spared from work at home. After the death of his father he assumed charge of the affairs of the estate for his mother and by consistent work and good management has increased the value of those holdings. He owns a valuable ranch on the Maze Road, west of Modesto, consisting of 100 acres and well equipped with barns, outbuildings and a 426 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY comfortable residence, all the result of his own labor. This place he now leases and makes his home at Saratoga, in Santa Clara County, for the benefit of his health. At Stockton, Cal., on October 2, 1907, J. W. Butler and Miss Maude Brown, also a native of the Golden State, were united in marriage. She is a daughter of J. C. and Elizabeth (Kaiser) Brown, still residents of Stockton, and owners of extensive farming lands in San Joaquin County. Mrs. Butler was reared in Stockton, finished the public school courses and attended the Stockton Business College, after which she accepted a position in a Stockton Bank. She is the mother, of two sons, Maurice Wesley and Willis D'Elton, and with her husband shares in the community's esteem. Mr. Butler is keenly interested in educational matters and served as a member of the board of trustees of the Hart precinct district. In irrigation circles he is a permanent influence for development and progress. He is also owner of 160 acres of the original Butler ranch north of Modesto, which is also leased to tenants, and which he helped to make valuable while helping his father. It is to such men and women as J. W. Butler and his wife that the state looks to with pride for the further develop ment of its resources. JAMES THOMPSON. — An early pioneer of Stanislaus County and a veteran agriculturist and stock raiser, James Thompson spent a busy and profitable life until his death, which occurred at San Jose on October 10, 1914. Then he received the well-earned tribute than which there is no greater — the world was made better by his having lived. As a special mark of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow- townsmen, all the public buildings of Modesto were closed during the funeral services and the flags were hung at half-mast. His father, Wm. Thompson, was a mechanic of Lanark, Scotland, where the years of his early manhood were spent. Some time after his marriage he immigrated to New York and there he spent the greater cart of his life, coming to California in his later years, after his son, James, was well established on his ranch near Modesto, in Stanislaus County. James Thompson, who was born at Lanark, Scotland, March 12, 1839, attended school in his native land until the age of ten, when he came with his parents to New York City, where his education was completed, and where he took up the work of a machinist and engineer. At Poughkeepsie, N. Y., on January. 1, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Boyd of that place, whose parents, James and Jane (Miller) Boyd, were both born in Scotland of old Scotch Presbyterian stock. Her father was a mechanical engineer and was the master mechanic with a large ship building plant. He lost his life at sea while on a trial trip when the vessel blew up. His wife afterwards came to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and resided there until her death. Agnes Boyd was born in Scotland, coming to New York with her mother when a young lady, receiving her education at the Poughkeepsie Seminary, and it was in that city she met Mr. Thompson, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage, which was blessed with ten children, as follows: Dr. James Goodwin is a prominent surgeon in Oak land ; Wm. Walton is ranching near San Jose ; Agnes Thompson assists her mother in presiding over the home ; Walter Oregon is a prominent business man in Modesto, who is represented in this work; Robert L., a rancher on a part of the old home at Lanark Park ; Mary Angeline, called Minnie, is the wife of Geo. Friend of San Jose ; John Lansdale is also ranching near San Jose ; Dr. Irving Boyd, a prominent surgeon and the present mayor of Oakdale, is represented elsewhere in this work; Grace Ellen is Mrs. Eubank of Oakland ; Arthur Lanark was a dentist in Tuolumne City until his death in 1911, soon after his twenty-seventh birthday. In 1869 Mr. and Mrs. Thompson came to California and bought a section of farm land near Merced, engaging in farming and stock raising. However, it was difficult in those early days to make a living with the primitive conditions then exist ing, so after twenty months Mr. Thompson went to Oregon to try his fortune. Meanwhile, he purchased a tract of land near Modesto, then the terminus of the rail road, and here he returned with his family to make it his permanent home, calling the place Lanark Park, after his birthplace in Scotland. Mr. Thompson served in the Civil War as a drummer and in after years became an ardent sympathizer in the work of the G. A. R. Assisted by Congressman J. C. (^^^^^ytyz^^7^_ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 431 Needham — now Judge Needham — of Modesto, he was successful in obtaining the cannon for the Modesto Post and headstones for the graves of twenty-six Union soldiers; in recognition of this he was made an honorary member of the G. A. R., being the third in the United States to be so honored. Ever public spirited, he was interested in all moves for the betterment of the community in which he lived. He was a director of the McKenzie Seminary of Oakdale, which afterward became the Oakdale high school, was one of the first stockholders of the Oakdale Irrigation District and paid assessments until the district failed, after which he became an ardent supporter of the Wright Irrigation District, now the Modesto Irrigation District. Naturally, one would expect in him a foremost exponent of good roads, rural delivery and telephone, and he was a strenuous worker for their advancement in his community. In 1909 Mr. and Mrs. Thompson sold Lanark Park and located in San Jose, where they built a comfortable residence at 124 Sierra Street, and here Mr. Thompson passed away. His remains were buried in the family plot in Modesto. Mrs. Thompson continues to reside at her old home in the full enjoyment of health, a member of the Presbyterian Church, the Ladies' Aid Society and the Woman's Relief Corps. Mr. Thompson was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, an elder for thirty years and represented the church as a delegate to the Presbyterian General Assembly at Saratoga, N. Y., Phila delphia, Pa., and in Ohio. At the Saratoga assembly he was accompanied by his wife, when they made a tour of the East. As a writer he was found forceful, often contributing to the local press. His addresses were always appropriate and to the point, as well as being spiced with his native Scotch wit. A clear thinker, a man of strong religious and moral character, he left an invaluable heritage to the helpmate who still survives him and the family which blessed their union. He was always a friend of learning, culture and enlightenment, and all of his ten children were college bred and are useful and highly respected citizens. WILLIS S. CHASE. — A highly esteemed citizen of Stanislaus County, whose unselfish and successful labors in behalf of the cause of popular education in California has surrounded him with appreciative, devoted friends, is Willis S. Chase, who was born near Plymouth, N. H., on March 11, 1850, the son of Moses S. and Lydia (Smith) Chase, who were natives of Plymouth and Campton, respectively. The Chase family came of good old early Colonial stock, having met with severe losses during the French and Indian wars when one of the forefathers suffered death at the hands of the savages, and being well represented, with privates and officers, in the Continental Army of the American Revolution. At the age of eleven, Willis S. Chase accompanied his parents to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and four years later removed with them to Chicago, where Mr. Chase estab lished himself as a successful contractor and builder, and was also a prosperous trades man until the great fire of 1871. The calamity so disheartened him that he hastened to exchange his extensive land holdings — later worth fabulous sums — for a tract of 3,000 acres of pine forest near Van Buren, and later acquired several farms around Salem, Mo.; and there, in 1889, he met with accidental death. In 1868, Willis Chase went to Urbana, 111., and there entered the State Uni versity; and he was graduated with honors with the class of '74. From 1874 to 1876 he was employed on the Gazette and the Times at Champaign, 111., as compositor and reporter. In 1876 he came out to the Pacific Coast, locating in May in the town of Waterford, Stanislaus County, helping with the harvest on the Bentley ranch. In 1876, Mr. Chase passed the county examination for teachers, and from that year until 1897 he was very active here in educational work. He taught at Lang worth, Oakdale, Ceres, Turlock, Waterford, Hughson, and for three terms at Merced ; and he was county superintendent of schools from 1883 to 1887 for Stanislaus County; although from 1898 until 1920, when he had the great misfortune to lose his eye sight, he has been active in the employ of the Turlock Irrigation District in various capacities, having charge for nine years of the Turlock main canal from the division gates to lateral six. He was alert and devoted to all his responsibilities and arduous work, and perhaps no man now living could give a more thorough and interesting 432 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY historj' cf the development of irrigation in Stanislaus County. He made the pre liminary survey of the high line about 1910. In 1877, Mr. Chase was married to Miss Ida May Clark, a niece of J. D. Bentley of Modesto, who was born in Champaign, 111. ; and since their separation in 1 897, Mr. Chase has lived alone. A son, Leonard J. Chase, is now in the employ of the Southern Pacific at Tracy. GEORGE WASHINGTON HAMILTON.— An enterprising, progressive rancher, and a representative citizen of Stanislaus County, is George Washington Hamilton, who was born on the old Hamilton ranch at Westley, on February 18, 1876. His parents were Henry and Nora Hamilton, and his father came to California in 1868 from Napoleon, Mich. He accompanied some older brothers, and the rest of the family followed a couple of years later. Henry Hamilton journeyed around Cape Horn, but Mrs. Hamilton crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and they were married at the Old Mountain House near Tracy. Henry Hamilton preempted a quarter-section, the present home place, and then homesteaded another quarter-section, and later added to his holdings until he had acquired 2,800 acres, which he owned at the time of his death in 1895. Later, Mrs. Hamilton bought an additional section, making 3,440 acres in the home ranch, as it stands today. By purchase, our subject now owns, 1,100 acres, good for farming, and 1,200 acres of grazing land. His brother, Charles, has 160 acres, and Mrs. Hamilton owns the balance, although G. W. Hamilton operates the entire ranch as a farm. In early days Henry Hamilton raised sheep and grain, but later he raised cattle and grain. He also raised mules and hogs extensively, and sold mules to farmers throughout the valley. One of a family of six children, George Washington Hamilton received his education in the Rising Sun district school, later in the Purvis district and still later the Grayson district, at the Purvis school, where he had for one of his teachers the present Mrs. Jennie P. Purvis of Modesto ; and recollections of those happy days bring to mind the difficulty of the West Side people in obtaining teachers, a difficulty so great that occasionally the students of one district would have to go ten, twelve and even fifteen miles to another district in order to find a school. Growing up, Mr. Hamilton took the academic course at the College of the Pacific at San Jose. On the death of his father, Geo. W. Hamilton, when nineteen, took charge of the home ranch, and he has been operating it ever since, enabling his mother to live com fortably, without care, at Palo Alto, at the ripe age of seventy-six. He used to raise from 150 to 250 hogs each season, and until 1917, he had about 125 head of mules, but he discontinued their breeding and now raises for the most part grain. Henry Hamilton was a- pioneer in the raising of mules and had one of the finest jacks in California, which he purchased in Kentucky, and his jacks were sold in different parts of the state. About five years ago Mr. Hamilton changed to tractors for operating his ranch, using a Best seventy-five-horsepower tractor and a Harris combined har vester, which handles about sixty acres a day, and now uses only about sixteen head of mules for hauling. In addition to his own holdings, Mr. Hamilton leases additional land and has in all about 5,600 acres for his extensive stock and grain raising opera tions. Last year, a fire destroyed his dwelling house, tank house and garage, necessitat ing his building at once a small bungalow; and within twenty years three fires have destroyed farm buildings on the Hamilton ranch. Mr. Hamilton was married at San Francisco on April 12, 1902, to Miss Jessie May Fozard, a native of Oakland, Cal., and the daughter of George Fozard, an Englishman, who had married Miss Emma Tulloch, a native daughter, born at Oakland. Mr. Fozard was a business man, progressive and prosperous, and provided well for his family, so that Mrs. Hamilton enjoyed a happy childhood. Four children blessed the union, and are now living or making their headquarters at Palo Alto, where Mr. Hamilton bought a home on account of the education of his family. Kenneth is at Stanford University; Jeanne is a student at the Palo Alto high school; Elton is in the grammar school at Palo Alto; and Glenn. Mr. Hamilton is a Republican, and he has been trustee and clerk of the Rising Sun district for many years. He is a member of Orestimba Parlor No. 247, N. S. G. W., at Crows Landing. gl^laaaJcJ- *- Im- !-11«iiki*c KeLOri Lo LjiqO bv Campbell BKai.bs-/^ fov HIsloi'Ic Recni-d Ca. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 463 cated. Here also the father died in 1876, but he had lived to see the surrounding forests disappear before the resolute blow of the woodsman's ax, and in their stead were fertile farms, fruitful fields, blooming orchards and happy homes, with schools and churches, towns and villages and good roads on every hand to reward him and his fellow pioneers for the many privations they endured while subduing the wilder ness. The wife survived him many years, departing this life in 1909 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Frances E. Bowman, near the old homestead, ripe in years and rich in the love of all who knew her. Jay A. Hindman was born in the original log cabin on the old homestead and drank deeply of the cup of pioneer experience. While a mere lad, he helped not only to clear away the forests and to ditch and fence the farm, but helped also to build the public highways of the township through bramble, swamp and woods, and many were the days during which he drove an ox team drawing logs to build corduroy roads across impassable swales that abounded in that region in those daj's. The demands upon his labor were too pressing to allow him to attend the public school, but the educa tional attainments of his parents stood him in good stead, and by their aid he kept abreast of those who enjoyed the privileges of the schools. When he was but fifteen years old his father died. This bereavement cast a heavy burden upon one so young, but he was old beyond his years, and soon shaped his home affairs so as to enable him to go away to school. Placing the income from the farm at the disposal of his mother and sisters who were yet at home, he entered the Methodist Episcopal College at Fort Wayne, Ind., from which institution he graduated at the age of nineteen years. This college was later removed to Upland, Ind., and is now Taylor University. Later he entered Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, now called Valparaiso University, where he graduated from the Teachers' Department in 1883, and in 1887 graduated from the Scientific Department of the same institution, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. These achievements were remarkable from the fact that not only was he deprived of all privileges of the public schools, but that he made his way through college without any financial aid whatever, and in the meantime paid off a mortgage indebtedness of $800 on the home place, in addition to contributing to the support of his mother and younger sister, who remained upon the farm. While pursuing his first college course, he was employed as teacher in a rural school in Blackford County, and for his superior ability he was recalled for five suc cessive terms, during the intervals of which he attended college, where he also taught four hours a day in addition to carrying the regular work of the course, and was thus enabled to complete his college education with the other members of his class. In 1889 he was elected county superintendent of schools of Blackford County, pnd re-elected in 1891. Entering upon the duties of his office, he found the county without any definite educational system and the schools disorganized, and he laid hold of the work of bringing order out of chaos with that zeal and determination that charac terized his whole career. He inaugurated a system of graduation and reports, pre scribed a uniform course of study and raised the educational requirements of teachers. He strove to make teaching a profession rather than a "job," and gave impetus to the educational interests of the county that is felt to this day. Such was the transforma tion in so short a time that it attracted wide attention and the methods employed by him were largely adopted in many of the counties of the state. Early in life Mr. Hindman resolved to become a lawyer, and this purpose to him was a polar star in guiding his subsequent career. His choice in this respect was determined by an incident which occurred in his early childhood. His father was a justice of the peace and a case was to be tried before him which at that time was con sidered an important event, and the people from all the country around came to hear it. To accommodate the throng, the log barn was converted into a temple of justice. Appearing for one of the parties of the action was the Hon. Joseph S. Dailey, a rising young lawyer of Bluffton, subsequently judge of the supreme court of Indiana. The occasion was an auspicious one to the future disciple of Blackstone. With wide-eyed admiration and every faculty alert, he drank in every word which fell from the lips of the young attorney, and then resolved to emulate him in his chosen profession. As 464 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY an interesting sequence, years afterward, and when both had become prominent, these men were warm personal and professional friends and they were engaged, as opposing counsel, in the midst of an important case, at the time of Judge Dailey's death. Mr. Hindman's rise in the legal profession was rapid and brilliant. During his incumbency of the office of county superintendent of schools, he pursued the study and practical application of the law in the office of Shinn & Pierce in Hartford City, Ind., and so that even before beginning active practice, few lawyers were better grounded in the basic principles of the law. On March 8, 1903, Mr. Hindman was appointed by Governor Matthews to the office of prosecuting attorney of the Twenty-eighth Judicial District, to accept which he resigned the county superintendency. On assum ing the duties of the office, Mr. Hindman displayed the same energy and ability which had characterized his previous efforts and he soon became recognized as one of the strongest prosecuting attorneys in the state. Instead of devoting his attention to petty infractions, he looked more especially to- grave violations of the law and soon struck terror to the heart of hardened criminals. In discharging his duties he was con scientious to a high degree, and was guided by the principle that it was as much the duty of a prosecuting attorney to protect the innocent as well as to punish the guilty, and in cases where he had a reasonable doubt as to the guilt of the accused, he frankly told the jury so and asked for an acquittal. At the expiration of the term for which he was appointed, Mr. Hindman was nominated on the Democratic ticket for the ensuing term. During his incumbency, the criminal and lawless element had learned that they would receive no quarter from his hands, and that party fealty offered them no immunity from prosecution. Accord ingly the lawless element of all parties combined to encompass his defeat, and the war was on. He was importuned by influential members of his party to dismiss cer tain prosecutions then pending in the courts as a condition upon which he would receive the support of a powerful criminal element, but he replied that his self-respect was not for sale and that he could not be purchased at any price. Although the election was a Republican landslide and his party went down to defeat, he was elected by a large majority. When his term of office expired, he engaged in the general practice of law at Hartford City, Ind., and his advancement in his profession was rapid and distinctive. Oil and gas having been discovered in that part of the state, he made an especial study of the law pertaining to this class of property, and soon his clientage extended to all the oil and gas fields in this country and in the Dominion of Canada. It was in 1909 that he came into especial prominence through his connection with the celebrated case involving the gas supply of Kansas and the Oklahoma field. For many years the gas supply of southern Kansas was thought to be inexhaustible, and the Kansas Natural Gas Company and the Wichita Gas Company were organized as dis tributing companies, obligating themselves to deliver a designated supply of natural gas to local companies for a fixed term of years. Systems of pipe lines were laid and other equipment installed at an enormous expenditure, when, in 1906, the gas supply began to fail. Across the state line, in Oklahoma, was an abundant supply, and these companies made arrangements to extend their trunk lines into that state, whereupon the legislature of Oklahoma enacted a statute the purpose of which was to prevent the piping of gas out of the state. The state line was patrolled by the militia, who, by command of the governor, tore up the pipe lines and threw them back into the state of Kansas. To protect their investments, and to make good their contracts, it was necessary for these gas companies to resort to heroic measures. Resort to the state courts would be useless, and to pursue the usual method of reaching the Supreme Court of the United States meant financial ruin. The ablest lawyers in the country were retained, among whom were Parker, Hatch & Sheehan of New York ; Scarrett, Scar- rett & Jones of Kansas City; Zeveley, Givens & Smith of Muskogee, Okla.; Lee & Mackey of Pittsburgh, and Jay A. Hindman of Hartford City, Ind. After careful consideration, it was decided to go into the Federal Court and enjoin the governor, attorney general and all the executive officers of Oklahoma from attempting to enforce the statute on the ground that it was in violation of the commerce clause of the Federal Constitution, and also of the Fourteenth Amendment. Although without a precedent HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 465 for such procedure, the action was brought in the Circuit Court of the United States for the eastern district of Oklahoma, and, because of his ripe knowledge of the ques tions involved, Mr. Hindman was selected by the counsel to present the case, and the briefs which he filed in the courts are regarded by the legal fraternity as classics on the subject of constitutional law. The case was won in all of the courts through which it passed, including the Supreme Court of the United States, and the decision rendered therein is a valuable precedent on the important questions involved. Another legal battle which brought Mr. Hindman into great prominence was the case entitled Smith et al. vs. Guffey et al. Action was brought in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Illinois, the vital question involved relating to the effect of what is known as a "surrender clause" in leases on land for oil and gas purposes, and all of the great oil companies, particularly the Standard Oil Company, were eager to neutralize the Illinois decision, since immense interests were involved. Among the eminent counsel opposed to Mr. Hindman in this case were men of national fame, such as Philander C. Knox of Pennsylvania, Levy Mayer of Chicago, J. W. Moses of Washington, D. O, and Senator Joseph W. Bailey of Texas. Mr. Hindman's brief in this case consisted of more than 200 pages and was a masterful presentation of the questions of "Judicial Comity" and "Stare Decisis." It was on March 10, 1914, that Mr. Hindman located in Modesto, Cal., and soon after settling here he engaged in the practice of law with William J. Brown as a partner, under the firm name of ;Brown & Hindman. Bringing with him years of experience in the legal profession, and having been associated in some of the large and bitterly fought court cases in the East, he immediately took his place as one of the leaders of the bar. His advice and counsel were much sought and the value of his services, particularly as a counsellor, were meeting with the highest appreciation, when he was stricken in death. He was a 32nd degree Mason and an Odd Fellow. On July 7, 1897, at Hartford City, Ind., Mr. Hindman was united in marriage with Miss Ida Maines, born in Jamestown, Ind. She was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Penry) Maines. Grandfather Washington Maines was a native of Virginia and married Miss Martha McCloud, who was a second cousin of George Washington, and Grandfather Asbury Penry was a North Carolinian who settled in Indiana. William Maines was a farmer in Randolph County, Ind., until his death at the age of thirty-one, leaving his widow and two children, one of whom died the same j'ear, leaving Ida M. the only child. Her early school days were spent at James town, Ind., her mother having gone back to her father's home. Her last days, how ever, were spent with Mrs. Hindman at Hartford City, Ind., where she received the homage and. love due her until she passed away in 1901, Mrs. Hindman was grad uated at the high school in Portland, Ind., and then from Mrs. Blaker's school in Indianapolis, when she became a. kindergarten teacher and met with exceptional success. It was during this time, while Mr. Hindman was county superintendent of schools there, that they formed the acquaintance which resulted in their marriage. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Hindman continues to look after her large affairs. She made her home in Modesto until 1920, when she purchased the Henery Apartments in Stockton, which yield her a splendid income, and there she now resides. She is past matron of Purity Chapter, O. E. S., at Hartford City, Ind., and ex-president of the Woman's Improvement Club of Modesto. ALBERT WELLINGTON MOULTON.— A California pioneer and a resident of Stanislaus County since 1852, the late Albert Wellington Moulton was born in Hartford, Conn., January 6, 1820. He was a carpenter and while working at his trade in Maine he was married to Miss Hannah Leeman Gorham, a native of that state. In 1852 Mr. Moulton came to San Francisco via the Isthmus of Panama route and made his way to Stanislaus County. He engaged in farming in the vicinity of Lang worth, where he purchased a ranch. His wife joined him in 1854, also coming via Panama. A few years later he sold his ranch and purchased what is now the Lancas ter place on the Knights Ferry Road, and then engaged in cattle raising. Later he sold and located in Knights Ferry, where he started in general merchandising under the firm name of Palmer & Moulton, continuing until 1871, when he located in 466 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Oakdale and again built and started a store, the partnership firm being Moulton & Valdez. The business was located on the corner of G and Railroad Avenue, and they continued there until he sold out and dissolved partnership. Later he added a second story on the building, which was used as a hall in the little town. He also served as postmaster and express agent for many years. After disposing of his mer chandise business he engaged in farming and sheep raising, owning a ranch a half a mile south of town where he made his residence until he passed away, January 11, 1898, his good wife having preceded him, March 14, 1891, worthy pioneers who had given of their energy and best efforts for the upbuilding and development of this great commonwealth. An avowed protectionist, Mr. Moulton was a strong Republi can and prominent in the councils of his party. A. L. McGILL. — A liberal-minded, large-hearted citizen of Turlock who, as one of the oldest residents of the place, has been instrumental in helping to build up the town, is A. L. McGill, who came to California in the late eighties. He was born at Clyde River, Shelbume County, Nova Scotia, the son of Charles McGill, who for a while followed the sea and owned an interest in tbe vessel he sailed. Seafaring with him was not a success, however, and then he remained on land went in for farming. Great-grandfather McGill had come from Scotland to Novia Scotia. Charles McGill had married Miss Sarah A. Irwin, a native of Nova Scotia, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and she breathed her last in the old city of Philadelphia. They had seven children: Emma is now Mrs. Hogg and resides in Nova Scotia ; Alfred is at Wilmington, Del. ; Mary E. is Mrs. Irwin of Boston; Samuel died at Logan, Utah, in November, 1917; Thomas D. is in Kings County, N. S. ; Arthur R. died at Boston in March, 1916. Alonzo Leslie, the youngest, was brought up on a farm and educated at the public schools, and in 1882, when he was nineteen years old, he crossed the line into the United States and at Minneapolis was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith trade. That he completed in four years, and then he worked at the smithy until 1888, when he came to Los Angeles. He remained in the City of the Angels until after the boom and then he went North to somewhat better conditions in San Francisco. After work ing a year in Alameda County, he next went to Tulare, but after six months located at Felton in Santa Cruz County, and worked for the Holmes Lime Company for five years as their blacksmith. In February, 1895, Mr. McGill came to Turlock and bought out William Dono van, at the corner of East Main and Center streets, and there engaged in blacksmithing. Later he moved to the corner of North Front and Olive streets, bought the corner, built a shop and continued to hammer at the forge. After some time he was induced to rent out the establishment, and in 1914, he sold his business, and in September, 1919, he disposed of the corner lot and building. About fifteen years ago Mr. McGill bought the ninety-foot front on West Main Street in Turlock, and in 1910 built the Union Block, making a structure of two stories, the first for stores, the second for a hotel. He had bought the property early, and in 1909 made a trip to Europe with his sister, visiting England, Scotland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium and Hol land, returning after a five months' trip. In February, 1910, he was burned out. Despite this disaster, he built the new block that is such a credit to the city. Mr. McGill has owned and improved various ranches, selling them to others, and so help ing to develop property that might have remained dormant years longer but for his enterprise. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, being a charter member of the present congregation, for which he was for years a trustee. W. T. McGINNES. — Eminently worthy among the sturdy pioneers whom Cali fornians will always delight to honor is W. T. McGinnes, who resides with his wife and family at their comfortable home in Oakdale after a life replete with industry, tragedy, and historical participation in the removal of the county seat from Knights Ferry and its establishment at Modesto. He came to California, to what is now a part of Stanislaus County, in June, 1856, with his father, who had made his first trip here in the early '50s. He is a son by the first wife of his father. His mother, who was born, reared and died in Georgia, was Miss Celia Foster before her marriage. rf^.M^L^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 469 His father married a second time in Georgia, taking Miss Hester Ann Staggs for his wife, and she became the lad's stepmother and brought him up. In 1856, when the family came to California, it consisted of the father, stepmother and five children, all ¦born in Georgia, who were to welcome two other children, later, born in California. W. T. McGinnes first saw the light in Georgia on February 28, 1843. His father, Stephen McGinnes, was born in Jackson County, Ga. In the early '50s, attracted by the lure of gold, he left his family, and sailed for California, crossing' the Isthmus. He was seventy-one days in coming from the Isthmus to San Diego ; they encountered a dead calm, and for twenty-eight days the sailing vessel could make no headway. Arriving at San Diego, he took a job in a blacksmith shop, and worked there long enough to enable him to get on to San Francisco. Thence he took w HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 473 all his acts showed his fairness and honesty of purpose. He took a strong stand for one superintendent instead of two, which resulted in a great advantage to the district — a matter for which he has received much commendation. While on duty for the district with two other directors, their car being in bad condition, they met with an accident and Mr. Owen was severely injured. Not feel ing able to give the district the service he should, he resigned in 1915. When he be came a member of the board, he was intensely in favor of a reservoir. Seeing the need of more water in reserve he would bring the reservoir matter up at each meeting, and for months he met with no cooperation whatever. However, he continued to bring it up until he was able to get the others interested. A committee was appointed and the recommendation made and acted upon and the result was the T. A. Owen reservoir. He was strong for the construction of the Don Pedro dam and a start was made by buying the 3,500 acres for its site, now so valuable and about to be consummated in the building of the Don Pedro dam, which will mean millions in water and power to this county. Mr. Owen, with the other members of the board, after they had been convinced that the reservoir was the solution of a sufficient water supply, purchased 3,500 acres of land, made the plans and surveys, and made application to the Govern ment for a release of all Government holdings in the Don Pedro proposed reservoir site. So that it was he, with his colleagues, that as much as seven or eight years ago laid the foundation for the great project. He is intensely interested in irrigation problems and has given the subject much study and is one of the best-informed men in this line in this part of California. Liberal and kind-hearted, he and his estimable wife are very hospitable and it is a pleasure to be entertained by them. ALBERT L. JOHNSON. — Prominent among the rising young attorneys who have already made their mark in the judicial halls of the Pacific Coast, and most promising because of his membership in a family again and again distinguished in the history of American law and the legal profession, Albert L. Johnson worthily bears the honor of a grandson of the Hon. Grove L. Johnson, the great lawyer so well known to the bench and bar of California, as well as the additional honor of being a nephew of Hiram W. Johnson, former governor of the Golden State. He was born in Sacramento on June 8, 1886, and is, therefore, not only, as would seem meet and right, a native son, but a native of the state capital who grew up to be familiar from boyhood with its charged and surcharged atmosphere. Albert's grandfather, the Hon. Grove L. Johnson — whose career and exceptional talents as developed and displayed in a long, brilliant and very useful life are too well known to need detailed mention here — was born in Syracuse, N. Y., and there married Miss Annie De Montfredy, a descendant of the M.: -quis De Montfredy of France, who settled in New Jersey in early daj's and served as governor of that state in pioneer times. These grandparents had five children: Albert M., the eldest, was the only one of the five to be born in Syracuse, and came West with his parents in 1861, crossing the great plains and undergoing the usual hardships when exposed to danger. Grove L. Johnson, who settled at Sacramento when he was only twenty, had married very young, and was a bank clerk in Syracuse when he took a wife ; and although he exhibited ability enough to be admitted on probation to practice law in California, he had to wait (in order to satisfy legal requirements), until he was twenty-one before he was allowed actually to plead a case. The second in the family was Josephine, now the wife of A. R. Fink of Sacramento; the third was Hiram W. Johnson, the senator of fame already referred to ; the fourth in the order of birth was Mary, now deceased ; while the youngest is Mabel, Mrs. Bruce Dray. Albert M. Johnson, the father of our subject, grew up in Sacramento and at tended the University of California. Later, he studied law in his father's office and then practiced law, and at the early age of forty-five he died at San Francisco, leaving a widow and two children — Albert L., and Katharine. The widow also died in San 474 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Francisco at the -age of forty-five; her maiden name was May I. Cummings, her parents being Horatio Nelson and Katherine (Johnston) Cummings, and as a native daughter, she was born at Sacramento. Grandfather Cummings came to California in January, 1849, sailing all the way from New Bedford, Mass., around Cape Horn; and when once here, he mined gold, went through all the hard experiences of the Argonauts of those heroic days, and married and settled at Sacramento. The John stons came as a family across the great plains by ox teams to Oregon in 1848, fought with the Indians, and helped to wrest and redeem this western empire from barbarism. Albert M. Johnson was a member of the well-known law firm of Albert M. and Hiram W. Johnson of San Francisco, and also Johnson, Johnson & Johnson, attorneys at law, of Sacramento. He was a man of unusual integrity and a lawyer of marked ability, and like his brother Hiram, who has given life and impetus to more than one reform movement, he had a passion for progressive and reform measures. He was particularly inclined along humanitarian lines, and was widely and intensely beloved. All this is attested to in numerous records and publications. In writing on progressive men and measures, for example, Edmund Norton, the well-known author and lecturer, while penning an article for La Follette's Magazine, for November 11, 1911, and speaking of senator, then Governor Hiram Johnson, said: "There are better and more vital positions than that of President. To be a master leader of men. out of the bondage of political and industrial slavery, is one of them. Hiram Johnson is already far on the leading road. Once, after a great assembly had dispersed — the battle had been great and the response as wonderful — as I held his hand, I spoke of the departed Albert M. Johnson, his brother. He gripped my hand. 'Oh, Mr. Norton,' he said, 'If Albert were only here now, how his soul would rejoice!' And those who knew Albert M. Johnson, one of the finest minds, clearest brains and noblest-hearted men who ever worked for industrial liberty in the West, will understand that no one could have lived with him as a brother without having 'far ben in all that makes for perfection in government." Albert L. Johnson's first schooling was obtained in Sacramento, and he was four teen when he removed with his parents to San Francisco, where he worked in his father's law office as office boy. In 1905 he was graduated from the Mission high school, and then he entered Leland Stanford University, took the law course, and in 1909, on examination, was admitted to the bar. He practiced in San Francisco until 1915. when he came to Modesto and opened up his law office in the Modesto Bank Building. Coming from a family which for generations has been leading lawyers, it is not to be wondered at that Mr. Johnson has a clear and judicial mind, or that he is well-read, painstaking, a forceful yet quiet and unassuming speaker. He always gives his clients the advantages of the best that is in him, and the law of which he has a profound understanding. Like his father and illustrious uncle, he is a real humani tarian and a true progressive. His thoughts and zeal are for the uplifting and eman cipation of his fellowmen, and he goes about quietly attending to his professional duties, and never loses an opportunity for doing good. Mr. Johnson scored a noted legal victory in the mayoralty contest case of O'Connor vs. Ulrich, wherein Mayor-elect Ulrich's eligibility was attacked on the ground that he had not resided the required time of three years in the city of Modesto. He had resided, it seems, in the Rose Subdivision, which became a part of (greater) Modesto in 1918. The case was heard before Judge Trabucco of Mariposa County at Modesto on May 6, 1919, and was decided in favor of Mr. Johnson's client, Mr. Ulrich. So thoroughly did our subject go into the law that the judge then presiding decided the case in his client's favor at once. At Piedmont, Cal., on May 3, 1913, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Rowena Ross, a native of Illinois, and three children have come to bless their happy home: Jeannette is the eldest ; then comes Albert, Jr. ; and the youngest is Rowena. The family reside at 203 Park Avenue, and there is no more hospitable home in the hos pitable city of Modesto. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 477 CLINTON N. WHITMORE.— One of the distinguished names in the state of California is that of Clinton N. Whitmore, who, for the past eight years, has slept in the beautiful little cemetery where Ceres lays her beloved dead. He was the "Father of Ceres" in the truest sense of the word, and with his passing the community, the county and the state lost one of the most loj'al and faithful supporters of progress and true principles, a man with a vision that saw far into the future, enabling him to stand at all times in the van of progressive legislation. He was a stanch worker for tem perance reform, always far in advance of his day, and it was due to his determined stand that Ceres owes the distinction of having always been an absolutely "dry" town, clauses prohibiting the sale or giving away of liquor having been written by him into every deed for every city lot sold. The townsite stands on lands owned by his father, and the welfare of the town itself was ever close to his heart. He was a man of rare character and business ability, honest and upright in all his dealings, broad-minded and fair in all his judgments. Mr. Whitmore was a native of Hudson, Mich., born August 20, 1845. His parents were Daniel and Lucy Jane (Lee) Whitmore, the. former a native of Massa chusetts and the latter of New York. They were married at Hudson, Mich., and here their three sons were born. These were stirring days and the gold discoveries in California were luring many settlers westward, and in 1854 the Whitmore family joined a party crossing the plains with prairie schooners and ox teams.- Young Clinton was then but nine years of age, and so most of his boyhood was passed on the farm near Stockton, where the father engaged in general ranching. It was in 1866 that Daniel Whitmore brought his family into Stanislaus County and located on a tract of 9,000 .acres of wheat land which he had acquired, and on which a few years later the town of Ceres was founded. From the time he was twenty- one, therefore, Clinton N. Whitmore was a resident of this county and took an active part in the laying out of Ceres and in its foundation, as well as its future development and growth. Father and son worked together on the great wheat ranch, and the younger man learned at an early age to accept large responsibilities and to dischaige them fearlessly and well. At an early age he was converted and joined the Baptist Church under the ministrations of Rev. Eli Rees, one of the pioneer ministers of San Joaquin Valley. Later he became a member of the First Baptist Church of Oakland, but on the organization of a Baptist Church at Ceres, both he and his wife brought their letters here, and from that time on he was a faithful supporter of the denomina tional activities here. He served the church as clerk from 1879 to 1888, a period of almost ten years, then became deacon and Sunday school superintendent, thus giving to the church his ability as a business man and financier in the aid of her business affairs, his spiritual support as a Christian worker. The office of superintendent of the Sunday school he held for nearly twenty-one years, dearly beloved by teachers and students alike, and deeply regretted when failing health obliged him to lay down this pleasant responsibility. Deeply interested in all denominational activity, he was espe cially concerned with the welfare of the Baptist summer resort at Twin Lakes. Here he also had a beautiful summer home, and was known as the "children's friend," and many were the deeds of kindliness which he performed, giving freely of his worldly possessions for every good cause. In a business way Mr. Whitmore always stood exceptionally high, both because of his integrity and his unusual executive ability. At the time of his father's death he took over the handling of the estate, administering it with rare ability and judgment, successfully managing the disposition of 10,000 acres around Ceres, 4,000 acres in Tulare County, and twenty-seven sections in Texas. In the matter of promoting irrigational development in Stanislaus County, Mr. Whitmore took the lead in many ways, helping to fight the great battle which gave an abundance of water to this section. From the organization of the irrigation district he was an officer, serving as treasurer °f the district for sixteen years, and himself constructed the building in Ceres which housed the offices of the district for many years. Not the least important event in the life of Mr. Whitmore was his marriage, considered by him as one of his greatest good fortunes. In his early young manhood Z4 ' 478 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY he married Miss Maria Witherell, born in Packenham, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Rufus H. and Agnes F. (Cowan) Witherell, the father a native of Canada, a school teacher and later a merchant, and her mother also a native of Ontario, and of Scotch- English descent. Mr. Witherell came to California in 1869 and was joined by the family in Modesto in 1873. The family later moved to Vacaville, where Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore were married in 1874. The father passed away in 1908 at Los Angeles, while the mother now makes her home with Mrs. Whitmore . Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore became the parents of eight children, of whom six are still living, all residents of California except one. Of these, J. Leslie is engaged in the insurance business at Stockton, is married and has three chlidren ; Jennie J. is now Mrs. Wallace Caswell of Cherokee, Iowa; Vaughn D. is at present supervisor of Stanislaus County, District No. 2, is the father of two children ; Guy Clinton and Laurence Hall are both ranchers at Ceres, and both have two children each ; and Charles N. is an ex-service man, having rendered splendid service in the U. S. Navy during the World War. Two sons passed away, the first born, Elmer D., and Eugene N. This family was an especially happy one, and their home life w.as a bene diction to their community and to their friends. Mr. Whitmore passed away after a long illness, at his Twin Lakes home, August 6, 1912, surrounded by his family. He had wished to return to Ceres for his last days, but was too ill to be taken there. He was laid at rest from the Baptist Church at Ceres, on August 9, and scarcely had the countryside witnessed such a concourse of people, the procession which followed to his last resting place being more than a mile in length. The great Whitmore ranch is now owned by Mrs. Clinton Whitmore and her children, and two of her sons, V. D. and Charles.N. Whitmore, are active in its operation. The traditions of the family are being kept alive by the sons, and the name of Whitmore bids fair to be ever bright in county and state annals. ELIHU B. BEARD. — Whenever the historian shall turn his attention to the story of Stanislaus County he will find the name of Beard among those far-seeing men who came from, Eastern homes to carve out a place for their posterity in the new and untried West. This pioneer citizen of this county was born in Indiana and there grew up and made his home until the discovery of gold in California was her alded throughout the whole country. In 1849 he joined a wagon train that crossed the plains to the new Eldorado and in March of 1850 he arrived at the end of his journey through a new and unsettled stretch of desert and mountains. In 1852 he came to what is now Stanislaus County and settled on land near Waterford site and in time he became a well-known and prosperous stockman and rancher and did his part to build up the locality he had selected as his home. He was the first man to try summer fallowing, as early as 1852. He acquired some several thousand acres of land and went through the trials and disappointments incident to the pioneer times when there were no markets for the products of the ranches and no means of transporting what they did have to markets except by teams. On retiring from the ranch, in 1873, Mr. Beard moved into Modesto and thereafter became closely identified with the progress of the new town. He was the first county assessor, and by virtue of his office the first county superintendent of schools, and was county surveyor in 1852. Prior to moving to town he had served eight years as county assessor, from 1854 to 1862, and he was-later elected to the state assembly and served two terms, and there he gave faithful service. In 1856 Mr. Beard was married to Miss Annie Kennan, a native of Missouri and the daughter of Thomas Kennan, a Kentuckian, who settled in Boone County, Mo. He had intended coming to California but died before he could put his plans into effect. Nothing daunted, his widow, Nancy (Cave) Kennan, set out for this state in 1854 with her family of children and joined her son, Thomas Kennan, on the Tuolumne River. Into the family of Elihu and Annie Beard were born seven children, four of whom grew to maturity, and of these Thomas K. is the only one living. Mr. Beard and his wife were active members of the Christian Church. He died on May 7, 1901, and Mrs. Beard passed away in 1912, aged eighty-three years, both leaving behind them enviable records as upbuilders of our great commonwealth. ELIHU BURRITT BEARD /I,./?, 'fritfjt, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 481 OLIVER STANTON MOORE.— In the comfortable farmhouse on the old Rufus Randolph Moore ranch, where three generations of the Moore family were reared, about six and a.half miles south of Modesto, began the life of Oliver Stanton Moore on November 14, 1884, the only living son of R. R. and Ida E. (Camp) Moore. The father, a pioneer of California, settled in the Westport district of Stanislaus County in the year 1857, about the time the Sanders, Harp and Vivian families located there. He followed farming on an extensive scale and during his life time acquired 2,500 acres, and in addition rented enough land to bring the acreage he cultivated up to 5,000, all devoted to grain and stock raising. A man of inventive genius, he passed away in Modesto on May 31, 1917, after manv of his inventions had been patented, some of the most marked improvements on the old combined harvester having been inventions of his able mind. The mother, Ida E. (Camp) Moore, was the widow of Benj. F. Moore, a brother of R. R. Moore, and by her first marriage was the mother of two children, one of whom passed away early in life, the other, Claudia B., lives near Modesto. Mrs. Moore resides in Modesto. From boyhood on Mr. Moore's tastes have been in the direction of agriculture, and after completing his education at the Jones district school and a course in the Oakland Polytechnic, he turned his attention to ranching, cultivating 1 ,040 acres of the original R. R. Moore farm. The entire Moore ranch, which is all under the Turlock Irrigation District, is best adapted to fruits and will ultimately be set out in vines and fruit trees, but at the present time Mr. Moore raises grain extensively on the part he is cultivating, and his tenants raise beans, melons and fine sweet potatoes. At Stockton, on November 22, 1906, Mr. Moore was married to Miss Viola Vivian, the daughter of W. H. Vivian and granddaughter of John Vivian, early pioneer of Westport. Two children, Oliver Stanton, Jr., and Hazel, have been born of this union. Mr. Moore is a member of the Farm Bureau and Farmers Union of Stanislaus County arid for several years served as a member of the board of trustees of the Jones school. He attributes much of his success as a farmer to the practical training he received while working on his father's farm. PETER J. SCHAFER. — Few chapters in biography are more instructive than the interesting life-stories of such pioneers as Peter J. Schafer, one of Modesto's lead ing citizens in the days of his tireless activity and who now enjoys the blessedness of retirement, who, striking out boldly away from their beloved native lands, have crossed the wide ocean, ventured their all in a strange,' new world, and worked as arduously as they have honestly to wring from Fortune a share of success ; and there can be little doubt that few of Central California's distinguished citizens enjoy to a larger degree the esteem and good will of the community than do the subject of our review find his circle of near-kin. He was born at Obersensbach, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, on January 13, 1838, the son of Jacob Schafer, who was a native of Hesse Darm stadt, and married another native of that region, Elizabeth Siefort. The father was a farmer who owned a farm and lived to be seventy-two years of age ; he died in Ger many when Peter was fifteen years old. The parents had a large family and reared ten children. The eighth child and the only one living of ten children, Peter Schafer attended the excellent common schools of Germany and was also brought up in the faith and practices of the Lutheran Church. In the middle of his fifteenth year he left his father's farm and started out for himself. He had a sister and a brother in Canada, and to reach them he embarked at Havre, France, on a sailing vessel aboard which he voyaged for twenty-seven days. Having landed in New York City, he went bv rail to Ontario and settled in Berlin province. There he apprenticed himself to a black smith; and. during the time of his learning, and the period of his journejmanship that followed, he continued for ten years in Canada, working all the while at his trade. About that time a friend returned to Canada from California with stirring stories of the Pacific Coast ; and Peter, getting the gold fever, decided to accomoany his friend when he returned to the Golden State. He sailed, therefore, in 1863 from New York to Aspinwall, crossed the Isthmus on the railway, and thence traveled 482 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY north from Panama to San Francisco, this time taking a steamer that landed him at San Francisco in March, 1963, twenty-eight days after he had started. Turning his face inland, he went to Stockton and for seven years worked there at his trade. While residing at Stockton, Mr. Schafer was married on October 25, 1868, to Miss Philippine Wagner, a native of Eisenbach, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria, where she was born on April 19, 1848, a daughter of Jacob and Philippine (Creuz) Wagner, both Bavarians. Her father was a farmer and grain dealer, and she was brought up to attend the local German schools and to be confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Hav ing a brother and a sister at Stockton, Cal., she came to America, when only seventeen j'ears of age, and reached Stockton on October 12, 1865. She is the only survivor of a family of nine children. After marrying, Mr. and Mrs. Schafer came to Stanislaus County. There were no railroads, so they traveled in a spring wagon drawn by a team of horses, proceeding from Stockton to Ceres, where they arrived on October 6, 1870. The work of grading the Southern Pacific Railroad was then going on, and they saw the first train pulled into Modesto, on November 15, 1870 — a point as far as the line then stretched. There was only one farmhouse at Modesto ; but the town began to grow very fast, especially when they moved houses from Tuolumne and Paradise. They bought 640 acres of land, and it had been plowed only once before they made their purchase. This farm lay near Ceres, and they at once began to till the soil. The year 1871, however, proved very dry, and they raised only 171 sacks of wheat. It was discouraging; but they got the land seeded again for the next season, and then they raised 6,000 bushels of wheat and 3,000 bushels of barley, and so took heart for the future. Having gotten into debt, and being compelled to pay fifteen per cent interest on what they owed, they both worked very hard, farmed for ten j'ears stead ily, spent no money foolishly, and finally sold out, ahead of the game. Then they returned to Canada, by way of New Orleans, where they stayed four months during the winter of 1880 and 1881 ; and when they had arrived in the Dominion, they intended to buy land. The more they looked about, however, the more they were discontented; until finally one day Mr. Schafer said to his good wife, "How long will it take you to pack our two trunks?" and back they came to Cali fornia and the new outlook in life. They reached Buffalo on the Fourth of July; but the customary celebrations of Independence Day were suspended because of the assassination, two days before, of President Garfield. They arrived at Modesto on July 18; and here they have lived retired ever since. In course of time, Mr. Schafer built a house in Modesto, the first of three houses he has erected here. In 1888, Mr. Schafer moved with his family to Berkeley and sent his son, George P., to the University of California; after which the family returned to Modesto. In 1903 he again moved to Berkeley, and then sent his daugh ter, Katie, to the same university; and in 1920 they bought a home in Berkeley, where they now live. Mr. and Mrs. Schafer have had three children. George P., the leading mer chant of Modesto, is the proprietor of Schafer's Department Store; he married Miss Matilda Cuneo, of Modesto, and they have two children, Lena and Ward C, now in the University of California. Lena graduated from the University of California an honor student and valedictorian in the class of '16, and afterwards married Charles George Maze, of Modesto, an insurance man and a farmer with a ranch near Modesto, and they have one child, George Schafer Maze. Lena was the second child of this pioneer couple, and died near Ceres in her seventh year, of scarlet fever. Katie, the third in the order of birth, graduated from the State University in 1908, an honor student, and is now the wife of Carl H. Fry, a consulting mining engineer of the California Mining and Metal Association, residing at Oakland. They have two boy_s, Peter and Albert Gillespie. Mr. and Mrs. Schafer are members of the Presby terian Church at Modesto, and to aid the work of the Red Cross Auxiliary of that body she gave knitting lessons during the recent war. She and her husband also bought liberally of Liberty and Victory bonds. *&£f e£m HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 485 When Mr. and Mrs. Schafer moved to Ceres, they were accompanied by George Reich and the two men bought a farm of 640 acres together. Mrs. Reich was Caro lina Klein before her marriage; and the four pioneers lived in one house together for ten years. Mrs. Schafer planted and kept the first family garden at Ceres, and it was the only family garden in that locality. In 1876, George P. Schafer started to school, a distance of nearly five miles to Ceres. He traveled on horseback and, accord ing to directions from his father, followed what was thought to be the section line. By frequent riding, he had soon made a path ; and discovering one day that a wagon had traveled that way, he said with boyish enthusiasm that he would soon have a road. So it proved: for his bridle-path became what is now the main highway to Ceres, all of which shows how new the country then was. In these closing and beautiful years of the worthy pioneers we are delighted to honor in this sketch, many have been the events, often of a quiet but none the less enjoyable nature, that have added to the happiness of their lives ; and the Modesto Herald of October 25, 1918, gives a pleasing account of one social occasion. Under the caption of "Three Anniversaries Will Be Celebrated by Schafers Today," it says : "Three wedding anniversaries will be celebrated today at the home of Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Schafer. One will be the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schafer, parents of G. P. Schafer; another the tenth anniversary of the mar riage of Mrs. C. H. Fry, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schafer, and the third the second wedding anniversary of Mrs. Charles George Maze, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Schafer. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Schafer were married in Stockton on Octo ber 25, 1868. They have resided in Stanislaus County since 1870, living in Modesto since 1881 except for short intervals spent in Berkeley, while their two children were attending college. In addition to the three wedding anniversaries of today, Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Schafer celebrated their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary October 14." MISS ESTO BROUGHTON.— A distinguished representative of the Bar in California, widely and enviably known for her successful practice of jurisprudence, Miss Esto Broughton has also attained eminence as an esteemed and influential member of the California State Legislature, to which she has been elected now for the second term. A native daughter, she was born at Modesto, the daughter of James Richard and Jennie (Bates) Broughton, her father being the president of the Modesto Bank, and represented in this work. After completing the work of the Modesto grammar schools, Miss Broughton graduated from the Lowell high school in San Francisco, and after matriculating at the University of California, she received from the university the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1915, and a j'ear later she was graduated from the school of jurisprudence with the degree of J. D. Miss Broughton then accepted a position in the Modesto Bank; but in 1918 she was induced to stand as a candidate for the Assembly, and at the primary was nomin ated by four parties as the representative of the Forty-sixth Assembly district. Such was the support given her, that in the following November she was elected, and in January, 1919, she entered on her duties in the Forty-third General Assembly, and was made a member of the civil service, direct legislation, engrossment and enrollment, irrigation, public morals and ways and means committees. In addition to many things requiring the most intelligent and conscientious attention from her, Miss Broughton interested herself particularly in matters pertaining to irrigation, and drew up the power bill, allowing irrigation districts to develop electric power in connection with irrigation projects; and although the bill was strongly opposed by members from San Francisco, it was passed and became a law. Since then, as one of the results so much to be desired, bonds for the Don Pedro dam project were voted by the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation districts, and the two districts concerned will be assured of both an abundance of water and also of power, the income or saving from which will be a great consideration for the taxpayer. Miss Broughton also took an active part in getting the community property bill Passed, and in February, 1919, during the winter session, she was chairman of the committee for the investigation of unemployment, and out of their work grew Assem- 486 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY bly Bill No. 247, "An Act to provide for the extension of the public works of the State of California during periods of extraordinary unemployment caused by tem porary industrial depression." After the close of the session, Miss Broughton engaged in the practice of law in ¦ Modesto; and in 1920 she was reelected to the Assembly, winning again at the primary. She is chairman of the normal school committee, and is also a member of the revenue and taxation, judiciary, irrigation, agriculture, charities and corrections, and civil service committees, and she has taken an active part in the passing of the King tax bill. As has been indicated, Miss Broughton has a very strong and highly intelligent following in her district, where she is regarded as most desirably progressive, and this gives her an enviable influence through which she is able to accomplish much for her con stituency, and while work, naturally, for the good of the whole state, to see to it that Stanislaus County comes, as rapidly and as fully as is possible, into its own destiny. What is of particular interest, perhaps, is her known scholarship with reference to the theory and the practice of law, and her own success at the Bar. Her fortunate temperament and her deep knowledge both of law and human nature, all augur well for her attaining, as the years go by, the highest honors in her chosen professional field. Miss Broughton is a member of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, the Woman's Improvement Club, the Business Women's Association, the Electa Chapter of the O. E. S., the Modesto Lodge of Rebekahs, the Hugh Moss Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Episcopal Church. At the University of California she was a member of the Prytanean Society and an associate editor of the Law Review ; and she is an active member and the secretary of the Stanislaus Bar Association. Eminently intellectually gifted, and a natural leader, tactful, modest and winning in personality, Miss Broughton is at all times an interesting conversationalist, and a fortunate champion of any cause she once espouses. JUDGE LOREN W. FULKERTH.— An eminent jurist long a prominent attor ney in the San Joaquin Valley, who has done much to advance the cause of popular education and otherwise to develop and build up the district in which he has made for himself an enviable reputation for fair and square decisions in matters of law, is Loren W. Fulkerth, superior judge of Stanislaus County. He was born in Milton, Iowa, on January 26, 1860, and was brought to California by his parents during the first year of his life. In 1868 the family came to Stanislaus County, and here he attended the usual public schools. Afterwards he entered the University Mound Col lege, from which he was graduated in 1880 with the B.S. degree. Thus fortified with a broad, general culture, Mr. Fulkerth chose the legal profession, and so matricu lated at Hastings College of Law in San Francisco, recognized as one of the best institutions of its kind in the United States, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1883. The same j'ear he was admitted to practice law in the courts of California, and not long after he opened a law office in Modesto. In 1890, Mr. Fulkerth was elected district attorney of Stanislaus County, and four years later he was reelected ; and in that responsible capacity he served the county with signal ability. At the end of the two terms, however, the pressure of patrons induced him to resume the general practice of law ; and in that field he continued to make more and more of an enviable reputation for ability, capability and fidelity to the interests committed to his charge. Urged to accept the nomination for superior court judge by the Democratic party in 1902, he concluded to become their candidate; and esteemed beyond party lines, he was easily elected by a large majority. He was reelected in 1908, and having become the nominee of both the Democrats and the Republicans, was reelected as a nonpartisan in 1914, this time without opposition, and again in 1920 he had no oppo sition. This will be his nineteenth year as superior judge. Under all banners, and in all his official acts, he has always sought to support the development of the County. Judge Fulkerth supported the irrigation movement from its inception, and was one of the committee sent to Washington on behalf of the irrigation districts in the contest with San Francisco over the granting by Congress of the rights to the latter city in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, which many claim, assures Stanislaus County of a u aM (Ht/nj^y^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 489 perpetual water supply. Besides trying to improve his ranch holdings, he has served as a member of the State Library Board under Governor Budd, and he is now a member of the board of trustees of the McHenry Public Library of Modesto. At Modesto, December 18, 1887, Judge Fulkerth was married to Miss Lena Morton, a native of the state of Illinois. Four children have blessed the fortunate union: Carroll has charge of farming operations; Loren W., Jr., and Maze, who were eighteen months in the naval service during the war ; and Verna, the only daughter. Stanislaus County has good reason to be proud of this distinguished and unimpeachable representative of the California bar. WILLARD A. DOWNER. — A public officer who gained and retained the con fidence of the public, whose honesty of purpose or efficiency was never questioned, and who came to have a remarkable record, is Willard A. Downer, who held the office of county tax collector and treasurer of Stanislaus County for twenty-four j'ears, and retired only after he had insisted that he could no longer be a candidate. He was born at Middlebury, Vt., in 1856, of an old New England family that had its part in the early settlement of Massachusetts, and was educated in the public schools. In 1876 he visited the Centennial at Philadelphia, and soon after came West, to see what the country, so fascinatingly represented at the Exposition, really was like. He arrived in California on New Year's Day, 1877, and followed mining in Amador County until the spring of 1882, when he located in Modesto and took up ranching for a time. Then he engaged in the business of a warehouseman and in selling feed and grain, being located for seven years at Ninth and H streets. In 1894, Mr. Downer was nominated on the Democratic ticket for tax collector and treasurer bf Stanislaus County, and having been elected, took the oath of office in January, 1895. Previously the sheriff of Stanislaus County had been the tax collector, and this was the first year that the two offices were held by the same man. In 1898 he was re-elected to the office, and again in 1902, 1906, 1910, and in 1914, each time by increased majorities, until, in 1918, he was chosen without opposition. Insisting that he was not a candidate for the seventh term, he held office until January 6, 1919, and, after nearly a quarter of a century of steady and most conscientious service, he retired. When he went into the office, the receipts were about $150,000 a year, while the last year they totaled $800,000, and with the bond issues were over a million dollars. Mr. Downer is interested in farming, and has done his bit in the development of the resources of the county by improving a ranch to alfalfa, and setting out a fine orchard, which he leases out to others. At Modesto, on December 6, 1892, Mr. Downer was married to Miss Eva Cavell, who was born in Nevada, and was the daughter of John and Grace (Uren) Cavell, nn early settler of Nevada. The mother survives and resides with Mr. and Mrs. Downer. Mr. Downer built a fine residence at the corner of Thirteenth and K streets, where he resides with his family, which includes two children, Carroll W., of Modesto, and Irwin C, a graduate of the Modesto high school, who was attending the University of California as a junior at seventeen j'ears, when he enlisted in the U. S. Army, and served overseas over one year, until after the armistice, when he was honorably discharged after two years' service ; again attending the University of California. Mr. Downer is a charter member of the Modesto lodge of Elks, and a charter member of the Knights of Pythias, in which organization he has been since January, 1883, having served as chancellor commander for several terms. JOHN W. MITCHELL. — A liberal-minded, large-hearted pioneer known far in early days, John Wm. Mitchell became an extensive landowner, whose prosperity, ever on the increase, no one envied; for he was plain, unassuming, kindly and helpful, and beloved as well as esteemed. He was the founder of Turlock ; but even that honor cannot surpass, in the memory of those intimate with him, his purely personal virtues as man, citizen, neighbor, friend. He was born in Woodbury, Litchfield County, Conn., the son of Ashel and Mary (Drakely) Mitchell, well-to-do farmers there, members of a very old Massachusetts family of Mitchells, and an equally old family of Drakelys; the latter being traceable back to England. John Mitchell voyaged to San 490 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Francisco around Cape Horn when he was twenty-one years old, following here his brother, Ashel Frederick, who preceded him some time during the first gold rush. After mining for some years, Ashel Frederick located in Stockton, and then returned to Woodbury, Conn. ; and it was after his return to California that John ventured here also. Ashel Frederick Mitchell was a pioneer dentist in Stockton, and John engaged in farming near Lodi. From the beginning John Mitchell met with success, and with a practiced eye he saw the great future in California lands, and he bought as much acreage as he could. Coming to Modesto, he engaged in farming, and seeing the superior quality of the soil hereabouts, he purchased more lands. He became the owner of valuable lots along the river, and then he bought lands on the plains ; indeed, as fast as he prospered, he bought more lands, thousands of acres, and was extensively engaged in raising sheep, which aided in clearing the lands of brush and weeds, after which he engaged in grain raising on quite as large a scale where once he had had sheep. He built houses and barns on different places, and rented the lands to others, even furnishing them machinery and stock and grain, if necessary. Mr. Mitchell made several trips back East, and each time he interested, others in California, so that they packed up and came out here. His lands extended into Merced County — where Atwater and Livingston now are, he owned the sites — and later he built the first warehouse in Turlock. He was one of the first to see the value of irri gation, and from the start was an active leader in the Turlock Irrigation District, for which he made herculean efforts, that the water so badly needed should be brought here. He was a director of the district for many years, until he died, in 1893, and yet he was so modest that he absolutely refused to have any town named for him. An honored citizen, John Mitchell will be long remembered and honored by posterity. MRS. ALMINA J. ROSS. — An interesting native daughter and a veteran school teacher, Mrs. Almina J. Ross has been a resident of Modesto since October, 1870, the month her father moved their house from Paradise to the new town site. Born at Don Pedro Bar, Tuolumne County, Almina J. Church first saw the light on Janu ary 2, 1864. Her parents were Luke Ancel and Elizabeth (Davis) Church, the former a native of Ohio, who came out to California in 1851 to seek his fortune in the gold mines of the state, making the journey via the Panama route and upon arriv ing in San Francisco made his way to Tuolumne County and engaged in mining at Don Pedro Bar when that place had 600 inhabitants; later he ran a hotel there. Mrs. Church, who was of Welsh descent, was born in Pennsylvania and came to California when she was a girl of sixteen, and in time married the man of her choice, and they became the parents of six children, four of whom are living: Almina J. Ross, Mary J. Spyres, Sarah A. Mullin and Margaret E. Voice. One daughter, Nora A., and a son, George F., passed away before reaching mature years. They were all born in Tuolumne and Stanislaus counties. In 1868 Luke Church and his family moved to Paradise, Stanislaus County, and for a time he drove a stage between Paradise and Stockton. At the end of two years, in 1870, he made another move, this time with his house and belongings, from Para dise to the new town of Modesto and here he followed the carpenter trade until his health failed. He died in his seventieth year, his wife having passed away at fortyt Almina J. attended the public schools of Modesto and later she became a teacher in the schools of the county and was one of the pioneer educators who did much to lay broad and deep the foundations of popular education in the Golden State. While she was teaching school she took up a homestead of 160 acres near Delano, Kern County, and proved up on it shortly after her marriage. Her union with James Melvin Ross took place at Modesto on April 17, 1897, and was the source of great happiness to both of them. Mr. Ross was a native of Maine, born at Bangor, April 5, 1854. When he was fifteen he came by train to California and here joined his father, Alfred Ross, who had come to California just before this son was born, leaving his wife and a daughter, Hattie, to await his return. His wife died when the son was born and Mr. Ross never went back East. James was reared by his grandparents until he was fifteen and then came West. arfvrto (/Czn&> HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 495 James M. received a public school education but he was very observing and became a well-read man, a good conversationalist and an interesting companion. He was employed for several years as a nurse in the county hospital in Stanislaus County and after leaving there was employed by Dr. Evans some time. His first marriage united him with Mary Bierch, by whom there are three children still living: Stephen A. is with the George P. Schafer Company of Modesto; Violet is Mrs. O. W. Garlinghouse of Chowchilla; and Hattie is Mrs. Leslie Nelson and resides in Van couver, Wash. For many years before his death Mr. Ross was engaged in the trans fer business and carried on the bulk of the business done in Modesto for years, or until the auto trucks came into general use. He prospered and invested in Modesto realty, his widow now owning several parcels of desirable property. He was well known by nearly everyone in Modesto and when he died on April 27, 1920, his passing was mourned by a wide circle of friends who knew "Jim" Ross as a kindly man and public spirited citizen, always ready to do his part to add to the prestige of Modesto. He was a Republican in political affiliations. Mrs. Ross is also a Republican and is a member of the .Women of Woodcraft and of the Presbyterian Church. She has a host of friends in Stanislaus County who appreciate her for her worth as a pioneer and native daughter who is always willing to lend a helping hand to those less fortu nate than herself. Her outlook on material things is broad and she is interested in perpetuating the records of those men and women who laid the state's foundation. CHARLES A. HILTON. — A distinguished resident of Stanislaus County who is also a worthy representative of one of the most historic of Anglo-Saxon families, is Charles A. Hilton, president of the board of directors of the Modesto Irrigation District. He was born at Acton, York County, Maine, on May 2, 1856, the son cf Andrew Hilton, who married Miss Eliza Ann Paul. Andrew Hilton, who was a millwright by trade, yet spent his last years upon a farm, was a descendant of Lancelot Hylton (as the name was then spelled), who crossed to England from Normandy with William the Conqueror in 1066, and became one of the builders of the famous Hilton castle at Durham, which stands in a charming vale on the north side of the River Wear. It was formerly the baronial residence of the Hyltons, who possessed the manor from the time of Athelstan till the year 1746. In 1623 William and Edward Hylton, brothers, came out to New England, and our subject is a direct de scendant of the latter. Charles Hilton attended the country school of Acton, Maine, and then went for a year to the Academy at West Lebanon, in that state. He is one of a family of seven children — five sons and two daughters — being next to the youngest of the children, and in his eighteenth year his father died. On August 15, 1878, Mr. Hilton was married in Acton to Miss. Sarah N. Prescott, a native of his birthplace, and the daughter of George W. and Eliza (Brackett) Prescott, substantial farmer folks. Mrs. Hilton died in June, 1879, leaving a son, LeRoy P. Hilton, who has since married Miss Mayme Coffin. LeRoy Hilton is now cost accountant for the Inter national Harvester Company at Canton, 111., and the father of two girls, Lucile and Eleanor. He was in the Forty-ninth Iowa Infantry in the Spanish-American War. In 1880, Mr. Hilton settled in Tama, Tama County, Iowa, and engaged in the creamery business, and in a short time he built up a fine trade in butter, eggs and poultry, shipping his products to his brothers in Boston, Mass. In 1895, however, Mr. Hilton gave up that line of activity, and embarked in the furniture and under taking business at the same place. In March, 1906, he came west to California and Modesto, and acquired forty acres of land on Stone Avenue, which he devoted to grain and beans. In 1920, he sold this property, and purchased twenty-four acres on California Street, and for years he has been very active in local land developing. He was the youngest man ever elected, in his home town in Maine, to be superin tendent of schools, and in Iowa he served on the school board, and for two terms was mayor of Tama. It is not surprising, therefore, that he should have been made president of the irrigation district board, for it may be expected of him that he will still further develop, and rapidly, that essential, important enterprise. 496 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY At Tama, Iowa, in February, 1883, Mr. Hilton was married to Miss Ida M. Rhoads, a native of Pennsylvania, and the daughter of Levi L. Rhoads, who had married Miss Catherine McAnulty. Mrs. Hilton came to Tama a babe in the arms of her mother, and there she was reared, the daughter of a building contractor. Three sons were born of this second union. Charles R., a foreman with the Selby Smelter Works, served as lieutenant in the Fifty-sixth Engineers, in the searchlight section, and campaigned in France ten months; Fred W., who is at Stockton as district man ager of the insurance department of the California Automobile Association, served in the Thirteenth Infantry, and trained at Camp Mills, New York. Frank D., the youngest son, is at home. Mr. Hilton is a Republican in matters of national politics, and since 1886 has belonged to the Odd Fellows, and has passed all the chairs of the lodge at Tama. Mr. Hilton became a member of Tremont Temple Baptist Church in Boston, Mass., in 1877, and he has been connected with that denomination ever since, and has filled various offices on the different church boards. AMSBURY PERKINS. — A rancher who has long been widely known as one of the most extensive grain-ranchers in Central California is Amsb.ury Perkins, who was born in Oxford County, Maine, on July 3, 1859, the son of Arthur and Martha (Pease) Perkins, both natives of Maine, now deceased. He grew up in that good old Down East state, and only when he had attained to manhood did he venture to push out to the other end of the American continent. In 1883, he came west to Cali fornia to seek his fortune, and although all that he saw 'more or less pleased and interested him, he was uncertain as to his ultimate destination. San Joaquin, Stanis laus and Merced counties attracted him in particular ; and for fifteen years he was a farmer near Irwin, in Merced County. Since then Mr. Perkins has elsewhere made a handsome fortune as a grain rancher, and now owns 552 productive acres southwest of Montpellier, where he erected a modern and thoroughly complete residence. He is a stockholder in the California Elevator Corporation at Montpellier; and he takes a deep interest in doing what he can to forward this and other enterprises of such benefit to many. When Mr. Perkins married, on September 26, 1888, he chose for his wife Miss Elizabeth D. Adams, who was born in Stockton February 14, 1862, the daughter of Samuel Adams, a pioneer ; and four children came as so many blessings in the wake of this fortunate union. Sylvia E. married Chester Forsman, a native of California, who passed away at Montpellier in October, 1918, the father of one child, Mazie. In March, 1921, Mrs. Forsman became the wife of R. J. Cruess. Arthur lives at Mont pellier and has a wife and two children, Leroy and Lola ; Ralph lives at home with a wife and one child, Beatrice, and Claude, the rancher, also lives at home. Mrs. Perkins passed away on March 15, 1919, esteemed, beloved and mourned by many. Stanislaus County will never fail to welcome such sturdy and progressive settlers as Mr. Perkins, to whom it owes much for development on sound, permanent lines. JOHN F. CAMPBELL. — In few departments of California commercial activ ity has it been so necessary for the well-being of those settling the various communi ties, as well as for the honor and good name of the state, to combine character with intelligence in the operators whose activities have necessarily helped to shape the future destiny of the great commonwealth ; and this is well shown in the life and accomplishments of John F. Campbell, the former county assessor of Stanislaus County, and long esteemed as a first-class insurance man, and one of the best authori ties on present and probable values in real estate, his business headquarters being at 913 Tenth Street, Modesto. For sixteen years he was county assessor, holding office from January, 1895, until the beginning of 1911; and during all that time he con ducted the affairs of his office with such marked ability that his record for conscien tiousness and ability has ever since proven one of his best assets. A native son proud of having first seen the light in Golden California, he was born in San Joaquin County, on August 26, 1860, the son of John A. Campbell, who came to California in the year 1853, located near French Camp, San Joaquin County, and engaged in farming and stock raising. John Campbell was an Ohioan who grew MRS. ELIZABETH PERKINS Cr '*<& '^tdyy^ZZ&y' HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 541 David T. Curtis remained in California after his father had gone back East. He went to Stockton, where he remained until coming to Stanislaus County in 1864, when he took up a homestead three miles west of what is now the town of Salida. For many years this ranch was known as the Curtis Ranch, and here he passed through the many hardships of the pioneers of those early days. His first crops suffered from both the droughts and the depredations of wild cattle. Later he raised bumper crops and sold them in the mining camps for good prices and thereby laid the foundation for the comfortable fortune he amassed. It had been arranged that as soon as the father should reach California that David would go East to claim his bride; this he did in 1869, and that same year, on October 19, he married Luella Holloway. That same afternoon, accompanied by his wife, his mother, his brother, James Lee, and a sister, Rossey, they started on the long journey to California, traveling on one of the first transcontinental trains to cross the continent, and reached Stockton in due time, and there a double wedding occurred, when Eldor and Charles Curtis were united with their promised brides, who had come to" California by the Isthmus of Panama. The entire party then started for the Curtis homestead. David Curtis made a success of his ranching here and in 1883 he colonized some land at Reedley, in Fresno County, that he had secured very cheap, disposed of it advantageously and later purchasing land upon which Salida now stands. He platted the town, erected the hotel and the store building now occupied by C. E. Capps & Company, installed the water works and was the prime mover in all the town's enter prises. He donated sites for the public school, the Woman's Improvement Club build ing, the Congregational Church, and gave to the Southern Pacific Railroad a strip of thirty feet through the town lying immediately west of the tracks, and two lots for depot purposes. He was a strong prohibitionist and had inserted a dry clause in every deed which provided for a reversion of title in case liquor was ever sold on the premises. He became extensively interested in raising fine horses for the San Francisco market, and it was while so engaged that his life of accomplishment came to a tragic close, the injury received when kicked in the head by a horse proving fatal, his death occurring :n November, 1912. Generous to a fault, his many benefactions to Salida will kee;i his name in lasting remembrance. His widow, Mrs. Luella Curtis, makes her home in Oakland. James Lee Curtis was next to the youngest in the family of nine and was born at Columbus, Pa., February 6, 1853, and was a babe in arms when the family migrated to Mitchell County, Iowa. There he spent his boyhood until he was sixteen. His educational advantages were limited to about three months of actual schooling, but this handicap he overcame by night study and general reading and actual experience in business life. This struggle gave him a realization of the importance of education and he has given his children every advantage in this line. Upon coming to California in 1869, he went to work for his brother and he also helped put in a crop of wheat where the town of Modesto now stands. Money was scarce then and the country, suffering from a long and severe drought, so that, with his brother, he took work of grading for the railroad and irrigating canals. They worked for Miller & Lux, the Stockton & Oakdale Railroad and on the levee on the Sacramento River from Colusa to Knights Landing. When the dry spell was finally broken, in December, 1871, when the river raised twenty-one feet and six inches from December 19 to Christmas eve, Mr. Curtis and his brother hurried back to Stockton and from there to the ranch to get in his crop and was rewarded by a bumper yield in 1872. On account of failing health, Mr. Curtis eave up ranch work and removed to Mendocino County in 1876, where he entered the employ of a large mercantile and stock raising firm in Round Valley, having charge of their shipping department. It was in 1886, soon after his marriage, he removed to Watsonville, invested in a busi ness block, and a ranch six miles east of that city, making his home in town four years, then moved to the ranch, where he remained for fifteen years. In the meantime he 542 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY improved two ranches, one of eighty and the other of fifty-six acres, thirty-two acres being set out to apples, and he made a splendid success there. Coming back to Stanis laus County in 1907, he located on a fifty-acre ranch near Turlock and engaged in dairying and ranching. In July, 1920, he sold this property and moved to Salida the following month. Here he owns and runs the local water works, having bought it in 1913. The plant is supplied with a well of inexhaustible supply, 200 feet deep, with a pump operated by electricity. At Covelo, Mendocino County, October 24, 1886, James L. Curtis was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Eveland, daughter of Judge Joel and Jemima (Hyler) Eveland. Judge Eveland came from his home at Marietta, Ohio, to California by way of Panama in 1850, and engaged in mining in Sierra County. In 1870 he removed to Mendocino County and ranched for a number of years. He was elected justice of the peace in Sierra County and upon his removal to Mendocino County, was again honored by election to that office, serving in all some forty years. He had many exciting cases tried before him. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have had seven children: Frances A., a graduate nurse, is engaged in child welfare work at Petaluma; Carroll Lee enlisted in the U. S. service in 1917, but on account of a serious attack of pneumonia was honorably dis charged and now he is interested with his father in a ranch in Lassen County; Glenn Webber married Ruth Ackerman and is trainmaster on the Western Pacific, having the division from Salt Lake City to Elko, Nev. ; he was formerly private secretary to the president of the road ; Dorothy Alice died in June, 1920; Amy Lucile is a graduate of the Turlock high school and now in the training school for nurses at the Lane Hospital in San Francisco; David Leland is attending the University of California at Berkeley ; and Lois Elvene is a student in the Modesto high school. Public spirited and deeply interested in the progress of the county, Mr. Curtis can always be depended upon to lend a helping hand to every worthy enterprise. He is a Democrat in political preferment, as was his father and grandfather, but he is too broad-minded to be swayed by partizanship in local affairs, where men and measures are the consideration. While in Watsonville he served two terms in the city council, helping to raise the city to the fifth class. He is past noble grand of the Odd Fellows, holding membership in the lodge at Watsonville, and represented that lodge at the Grand Lodge. He and Mrs. Curtis are members of the Presbyterian Church at Turlock, and active in its good works. JUDGE WM. HORACE RICE.— The good old days of the pioneer are recalled in the life of one of Modesto's early and prominent citizens, Judge Wm. Horace Rice, who has been a resident there since 1876. He was born at Augusta, Hancock County, 111., December 11, 1864, the son of T. E. B. Rice and his wife, who was Mary Leach before her marriage, a member of an old Kentucky family. Grand father Thomas Rice, who was born in South Carolina, came out to Missouri in the early days, and there T. E. B. Rice was born at Cape Girardeau. In 1833, the fam ily moved to west central Illinois, and there Thomas Rice passed away. During the days of the Civil War, T. E. B. Rice was busy in the service of his country as a recruiting officer, and after the conflict was over, he became prominent in the agricultural life of Carthage, 111. In 1876 he brought his wife and seven children to California, settling at Modesto, where he engaged in farming for six years and then joined his son, W. H., in the real estate and insurance business, con tinuing in this line until his death in 1909, at the age of seventy-five years, two months and twenty-six daj's. Mrs. Rice passed away in 1911, at exactly the same age. This worthy couple were the parents of seven children : Charles E., one of the founders of the Turner Hardware Company, died here in 1910; George W. is with the California & Hawaiian Sugar Company at San Francisco; Laura is Mrs. A. M. Briggs of Modesto; Katie is Mrs. H. G. Turner of Modesto; Wm. H. of this review; Frank S. is in the life insurance business in Sacramento; Herman B. of the Standard Paving Company of Modesto. It is worthy of note that at the golden wed ding of the parents, celebrated in 1903, that up to that time there had not been a death in the family and all the children and grandchildren were able to be present. pi c/b s/Jcf<^>V HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 545 William H. Rice attended the public schools in the vicinity of the Illinois home and after coming to California attended the College of the Pacific at San Jose, later taking a business course at Modesto. He then entered the real estate business in partnership with his father, as T. E. B. Rice & Son, and they were among the early firms here engaged in real estate and insurance, They continued together until about 1895, when W. H. entered the office of the Grange Company, becoming secre tary of that organization. Resigning from this position, he again went into business with his father and his youngest brother, Herman B. Rice, under the firm name of Rice & Sons, and after the father's death the brothers continued business under the same name until William H. Rice was elected justice of the peace of Modesto town ship in 1914, taking the oath of office January 1, 1915. In 1918 he was reelected without opposition. In January, 1915, he also received the appointment of police judge by the city council of Modesto. Judge Rice's marriage occurred in Modesto, when he was united with Miss Allie McComas, who was born in Brownville, Nebr., and after completing her education was engaged in educational work. She came to California in 1888 and was married to Judge Rice the following year. Two children have been born to them: Dessie, who died in 1917, at the age of twenty-three, and Dorothy, a gradu ate of the Modesto high school, who is now a bookkeeper for The Grange Company. Mrs. Rice is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Judge Rice is a stanch Republican and prominent in the ranks of the party. HANS HENRY BOCK. — A patriotic, sterling American citizen and an experi enced, successful rancher who has acquired anything he has with persistent, honest work, thrift and economy, is Hans Henry Bock, the dairyman of Crows Landing, who as a pioneer of Stanislaus County has ever stood ready to upbuild all that is Californian. He was born in Holstein on April 28, 1858, and when twenty-three years old came to America, making directly for California. The same year, 1 881, he located near Banta, in San Joaquin County. His father was Curdt Bock, who had married Miss Margaret Hammer, and he was a shoemaker by trade; and from these worthy and industrious parents he inherited those qualities which have made for him his success. The first two years that he was here he worked for wages on a farm near Turlock ; and at Modesto, on July 31, 1882, he was married to Miss Anna Rich ter, who was born, reared and schooled not far from his birthplace, and was the daughter of Claus Richter. Thereaiter, for a while, Hans farmed a 500-acre ranch near Banta; but he soon removed to Stanislaus County and commenced raising wheat and barley on a ranch of 1,000 acres near Westley, known as the Fred Beck ranch, and there they stayed for fourteen years. He then moved with his family to the Morton ranch, a tract of 1,500 acres, near Patterson, where he raised grain for the next eight years. In 1912, Carl Medlin of Crows Landing took hold of the Morton ranch, and then Mr. Bock purchased 252 acres about two miles northeast of Crows Landing, which he sowed to alfalfa and built up a fine dairy, with some ninety head of cattle. In 1912-13, he improved the place with two buildings for home purposes, thoroughly sanitary barns ; and still later he erected a third home and a second set of barn buildings. Four children have blessed the happy home life of Mr. and Mrs. Bock : Martha has become Mrs. Elmer Murdock of Oakland; Henry died in 1919, aged twenty-eight years ; William is at home ; Lena is a graduate of the Oakland high school and married Glen Handy of Patterson. In 1906 Mrs. Bock passed away at the age of forty-eight. As far back as 1888, Mr. Bock received his American citizenship papers at Stockton, and ever since that time he has endeavored conscientiously to maintain the highest standard 'of civic ideals and to promote the soundest spirit of American Patriotism, giving his son, William, for service in the U: S. Army during the late war. It is perfectly natural that Mr. Bock should cherish many recollections, as well as friendships and near of kin, in the Old World from which he sprang; but having once voluntarily elected America and the great commonwealth of California as his home and the birthplace and home of his children, he has been consistently, and always will be, when the hour of trial and test comes, first, last and foremost an American. 26 546 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY JOHN W. HOLEMAN. — Prominent among the successful men of affairs whose strenuous lives enable them, while carving out some fortune for themselves, to also serve their fellowmen and help to advance a community or a commonwealth toward its destiny, the late John W. Holeman both merited and will long receive the esteem of all who knew him by his inspiring ideals and his forceful personality. He was born at Roseville, Warren County, 111., November 29, 1848, the son of Reuben and Susanna (Crabb) Holeman, farmer folk who came from Indiana and spent the remainder of their lives in Illinois. John H. Holeman attended the grammar and high schools of Roseville, and was graduated from the commercial college at Mon mouth, 111. In the early seventies, he removed to Kansas, locating near Blue Mound, Linn County, where he engaged in farming, buying, feeding and shipping cattle. In Allen County, Kans., on April 6, 1876, Mr. Holeman was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Hosley, who was born at Mendon, St. Joseph County, Mich., the daughter of Jonathan D. Hosley, who was born in Massachusetts in 1807 and was an early settler of Michigan. He had married Miss Lima Fisher, a native of Frances- town, N. H., born in 1809. Jonathan D. Hosley was one of the California Argo nauts, coming around the Horn in 1849. He mined for a time, with reasonable suc cess, returning East to his family via Panama. In 1851 he crossed the plains in an ox-team train, accompanied by his son, Richard, and again he was successful at min ing. He also purchased a sawmill in Santa Clara County, and leaving his son in charge, he returned East to settle up his affairs, expecting soon to bring his family to the Coast, but it took several years to arrange for the change. However, in 1859, he started with horse teams from Michigan, but by the time they reached St. Joseph, it was too late to start across the plains, so he wintered there. In the meantime his son, Richard, returned from California, it being the time of trouble concerning land grants, when settlers were dispossessed of lands they had improved and which proved to be parts of old grants: As they had no redress, Mr. Hosley concluded that it would be unwise to settle in a country where they could not obtain good titles to the land, so with his large family of sons, he went on to Allen County, Kans., where he took up land, and there he and his wife resided until their death. Mary Elizabeth Hosley attended the schools at Mendon, Mich., and completed her education at Iola and Garnett, Kans., and for some time taught school in Allen and Anderson Counties until her marriage. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Holeman continued for a year in Linn County, Kans., farming 160 acres, then pur chased the Hosley farm in Allen County, engaging in farming and stock raising there until 1882, when they removed to Bronson, Kans., and there for five years Mr. Hole- man conducted a hardware business. Then with Mr. Cook he organized the Bank of Bronson, of which he was cashier and manager, and for the next eleven years he devoted himself to building up both the bank and the town. Selling out, he opened another bank at Walnut, Kans., in which he was associated with his cousin, Wm. M. Holeman, and they both gave their time and attention to the building up of the State Bank of Walnut for the next five years, when they disposed of the bank. Wm. M. Holeman then became associated with a bank at Chanute, Kans., and J. W. Hole- man removed to Puyallup, Wash. In 1904, he established the State Bank, and there as president he stayed for the next five years. In all these communities and these various undertakings, Mrs. Holeman was his confidante, and she never failed to be his best adviser and most encouraging companion. She had always had a strong desire to come to California, due, no doubt, to the fact that her father had been an Argo naut, so when Mr. Holeman's health became impaired, they located here in 1910, a move they never regretted. Mr. Holeman established the Bank of Hughson soon after they settled here, an institution with which his name was so honorably connected. In 1911, his cousin, Wm. H. Holeman, again joined him and purchased an interest in the Bank of Hugh- son, to which he gave his time for a period of five years, when he disposed of his interest to the other stockholders and moved to Glendale. At the time J. W. Hole- man started the Bank of Hughson in 1910, the wiseacres of the embryo town shook their heads and thought he would be unable to hold out but a short time, but he HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 549 gained the confidence of the farmers and built up a thriving business; and up to the time of his death, October 31, 1920, he was the much-trusted adviser of the ranchers of Hughson and vicinity. A man of wide experience, Mr. Holeman was always optimistic and people always had the deepest confidence in his judgment, so much so that it might have suggested itself to a stranger that he was the attorney for the community. In fact, as a friend of his said, "He was both our banker and our coun sellor." His death was keenly felt, as he was loved and esteemed by every one, and when he was laid to rest, his funeral was among the. most largely attended of any in recent years in Stanislaus County. He was a Mason, being a member of the Modesto lodge, and was buried with Masonic honors. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Holeman : Charles, the elder, died at the age of fourteen; Beulah has become Mrs. W. I. Titus, the wife of the well-known attorney of Turlock. On Mr. Holeman's death, Mrs. Holeman was named executrix without bonds, and she has continued to look after the interests left her. She is now a director of the Bank of Hughson, in which she and her brother, James L. Hosley, are large stockholders. Mr. Hosley, who formerly resided at Kincaid, Kans., was bereaved of his wife two weeks before Mr. Holeman's death. Mrs. Holeman made the trip back to Kansas at the time, and her brother accompanied her home, reaching here just four days before Mr. Holeman passed away. Since that time, Mr. Hosley has continued to reside here, making his home with Mrs. Holeman. She is a woman of much native ability, and Mr. Holeman always gave her much credit for his suc cess, as she aided and encouraged him in all his undertakings. She was reared in an atmosphere of culture and wherever she goes she carries with her this refining, uplift ing influence. She is a member of the Baptist Church and an active worker in the Ladies' Society, Woman's Improvement Club of Hughson, and a strong Republican. WILLIAM R. MENSINGER.— A successful and influential Californian by adop tion is William R. Mensinger, the experienced ranchman and builder and owner of the Modesto Theater Building, who can look back with satisfaction at having been fortunate in almost every venture of any importance made by him in the county. He has become an inspiring leader to others in pointing the way to the development of California into the unrivalled commonwealth of the Pacific. He was born at Cam- anche, Clinton County, Iowa, on December 24, 1866, the son of Frederick H. and Marie (Maheilson) Mensinger, among the first white settlers in that county, who had migrated up the Mississippi, from the East, where their forebears had lived for several generations, and had stopped at a point near the present site of Davenport. The father was a cooper and had a large shop at Camanche, and he reared a family of five children, all boys, among whom William is the fourth in the order of birth, and the only one to reside in California. While yet a boy of fourteen, his father having died, he removed with his family, and twenty or more other families, to western Iowa, and settled on the frontier in Monona County, and although at that time shouldering much of the responsibility of caring for the family, he also attended both the public schools and the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Iowa. In Monona County, too, he was married in 1898 to Miss Alma Sievers, a native of Denison, Iowa, and a daughter of Iowa pioneers. In time Mr. Mensinger became the owner of several farms in Western Iowa, also bought and shipped live stock, sending his consignments to the Chicago markets; and so successful was he up to 1901 that when he sold out in that j'ear, in Iowa, he was able to bring about $50,000 with him to California. In February, 1901, he brought his family here and until the first of June lived in Los Angeles, and although he recognized the many opportunities there, he chose to come to Modesto, and at a time when it was most noted as a grain raising center. He conceived the idea of buying large tracts of land, developing water, subdividing and selling; and he soon purchased five separate tracts, aggregating several thousand acres. When these desirable areas were at his disposal, he subdivided them and sold them off in smaller tracts to actual settlers. Originally, Mr. Mensinger had 640 acres in the home place, half a mile north of the city of Modesto and of this acreage he has retained one-eighth where, sur- 550 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY rounded by fruit trees and pastures of alfalfa, all his own planting or sowing, he has a comfortable residence, built according to his own plans and equipped with all modern conveniences. He operates his agricultural interests in the name of W. R. Mensinger & Sons, although his boys are as yet only minors. With years of experience in the East, and some twenty years of profitable activity in California, he has made the activities of this firm of real importance both to the immediate section in which he lives and also throughout the larger county territory. Mrs. Mensinger assists him ably in many ways, and in his family of nine children he finds great hope and personal satisfaction for the future. These children are: Ian, Merle, William, Robert, Marian, Lois, Audrey, Frederick and John, and all do honor to the family name. Mr. Mensinger has long been looked to by the press for advice and the friendly, inspiriting word likely to be most helpful in guiding public opinion, and some of his sentiments recorded by the newspapers are worthy of permanent record. He has been especially pronouncd in his belief that the great flow of humanity into California must result in removing all limits to increase in values. "People will continue to pour into California from other sections as long as there is a California," said he in an interview some years ago, "and the Golden State will develop into the business center of the future, just as it is now the accepted playground of America. Hence, one can see no end of an increase in values. The very fact that we have what we have, that what we have is desired by all people, and that no other section of the continent offers anything like it, tells one that as long as there are people elsewhere the flow of humanity into California will continue. Modesto, in the center of the state's richest valley, and developed beyond a point where there could be any question of continued success, promises to remain one of the state's biggest producing and drawing factors. As yet, we have little more than begun development; we have accomplished much, it is true, but as compared with what must of necessity follow, the advancement has really been little or nothing. With values far below those of the southern portion of the state, with climate and all else superior to the Southland's offerings, and with the seed sown that is already calling Southerners into the North, to do over again all that they have done there in the way of progress, financially and otherwise, I would say that any given period of years before us will make a finer record for itself and for men than any of fhe past. In view, therefore, of these conditions and facts, I feel justified in saying that every man of the East and elsewhere who is planning on coming to this state to invest should make that move at once, for values are far lower today than they will be a year or two hence, and the increase that will take place here will be far greater than any increase on any similar investment that could be made in any other part of the country." The aggressive spirit that early marked Mr. Mensinger's faith in Stanislaus County led him early in 1912, to invest some $85,000 in the erecting and equipping of the Modesto Theater, a first-class playhouse of such worth to the city of Modesto and nearby districts, and enjoying such popularity, that it had become both a source of pride to the municipality and a profitable investment to its owner when it was destroyed by fire in December, 1913. This might have proven a staggering blow to the ordinary man, but not so to Mr. Mensinger whose friends were in no wise sur prised to see him set about at once the supplying again of just what Modesto needed to keep it on the map as a city of the firstclass. "Rising from out of its own ashes, like the legendary Phoenix," as one of the local newspapers duly recorded at the time, "the Modesto Theater, reconstructed after the conflagration which left it a charred and ruined wreck, was formally returned to the public by its owner, W. R. Mensinger, and the lessee and manager, A. A. Richards, on Thursday evening, July 9, 1914 — a play house more splendid and admirable than it was before. Where originally there was one thing that was a delight, a pleasure or a convenience, one after another new feature was added to dissipate the temporary sense of loss. It was really as far back as 1911 that the first definite plans for this theater were considered by Mr. Mensinger. At that time the lots on which the ornate building stands were owned jointly by him and C. M. Smith of Modesto, and as Mr. Smith did not take kindly to the proposition of a theater, Mr. Mensinger bought out his interests in the property. R. P. Morrell of /i fr &k-^Ld/£*-"j HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 553 Stockton was then commissioned to draw the architectural plans ; and under the per sonal supervision of Mr. Mensinger, the building, a decided addition to the desirable realty of the city, became an accomplished fact. Ppland of San Francisco was the theater's first lessee, and as such added the furnishings, the decoration and the equip ment; but financial entanglements forced Poland out, and the Modesto Theater Com pany took over the lease, with W. H. Martin resident manager. The theater, because of its beauty and attractiveness and its completeness in appointments became a thing of the greatest pride to the Modesto people ; and since it thus brought to Modesto all that was best in the theatrical world, the fire that destroyed it caused the deepest pangs of regret. In spite of all that could be done by a willing and vigorous fire-fighting force, the auditorium was completely wrecked by the flames, and the theater was practically a total loss, although the main structure of the building stood the test." Yet, before the ashes had hardly cooled, Mr. Mensinger was ready with his plans for reconstruction. At first, some persons thought that a stock company might be necessary; but within thirty days, the redoubtable capitalist had the architect hard at work, and within ninety days, work was actually begun in putting up the structure again. This time, J. J. Foley of San Francisco was the architect, and once more Mr. Mensinger superintended the building. Contracts for the decoration of the interior and for the scenery were given to the Flagg Scenic Company of Los Angeles ; and in April, A. A. Richards, at one time owner of the Star theater and experienced for years in theatrical management, leased the theater for five years with an option on the next five. As lessee, to him fell the decorative and finishing work; and each detail was carefully considered apart and then in relation to all the others, that the final effect might be completely harmonious. Old rose, gold and blue make up the general scheme ; while the chief single object of beauty widely admired is the proscenium painting by Hurt of Los Angeles, presenting a fine conception of Faust's dream — the main group occupying the center and flanked by two side panels. Besides his other financial interests Mr. Mensinger is a stockholder in the American National Bank of Modesto. ROBERT TIMOTHY HAWKINS.— A self-made man, who has achieved suc cess, is Robert Timothy Hawkins, widely known as a large landowner and grain grower. He owns over 1,100 acres lying in the Hickman precinct, in Stanislaus County, and there he resides, near his son, Robert S. Hawkins, also a prosperous rancher. R. T. Hawkins was born near Marietta, in Northern Georgia, some thirty miles north of Atlanta, on September 28, 1855, the son of W. W. Hawkins, a Georgia planter, who married Miss Sisily Ann Haney, like himself a representative of a noted Southern family; and they had four children, of whom our subject was the oldest. Robert Timothy attended the public schools, grew up in his native state and there, in 1882, was married to Miss Mary Syddall Yancey of Georgia, and came to California in 1890 with his family, rented land at Empire, and continued to rent until 1911. Then he bought his first 320 acres, and he has since acquired 800 acres more. Mrs. Hawkins, who was a severe sufferer from cancer at the Robinson Hospital at Modesto, devotedly attended by her husband, passed away here on March 5, 1921. She was a daughter of Lieut. A. G. Yancey, of the Confederate Army, who fell at Jonesboro, Ga., and Mary Rebecca (Haley) Yancey; she belonged to the Eastern Star, and held devotedly to the doctrines put forth by the Methodist Church South. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins — Robert Syddall and Mamie; she was born in Georgia, and is now the wife of William Davis, who first saw the light in New Mexico on January 20, 1881, and was married on August 26, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have three children — William R., Velma Y. and Comer F. Davis. Robert Syddall Hawkins was born at Woodstock, Ga., on June 10, 1884, and was a boy of six when he came with his parents to Ceres, where, as well as at Hughson, he attended school. In 1918 he bought 640 acres of land which he had been renting since 1914, and with this he has been so successful that he employs many horses and a Holt caterpillar tractor of seventy-five-horsepower and one combined harvester and thresher of the same make. He was married in 1908 to Miss Edna Smith, a native 554 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY of Aetna Mills, Cal., who attended the high school at Siskiyou and the University of the Pacific at San Jose. Since 1914, they have lived in their present place. They have six children: Helen, Fred, Harold, and the twins, Donald and Ronald, and Dorothy. Mr. Hawkins is a member of the Woodmen of the World at Waterford, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was for some years a member of the board of trustees of the Tilden school district. Politically he is an active Democrat. WILLIAM GROLLMAN. — Among enthusiastic business men of the early days of Modesto who enjoyed a far-seeing business sagacity and drew many to him through his winning personality was William Grollman, a native of Berlin, Germany, where he was reared and educated until he was fourteen. He then made his way to the New World, paddling his own canoe in the East and finally drifting westward. He settled in California and became a successful business man of Modesto, contributing much to the upbuilding of the new town. He believed that he foresaw a splendid future for the city and its environs; and he had such faith that he erected a business building on Tenth, near H Street — an investment that has already brought handsome returns. He also built a comfortable and ornate residence at 820 Twelfth Street. He saw. the future of the valley, as well, and on all occasions spoke encouragingly of its prospects. However, his life was cut short by his death, about 1883, when he was only forty-four. He was a Mason, and had become a past master of his lodge. Mr. Grollman was married in Modesto to Miss Theresa M. Hewel, a native of Hanover, Germany, where she was born in 1849. When eight years of age, she came with her parents to New York, where she was reared and educated. Her brother, A. Hewel, a pioneer Californian of 1853, was a prominent attorney in Knights Ferry, and afterwards the first Superior Judge of Stanislaus County. So she came out to California, accompanied by her mother ; and when Judge Hewel moved to Modesto, they came too, and here she met Mr. Grollman, their acquaintance leading to marriage. After Mr. Grollman's death, his widow continued to look after the varied interests he bequeathed her, and she also devoted herself to the education of her children. Mrs. Grollman afterwards married A. R. Jamison, an early settler and a business man in Modesto ; but he passed away some years before her death. She was a splendid type of woman, and her lovable traits and kindness endeared her to all. She was a member of Electa Chapter, Eastern Star, and was past matron ; and also was active in the Woman's Improvement Club. GEORGE THOMPSON DAVIS.— A public-spirited, liberal-hearted old settler, who has the enviable pleasure of looking back with pride to years of public service when he merited and received the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens, is George Thompson Davis, son of I. H. Davis, whose life-story is sketched in the interesting review of J. A. Davis, elsewhere in this volume. A native son — of which fact Mr. Dayis is particularly proud — born near French Camp, in San Joaquin County, Cal., on January 12, 1860, he was reared on the picturesque old Davis farm at Westport, in Stanislaus County, from 1869, and attended the public schools. He learned grain farming, and from a youth drove the big teams in the grain fields, often measuring up with full-grown men in the day's work. His father died in 1882, but he continued to farm the old ranch. At the settlement of Westport, on March 28, 1883, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Laura Vivian, a native of that town, and the daughter of John Vivian, who was born in Cornwall, one of England's picturesque districts, and came to Wisconsin a young man. There he married Miss Mary Harris, also from England, and about 1850 husband and wife came from Wisconsin to California. He had a hotel at Sonora, and later he bought land in the Westport district, in Stanislaus County, where he raised stock. Eventually, he owned a ranch of 3,000 acres along the river and there he raised sheep, cattle, horses and mules. He died on this ranch, but the mother died in Modesto. After his marriage, George Davis rented land, which he operated in connection with the old Davis farm, which he and his brother Alfred had purchased from the heirs; and that farm they kept until five years ago, when efa*Jlr€ Ita^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 557 they sold it. Mr. Davis followed grain farming until 1888, and then he began that mercantile career in Modesto, through which he became so well known. In 1894 Mr. Davis was elected constable of Modesto township and each term thereafter reelected, holding the office for twenty years. In 1914 he was elected sheriff, taking office on January 4, 1915; and he held that office of responsibility until January 6, 1919. Always a Democrat, he is American and a Californian, enthusiastic for the "Native Sons of the Golden West. Two children have blessed Mr. and Mrs. Davis : George Jefferson Davis resides in Modesto, while Loren W. Davis is in the automobile business in Modesto.. Mr. Davis is a member of Lafayette Lodge No. 65, I. O. O. F., at La Grange, and of the Encampment in Modesto; and he belongs to Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. E., the Woodmen of the World and the Artisans, of Modesto. MRS. SARAH E. WELCH. — An accomplished and extremely interesting lady who may boast of having borne the burden and the heat of the day in strenuous California pioneer life, is Mrs. Sarah E. Welch of Waterford, who, although seventy- nine years old, need not yet acknowledge a gray hair. She was born near Warsaw, Benton County, Mo., on August 18, 1842, a daughter of George Ramsey, who had mar ried Miss Agnes Kinkead, both natives of Kentucky. Their marriage took place in Missouri; and there they were prosperous farmers. In 1849, George Ramsay joined the California gold rush, crossing the plains in an ox-team train. Soon after having reached the promised land, he died on Weaver Creek. His wife's brother was in the party and he wrote the widow, telling of his death. She then sold the farm and with her four girls went to live with her father, Milton Kinkead, near Warsaw, Mo., and there she made her home until he died, in 1885. The four girls were: Jane, who is now the widow of Erastus Gregory, who was killed in the Civil War as a Con federate soldier. She is eighty-one years old, and lives in Benton County, Mo. Sarah E. is the subject of our story, and was the second in the order of birth. Love is the wife of G. B. Browder of Waterford. Mrs. Martha E. Hortman died at Fresno in 1916. Sarah Ramsey first saw the light near Warsaw, and attended a private school in Missouri, and when she was sixteen years past of age, she came to California with her Grandmother, Jane Kinkead, the widow of Milton Kinkead, who had died in Missouri. The oldest sister was married, and remained in Missouri. Mrs. Welch's mother had died in Missouri in 1855, and Grandmother Kinkead and the Ramsey girls, the three youngest granddaughters, came with Mrs. Welch's uncle, Albert Kinkead, and a train of twelve wagons. They first settled at Empire; and in 1860 at the Hores ranch in Stanislaus County, on the Tuolumne River, now called Roberts Ferry, Miss Sarah E. Ramsey was married to Charles Edwin Welch, whereupon they homesteaded 160 acres one mile west of Waterford, when in 1865 they built the first house on the plains in that section, proved up and added to it by purchase until they had 1,000 acres. Mr. Welch farmed to grain and rented land in Merced County besides; and at one time he farmed 4,000 'acres there, and 2,000 acres in Stanislaus County, and was a bonanza farmer. Mr. Welch died on November 8, 1897, at San Francisco, while his home was at Waterford, the father of ten children — six girls and four boys. Albion Forest, the eldest, runs the Highway Garage in Modesto. Martha Ellen married Ira Fox, a rancher in the Montpellier precinct, and passed away in 1901, the mother of three children, Roy A. is of Valley Springs, Calif. ; Hazel May Hall lives at Hatch, Calif., and Mrs. Alma Olson is at Montpellier. Mae Delia is the wife of Isam H. Bentley, now of Pendleton, Ore., and a son of Richard Bentley, one of the earliest pioneers of Stanislaus County. She resides in Waterford, where she assists her mother in presiding over the home, and has two children, one having passed away. This la mented one was named Lorena, became the wife of Elmer Moore, of Pendleton, and in that city she died in 1918. Maud is the wife of George Stangier, of Pendleton, Ore., and she has two children, Jack and Jimmy. And the third child is a son, Chesley I- Bentley, whose sketch is to be found elsewhere in this volume. Laura Jane is the wife of Jacob Martin, a pioneer of the Paulsell district, now of Stockton, and she has two children, Erwin and and Lyla. Charles Milton works for the Southern Pa cific; he married Anna Feldthouse of Snelling, Merced County, and they have had two 558 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY daughters, Arleta Fay and Lorena. Clara Belle became Mrs. Charles Clawson, and she resides at Oakland with her two children, Claude and Ruby. Lula died when she was three and a half years old. Alice Edna is the wife of Jesse M. Findley, ranchers near Waterford. Walter W. is a barber in Merced and Marion Ernest, the tenth in the order of birth, lives at Oakland. He married Henrietta Harding, and they have one daughter, Sarah Frances. He is a traveling salesman for a wholesale merchant in Oakland. Mrs. Welch thus has eight living children, twenty-one grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren. Our subject well recalls their first house on the plains, and the early daj's when wild Spanish cattle and coyotes were numerous. Mr. Welch, who was a native of Bangor, Maine, was an experienced farmer and came to operate on a large scale. After her husband's death, Mrs. Welch built, in 1911, the bungalow house at Waterford, in which she has since resided, and two years later she sold her land. The center of a large circle of admiring, devoted friends, she now enjoys life, free from all care. NATHANIEL LENOX TOMLINSON.— An extensive, successful and pros perous grain rancher who may boast that he took the last crop off the land where Hughson now stands, is Nathaniel Lenox Tomlinson, who was born in North New Castle, Lincoln County, Maine, on November 13, 1857, the son of Paul and Sophie (Woodbridge) Tomlinson. Grandfather Benjamin Woodbridge was one of four sons, the other three being Hodge, Thomas and Henry Woodbridge ; and these four brothers were pioneers in Maine, and all settled in one locality. As a result, the neighborhood has come to be known as Woodbridge Corners, and it is pleasantly situated near what is now New Castle. Grandfather Woodbridge held county office for years. All the brothers married, and each is the father of a large family. Benjamin Woodbridge was a public-spirited and exceptionally able man, and was one of the selectmen of Lincoln County, and as such was held in the highest esteem by the citizens. The sons of Henry Woodbridge, the mother's uncle, came to California in early days, and the eldest, D. Kennedy Woodbridge, located on land where Ceres now stands ; the youngest son settled near Stockton ; and Freeman Woodbridge pitched his tent to the south of the site of that town. Freeman Woodbridge returned to Maine and was married; and it was through the glowing stories he told that Nathaniel Tomlinson, in 1879, came out to California to see for himself. Grandfather Paul Tomlinson was a farmer in Lincoln County, Maine, of old New England stock. Paul Tomlinson was a mechanic, a shipbuilder by trade, and also a farmer; he died in Maine at the age of eighty years, although his good wife died when our subject was a year old. Four children had sprung from -the marriage, and among these Nathaniel is the youngest and the only one in California. He was educated in the Lincoln County public schools and at Lincoln Academy. He worked for a short time with his father at shipbuilding, and then, in 1879, came to California, and once within the Golden State, he worked for a couple of years on David Woodbridge's ranch at Ceres. After that, for several years, he engaged in various lines of business; but in 1887 he leased 1,600 acres near the present location of Hughson. He did so well that he kept on increasing his acreage, until he farmed 6,000 acres, including even the land upon which the town has been built. He then purchased 1,700 acres of land; and from time to time he sold off various tracts until he now has 600 acres near Hughson. About half of the 600 acres are sown to alfalfa, half to grain; and the alfalfa land is divided into farms of eighty acres each and rented out to dairy farmers, and each eighty acres has a set of farm buildings, including large, sanitary barns with cement floors. When farming his larger acreage, Mr. Tomlinson used about 100 head of mules; and he still makes use of the best outfit necessary and obtainable, and operates according to the latest, most scientific methods. For four years he was a Turlock Irrigation District director. At Modesto, in the spring of 1887, Mr. Tomlinson was married to Mrs. Mary Gardner, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Gould, a gifted and charming lady, who all too soon— in 1915— passed to the life beyond. She was the mother of their three children, John, Frank and Robert. John is a farmer in this vicinity ; Frank is in HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 559 Stockton, and Robert is at Arbuckle. Mr. Tomlinson was married a second time at Modesto in 1917, when he was united with Mrs. Mabel Johnson, who was born in Mendocino County, Cal., a daughter of Andrew Cavanagh, a pioneer of California, who came from Nova Scotia. She was reared and educated in the schools of Men docino County, and was a successful teacher, obtaining a first grade certificate. She is also a musician and is well read and posted on modern, ancient and Bible history, and a ready conversationalist. They have been blessed with two children, Nathalie and Woodbridge. By her first marriage to Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Tomlinson had five children : Grace is an accomplished musician and, aside from studying music, is attend ing Hughson high school; Margaret is also studying music and attending the same school ; Helen is in grammar school ; there is Everett Lenox Tomlinson and Arthur Sewell Tomlinson, the last two having adopted the name of Tomlinson. Mr. Tom linson is a great lover of children, and is very kind and considerate to them, and they in turn appreciate his kindness. Mr. Tomlinson deserves much credit for his success, and he attributes it to his close application to his work and his desire to realize his ambition. As a friend of his, Jno. Swan, ex-sheriff of Merced County, said of him: "He has stayed by his work of farming and producing, and attended to his own business, and let other people's affairs alone, and I respect him for it." Nathaniel Tomlinson and the late Ora Mc Henry were warm friends, and he considered Mr. McHenry one of Stanislaus County's foremost and greatest men. In turn, Mr. McHenry always displayed much admira tion for Mr. Tomlinson and held him in great esteem, and gave him his full confidence. Mr. Tomlinson is a large, very well-built man, of great physical strength and endurance. He has applied himself steadily to his work, and accomplished his ambition. by applying himself incessantly, month after month, and year after year, for more than twenty years. He has probably not had his equal for physical endurance and close application in the county. He was not slow to recognize the possibilities of the resources of the county, and the wealth that would come when irrigation could be accomplished, and a decided friend to irrigation, he served acceptably as a member of the board of trustees of the Turlock Irrigation District during the formative period, and had much to do with getting the district started and well under way. Older people have watched his career and have pointed to him as an example which others should emulate. Generous and kind-hearted, he is liberal and enterprising, but all of his giving is done in a very unostentatious manner. It is to men of Mr. Tomlinson's type that Stanislaus County owes much of its present greatness and prosperity, for by their optimism and foresight, their willingness to venture and spend thousands of dollars for improvement and development, the natural resources of the county have been made the most of. Mr. Tomlinson attributes his success in part to the early training he had when he left home to work nearby for a farmer named Stukey. This man was a hard-work ing, successful farmer; he was very systematic, had a place for everything, and insisted on everything being put into its place. Thus Mr. Tomlinson was trained to apply himself closely to his work, and to be systematic, a condition conducive to thriftiness. These habits have stayed with him, and with his energy and natural ability have been the secret of his success. His ranch -is a fine example of the man, the fields are well- farmed and produce splendid crops. The buildings are large and well-built, and kept in good order and well-preserved, and they are arranged conveniently. He has a large, three-story, beautiful residence, built in 1896, surrounded by ground well laid out with a full-bearing orange grove and other ornamental trees and shrubbery, and the whole is a very sightly place. He has always been an admirer of fine horses, and he has owned some very valuable standard breeds, among them the pacer, Frank Kier nan, with a record of 2:12, and the trotter, Prather, with a record of 2:30. He has also bred Percheron horses, and raised some of the finest mules in the county In the early days of grain raising, too, he had over 100 work mules; his team of thirty-two mules on the combined harvester could not be excelled. In those days of his varied travels, if he ran across a span of particularly attractive mules, he would never hesi tate, but buy them. Mr. Tomlinson has a good memory and being a splendid narrator 560 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY of events, it is a pleasure to listen to his description and tales of events and it is a great pleasure to have the privilege of visiting him, for in his generous, whole-hearted and unpretentious way he dispenses the same old-time, genuine, true, pioneer hospi tality. Nathaniel Lenox Tomlinson is a public-spirited gentleman, and he believes in supporting the best men and the best measures in political life ; and whenever he can do so, he votes in accordance with the historic platform of the G. O. P. JAMES H. SEARCH. — Prominent and popular among the worthiest represent atives of the old and honored families of Stanislaus County, James H. Search enjoys an enviable esteem emanating from all classes in Modesto and vicinity. A native son as well of the county where he is still residing as of the great Pacific Commonwealth, he was born at Waterford on June 24, 1865. His father was John Search, who crossed the great plains as a gold-seeking pioneer, one of an ox-team wagon train, bringing with him his good wife and five children. He had been married in Missouri, when a young man, to Miss Rachael Williamson, and she proved just the companion and helpmate for him in his arduous venture. He bought Government land at Waterford, and came to own 640 acres where he engaged in the raising of grain. In 1880, he sold out and located near Snelling; later he removed to the vicinity of Stockton; and still later he came back to Stanislaus County, and he and his wife settled near where they continued to reside until they passed away. Eight children were born to them. Mary is Mrs. Pinkston of Los Angeles. Susie is Mrs. Chiltrin of Oroville.- Jackson W. resides at Berkeley. Thomas lives at Coulterville. Mrs. Nancy Prather resides at Gridley. Lewis is in Stockton; James H. is the subject of this interesting sketch, and John lives at Oakland. James was reared on the home farm near Waterford, where he was sent to the public schools. When he was fifteen years old, his parents removed to Snelling, and later to San Joaquin County, and thence to Oakdale ; and in that town he started out for himself. He went to Delano, Kern County, and for three years engaged in butchering; and when he returned to Modesto in 1893, he began to operate as a stock- dealer. He bought and sold all kinds of stock — cattle, sheep, hogs, goats, horses, mules, rabbits, poultry, etc., — and being a good judge of what he was buying, and decently conscientious to furnish his customers or the market with what was wanted, he soon became a money maker. Now he owns the corner of Ninth and O streets in Modesto, valuable property today, and there he makes his headquarters. He has always been a lover of fine horses, and has owned some valuable specimens of standard breeding, and among other handsome and interesting animals in his possession today is a snow-white, pure-bred Arabian stallion. Mr. Search also owns a valuable farm near Modesto, as well as several pieces of residential property in the city, which he rents. Mr. Search has been twice married. At Visalia, in 1893, he became the husband of Miss Belle Talmadge, who was born near Stockton and passed away at Modesto, in 1906, beloved by all who knew her. At Modesto, June 8, 1907, he took for his second wife Mrs. Marguerite (Crouse) Boren, also an able helpmate. A public- spirited man, Mr. Search has been found just the right man, on more than one occa sion, for public trust. He is a deputy sheriff under Robert Dallas, and he has served several years as deputy city marshal. MRS. MARY JANE CRAWFORD.— A successful land-owner and substantial capitalist in the enjoyment of a handsome competency, Mrs. Mary Jane Crawford, who resided near Oakdale, enjoys the esteem of all who know her. She was born at Steubenville, Ohio, the daughter of Robert and Sarah (Hewitt) Gregg, who were born in Ireland, married there, and there lived as consistent Covenanters. Later they came out to the United States, and Mr. Gregg opened a general merchandise store at Steubenville, while he also established a dye works. They had seven children, and among them, Mary, was the youngest. Henry Langworthy was an Ohio man who married Miss Jane Hewitt, her cousin, and migrating to California, soon after the Mexican War, he settled in the vicinity of what is now Langworth, in Stanislaus County. He became the owner of several thousand acres, and the town sprang up and was named Langworth in his HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 563 honor. Mrs. Langworthy died in California, and later he returned to Ohio and married the oldest sister of our subject, Margaret Gregg, whom he brought out to Langworth. Miss Mary Gregg, at that time a young woman of twenty, accompanied her sister, and arrived at their destination about New Year's, in 1870. The following December Miss Gregg married Edward R. Crawford, who was then a renter on a part of the Langworthy place; and after Mr. Langworthy died, the Crawfords purchased a part of the Langworthy ranch. In time, too, Mrs. Craw ford fell heir to the lands belonging to her sister, for Mrs. Langworthy died, and Mrs. Crawford is now the only one of the seven children living. She had a high school training at Steubenville, and this contributed to prepare her for the many responsibilities all too suddenly placed upon her. As a grain farmer and stockman Mr. Crawford left a valuable estate at his death here in 1905, and Mrs. Crawford finds conditions today in strange contrast to those greeting her when she first came here. Then the Central Pacific Railway was just building into Modesto, and Oakdale was not yet on the map. At Langworth, on the other hand, there was a store, a blacksmith shop, a hotel, a schoolhouse and the postoffice, and a few houses of the settlers. Mr. Crawford was widely mourned, and was buried with due honors in the Oakdale cemetery. Surviving him, to add honor to his memory is his hospitable widow, a splendid type of matron and mother in former generations. Five children were granted this worthy couple, among whom, Walter, the second born, died when only nine months old. Lucy has become the wife of Arch L. Finney, the surveyor of Fresno, and the mother of three children, Edwin, Archie and Margery. Gertrude is Mrs. J. M. Murtha, and resides at Langworth ; she has one child, James M. Murtha. Henry married Miss Hester Richardson ; he was a rancher near Oakdale, but died in February, 1917, leaving six children, Lucile, Audley, Hazel, Evelyn, Edgar and Mary. Margaret is Mrs. Harold Crawford, a resident of Oakland and the mother of one son, Robert O. Crawford. MRS. MARY J. ROOT. — A pioneer woman whose life of fruitful toil and sacrifice for her family and her state is a golden page in California annals, is Mrs. Mary J. Root, now residing on Alice Street, Oakland, but for many years one of the familiar figures in Stanislaus County, where her influence will be felt for many long years to come. As Mary J. James, she was born in Dodgeville, Iowa County, Wis., fifty miles from Madison, on a farm, April 16, 1847. Here she was reared and edu cated until at the age of twenty-one years she came to California to join her brother "Cap." H. G. James, and settled, at Tuolumne City, Stanislaus County. This brother was one of the state's early pioneers and was for many years a prominent figure in the life of this county. He came to California via the Isthmus of Panama, and opened the first retail butcher shop in this county, at Tuolumne City, and was engaged extensively in stock raising on the plains and in the mountains. Later he operated a chain of retail butcher shops throughout the county, including six of the leading villages. When Tuolumne City was bodily moved to Modesto on the com ing of the railway, H. G. James moved too, and for many years was one of the leading citizens of the county's capital, and was a member of the board of supervisors at that time. Mrs. Root relates many interesting tales of the hardships and perils of her early life in Stanislaus County. They lived as comfortable as possible in a barn, which ¦scarcely served to keep out the wind and rain, and she often rode the range with her brother, and was as capable as he in handling a horse. Mrs. Root has been twice married, her first marriage occurring in 1871, uniting her with George Wilson, a native of Kentucky, who had settled in Stanislaus County even before his future wife crossed the plains to join her brother. He was a stock man and extensive landowner, one of the splendid pioneers whose character and force carved the present state from a wilderness. He died in Salida, April 19, 1873, a man respected and loved by all who knew him. He left to his widow the 640-acre ranch which is known today as the Wilson ranch, and which still stands in her name. This has been farmed for more than forty years to grain, and is now one of the famous old landmarks of the county. 564 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Her second marriage occurred on December 11, 1877, the bridegroom being Mil ton B. Root, a native of Chili, Monroe County, N. Y., born January 11, 1841. He too was a pioneer of the early period, having settled in Oregon, where he engaged extensively in the stock business, ranging thousands of head of cattle and horses on the Oregon plains. Coming eventually to California, he located in Stanislaus County, where he bought a large tract of land near Oakdale. Of this marriage were born four children, three of whom survive. Of these, Mary Eva, now wife of Dr. S. W. R. Langdon, of Oakland, and the mother of a son and daughter; Annabel, now Mrs. W. C. Palmer of Oakland, and the mother of one child ; and Ora Hazel, now Mrs. Guy C. Whitmore of Ceres, and the mother of two children. The other daughter, Effie, died at the age of fifteen years. Mrs. Root was formerly the owner of 800 acres now used as the site of the Modesto-Turlock reservoir at La Grange. She also owns a 150-acre ranch at Belotta and her residence property in Oakland, where she now makes her home, her husband having passed away at their Oakland home on January 19, 1907. Mrs. Root has alwaj's taken a great interest in all that pertained to the welfare of Stanislaus County and was one of the first to grasp the great possibilities of irriga tion, and for many years was one of the strongest supporters of all irrigation projects, giving freely of time and means toward the furtherance of such projects. She is a woman of deeply religious nature, a member of the Presbyterian Church at Salida, and for many years has contributed generously to its support and upbuilding. She is a member of the Eastern Star and was active in local circles of the order until recent j'ears, when declining health has curtailed her activities. Her family was ever her first consideration, and her splendid business ability found expression in commercial enterprises only after her husband and children had been amply and lovingly cared for. She has a multitude of friends throughout the county who love and respect her for her sterling qualities. CAPTAIN EDGAR H. ANNEAR.— A distinguished California pioneer who has left behind him a reputation for character, intellectual attainment, broad-mindedness and public spirit, and exceptional success in fields and endeavors of the greatest benefit to others as well as himself, is the late Captain Edgar H. Annear, who was laid to rest in the stately mausoleum at the Modesto Cemetery, on the afternoon of Septem ber 15, 1918, when Modesto and Stanislaus County paid him their heartfelt tribute. He gave his life for his country, and without fear made the supreme sacrifice; and like those in the immortal legion to whom it was given to do or to die, he went to his death clothed in the shining armor of patriotism, guided by a love for humanity. He was born in Ceres on December 30, 1884, the son of John and Tabitha ( Juliff) Annear, natives of England, who were early settlers at what is now Ceres, where Edgar was reared and received a good education in the public schools. He then entered the Modesto high school, and after completing his courses there, matriculated at the University of California, where he took up engineering. At the end of three years of study in which he had amply demonstrated both the keenness of his intellect and his proficiency, especially for the profession he had chosen, he was appointed a cadet at West Point by Judge Needham, then a member of Congress, and went East to attend the famous Academy on the Hudson. Soon after his return to Modesto, he was elected county surveyor, being the youngest man so elected to office in Stanislaus County ; and with such satisfaction was his performance of duty viewed by his fellow citizens, that he was twice reelected to that responsible office. He was county surveyor and county highway engineer during the building of the excellent concrete highways throughout the county made possible by the road-bond issue of $1,500,000. He was also the engineer who designed and had charge of tbe construction of the beautiful, substantial bridge across the Tuolumne River at Modesto, without doubt one of the finest bridges in all the state. Ben Blow, in his California Highways, speaks most laudatory of the Stanislaus County highways, saying that they are exceptionally smooth and afford easy riding, and remarkably free from transverse or longitudinal cracks even where the soil is adobe and the plan pur sued in constructing the road involved leaving them unsurfaced, on the theory of Mr. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 567 Annear, the county surveyor who built the highways, that the unsurfaced concrete road is the ideal pavement until such a time as the need for a carpet treatment of some kind shall become apparent, if at all. To one individual, then, says Ben Blow, Edgar H. Annear, for many years county surveyor, this plan of the highways and their construction are due, and the roads of the county are a monument to his memory. When Congress declared war on Germany, Surveyor Annear volunteered ; and having resigned his office, he rallied to the colors, and in January, 1918, he was com missioned captain of Company B, in the Forty-third U. S. Engineers, and sent to France, and stationed at Longres, where he was recommended for major. After a period of intensive warring, he was sent back to the United States as major, to take a battalion of miners and sappers back to France, but upon arriving in New York he was taken with the influenza and passed away at the Hoboken Hospital on August 28, 1918, his death being a real and almost irreparable loss to Stanislaus County. The marriage of Captain Annear occurred in San Francisco on July 24, 1909, when he was united with Miss Margaret L. McFarland, who was born near Spirit Lake, Dickinson County, Iowa, a daughter of Daniel and Mary McFarland of that state. She was graduated from the Boston high school, and the studied at the Boston University, taking the classical course. Coming to California in 1906, she attended the San Jose State Normal School until her graduation therefrom, and then she engaged in educational work. Removing to Modesto, she taught school here; and while doing so met and married Mr. Annear. Since the death of her lamented hus band, she and her daughter, Ellen Annear, have continued to reside in Modesto, and in September, 1919, she was appointed the first deputy in the office of the county su perintendent of schools, to which she gives her time and best efforts. The life and attainments of Captain Annear should ever be an inspiration to the youth of his land, and his memory and influence are not likely to be forgotten or to diminish. In public office he was far-sighted, progressive, conscientious and honest, and planned to carry out the highway scheme for Stanislaus County on a magnificent scale; in his willingness to give up an important, attractive and lucrative position, to bid adieu to the comforts of home and the pleasures in the society of friends, and face danger, sickness and death, he displayed rare courage and the highest patriotism. Stanis laus County was well served by this loyal American, and the citizens of Stanislaus County and Modesto will never cease to cherish his memory. FRANCIS A. RAMSEY, M. D. C— An old-timer in California with an inter esting record for the development and care of the horse, who has become a very successful practitioner of veterinary medicine, is Francis A. Ramsey, M. D. C, founder of the Veterinary Hospital in Turlock. He was born at Fort Scott, Kans., on Janu ary 26, 1867, the son of Simmons Ramsey, who was born near Indianapolis and came to Kansas a young man before the Civil War. There he enlisted in Company E of the Tenth Kansas Infantry, and served in defense of his country almost four years, or till the close of the war, becoming commissary sergeant. He was married to Miss Ada J. Buck, a native of Illinois, and the following year engaged in farming near Fort Scott, Kans. In 1874, Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey moved to Galveston, Cass County, Ind., where they joined the farming community; but in 1887, during the California "boom," Mr. Ramsey brought his family out to San Diego and was a rancher at Encinitas, on the coast. After a while, Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey retired to more comfortable life in the city of San Diego, and there he died. Mrs. Ramsey is still living, at the ripe age of seventy-two, in that delightful city of the Southland, the mother of four boys and a girl, all of whom, save one son, is still living. Francis was educated in the public schools of Indiana, and in October, 1887, came out, to San Diego, where he followed teaming and helped build the Belt Road. The next year he went back to Indiana for twelve months; but once more he came to San Diego. In 1893 he entered the Chicago Veterinary College, and four years later, after having had the advantages of one of the best courses offered anywhere in the country, he was graduated with the degree of M. D. C. He then returned to California and engaged in practice at Pomona, but after six months he went to Riverside and bought a livery business, and made the Club Stables, 568 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY as it was known, the largest livery and the best equipped in that city. He also practiced veterinary medicine there for thirteen years. He cared for some of the best animals brought to that section, and made a specialty of tally-ho service. He was one of the organizers of, and secretary for the Riverside Driving Club for years, and there raised some notable horses, among them Don Reginaldo, with a record of 2.l2y2 ; McO'D, a pacer, making 2.11-K, and Hylock by Zolock, a very fast colt. In 1910, Dr. Ramsey located for eight months at Santa Ana, but on the four teenth of February of the following year he removed to Turlock, and locating on Ruby Street, engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine at this place. His wide and valuable, as well as actual and practical experience, fully justified him in erecting the concrete Veterinary Hospital, with its modern appliances and attractive, open rooms, clearly one of the most up-to-date and serviceable institutions in the city; and it is an interesting index of the real spirit of Turlock that this beneficent establish ment has been well patronized from the start. Dr. Ramsey owns a forty-acre ranch five miles southwest of Turlock, where he is engaged in dairying and raising White Leghorn and Barred Plymouth Rock chickens and bronze turkeys. While at Riverside, Dr. Ramsey was married to Miss Mae Cover, a native of Macomb, 111., and a lady of talent, likely to be transmitted to her two attractive children, Gladys and Clarence. Dr. Ramsey, therefore, has built for himself and family a handsome residence at Turlock, and in other ways has permanently identi fied himself with the growing town. CHARLES STUART ABBOTT.— A public-spirited citizen of California who proved one of the real stand-bys in the great fight for irrigation in the Modesto district and who now, after heroic endeavor involving even long contests in the courts, finds his reward in the Stanislaus plains blooming like the rose, is Charles Stuart Abbott, secretary of the Modesto Irrigation district. He was born near Sheffield, in Bureau County, 111., on August 17, 1857, the son of Cyrus H. Abbott, who was born at Ogden, Monroe County, N. Y., in 1835. When seventeen years of age he came to Bureau County and there married Miss Martha Grunendyke, who was also born in Monroe County. Her father, Abraham Grunendyke, served in the War of 1812, and was descended from old Knickerbocker stock, prominent in New York. On the Abbott side the family may trace its ancestry back to the Mayflower, three brothers Abbott having come from England to Massachusetts in 1620. Cyrus Abbott was a farmer in Illinois; and when, in August, 1862, he responded to the call' of his country, he enlisted in Company H, 93rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and eventually took part in important battles, among them the Siege of Vicksburg and Champion Hill. He was also in the Georgia campaign, taking part in the battle of Chattanooga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Buzzard's Roost, Altoona Pass, Kennesaw Mountain, after which he marched with Sherman on his famous drive to the sea. His regiment lost so heavily in numbers that only 260 were left to tell the tale. Luckily, he was one of them, and he was mustered out in June, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge. Although originally a private, he was commissioned first lieutenant of his company for distinguished bravery on the battlefield. After the war, Mr. Abbott returned to his family and resumed farming; and in 1868 he removed to Montezuma, Poweshiek County, Iowa, where he farmed until 1872. In that year he brought his family to San Joaquin County, near Stockton, and there continued to follow farming until 1878, and then he came to Stanislaus County, where he engaged in grain farming on the Hickman ranch, near Turlock. At one time he farmed as many as three thousand acres to grain; later he purchased a farm six miles west of Modesto, having one hundred sixty acres, and these he improved. At an early day and much in advance of most of his co-laborers and competitors, Mr. Abbott saw the importance of irrigation for the soil and as a means toward intensive farming, and he became deeply interested in having the Modesto Irrigation District organized, a movement productive of the greatest blessings to the entire county and other sections. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 569 In 1905, Mrs. Abbott passed away, lamented by all who had been privileged to know her, and Mr. Abbott sold his ranch and has since made his home in Modesto with the subject of our review. Four children had blessed their union, and besides Charles Stuart, there are Charlotte F., Minnie C. and Frank W. Abbott. The first named is now Mrs. Elfers of Alameda ; Minnie has become Mrs. Hamilton of Visalia; and Frank resides in Seattle. Mr. Abbott is a member of the Grand Armj* of the Republic and also of the Knights of Pythias. Charles Abbott was educated in the public schools of Illinois and Iowa, as well as in California; for he came here in 1872. Having completed the grammar school courses, he attended the Stockton high school, and then the Stockton Business College, where, in addition to the commercial courses, he pursued a course in telegraphy. On his graduation, in 1878, he came to Salida, in Stanislaus County, and there was made railroad agent and operator for the Southern Pacific. He also engaged in general merchandising, and was postmaster from 1881 to 1887. In the fall of 1886, Mr. Abbott received the Republican nomination for the office of County Recorder and Auditor, and he was elected by a majority of 135 votes. He was the third Republican ever elected in the county, which then had a Democratic majority of at least 700 to be overcome; and he took office in January, 1887. He served a two-j'ear term until January, 1889, and after that, with Charles Maze, Jr., he engaged in the abstract of title and general insurance business. Later they discontinued abstracting, and for many years Mr. Abbott continued selling insurance. Although they dissolved partnership, Mr. Abbott still has the agency of the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, and the Insurance Company of North America. In 1891, Mr. Abbott was elected secretary of the board of directors of the Modesto Irrigation district, then in existence for four years ; and he has since continued in that office, to the satisfaction of everyone, having been appointed each succeeding year. So identified was he with the great work from its inception, that all the earlj; records of the district are in his handwriting; but for the last four years he has preserved them in typewritten form. He has five 640 page note books in his own hand. From 1893 to 1901, there was a long period of constant litigation respecting the Modesto Irrigation District, and during this period he received no pay for his services in the cause; consequently, while he thus worked gratuitously, he was chief deputy in the county assessor's office, and from twelve to fifteen of the assessment rolls are in his handwriting. During all this time, however, he continued to perform most conscientiously the trying duties of secretary of the Modesto Irrigation District, and they finally won their case in the Supreme Court. Then began the real work of the irrigation enterprise, on which account he has since given all of his time to the work, and has spared no pains to afford the best irrigation service possible to Stanislaus County and neighboring sections. Nonpartisan in every way in supporting every good movement for local improvement, Mr. Abbott still ardently espouses Republican political principles. At Modesto, in 1889, Mr. Abbott was married to Miss Mary Louise Elmore, 'who was born near Salida, Stanislaus County, and is a sister of Professor A. G. Elmore, the present county superintendent of schools. Mr. Abbott was bereaved, however, of his faithful and loving wife in November, 1915, a lady of accomplish ment who was a decided favorite with many. One sen, Elmore Stuart, blessed their union. He was born in Modesto, graduated from grammar and high school, then entered the University of Nevada, taking the electrical engineering course and was graduated with degree of Electrical Engineer in 1915, after which he did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin for one year. He was married in Madison to Marie Vourcier Dunfield, and is now practicing his profession at Tracy. Mr. Abbott is a member of Wildey Lodge No. 149, I. O. O. F., where he is a past grand, and from which he has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge; and he is also a member of Modesto Encampment No. 48, I. O. O. F., and he belongs to Rebekah Lodge. He is, too, a member of Modesto Lodge No. 81, Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor, and he belongs to Modesto Lodge No. 1282, of the Elks, and also to the Orange Assembly, United Artisans. 570 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY THOMAS BLAKE SCOTT.— Prominent among the leading members of the Stanislaus County Bar is Thomas Blake Scott, having offices at 918 I Street, Modesto. As a student at Northwestern University, Evanston, 111., he was widely known for his attainments in athletics and sports and he is today as much a success as a lawyer; no other attorney, perhaps, having come to the front in Modesto faster than he. A native of Canada, Mr. Scott was born at Minden, Haliburton County, Province of Ontario, on July 22, 1876, a son of John B. Scott, a farmer, millwright and practical engineer. The mother was Miss Jane Braden in maidenhood, and was closely related to the well-known family of Blakes, prominent before the Revolu tionary War, and afterwards represented in Canada and also in New York. After the death of Mr. Scott, the widow, with her family, moved to Illinois and settled at Onarga, where Thomas B. attended Grand Prairie Academy at Onarga, graduating in 1902. That same year he entered Northwestern University at Evanston, 111., where he pursued the science course and obtained his B.S. degree in 1906; and for the four years he was in college took an active part in the debating and oratorical societies and was a member of the University football eleven. In 1906 he took charge of the pedagogy department of Grand Prairie Academy at Onarga, continuing during 1906 and 1907, when he entered the Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington and in 1910 was graduated with the degree of LL.B. While taking the law course, Mr. Scott was athletic instructor at the university. Very soon after his graduation Mr. Scott came West to Tacoma, Wash., where he was professor of political science and law in the University of Puget Sound for two years. In 1912 Mr. Scott came to Modesto, Cal., and formed a law partnership with William H. Hatton, which continued until January, 1920, when Mr. Scott entered upon an independent practice and has been very successful and able and ready at all times to contend for the dignity and integrity of the bar, maintaining the best of will towards his worthy colleagues and enjoying the confidence and esteem of both. the fra ternity and his clients. He is often to be heard, in eloquent and inspiring strain, at political and other public gatherings, and never neglects an opportunity to favor the patriotic spirit, or to make appeal to men and women for higher civic standards. He is wide-awake to encourage local industry and trade, and takes an active interest in the financial affairs of the community. On February 12, 1917, Thomas B. Scott and Miss Blanche B. Dunfield were united in marriage. Mrs. Scott is a native of Wisconsin; born at Wausau, and took her collegiate work at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and is a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority there. Mr. Scott is a member of the Blue Lodge Chapter, Commandery and Shrine in Masonry, and is an Odd Fellow. He is also a member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. Elks, and has served as exalted ruler in 1918- 1919. In memory of his college days he holds membership in Delta Upsilon of the Northwestern University and is an honorary member of Deru Fraternity. In 1912 Mr. Scott was elected to the American Academy of Political and Social Science. In furthering all movements for the betterment of local undertakings, he holds a membership in the Progressive Business Club of Modesto. During the World War Mr. Scott was county chairman of the "Four Minute Men" and also a member of the Stanislaus County Council of Defense. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scott are active in local society and enjoy a wide circle of friends throughout Stanislaus County and the San Joaquin Valley. J. WALKER BAKER. — A native son of the Golden West who is not only proud of his own association with the great California commonwealth, but deeply appreciates the life, labors and sacrifices of the pioneers who went before, is J. Walker Baker, one of Modesto's most representative citizens, He was born in the old Baker home on the Paradise Road south of Modesto, on June 12, 1889, the son of C. C. and Cordelia Baker, whose interesting life-story is given on another page of this history. Walker Baker, as he is known by his many friends, was reared on the Baker farm, and after leaving the district school, he attended the Dewey school in Fruitvale, and Vone entered the Fremont high school at Oakland, from which he was graduated in 1908. He was about to enter Harvard College, for which he had well prepared, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 573 when the death of his father changed his plans, necessitating his remaining at home to look after his mother's interests and the Baker holdings. This he did manfully and well, until his mother decided to divide the large possessions left her by her lamented husband between her children. Walker Baker immediately began to improve his share, and to turn it from a stubblefield to alfalfa, and he soon engaged in intensive farming, in which he has been very successful. He" sold off all but 280 acres, which he leveled and checked, and he put all in alfalfa except thirty-five acres, which were devoted to an orchard and a vine yard of Thompson Seedless and Malaga grapes, while he maintained a large dairy on the ranch. He has greatly improved the place with an artistic bungalow, and it is the consensus of opinion that it is now one of the finest country homes in Stanislaus County. The grounds are well kept up, and the place is sightly and beautiful ; and the fact that Mr. Baker is an experienced, progressive farmer speaks for itself as to the value, scien tifically, industrially and artistically of what is grown there. At the Frost home in Fruitvale, on June 15, 1909, Mr. Baker was married to Miss Gertrude E. Frost, and so continued a romance begun at the Fremont high school, which has resulted in much happiness to both the high contracting parties. The bride is a daughter of A. N. and Grace (Johnson) Frost, natives respectively of Denmark and Nova Scotia, and both were early settlers on San Francisco Bay, their marriage occurring at Oakland. Mr. Frost was a contractor and builder, and has many splendid residences and public buildings to his credit, among them the Dewey school. He came to Modesto and engaged in ranching; and then, in 1914, his beloved wife died, and he now lives retired in Modesto. This worthy couple had five children, among whom Gertrude was the eldest, and she was sent to the Dewey school, and then to the Fremont high school, from which she was graduated in 1908, in the same class with Mr. Baker. Two children were born to them, Randall, who died when he was eight months old, and Eleanor Frances, the pride of her parents and all who come within her sphere. The family are members of and attend the Methodist Church South in Modesto. Mr. Baker is a member of Wildey Lodge No. 81, I. O. O. F., at Modesto, and both he and Mrs. Baker belong to the Rebekahs. Mr. Baker is also a past chancellor of the Knight of Pythias, and he is a member of the Gamma Eta Kappa. JEFFERSON D. BENTLEY.— When writing of the self-made men of Stanis laus County, and one of the pioneers of California as well, mention must be made of Jefferson D. Bentley, now living retired in Modesto, and while past ninety-four years of age, is hale and hearty and recounts the experiences encountered during his life with much interest. Mr. Bentley is a man who is known for his integrity of character, one who has made and retained friends wherever he has been known and who bas been a supporter of all movements that have had for their object the development of the resources of the Golden State. A native of Kentucky, J. D. Bentley was born at Springfield, near Louisville, ii< what was then Washington County, May 30, 1827. His father was James C. Bentley, born in the same place in Kentucky as his son, was a millwright by trade, also a distiller. In the line of his trade he was employed in Illinois, where the fam ily lived for seven years after leaving Kentucky to better their financial condition, also in various parts of Iowa, and while so occupied he saw considerable of the develop ment of the Middle West. From Illinois the Bentleys moved to Missouri and set tled in Boone County, and while living there the father enlisted for service in the Mexican War, serving under Captain Nye, and being assigned to the supply train. He married Jane Sweeney, born in Springfield, Ky., in 1801, a daughter of Daniel Sweeney, a prominent pioneer of that part of the Blue Grass State and of Irish descent. The Sweeney family went from Kentucky to Missouri, settling in Boone County, where they engaged in farming and raising stock. The grandfather, James Bentley, was one of four brothers who settled in Kentucky with Daniel Boone, at an early day when that state was a wilderness and were real pioneers of civilization. Mr. Bentley was also a distiller, kept many slaves and was a large land owner. Jefferson D. Bentley was reared to the age of seven in Kentucky, then was taken by his parents to Illinois and as he grew up he worked with his father at his 27 574 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY trade, accompanying him to Iowa, where he helped to build the court house at Fort Madison. While there he saw Black Hawk, the noted Indian chief, treating himself to a regular spree. With some other lads of his age, young Bentley placed the chief in a large barrel and then they formed a bucket brigade and filled the barrel with water, nearly drowning the chief, but sobering him, at any rate. Accompanying the family to Missouri, where they settled in Boone County, J. D. Bentley worked with his father at the building business and on the farm. In 1847 he enlisted for service in the Mexican War, was assigned to the supply train under Captain Nye. The train consisted of forty wagons and fifty men, was continually in danger on account of the character of supplies. They left Fort Leavenworth with 500 head of cattle for the soldiers. These stampeded and the vaqueros came near getting killed; one saved his life by jumping from his horse to the back of a steer, and when the herd was quieted he was found still on the steer's back. On the trip to Santa Fe, N. M., the train was in continual danger from the Indians and many graves were seen, which showed trouble with the Red men. Mr. Bentley went on down the Rio Grande, spent two months south of Chihuahua, then started back towards home. He was mustered out of service at Independence, Mo., in November, 1848. He spent the next eighteen months in Missouri, then decided he would carry out his plan made while in Mexico — that of coming to California. On March 12, 1850, with ten men, two wagons and twelve horses, this band of Argonauts started for the land of Sunshine and Gold. Young Bentley was well prepared for the dangerous journey because of his former experience while in the war. The party finally arrived in California and mined at Michigan Bar, Volcano and other camps, then came on down to Sacramento where they disposed of their ' horses and bought miner's outfits and engaged in mining in dead earnest. Six years were spent as headquarters, by Mr. Bentley, in Calaveras County, where he ran a store for a time — until going broke. He came on down to Knights Ferry on a prospecting trip, did not succeed as he had expected and went to Stockton and did teaming into Tuolumne and Calaveras counties. In 1868 he began ranching on new ? land, broke the ground with the primitive implements of that period and harvested his crops with a scythe. He also raised stock and little by little saved money. Ten years were spent in the vicinity of Knights Ferry, then he moved further down into the valley. He was owner of 640 acres of grain land, although leased others and usually had in about a thousand acres or more each season. He finally became inter ested in viticulture and horticulture, keep abreast of the times as the years rolled along, until in 1895, when he took up his residence in Modesto to live retired. On October 28, 1858, at Knights Ferry, Jefferson D. Bentley was united in marriage with Elizabeth Bishop, a native of Pennsylvania and daughter of James Bishop, a minister and boatbuilder in Zanesville, Ohio. He came to California at the request of a brother, Stephen Bishop, who had left his own family there when he came to this state. With him were his own family and that of his brother, Stephen, and they came via the Isthmus, and took about three months to make the trip. This was in 1856, and it was a day of excitement when the stage drove into Knights Ferry with its load of young ladies, each family having three girls in their party. James Bishop died in California. Mr. and Mrs. Bentley became parents of six children, namely: Edward, who met his death at the hands of Sontag and Evans, notorious outlaws; Mary, Mrs. Hatch, of Spokane, Wash.; Annie, Mrs. Guffy, of Stanislaus County; George, at Oakdale; Maria Elizabeth, at home with her father; James A., a Stanford graduate and a student at Cooper Medical College at the time of his death. Mrs. Bentley was an able helpmate to her husband, always cheering him when the days looked dark and sharing with him when success crowned his efforts. They lived together to celebrate their golden wedding, in 1908, and she died on August 2, 1914, from the effects of a fall four years before. She was a refined and well educated woman and was loved by all who knew her, and at her passing the county lost one of its best women. She devoted her time to rearing her children and ministering to the comforts of her husband, who always gave her the credit for their success in their efforts. ^7to^i^vut^i>^tx^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 577 Jefferson D. Bentley served one term as public administrator of Stanislaus County, elected on the Democratic ticket. He was made a Mason in Volcano Lodge No. 56, F. & A. M., in 1853, became affiliated with Summit Lodge No. 112 at Knights Ferry in April, 1857, and later with Stanislaus Lodge No. 206 in Modesto. At the age of eighty-eight he was exalted in Modesto Chapter No. 49, Royal Arch Mason, in Modesto. He is a member of the Association of Veterans of Foreign Wars. The record of the life of Mr. Bentley is one that proved that intelligent application of well-directed energy and ambition will bring large returns. He has enjoyed the pleasure of having lived to the age of ninety-four years and has seen the advancement of civilization across the continent and barren wastes become fruitful farms and beautiful towns and cities, especially is this true of his life in California. He has so lived that in the twilight of his life he can look back upon a work well done and to the future without fear for he has done what he could to make the pathways of many easier to trod than they were when he passed over them himself in pioneer days. JAMES A. HAMMOND.— The development of Stanislaus County owes much to the pioneer labors of James A. Hammond and the ease and comfort that he is now enjoying, in the afternoon of life, have been justly earned by arduous effort and close application to his business affairs. He comes from the great Hammond family of America and is related to John Hays Hammond, the noted civil engineer. Of Eng lish origin, the progenitors of the family were two brothers who came to the Massa chusetts Bay Colony in the early days ; one went to New Hampshire, the other going to the Carolinas, our subject coming from the branch of the family that went South. Great-grandfather Robert Hammond settled near Newmarket, in eastern Tennessee, about 1790 and held a Government deed that was dated as far back as 1807. Grand father William Hammond was born in Newmarket, Tenn., also the place of birth of his son,. Robert G. Hammond, the father of James A. Hammond, the subject of our sketch. They crossed the plains together in an ox train in 1853, in company with the Howells, well-known in Merced County, being the ex-county surveyor; the Colliers, who are also well-known in that community, and the Gilkeys, of Tuolumne County. Robert G. Hammond was the scout of the party and limits man, acting as a sort of generalissimo. Being a dead shot, he enjoyed hunting with his trusty old Kentucky rifle and provided meat for the whole company during the long journey. They arrived in Tuolumne County, near Tuttletown, in the well-known Jackass Gulch, at Jackass Hill, later immortalized in Joaquin Miller's stories. Robert G. Hammond's marriage united him with Mary A. Manley. Five chil dren had been born to them back in the East and came across in the ox train with the parents, and after moving to California, five more were granted the couple: William B., born in Tennessee, deceased; John W., born in Iowa, and now resides at Atlas, Napa County, Cal.; James A., born October 8, 1850; Henry Otis is an orchardist, residing in Santa Cruz; Robert died at Hollister; T. J. is one of the prosperous men of Fresno; George M. is an orchardist of Santa Cruz; Martha was the wife of Norton G. Bates of Springfield, 111., both dead, and their daughter, Jennie, married James R. Broughton, the banker, of Modesto, the parents of Miss Esto Broughton of the State Assembly; Catherine died when but a baby. The grandfather went back to Iowa, but the father remained here and mined and teamed, going from Stockton via French Camp to Don Pedro, his camp being located near where the Stockton courthouse now stands. In 1861 he moved to Coul terville and took up a squatter's right, where he teamed and farmed and also mined at Don Pedro. Our subject at this time, being nothing more than a mere boy, attended the school at Don Pedro and Coulterville, having to walk two and a half miles to school, but all in all obtaining only a limited amount of schooling. In 1868 his parents moved to the San Joaquin River bottoms in Merced County. His father was a miner and made $700 at Pine Blanco, and taking this to San Francisco he exchanged it for currency, it being worth then only sixty cents on the dollar. With this he bought land, three miles on the San Joaquin River front below where Dickerson bridge now is, and went into the cattle business. Here our subject spent three years in the saddle. 578 HI-STORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY In the eighties his father sold all his holdings to Miller & Lux and moved to Santa Cruz and lived there retired, his death occurring at the age of seventy-five, the mother dj'ing at the age of eighty. Grandfather Manley lived to be nearly ninety years. James A. Hammond, the subject of this sketch, left home in 1870 and began work in the lumber yards of the company that ran the Union Box Factory at San Francisco, running the saws, planer, etc., for two seasons in the saw and planing mills, part of the time taking a place making boxes, and during this time he worked for his brother-in-law, Robert Howe, ex-assemblyman from Tuolumne County until 1872, when he came to La Grange and began clerking for T. W. Ferry, who had a general merchandise store. Four years later, in partnership with his brother, he pur chased his employer's store and continued the business. In 1878 he built the present store. Later he purchased his partner's interest and ran it alone until January 1, 1890, when he took in his nephew, George W. Bates, as a partner, and they have worked successfully and harmoniously together since that time, carrying on business under the firm name of Hammond and Bates. It is probably the oldest establishment, continu ously in business, in Stanislaus County, and Mr. Hammond is now probably the oldest business man in the county. George W. Bates, the junior partner in the firm of Hammond and Bates, married Miss Augusta A. Brander, a daughter of J. S. Brander of San Francisco. They are the parents of one child, George A., a graduate of the Modesto high school, and recently wrote a thesis dealing with the history and development of the dam and irrigation and hydraulic power projects at La Grange. This dam furnished water for irrigation for the Modesto, Turlock and the Waterford irrigation districts. Mr. Hammond was appointed notary public April 10, 1876, and he has held this post ever since. He was appointed postmaster at La Grange January 24, 1877, his commission being signed by Jas. N. Tyner, postmaster-general, and he continued to serve as postmaster for thirty-eight years, until he resigned in 1915. When he took the office it paid only about $4.25 a quarter, or about $17 a year, and he worked it up and the office grew until it finally paid quite well. He was also agent for the Wells Fargo Express Company for about eighteen years. Always interested in the cause of education, he has served as trustee and clerk of the school board at various times, being greatly interested and active in the improve ment of the school buildings and grounds. For one term he served as justice of the peace, but he refused to be a candidate for re-election. Mr. Hammond has also been interested in mining, having an interest in the Gold King. For a time he was also engaged in stock raising, owning range land seven miles northeast of La Grange, now a part of the Don Pedro Dam, and was the first land owner to sell for the purpose of a dam site, and selling at a reasonable figure, it established a precedent, so that other lands could be purchased for the same purpose. Mr. Hammond is greatly interested in the history of California, and he is ever an interesting conversationalist, having lived in La Grange, the historic portion of Stanislaus County. Perhaps no portion of California has a more interesting history, as in the early days of the placer camps, every man was a law unto himself and justice was summarily meted out. Here was the scene of some of the exploits of that notorious bandit crew headed by Joaquin Murietta, and his henchman, Manuel Garcia, better known as Three Fingered Jack, whose daring raids have formed the back ground for many a picturesque tale of California's Argonaut days. La Grange has also been immortalized by Joaquin Miller in his verses and Bret Harte, has laid the scenes depicted in many of his stories in this region. In the latter fifties and early sixties, it was one of the important towns of this part of California, for then it was the county seat of Stanislaus County and the center of a very profitable placer gold mining district. In the early days it was called French Bar before its name was changed to La Grange. Mr. Hammond is always ready to help with all projects that have as their object the advancement of the best interests of the community, and is an enthusiastic supporter of every movement for the broadening of the educational facilities of the district. Fraternally, he joined the Odd Fellows at La Grange Lodge No. 65, I. O. O. F„ at La Grange, of which he was teasurer for years, and in politics is a Republican. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 581 AMOS ADDISON WOOD, D.D.S.— A pioneer dentist of Modesto, where he followed his profession for a period of twenty-five years, Dr. A. A. Wood is one of the best-known and highly-respected men in Stanislaus County. Past four-score years of age, he is still active, with upright carriage, eyes bright, hair black and plentiful, and step light and springy, all of which he attributes to his love of God and humanity. The life story of Dr. Wood is full of romance and interest and gives a splendid word picture of a man of character and purpose who could not be downed by adversity. A native of Indiana, he was born in Parke County, September 7, 1839, the son of Amos and Mary (Sarasada) Wood; the former dying when the child was but six months old, and after keeping up the unequal struggle for six years, the mother also passed away, leaving the little brood to face life alone. At an early age Amos A. began working at divers occupations, among them being a driver of the freight boats on the canal between Terre Haute, Toledo and Cincinnati; he drove the first boat into Point Commerce. Although the youngest of the drivers, he was remarkably successful in getting his boat through on time and extricating himself from many a tangle that happened on the canals in those days. He acquired much knowledge about life and men and things from this experience, so that when he went into Black Hawk County, Iowa, at the age of fifteen, he was able to grapple with many perplexing problems after he became a foreman in the work of clearing the land of timber, hewing out timbers for use in all kinds of buildings erected on the farm owned by his brother-in-law. When the Civil War came on and claimed the time and strength of the best young men of the nation, young Wood, then twenty-two years of age, enlisted in Com- nany H, Nineteenth Iowa Infantry, serving as a noncommissioned officer, and he lacked just nineteen days of serving three years. He received his commission as second lieutenant after his discharge and his return home to his family. After the war Mr. Wood went into Kansas, where he engaged in farming until he came to California in 1896. His education had been limited on account of his having to begin work at an age when most boys are in school, and then the war coming on destroj'ed his plans, but undeterred by these handicaps, he found time and opportunity to take up the study of dentistry in the office of Dr. White at Elk Falls, Kans. In time he passed the required examinations and began practicing, which he was to continue for over thirty- five useful years. He was in Kansas at a time when the different counties of the state were being formed and the section about Elk Falls underwent the usual difficulties. The county seat was put on wagons and hauled about to locations selected by those who could put up the biggest defense of their rights until the location of a permanent site was definitely settled. Dr. Wood had a brother in California, Z. D. Wood, who had located in Stanis laus County, and when the doctor decided he would come West he most naturally sought out his brother. Thus it came that he located in Modesto, and for twenty- five years carried on his profession in the Husband Drug Store building and won for himself an enviable reputation and built up a large and lucrative practice. He did much work in the mining districts of Tuolumne County, being sent for on many occa sions to treat the miners and their families. Business enterprises have also interested Dr, Wood and he has from time to time invested in ranch land, operating a place of forty acres at one time ; again he was engaged in the buying and selling of livestock. In 1910 he retired from all active work and is now living in the enjoyment of a well- earned rest. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln at New Orleans while he was •n the army; has been a member of the Odd Fellows for over thirty years; and an active member of the local post of the G. A. R., and has served as delegate to the National Encampment on various occasions. He has been liberal and public spirited in all movements for tbe building up of Modesto and Stanislaus County and has given assistance to those less fortunate than himself. The first marriage of Dr. Wood occurred in 1860, when he was united with Miss Sarah Byers, a native of Ohio, and of this union eight children were born, five of them still living : Minnie is the wife of G. A. Perkins, a realty dealer in Modesto ; George F. is a merchant at Ceres; Jessie is the wife of S. L. Hanscom of San Franciaco-; Charles is a dentist at Oakdale; and Ed. F. is a jeweler in Modesto. When Mr. 582 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Wood went into the service he left behind him a wife and daughter to await his return. The son, Charles Wood, has followed in the footsteps of his father and has been encouraged by him in every way and had the best of advantages and a graduate of one of the best dental colleges. The second marriage of Dr. Wood came as a delightful surprise to his many friends and was celebrated on March 9, 1920, when he was united with Mrs. Rena Huls, well known throughout California as a strong temperance worker. She is a woman of much ability and strong character, a native of Ripley County, Ind., born February 8, 1855. Her paternal ancestors were descended from the Burr family, of which Aaron Burr was also descended. Her mother was Rutilla Sage, in maidenhood, also a native of Indiana, and Mrs. Wood is the youngest of eight children. Her mother died when she was a girl of six years, and she, too, felt the loneliness and hard ship of the life of an orphan, and she was buffeted about and had finished her school ing when she was twelve. She had made her home with a distant relative for a number of years and when she was nineteen she became the wife of Henry Huls, being married at the home of this relative. Mr. Huls was an Indiana farmer and for several years was a semi-invalid. Seeking a climate where he might be benefited, they came to California and for two years lived in Madera County. Mr. Huls partly regained his health, due to the constant care of his faithful wife, and later they moved to Hollister, San Benito County. Here Mrs. Huls became active as the local representative of the Children's Home Finding Society of California, in which position she was able to accomplish much good. She-was also active in the W. C. T. U. and superintendent of the medal contest department, which held contests for the best essays on prohibition and the liquor and tobacco evils. For eight j'ears she served as a member of the Prohibition State Central Committee of Northern California. In 1905 Mr. and Mrs. Huls came to Stanislaus County, locating on a twenty- acre ranch near Modesto. Mr. Huls passed away on June 19, 1915, leaving his widow and four surviving children to mourn his loss. Mrs. Huls later became the owner of thirty-eight acres on the Carver Road, but sold it in 1917. Of her children, all well and favorably known in Stanislaus County, we mention E. L. Huls, who is a member of the police force in Modesto; H. H. Huls is a successful fruit grower of this county; Harry W. resides at Vallejo, a machinist in the navy yard; and Josephine Maggie is the wife of F. D. Brown of Bakersfield, formerly a supervisor of Madera County. Since locating in Stanislaus County, Mrs. Wood has kept up her interest in W. C. T. U. activities and for the 1920 armistice parade, designed the 'pure white float for the W. C. T. U. that was so much admired by all who saw -it. She has particular talent along decorative lines and she has demonstrated it on many occasions. Dr. and Mrs. Wood have much in common, both in their experiences in life, and their common tastes and interests. They have both lived consistent Christian lives, both interested in the temperance movement and other reform and humanitarian work, and both blessed with a large measure of love for their fellowmen, and they are filling out their lives with good deeds and acts of kindness and giving of their best efforts to help build up their county, state and nation. JAMES B. KINSER. — An early settler, enjoying the esteem and good will of all who know him, whose experience with Stanislaus County harks back to the period prior to the introduction of irrigation and the colonization of the Denair district, is James B.. Kinser, a native of Iowa, where he was born on March 13, 1865. His father was Michael Kinser, a native of Iowa, who had married Miss Michel Sumner, a native of Indiana, the ceremony taking place in the Hawkeye State; and when James was eleven years of age, he accompanied his parents on a strenuous trip to Texas, the pioneers making the journey in a covered wagon. They located at Den ton, near Fort Worth; and there the lad spent the remaining days of his boyhood, on his father's stock and grain ranch. In 1883, Mr. Kinser came out to California as a young man and settled at Stock ton ; and for several years he had plenty of hard work to do, as he was a laborer in the harvest fields of San Joaquin County, working from sunrise until dark on headers and the combined harvesters and reapers. In 1884-5 he came to Stanislaus County, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 585 and he was employed on the West Side on the Welty Ranch. In 1889 he came to what is now the Montpellier district and he farmed 1,000 acres of the Levi Jones ranch for five years. He and his father built and conducted the first store there. He has since lived and labored in the Modesto and Turlock localities. He has made his home at Denair since 1902. In 1891, Mr. Kinser was married to Miss Laura Davis, who was born in May, 1872, in San Joaquin County, and reared and schooled in Stockton. Five children have been born to this happy union. Zearle A., a farmer near Denair, who is also in the employ of the Turlock Irrigation district, is married and the father of two chil dren. Ethel O. is Mrs. Edw. Morrison and the mother of three children ; they live at Hickman. James B., Jr., is a rancher at Denair and has one child. Claude D. is a student; and Laura B. is Mrs. E. B. Callahan and the mother of one child. All in all, the Kinsers are a very interesting family, closely associated for decades past with the best development of Central California. ROBERT CRAIG. — For more than thirty-one years Robert Craig has been one of the leading blacksmiths of Stanislaus County, and today stands high in the annals of the county as a citizen of integrity and high principles. During the four years from 1896 to 1900 he served as the postmaster of Ceres, winning many friends by his faithful discharge of his official duties and his spirit of accommodation. Mr. Craig is descended from an ancient line of Scotch ancestry, and was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, August 7, 1859, and was reared in Barrhead, near Glas gow. The schools of that day and place were few and inefficient and the opportunities offered even an ambitious lad were very poor. His ancestors were tradesmen, mostly and in his mother's family were several professional men of distinction. Our Mr. Craig learned the trade of a blacksmith from his father, starting when he was a lad of sixteen years, serving faithfully as was the custom in Scotland. His old home was twenty-nine miles from the home of Bobby Burns, famous poet of the Scots. At an early age Mr. Craig began to long to come to America, and in 1888 he found the fulfillment of his dreams and came to San Francisco. It was in 1889 that he came to Stanislaus County from San Francisco, and entered the employ of Averill and Hall, the enterprising blacksmiths of Ceres. In 1905 he engaged in business for himself, and now owns and operates one of the best blacksmithing and repair shops in the county, well housed in quarters which he himself owns, and fully equipped to turn out the excellent high grade of work for which it is justly famous. During all these years Mr. Craig has not confined himself to his blacksmithing business, but has shown his faith in the future of the county by investing his surplus capital in farm lands. Soon after coming to the county he bought 114 acres on the Hatch road, one mile from Ceres, which he developed and improved, and gave it the name of "Shady Neuk," which is still in force, growing grain thereon for many years. For the last fourteen years he grew alfalfa and maintained a dairy. Recently he sold this farm off in twenty-acre tracts. He now owns several valuable lots in Ceres, and his residence, besides his business property. In 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Craig bought twenty acres in figs near Ceres when that industry was first established in Smyrna Park by Rev. Dickinson. After keeping this property three' years they sold it in two ten-acre tracts. The marriage of Mr. Craig in Ceres in 1892 united him with Miss Viola Averill, born in Cooper, Washington County, Maine, who came to Ceres with her parents in 1880. Both Mr. and Mrs. Craig have many warm friends in Ceres and vicinity, and their kindly sympathy and cordial hospitality has won for them a warm place in many hearts. Mr. Craig is a member of the Masonic lodge and of the Royal Arch Chapter m Modesto. He is a true and patriotic citizen and takes a keen interest in all matters of public welfare. He feels that Ceres is, in a sense, his native place, for here in 1899, he received his final citizenship papers, and the following year cast bis first vote. Since that time he has faithfully discharged the duties of his citizenship, and during the recent World War generously supported the activities of the Government. 586 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY WILLIAM HENRY WOOD.— Both descendants of interesting pioneer families of Stanislaus County and among the worthiest representatives are Mr. and Mrs. William Wood, who are well and favorably known in social, political and fraternal circles. A native son, Mr. Wood was born at CoUegeville, in San Joaquin County, on Christmas Day, 1859, the son of Eben Wood, a '49er, who landed in San Francisco on the 4th of September of that year, having made the voyage around Cape Horn. He married Miss Sarah Wiley, whose people came to California in 1856. Mr. Wood died in 1903 at the age of seventy-nine, and Mrs. Wood, who closed her life at the same age, passed away in 1919. Eben Wood had been interested in the mines in Sonora County, along Wood Creek, which was named for him, and was a bosom friend of Robert McHenry. Later he spent about a year near Stockton, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and in 1869 he came to Stanislaus County, locating on the tract of 1,760 acres now called the Wood Colony, which he farmed for twelve years and then purchased. After owning it for ten years, however, he lost it on account of crop failures, occasioned by the severe drought. In 1879 he bought a farm of 2,000 acres near Ceres, now called the Maze & Wren Colony, which he devoted to the growing of wheat and barley, and the pasturing of some seventy head of horses and mules. In 1874 he leased an additional 1,400 acres of the Sperry ranch, on the San Joaquin River, and for fifteen years this acreage was used as pasture land. William Wood attended the district school of Salida and Paradise, and up to 1894 spent his years ranching with his father and a brother, John E. Wood. When, however, his father lost his farm, he started to work for wages, and encouraged by his good wife, in 1908 he purchased forty acres in the Maze & Wren Tract, which he leveled, checked and improved. This is now devoted partly to alfalfa and partly to double cropping. Seeing the splendid location for a service station on the State High way, in 1919 Mr. and Mrs. Wood built an oil station on the corner of their residence lot on Seventh and H streets, popularly patronized by Lincoln Highway motorists. At Modesto, on October 28, 1891, Mr. Wood was married to Miss Josephine Gridley, the daughter of one of Stanislaus County's illustrious pioneers, Reuel Colt Gridley, who was a native of Missouri. Born at Hannibal, in 1829, Reuel C. Grid- ley served in the Mexican War when a young man, and in 1852 he crossed the plains by the Pony Express, settling for a while at San Jose, Calif. Before leaving Missouri he had married Miss Susanna Snider, and in 1853 she joined him, coming by way of Panama. After some j'ears in Siskiyou and Butte counties, and in Nevada, where he was engaged in mining, Mr. Gridley came to Paradise, Stanislaus County, in 1867, and from" that time on he was prominently identified with this part of California as postmaster and merchant and, more than that, in the county's upbuilding. It was dur ing the later days of the Civil War, in 1864, that Mr. Gridley became a nationally known figure, through the famous Gridley sack of flour. Losing a sack of flour on an election wager, Mr. Gridley proposed selling the flour, each purchaser donating the amount he offered to the Sanitary Commission Fund, established to care for the dis abled soldiers. The generous idea struck a sympathetic chord with the public, and the sack of flour, starting first for a tour around California, was taken on to the East, where it was sold and resold numberless times. Mr. Gridley gave up his busi ness to accompany the flour on its travels and in this way raised the remarkable amount of $275,000 for the Sanitary Commission. Never a man of robust health, the strain of this arduous journey no doubt hastened his death, as he passed away when but forty years of age, in 1870, Mrs. Gridley surviving him until 1910. As a mark of the appreciation in which his patriotic services were held, the Grand Army of the Republic erected an imposing monument at Stockton in his memory. There were six children in the Gridley family, three daughter's and a son reach ing maturity, Mrs. Wood being the youngest. She attended both the grammar and high schools of Modesto and was married in the same house in which she is now liv ing. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are the parents of one daughter, Clara, now the wife of Albert Osvald, who is in the hardware business at Modesto. A graceful and charming woman of a very pleasing personality, Mrs. Wood is prominent in civic and social Qrj^i£ux^y%^ Juuuyuvp. rl/crea/* ]e JLjAp If^l, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 591 circles in Modesto, where she has passed nearly her entire life. Justly proud of the part her parents had in the pioneer days of this locality, she maintains an active inter est in its early history, and in the work of the Woman's Relief Corps ; she is also a charter member of Electa Chapter No. 72, O. E. S. Mr. Wood stands high in the community for his liberal, kindly spirit and his genuine interest in all that concerns the welfare of its citizens. A staunch Republican, he has served on the Republican Central Committee for a number of years. From 1887 to 1898 he was a member of Company D, Sixth Regiment, National Guard of California, and during the last four years of this period, he served on the brigade staff. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 81, and has passed through all the chairs. He was made a Mason in Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, and is also a member of the Eastern Star. CLAUDE F. HARRIS. — A native of Kentucky, educated for the profession of teaching, which he followed with marked success for a period of years, Claude F. Harris is now making a splendid success of dairy farming on his splendid seventy-four acre ranch adjoining the premises of the Sylvan Club, in Sylvan precinct. His ranch is one of the show places of the county, its handsome residence, well-planned barns and outbuildings, beautiful, orchards, wide stretches of waving alfalfa fields, and its herd of blooded Jersey cattle bespeaking a trained mind and an energetic, capable hand at the helm of management. And that is one of the secrets of Mr. Harris' success — for this one time professor has brought to bear upon his dairying enterprises the skill of a mind trained in clear and scientific thinking, accustomed to applying practically to any matter in hand, the available knowledge of the most successful methods known. Their attractive home in the center of social and intellectual life in the Sylvan pre cinct, and every movement for the upbuilding of the community is certain to receive their full support and cooperation. Mr. Harris was born at Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County, Ky., May 10, 1866. There he grew up, receiving his education at the State University at Lexington. His parents were George and Julia (Bivin) Harris, and there were two children, a son, the subject of this sketch, and a daughter, now Mrs. Hattie Forrest Smith, the wife of Ed. Smith, the present sheriff of Scott County, Ky., and residing at Georgetown. Mr. Harris' parents both passed away before he was five years old. His father, in addition to his home at Mt. Sterling, also owned land in Vernon County, Mo., and upon reaching his majority Mr. Harris went to Missouri to attend to the settlement of the estate, and there met the girl who was to become a partner of his joys and sorrows, Miss Susan E. Yokley, now Mrs. Harris. Mrs. Harris was the daughter of John Yokley, a native of Raleigh, N. C, and Bettie E. Mulkey, a native of La Fayette County, Mo., who were married near Lex ington, Mo., in 1857. John Yokley was a farmer and later a banker, a man of means and highly respected in his community. He served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; Mrs. Harris' mother lost her sight as the result of exposure suffered during the war period, being totally blind at the time of Mrs. Harris' birth, which occurred June 6, 1866. Mrs. Yokley was of very gentle and loving disposition and among the most treasured childhood memories of Mrs. Harris are the hours which she spent reading to and talking with her blind mother. There were four children in the family, one son and three daughters, all living, but widely scattered. They are: Jacob W. Yokley, who farms the old home place in Vernon County, Mo. ; Louise^ J., now the wife of S. B. Bivin, a farmer of North Middletown, Bourbon County, Ky. ; Nannie E., the wife of John L. Cummings of Saskatchewan, Canada; and Susan E., Mrs. C. F. Harris. At the time that Mr. Harris journeyed into Missouri to settle his father's estate, Mr. Yokley was the president of the Bronaugh Bank, at Bronaugh, Vernon County, Mo., whither Mr. Harris went in the adjustment of his business affairs, and there was married to the banker's daughter October 24, 1888, at the old Yokley home place. He had intended to go down into Texas after dispatching his business in Missouri, but remained in the latter state for four years after his marriage. In 1892 he migrated to Washington, then a territory, where he homesteaded 160 acres near Clyde, Walla Walla County,' and lived on it the full five years necessary to secure his title. Event- 592 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ually Mrs. Harris fell into delicate health, and this caused them to come to California, and in April, 1905, they arrived in Stanislaus County, where they soon purchased a ranch. This property they improved- and sold at a handsome profit, and within the succeeding ten years they had bought, improved and sold four other places, always with a wide margin of profit. Their present home place on McHenry Road and Sylvan Avenue was purchased in 1913 and improved with a view to making it their permanent home. It is one of the most desirable locations in the vicinity, with plenty of water for irrigation, and a veritable garden spot, under Mr. Harris' efficient care. Mr. Harris has forty blooded Jersey cows, his herd being one of the finest in the county, his herd sire being the famous three-year-old Jersey bull, Pogis Jersey Signal, from the Hood strain, bought from J. A. Goodall, of Ceres, Stanislaus County, when a calf and reared by Mr. Harris. Pogis was a blue ribbon calf, taking the first prize at the Stanislaus County Fair in 1917. The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Harris is a very interesting one, and forms a vital center in community interests. They are active members of the Sylvan Club, and have done much to make this unique country organization a power for good in the community. Mrs. Harris is a natural. leader and organizer and a genuine favorite among her associates and friends. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have two- splendid sons: Forrest G, now married to Miss Effie Ealey, is a rancher on the McHenry Road, and Warren L., a graduate of the Modesto high school, class 1920, and now a student in the University of California at Berkeley. MRS. JULIA K. OSVALD. — An excellent illustration of what a woman may accomplish in California ranching is afforded by Mrs. Julia K. Osvald, of Hickman, the talented wife of K. J. Osvald, with whom she owns eighty-two acres of excellent land in the Hickman precinct. She was born near Plzen, Bohemia, on April 10, 1864, the daughter of Matthias Korba, a Bohemian, who was coachman for Prince Vaza in Vienna until he was thirty years of age, and married in that country Miss Mary Kohout, also a Bohemian, with whom he came to America in May, 1873, bringing with them our subject. They settled in Adams County, Wis., where Julia attended the public schools, a region then almost a wilderness. There were four children in the family. Mary, the eldest, married John Rosepal, a miller by trade, who owned a large ranch and a flour mill in Bohemia. They continued to reside there until 1881, when they came out to America and resided in Adams County. She is now living at the age of eighty-two j'ears. Anna, the second in the order of birth, became the wife of Martin Klicka, and they later came to America, settled in Chicago, and she died there. John W. Korba, the only son, grew up to be a farmer in Adams County, Wis., where he owns 300 acres; and Julia is the subject of our sketch. On August 5, 1883, Miss Julia Korba was married at Friendship, in Adams County, to Karel J. Osvald, who was born at Kolines, Bohemia, on November 4, 1857, and there learned the shoemaker's trade. When he was twenty-four years old he migrated to America and for several years worked in a shoe factory at Pittsburgh ;- after which he migrated West to Adams County, Wis., and liking the looks of things at Friendship, he settled there, some 150 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Mrs. Osvald owned 160 acres, a portion of the old Korba farm and after their marriage they oper ated it till 1889, when they said good-bye to surroundings familiar, and came out to California, arriving in Merced, December 10, 1889, and there they worked for Mr. Wm. Sell, the two receiving for their ranch labor twenty dollars per month; after a while Mr. Osvald started a shoe store in Merced, which he conducted success fully for two j'ears. Waterford then began to appeal to their interest, the new rail way, the branch of the Southern Pacific, pushing its way at that time through the town ; and as they had ambitions to own something for themselves, they bought several lots in Waterford, and soon erected a store building in Front Street, where Mr. Osvald managed a store, while Mrs. Osvald was owner of a high-class rooming house. In November, 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Osvald bought eighty-three acres of land in the Hickman precinct, where they built a house for their own residence, a barn and a tenant's house, and they undertook to maintain a dairy of sixty-four cows. It proved to be hard work and overwork for Mrs. Osvald, who milked the cows and otherwise ^«^^jg^ ^/^L^cK^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 595 helped about the place, while she attended to her household duties; and so in 1917 they leased a ranch of 100 acres four miles east of Empire, belonging to Peter Anton Osvald, their brother-in-law, taking a four years' lease, which expires this coming November. Then they will return to their own farm near Hickman. This Hickman ranch of eighty-two and a half acres contains an excellent family orchard, and they have planted twenty acres to vinej'ard of Malaga and Thompson seedless grapes, form ing, indeed, a good home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Osvald are members of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, and are also active members of the Hickman and Waterford Farm Center — one of the best in Stanislaus County. Mr. and Mrs. Osvald have had six children, but three of them died in infancy. Albert married Miss Clara Wood of Modesto, and is the proprietor of the Osvald Hardware Company of Modesto, which has a large store on Tenth Street. Elizabeth married R. B. Crow, the bonanza grain grower of Hughson precinct, and they have had two children — Elizabeth and Laura May. Carl Budd, who was born on ex- Governor Budd's inauguration day, enlisted in the Great War as a member of the Twenty-first Engineers, and served in France; he returned home, safe and sound, in the fall of 1919, when he was honorably discharged. He is now employed on the Don Pedro dam, as a machinist. A man of pronounced ability, when given a chance to show it, and of genial, winning personality, Mr. Osvald is fortunate in having as a life companion one whose exceptional qualifications have enabled her to determine the fortunate trend of affairs for the family. She is an active and agreeable woman, with clear intellect, demon strated business ability and real force of character ; and it is not surprising to learn that she is a good housekeeper and an excellent manager. The hard working couple never made more than a bare living while she had the rooming house and Mr. Osvald had the store and shoe shop at Waterford ; and when the 3,000 acres of the A. Coggswell tract were subdivided for the' market, she borrowed money, through Banker Stoddard of Modesto, worked day and night at milking and other hard farm labor, and now they have a farm paid for and nicely improved. Mrs. Osvald, as may be imagined, is of unusual strength, both of body and mind, and it is little wonder that with her energy and strength of character she has aided her husband to make a success. All in all, Mr. and Mrs. Osvald have "made good" in various ways, an exceptional share of credit, in this instance, being due the ever-faithful and plucky, hard-working wife. WILLIAM H. BORTLE. — A deceased Modestoan whose memory is revered as that of a man who had a large faith in city and county, and who never failed to try to instill that faith into others, was the late William H. Bortle, who was a native of the Empire State, having been born at Middleburg, N. Y., on January 10, 1859. He came of Holland-Dutch descent; and when he had attained his twentieth year, he migrated to California and settled at Oakdale in Stanislaus County. Later, he came to Modesto, where he was employed for many years in the Modesto postoffice, after which he clerked in a grocery store for Messrs. Alexander and Rose. He was also city water inspector, and held that position for many years. After that, for another eight years, he was manager of the Modesto Gas Works. While holding that position, he bought the city billboards, at that time only a few old wooden billboards with the service of a handcart, worth in all about $200, and he greatly enlarged the plant and built up the business. He was a member of the Pacific Coast Advertising Association, and in that live organization made his influence felt. After establishing the business, however, on a very successful footing, Mr. Bortle was taken away on April 21, 1919. He was a charter member of the B. P. O. E., and of the Knights of Pythias, having been a member of the latter for thirty j'ears, and was also a member of the Modern Woodmen. A Republican whose advice and aid was often sought by the party leaders, he was a prominent man in many waj's in business circles. On October 10, 1897, Mr. Bortle was married at Oakdale to Miss Cora Waterhouse, who was born at Oakdale, the daughter of Edwin Sawyer Waterhouse, a native of Cooper, Me. As a young man he had come around Cape Horn in a sailing vessel to San Francisco, in 1849; he was a wheelwright by trade and settled in 596 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Oakdale, where he had the first blacksmith shop and wagon and carriage works. Later he sold out and became a deputy under Richard B. Purvis, the sheriff, and moved to Modesto, and in that official capacity he continued for eighteen years. Then he went back to his trade and ran a blacksmith and wagon shop in Modesto until he died, in 1911, aged seventy-four years. Mrs. Waterhouse was Mary E. Gruwell before her marriage; she was born in San Jose, and now resides there. Her grandfather, the Rev. Jacob Gruwell, was a pioneer minister in the Methodist Church South. Edwin Sawyer Waterhouse was both a Mason and an Odd Fellow. He was the father of six daughters, five of whom are living. Among these, Mrs. Bortle was the second eldest. She was reared in Oakdale and Modesto, and was an attendant at the Modesto schools. Mr. and Mrs. Bortle had one child, Charles William, who was accidentally drowned in 1910, when he was twelve years old. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Bortle has continued to manage the business after the plans of her husband, and she is meeting with great success. She is a member of the Presbyterian church, and also active in the Modesto Improvement Club, and an enthusiastic supporter of everything likely to develop Modesto rapidly along the lines of her assured destiny. REV. JONAS O. BODEN.— One of the early Swedish settlers of Turlock, who has had an influence for good, serving as a minister of the Gospel, as well as improv ing the soil of this county by intensive farming, is Rev. Jonas O. Boden, who was born in Gerfso, Helsingland, Sweden, April 23, 1856. His parents were Oluf and Ella (Johnson) Boden, also natives of that place. The father died in 1859 at the age of thirty-four, leaving a widow and four sons, whom the mother carefully reared in the Christian faith and educated to the best of her ability, and she had the satisfaction of seeing them grow to be splendid, stalwart young men, when she passed away at the age of fifty-two years. Three of the sons are farmers in Sweden, while J. O. is the only one in America. His boyhood and early manhood were spent on. the home farm, assisting his mother, receiving a good education in the local schools. Early in life he felt the call to preach and began studying for the ministry; between the ages of eighteen and twentj'-one, he studied with the local Lutheran minister, Rev. Valin, but found by study and research that he could not subscribe to the creed of that denomination. Finding the Swedish Mission Church was of his belief, he entered the Missionary Col lege at Christianshavn, his intention being to enter the foreign mission field in the Congo country. He began preaching in 1879, continuing during his college course, being graduated in 1882, and was then ordained a minister in the Swedish Mission Church. He accepted a call in the home missionary work and traveled to the differ ent churches, in 1889 receiving a call from the Swedish Mission Church in America. Soon after his ordination, Rev. Boden was married at Gerfso, Helsingland, to Miss Margaret Person, also a native of that place, and the next year they came to Dagus Mines, Elk County, Pa., where he was pastor of the Swedish Mission Church for four years, also traveling over the state in connection with missionary work. He then went to Anita, Pa., where he occupied the pastorate and built a church. Two years later he was called to Youngstown, Ohio, where he was pastor for the next eight \-ears. Having read of Turlock and its possibilities, and knowing Rev. Hallner, he came to Turlock on a trip of investigation in February, 1903, and after going carefully over the country he selected and purchased 950 acres on the Merced-Stanislaus county line for himself and members of his congregation at Youngstown, Ohio. He secured sam ples of the soil in different parts of the purchase for a depth of four feet ; this was sent to the University of California and analyzed and the analysis was published by the Mission Friend of Chicago and undoubtedly was the means of interesting many people in coming to Turlock. He secured 320 acres more and all the land was taken by mem bers of his congregation. He made a plat of the land he had purchased, having a sur veyor make the subdivisions, and each of the forty-five members selected his land so as to be neighbors, the same as they were in Youngstown, Ohio. All forty-five families located on the land and made improvements and called it Youngstown colony. Rev. Boden has fifty-three and a half acres in the northwestern part of the tract, where he built a residence and made improvements, twenty acres in peaches and ten £e^0,£oM^^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 599 acres in alfalfa. The first year,, grasshoppers destroyed 250 of the young trees, which he replanted. Rabbits were also numerous and destroyed many of his trees, but he fenced the place with chicken netting; after the place was enclosed, a boy killed eighty- two rabbits the first day, and sixty-two the second day. There was a Swedish Mission Church at Turlock, and Rev. Boden preached there for the first year on alternate Sundays. Needing a school in the colony, they organized the Johnson school district and built a two-room schoolhouse, using one of the rooms for a church and Sunday school. On the organization of Bethel congregation in the Youngstown colony, Rev. Boden became the pastor. In 1906 a church was built in the center of the colony lands, and he has been pastor ever since, many of his congregation having been mem bers of his church in Youngstown, Ohio, as early as 1895. While studying for the ministry, Rev. Boden also learned several trades— black smithing, carpentering, cabinetmaking and painting, so he has built many residences in the colony and also Bethel Church. He built the church at Arboga, Sacramento County, and preached there during the five months he was engaged in its erection; he also built three houses there and rebuilt the church at Patterson. His eldest son, Oluf, died here at the age of twenty-five, and fifteen months later his next son, Emanuel, met with an accident that resulted in his death when he was twenty-four, so Rev. Boden sold his ranch and moved to Turlock, where he built a fine residence at 975 South Lander Street on a place of two and a half acres, and there he resided until 1921, when he sold it and purchased a small place on Lander Street and Hilmar Road, where he built another residence. Here he resides with his family and con tinues as pastor of the Bethel congregation. Besides the two sons now deceased, Rev. and Mrs. Boden had two daughters, Elizabeth and Esther; the latter died of influenza at Oakland in 1919, aged twenty- six years. In Ohio Rev. Boden was chairman of the Ministers' Association of the Swedish Mission Church for seven j'ears, and was secretary of the home missions for eight years, and has served as treasurer of the California Home Mission Society. A believer in protection, he is a strong Republican in national politics. PATRICK C. KYNE. — A well-known figure in Stanislaus County, as indeed he is through the San Joaquin Valley and the entire state, Patterson is glad to claim Patrick C. Kyne for one of her recent residents. He now owns a splendid eighteen- acre ranch just south of the city limits, where he is engaged in raising alfalfa, and generally enjoys life. He is improving his property with the intention of making it his permanent home, and has built a delightful bungalow and an attractive group of farm buildings, and is adding constantly to his improvements. Mr. Kyne is the cousin of Peter B. Kyne, famous author, writer of many de lightful tales for Saturday Evening Post and other favorite periodicals, and an officer of the famous California Regiment, the One Hundred and Sixteenth Infantry, which saw distinguished service during the World War. Our subject has also traveled extensively, especially throughout the Pacific Coast states, and has many interesting reminiscences of early days in wild and rugged places, where he played a man's part in the transformation of the country from a wilderness to its present state of civiliza tion. He came to America from his native village in the Emerald Isle when he was sixteen years of age, and for several years resided with an uncle, Cornelius Davis, a merchant in Milwaukee, Wis., where young Patrick completed his educa tion. In 1878 he left his uncle's home and came to California, locating in San Fran cisco, where for three years he worked for D. O. Mills & Company, on King and Second streets. Following this he was with the Hayward Talent Company, on Main and Folsom streets, running a hydraulic press. San Francisco was then little more than a village, and full of the romance and color of the pioneer days, and Mr. Kyne remembers many vitally interesting things about the men of that day. Oregon was then a vast unexplored wilderness, and Mr. Kyne went to Harney County, that state, and for ten years was engaged in the horse business at Burns, buying and selling for the market, and running horses on the range. He then spent a number of years in mining enterprises and in the stock business in Idaho and Montana, being identified with various points of interest, including Dillon, Horse 600 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Prairie and Beaver Head, Montana, and Salmon City and Bannock, Idaho. The sheep business was then in its prime, and Mr. Kyne engaged in this great industry at Lucin, on the Utah-Nevada border, and later at Montello and Elko, Nev. Closing out his interests in the sheep business, Mr. Kyne eventually returned to California, and went into Kern County, where he was employed on the Shafter & McKittrick ranch, northwest of Bakersfield, for six years. For the succeeding thirty years Mr. Kyne claimed Kern County as his home, although he spent only a part of his time there, coming and going at irregular intervals, the while he traversed the wide ranges of the Pacific Coast states, engaging in various industries, generally involving trans actions in horses, cattle, sheep, or lands. The marriage of Mr. Kyne occurred in Albion, Idaho, May 5, 1896, uniting him with Mrs. Lucinda Wilcox, a native of Iowa, and daughter of Jacob and Louvise (Curtis) Paden. Mrs. Kyne's father was a well-to-do farmer of Iowa and later of Idaho. He served with distinction in the Civil War under General Grant, and is an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. and Mrs. Kyne are the parents of two children : William C. was in camp at San Diego when the Armis tice was signed, and Nora A., who is at home. Mrs. Kyne passed away July 16, 1921. Mr. Kyne himself is a native of Ireland, born at Headford, March 18, 1863, the son of William and Bridget (Davis) Kyne. His father was a stockman and farmer in Western Ireland, where he was born and where he spent the measure of his days. The early boyhood of Mr. Kyne was passed on his father's farm and in attending the local schools, but his love of adventure and for the great outdoors early turned his thoughts to America, and when he was little more than a lad he determined to leave his home and joined his mother's brother in Milwaukee, Wis. He early be came an American citizen, and is a true and loyal patriot and a pioneer son of whom the state of his adoption may well be proud. CHARLES CHESTER HORSLEY.— Stanislaus County has always been for tunate in her corps of merchant-leaders, prominent among whom may well be named Chas. Chester Horsley, the secretary, treasurer and resident manager for the J. R. Horsley & Sons Company, in charge of their store at Waterford. His father, J. R. Horsley, started the general merchandise store at Waterford on the Fourth of July, 1892. He was born in Ohio, and was married in Indiana to Miss Catherine Caldwell. Leaving her and their four children in their Hoosier home, he crossed the plains with ox-teams in 1852, mined and succeeded; whereupon he returned to Indiana and in 1857 brought his family out to California. He sailed with them by way of the route to and from the Isthmus, and traveled on the old steamship George Law on the last voyage she made prior to her going down. Four children were born to these parents in Indiana, and two are now living — Jim and Will ; and three were born in California. The youngest of the family, C. C. Horsley, was born at Jeffersonville, in Tuo lumne County, on January 25, 1863, and his early life was passed" on a ranch. While he was a mere boy, his father moved to Buena Vista Flats ; and being a good business man, familiar with the routine of office work, he kept the books at the Tulloch Mill at Knights Ferry. Precocious in his younger days, Joseph R. Horsley at eighteen ran a newspaper, and continued to be engaged in journalistic work the greater part of his time in Indiana. When three years of age, C. C. Horsley came to Buena Vista. He attended the Skowhegan Hill district school until the family moved on a ranch seven miles northeast of Waterford and there he attended the Dry Creek school for six years. When he attained his fifteenth year, his parents moved to Snelling, and there the boy attended the public schools in the Snelling district, where he lived from his fifteenth to his twenty-eighth year. He took the commercial course at Heald's Business College at San Francisco, and his first practical experience was to keep books for his father in the general merchandise store at Snelling. While assisting his father at that place, and during his twenty-sixth year, Mr. Horsley was married to Miss Maud Hendricks, who died in 1915, leaving him three children, all married. Cecil E. Horsley is in business and resides at Oakland, and married Viola Sibley; Edith is the wife of Chesley L. Bentley of Waterford, and Varies Raymond married Blanche Bailey and lives at Waterford. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 603 Mr. Horsley came to Waterford with his family twenty-eight years ago, and he has been in mercantile life ever since. His parents lived in Waterford for many years, and finally died here — the mother in 1904, and the father in 1914 — and both were widely known and highly respected. Mr. Horsley is a stockholder in the Commercial & Savings Bank at Waterford, and helped to organize it. He also helped to form the Waterford Irrigation Company, and served as its first secretary. He is a member of the Waterford Chamber of Commerce and the Stanislaus County Board of Trade. He is the representative from Waterford to the County Board of Trade, in which he takes a very active part. He is also a deputy county clerk. He is a member of the Baptist Church at Waterford and he is a Prohibitionist. At the age of twenty-one, he joined the Odd Fellows at Snelling, and he has continued his affiliation with that order, being past officer of the order. He also belongs to the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Horsley represents, as secretary, treasurer and manager, an institution of which Waterford is and may well be proud — the J. R. Horsley & Sons Company. Its store was opened under the firm name of J. R. Horsley & Son, as a branch of the Horsley establishment at Snelling, in Merced County. It was started on a small scale, and it has had varied success — some years being pretty "lean," others little better, according to the local conditions confronting everyone, until of late, when it has been reasonably successful. Now the company carries a stock worth about $20,000, and does a business amounting to between $40,000 to $60,000 a year. The leading mer cantile institution of the place, it carries a general line of groceries, hardware, shoes, furnishing goods for men, and hosiery for ladies and children, and also a small line of dry goods. In 1913 it was incorporated under the name of J. R. Horsley & Sons Company, and it is no longer a branch of the store at Snelling, having grown larger than the body from which it sprung. The Snelling store is managed by W. A. Horsley, president of the corporation. The store also sells all kinds of farm imple ments, including mowers, rakes, cultivators and plows, being agents for the John Deere Plow Company, the Syracuse plows, the tractor plows, harrows for orchard and farm, and Woodward ditchers. And although offering city service far remote from the metropolis, they sell at San Francisco prices, less five per cent for cash. EDWARD L. BATES. — The opportunities offered by California to men of determination and perseverance find a fitting illustration in the life of Edward L. Bates, who came to California some twenty-one j'ears ago, settling in San Diego, where he engaged in the business of contracting painting and decorating. He was born in West Greenwich, R. I., a son of Daniel and Sarah O. (Handy) Bates. The father was a native of New York, his parents being among the early settlers of that state; later the family removed to Michigan, and he served his country during the Civil War. He was a contracting painter in New York ; later engaged in the same une of work in Chattanooga, Tenn. A few years later he returned to New York, and there he passed away. Mrs. Bates is a native of Rhode Island,. She is an edu cated and cultured woman, and is a graduate of a chiropractic college and is at the present time successfully following her chosen profession. Mr. and Mrs. Bates were fhe parents of four children, the only surviving one being the subject of this sketch. Edward L. Bates removed with his parents to Tennessee when he was ten years old, and attended the public schools there. The family remained there for eight J ears, and then returned to Syracuse, N. Y., working with his father in the contract ing business. In 1900 Mr. Bates came to California, settling in San Diego, and establishing the partnership of Crowley and Bates, contractors in painting and deco rating, and this partnership continued until 1905, when Mr. Bates decided to remove to Modesto. He had heard a great deal about the wonderful San Joaquin Valley, and of the possibilities of the productiveness made possible by the system of irrigation, and upon investigation thought so well of the valley, that he removed and settled in Modesto. However, he continued his contracting business, many business blocks and fine residences attesting to his workmanship. For six j'ears, Mr. Bates was in partner ship with Mr. Rigney, but at the present time, he is working alone at his chosen occupation. He enjoys a steadily growing business and has the confidence and esteem 604 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY of his associates. He has done some of the best painting jobs in Modesto, among them being the First Methodist Church, Odd Fellows Hall, the Langdon residence, McMahon building, T. K. Beard residence, and many others. Many of his custom ers are of long years' standing. Mr. Bates resides in a fine home on Semple street. The marriage of Mr. Bates occurred in San Diego and united him with Miss Agnes M. Henshilwood. They are the parents of three children: Ronald, Lorna and Harold. Mrs. Bates' parents are of Scotch descent, residents of Chiterall, Minn., and where she was born. Her family removed to San Diego when she was twelve j'ears of age. Fraternally, Mr. Bates is an Odd Fellow, a member of Wildey Lodge No. 149; he and his wife are both members of the Rebekah Lod^e of Modesto; he is also a member of the Master Painters' Association. The familv are active mem bers of the Methodist Church. Mr. Bates has always exhibited a keen public spirit, and may be depended upon to do all in his power to advance the material, moral and social interest of the community. JAMES HENRY BOREN.— Although handicapped in early life by many dis advantages, James Henry Boren of McHenry precinct is a conspicuous example of a self-made man and is one of the progressive dairy farmers in Stanislaus County. Mr. Boren was born in Simnson Countv, Ky., ten miles east of Franklin, August 31, 1863, and is the voungest child in a family of six children, consisting of four hoys and two girls. His father, Matthew Boren, of whom he has no recollection, was drafted into the Confederate armv and died as the result of exposure when James Henry was but eighteen months old. The mother, Ellen More in maidenhood, and a native of Tennessee, kept the family together on her 100-acre farm, but died when James Henry was a lad of fourteen. Assuming the responsibilities of life at that tender ape he has made his waj' in the world ever since. Before his mother's death he cut rails for fifty cents a hundred, and at the age of fifteen hired out to work bv the month and worked three months for seven dollars a month. His education was neces sarily limited under such circumstances, but he learned to read, write and figure in an elementary way, and has acquired arithmetic through practical business experience. Mr. Boren came to Modesto, Calif., 1884, and found work on a thresh ing machine at Crows Landing. He continued to work bv the month for several years, and October 15, 1891, was united in marriage with Miss Mary Etta Standi ford, eldest daughter of the wTell-known pioneer, Admer N. Standiford. Mr. and Mrs. Boren are the parents of two children. Mildred if the wife of A. P. Meily, a rancher, and the son, Admer Nelson Standiford Boren, married Miss Bessie Baxter. After his marriage Mr. Boren rented land for ten years, then purchased 160 acres, adding to this latter by the purchase of thirty acres, and still later an additional fifteen acres, making his holdings aggregate 205 acres altogether, and has resided at his present place since 1898 and imnroved the same. He first engaged in grain farm ing, but for the past fifteen years has been in the dairy business, and has a herd of high grade Holsteins. He is a hard worker, a man of pronounced convictions, straight forward and outspoken, has made steady advancement in worldly possessions. Mr. Boren is a Woodman of the World and Mrs. Boren belongs to the Sylvan Club. ALBERT G. LEONI. — A Swiss-American whose coming to California was of significance both to himself and to the Golden State, is A. G. Leoni, who was born of Italian-Swiss parentage, on March 29, 1855, in Canton Ticino, and grew up in his native country until he was fourteen years of age. His father had come to Amer ica: and he followed to the New World, joined him in Eldorado County, Cal., and settled on the new paternal farm. He was an industrious and an intelligent worker, and soon made himself invaluable in the raising of cattle and grain. In 1878 A. G. Leoni was married to Miss Mary J. Moore, born near Amador City, Cal., on April 9, 1854, the daughter of Amos J. Moore, a native of Virginia, who had migrated to Texas and had become a veteran of the Mexican War. In 1848 he pushed on to the Pacific Coast, and located in Eldorado County, where he came to own mining claims ; and having removed to Amador County, he married Miss Eliza beth Eisenhart, a native of York, Pa. The Moores moved to Santa Cruz County, in HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 607 April, 1860, and there they lived for eighteen years, when they returned to Amador County. Mr. Moore died in Sacramento in June, 1900; Mrs. Moore died at the home of Mrs. Leoni in December, 1918. Mr. Leoni lived in Amador County for many years, working at his trade as a carpenter, and first came to Stanislaus County in 1909, and now in Turlock he finds plenty to do on his five-acre ranch. His father was a member of the Papal Guard in the city of Rome before he came to America in the '50s; and our subject inherited just such sturdy qualities as are desirable for wrestling with western life. He has a genial personality, and has been in the Odd Fellows since May 26, 1878. Ten children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Leoni : Albert L. Palmtag, who served in the World War, and is a successful building contractor at Oakdale, has a wife and two children. Frank Allen lives with his wife and three children at SJan Francisco. Arthur Fred, who is also married, is the owner of the Stockton Acetylene Welding Works. George M., a carpenter and farmer near Turlock, has a wife and three children. Madeleyne is the wife of Frank Wallrath of Alameda. Phillip Lansing, a dairyman of Los Angeles County. William, who saw service in the war, resides with his wife and child at Oakland. Robert Arnold is a shipbuilder of San Francisco. Elizabeth, or Bessie, is also a dweller in the Bay City, the wife of Elmer Upphoff. Catherine is the wife of Lloyd Fuller of Alameda. REV. ANDREW HALLNER.— Esteemed as a broad-minded, consistent repre sentative of the Christian ministry, the Rev. Andrew Hallner is especially interesting as the oldest Swedish settler of Turlock. He was born in Remene, Westergotland, Sweden, on June 9, 1846, the son of John Hallner, a farmer and blacksmith, who married Johanna Erickson, and in 1863 came to the United States with his wife and six children. He settled in North Washington, Chickasaw County, Iowa, where he set up a smithy and went in for farming; but two years later he removed with his family to Carver County, Minn., where he bought and cleared forty acres of timber- land. He got out oak and hickory timber for implements and wagons, and set up a horse-power sawmill. In the spring of 1869 he sent our subject to Macon County, Mo., to look over some farm land, but Andrew did not like it, so he went to Nebraska to investigate conditions there. In Saunders County he preempted 160 acres of land, and his father followed him there in 1870, and he let him have half of the acreage, and his father remained there until coming to California in 1916. One child was born in Minnesota, and two brothers and a sister still reside there. In 1918, John Hallner passed away, at the age of ninety-five, his good wife having preceded him the year before, at the age of ninety-three. They had nine children, two dying in infancy. Andrew Hallner received his early education from his mother, while she was busy at the spinning wheel, and as soon as it was possible, he attended the public schools. During 1873-74, he was a student at the State Normal School, at Peru, Nebr., and paid his own way there, and in the late sixties he visited both Missouri and Nebraska to look into land and located in the latter state. He obtained a teacher's certificate and taught a year, then pioneered as a homesteader, sold his land and returned to the normal school; and after completing his normal studies, he taught school for another year. In 1875, a grange was organized, and to help along the movement, Mr. Hallner made speeches. He was also elected a delegate to the state convention, which met in Lincoln, in 1875, and formed a new constitution, of which he was one of the signers. He made speeches, which were printed in the papers, and his friends urged him to study law. He thought favorably of the proposition and made arrangements with M. B. Reese in Wahoo ; but a pulpit vacancy having occurred at Swedeburg, Nebr., he was quite as earnestly, and more effectually, urged to preach, and was appointed there by the church authorities. He took for his text the Forty-fifth Psalm ; the con gregation broke down and cried, two infidels were converted, and the meetings were declared a huge success. He returned home, but could not rest; on the contrary, he went frpm house to house, and prayed with the inmates, and led them to Christ. He had various calls to preach, and he followed preaching. In March, 1875, Mr. Hallner 28 608 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY was sent to Fremont, Iowa, where he held a revival, preaching for twenty-five con secutive nights. Many were converted and several of these took up the ministry. He built a new church at Swedeburg — the Swedish Mission — and served as pastor there until 1885, with the exception of three years, from 1879 on, when he occupied the pulpit of the Rev. Skogsbergh in Chicago, and he was also secretary of the Swedish Evangelical Mission Synod. Prior to going to Chicago he built a church at Bethle hem, and at Bethesda, Nebr., and had a circuit which took three weeks to cover. When he was ready to go home from Chicago Rev. Hallner was induced to take charge of the Mission Vannen, or "Missions Friend," and issued his first number in 1880. By the time of the meeting of the Synod in June, he had increased its circula tion from 1200 to 1700 copies, and the Synod then made it a weekly, and also issued a Sunday school monthly, of which he had charge until the fall of 1881. Then his health broke down and he returned to church work. His church had waited for him all this time, for his people and children all loved him. He remained with his flock until 1885, when trouble in the management of the Mission paper drew him back to Chicago, and he resumed the editorship, and was not relieved of his responsibility for nine years. During that time, he handled his trust so well that the circulation grew from 8000 to 20,000 copies. When his health again became impaired, in 1894, Mr. Hallner came out to California to recuperate. At first he stopped at Kingsburg, where he became pastor of the Swedish Church ; only twelve persons attended the first meeting, but the congregation grew, and he also preached in a colony nine miles away at Riverside, but he soon had the entire colony united. They built a church near the center at Riverbend, the congregation increased in numbers, and Mr. Hallner took a ranch of thirty acres, which he improved for a living, while he preached gratis for five years. And then, for the next three years, he had a salary of $300 a year. In 1902 Mr. Hallner came to Turlock, drawn here through his old friend, the Rev. N. O. Hultbetg, whom he agreed to assist; and when Rev. Hultberg and his companion went to Alaska, Rev. Hallner remained here on a salary and with a power of attorney to transact the business of the colony. His interest in the future prospects of the region was secured, and partly through his labors there came into existence, as the result of successful advertising, the Hilmar and the Youngstown colonies, then Turlock and then the Galesburg Colony. He settled among the people, that he might the better help them, and within two years assisted some 211 families to come, five acres being apportioned to a family. It was uphill for a time, but all came out well. Mr. Hallner bought 100 acres and improved the same, and then added another 136 acres, devoted to trees, vines and alfalfa, four miles out. At the same time, he became one of the organizers of the Swedish Mission Church and preached the first sermon to the congregation. He was also the first superintendent of the Sunday school. They first built a church at Hilmar, and then they bought an old Methodist Church. In 1912, he removed to Arboga, Yuba County, and there assisted, as agent, in starting the Arboga Colony. He improved a farm to alfalfa, and remained about five years. He helped start the congregation, build a large church, and was pastor. In October, 1919, Mr. Hallner returned to Turlock and associated himself with the Swedish Church here. Since then he has been more than ever prominent in church conferences. He organized the Scandinavian Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Fresno, and was its first president until he moved away. After coming to Turlock, he was one of the organizers of the Stanislaus Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He has always worked for Prohibition, having advocated it in his mission periodical, and now rejoices to see the labors of j'ears on the part of so many thousand suitably rewarded. In 1892 he published a book on temperance and economy entitled, "The Great Campaign." During the war he published "Uncle Sam," an interesting vol ume, and in 1912 he originated and printed the "Scientific Dial Primer," containing a universal code, used by the Government during the World War, elements of uni versal language and new base for mathematics. At Ashland, Nebr., Mr. Hallner was married to Miss Ida Norman, a native of Sweden; and seven of their children are still living to bless them, and be blessed in HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 611 turn. Anna E. is Mrs. Kronberg, the mother of nine children, of Hilmar; Esther A. has become Mrs. Lindgren, and also lives at Hilmar, the mother of four children; Judith assists her mother in presiding over the home; S. Emanuel is a farmer at Hilmar and has three children; Reuben N., the father of one child, also farms near Emanuel; Irene Dorothy Agnes is a school teacher; and Mabel, who graduated from Heald's Sacramento Business College, lives at home. ABNER JAMES WESTROPE.— The interesting stories of two long-lived, pioneer American families of the type that has best been employed in the building of this ideal Republic is recalled by the narrative of Abner James Westrope, the able superintendent "of the Masonic Cemetery at Modesto. He was born near Belmont, in Lafayette County, Wis., on November 21, 1856, the son of Thomas R. Westrope, who had married Miss Sarah Ann Huntsman. Grandfather Westrope was a native of the Blue Grass region of Kentucky, where he engaged in farming, and Thomas R. Westrope was an early settler in Wisconsin, having come there from Springfield, 111., in 1826, a babe in arms. In 1849 he crossed the great plains to California with ox team and prairie schooner, bringing along 125 head of cattle, and four years later he made another trip over the same route. His third journey to California was from the East to San Francisco by way of the Horn. Grandmother Westrope belonged to the Ashbrook family, into which Daniel Boone married, while the Huntsmans hailed from Ohio. In 1870 Thomas Westrope moved to Red Oak, Iowa, where he farmed and made a name as a Shorthorn cattle breeder. Abner Westrope went to the Black Bear school in Kendall Township, Wis., and went through with the grammar school studies, started out into the world for himself. At Red Oak, on September 1, 1878, he married Miss Frances Emma Maybon, a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., and the daughter of H. C. and Deborah (Clark) Maybon, the latter a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., and early settlers of Montgomery County, Iowa, where Mr. Maybon was active in public life, especially in Douglas Township. He was born on November 9, 1829, and is still alive. Her father moved to Galesburg, 111., in 1870, and farmed, and from there, he later migrated to Mayflower, Iowa, in which town Mrs. Westrope was educated. Mr. Maybon's first trip to California was made in 1852, leaving New York on the clipper ship Racehound in February of that year, and sailing around Cape Horn. He landed at San Francisco May 1, 1852, and went to Stockton, where in 1852 and 1853 he was engaged in freighting to the mines. After their marriage, Mr. Westrope purchased a quarter section of land, which he farmed; but in 1882 he sold his farm and came West to California and Modesto. He continued to farm and became superintendent of the Root Ranch on the Water ford Road, where he remained for a year. Then he returned to town and went to work for Mr. Pillman, with whom he was in the dray business for four years. After that, he put in another four years with Mr. Libby, and then he bought the concern and ran it as his own for two years. He next crossed the Pacific to Honolulu and became foreman of a sugar plantation, staj'ing there from 1898 to 1902. In May of the latter j'ear he returned to Modesto ; but his father passing away, he returned to Iowa to settle up the family estate, and then purchased half of a section of land in Nance County, Neb., where he lived until February, 1910. Selling out,. he went to Texas and purchased land thirty miles west of Corpus Christi, where he raised cotton until November, 1911. Disposing of that holding, he came back to Modesto and bought town property at 1302 Washington Street. He built there his home, and there he has resided ever since. He has an apartment house of nine rooms and a cottage of four rooms on his property. Since April 15, 1917, he has given the utmost satisfaction as superintendent of the Masonic burial grounds by his painstaking and assiduous attention to the care and beautifying of this resting place of the departed. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Westrope, but both have died. Eva came in 1883, and Euphema died in infancy in 1888. The Westropes are Presby terians by faith, and Democrats in matters of national political moment. Mr. West rope is both a Mason and a Woodman of the World. 612 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY THOMAS W. McGINN. — A worthy and interesting representative of an early family with intimate associations with persons and movements in the history of Stanis laus County, is Thomas W. McGinn, until recently the efficient and popular manager of the Grange Company's three great warehouses at Salida. He was born in the Province of Quebec, on May 22, 1871, the son of William McGinn, who married Ellen Murphy, sister of John, or "One Arm" Murphy, as he was called, after whom Murphy Switch was named before the station became Salida. He was a great politi cal boss, and perhaps no other man has ever had as great influence politically in Stan islaus County. Both Mr. and Mrs. William McGinn were natives of the province of Quebec, in Lower Canada, where they were also married ; and they came to California in the fall of 1877. Then Mr. McGinn bought thirteen acres of land, and had charge of the old McHenry warehouse; later he became manager of the warehouse, which was taken over by The Grange Company. He resigned his post about eight years ago ; and he died on July 28, 1919, in his seventy-seventh year. Mrs. McGinn passed away in 1895, in her forty-third year. Seven children were granted this pioneer couple, and six of. them are still living, Joseph having died in infancy. Marie Genevieve presides over the hospitable McGinn home at Salida. James Edward resides in Los Angeles. Thomas W. is the subject of our review. John S. is freight cashier for the Tonopah & Goldfield Railway Com pany at Tonopah, Nev., a member of the Elks, the Knights of Columbus, and the Yeomen at Tonopah, Nev. William A. is a lawyer at Bakersfield ; and Nellie G. is bookkeeper for the C. E. Capps Mercantile Company of Salida. William McGinn was elected assessor of the Modesto Irrigation District two or three times, and before that he had served as deputy county assessor under John W. Tulloch. He was manager of the McHenry Company for many years at Salida, and established such an enviable reputation for integrity, foresight and reliability that in his good name alone he bequeathed a priceless heritage to his sons. A life-long Democrat, he never neglected an opportunity to foster patriotism and a decent civic spirit. A brother of Thomas W. McGinn is John S. McGinn. MERIDETH R. PITTS.— As manager of the Stanislaus Land and Abstract Company, of Modesto, since 1917, Merideth R. Pitts is well known among the busi ness men and farmers of the county through the splendid service rendered by his company under his able management. He has become thoroughly identified with the county and is now engaged in developing a valuable fruit ranch of twenty acres five miles north of Modesto, on the McHenry Road, planted to figs, almonds and grapes. It lies under the Modesto Irrigation District water canals and is very valuable. Mr. Pitts has been a resident of California since 1906, coming directly from Ozark, Mo., and locating in Los Angeles, where for two years he served as attorney for the Title Guarantee and Trust Company of that city. In 1908 he went to San Francisco as examiner for the Standard Title Insurance Company, remaining with this concern for two years, when he went to Fresno and became identified with the Fresno County Abstract Company, remaining there until he came to Modesto in 1917, and has since made his home here. A native of Polk County, Mo., Mr. Pitts was born near Polk on December 6, 1872. His father was W. D. Pitts, a native of Kentucky and an extensive stock- • man, and his mother was Eliza Overshiner, a native of Illinois, born in Macoupin County. They were early settlers in Missouri, where they preempted and home- steaded land and engaged in general farming and stock raising. It was on this farm that our Mr. Pitts was born and on which his boyhood days were passed. He re ceived his early education in the grammar school at Polk, and later graduated from the William Jewell College, at Liberty, Mo. The first independent enterprise of Mr. Pitts was as a teacher in the Missouri schools, but he was not satisfied with this as a life work, and studied law while he taught and in 1897 was admitted to the bar of Missouri, and engaged in the practice of law at Ozark, Mo., where he was interested in the abstract business at the same time, also becoming active in public affairs. In 1901 he was elected to the Missouri state legislature from his district, on the Republican ticket, and served for one term. 1 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 681 J. H. HOSKINS. — A progressive young man who, by his well-directed efforts, has made a name such as would do credit to anyone, is J. H. Hoskins, the county sur veyor of Stanislaus County, who was born at Fresno Flats (then in Fresno, but now in Madera County) on July 27, 1887. His father was Louis Ulman Hoskins, a native of Merced County, Cal., his grandfather, William Hoskins, having come from the East across the plains to California in 1848. For a while he followed mining, and then coming to Merced County, he engaged in farming and stock raising, after ward embarking in business at Fresno Flats. Retiring to Clovis, he died in 1918, aged eighty-two. His father, "Lou" Hoskins, as he was familiarly called, was elected assessor of Madera County when it was organized in 1894, serving for six years, and was the first assessor of the county. In 1900 he came to Stanislaus County and for a while located on a farm near Ceres, when he moved to Turlock, where he improved an alfalfa farm ; at the same time that he engaged in general contracting and in time ran a very large outfit, building canals and ditches for the Turlock Irrigation District. He was also the assessor for the district for two years, and as a hustler has made a big success. He is now engaged in raising rice at Paulsell, where he devotes 250 acres to rice culture. He married Miss Lela Wilson, who was born in Bodie, Mono County, Cal., and whose father was a pioneer of that county. Mr. Hoskins' parents still survive, and they have three children living, our subject being the eldest. J. H. Hoskins was brought up in Madera County until he was thirteen years of age, and then he came to Turlock. He was educated at the grammar schools of his neighborhood and at the Modesto high school, and when fifteen years of age began to work on Saturdays and Sundays as a surveyor under E. H. Annear. In this way he continued as best he could, and little by little mastered the profession of surveyor. He became an assistant to Mr. Annear and continued with him until January, 1907, when he was appointed a deputy county surveyor under the same gentleman. On March 15, 1918, Mr. Annear enlisted in the great War, and Mr. Hoskins was ap pointed to fill the vacancy caused by his withdrawal. In August, 1918, he was nomi nated for that office at the primaries, and at the November polls he was elected by a majority of 1,700; and on January 6, 1919, took the oath of office. Mr. Hoskins completed a course in civil engineering in the International Correspondence School, and he assisted Mr. Annear to survey the route for the 126 miles of new concrete highways in the county now completed from the county bond issue of $1,482,000. He gave all of his time to secure the very best results, and they have succeeded in every way. Together, these accomplished engineers also built the bridges and siphons for this highway, among them the Tuolumne bridge at Modesto. At Modesto, on September 7, 1912, Mr. Hoskins was married to Miss Veda Rinehart, a native of that city and the daughter of William and Isadora Rinehart, old settlers of the Golden State. Mr. Rinehart, full of years and having enjoyed the esteem, and good will of everybody, is dead, and Mrs. Hoskins' mother is making her home at Modesto, where she is the center of a circle of devoted friends. Mr. Hoskins belongs to the Modesto Lodge of Elks, and is a member of the parlor in Modesto of the Native Sons of the Golden West. MRS. JOSIE KIDD.— The mother of four splendid sons, Mrs. Josie Kidd is fortunate in their co-partnership with her in the operation and management of her ranch in Paradise precinct, and are all held in high esteem in the precinct and in Modesto, where they are well known. Of these sons, Hubert E., the eldest, is manager of the ranch, under his mother's clear-headed direction, while he is assisted by Clarence W., Milton L. and Herman M., the latter students in high school. Clarence W. enlisted as a mechanic during the war, the day before his twenty-first birthday; he received his honorable discharge at Spokane, Wash. Mrs. Kidd is the second daughter of E. S. Wilkinson, of Marysville, Tenn., and the granddaughter of J. B. Wilkinson, a Confederate officer during the Civil War. Her father was a professor of languages and taught in the public school at Marysville, and after retiring from the teaching profession, he took up the duties of township justice of the peace, which office he filled for many years. A brother of Mrs. Kidd, E. L. Wilkinson, is at present holding this same office at Marysville, Tenn. Her 682 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY mother was Miss Janey Carpenter, a daughter of the Old South, whose paternal ancestors came from England and settled in Virginia and thence moved into Tennessee. Mrs. Kidd was born November 15, 1867, and she was married to M. B. Kidd at the home of her parents on February 14, 1893, and with him went to reside in Texas. M. B. Kidd was a native of Marysville, Tenn., born December 12, 1863, the son of E. E. and Margaret Kidd. He grew to manhood in his native state and in 1885 sought his fortune in Texas, residing near Waxahachie, Ellis County, for many years. In 1910, he removed to near Dallas, that same state, and there passed away, April 28, 1911. He was a man of exceptionally high character, a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, and guided by its principles in all the affairs of his life. After her husband's death, Mrs. Kidd determined to make a change, seeking a more congenial climate in an effort to regain her health. In 1912 she came to Stanis laus County with her four sons and bought twenty acres in Wood Colony. Here she financed the sons and they successfully carried on a dairying business for some years. In 1919, she sold her ranch in Texas and in Wood Colony and with her sons (who own forty acres) purchased 110 acres on Pauline Road in Paradise precinct, formerly known as the Schafe Ranch. Here the sons are engaged in dairying and in double cropping, running forty head of cattle, with thirty-five acres in alfalfa. They are exceptionally successful, and plan to improve the ranch greatly, and later to plant it to vineyard and orchard, for which it is well adapted. A new residence, modern in every detail, has been erected, and other improvements, including a new twelve-inch well and a seven-inch pump, which have just been installed. Mrs. Kidd was educated in the Marysville (Tenn.) Presbyterian College, is a graduate of the Tennessee State Normal School, and taught school for eight years before her marriage. She possesses a brilliant, active mind, and is of the true type of Southern gentlewoman, respected and admired by all. FRED A. GEER. — A freeholder whose life and experience are of more than ordinary interest is Fred A. Geer, who was born near Turlock, on July 24, 1880, the youngest son of Henry F. Geer, who was born, probably about 1841, near Hartford, Ct., and who married Miss Mary Stone, also of that locality. He served his country gallantly during the entire period of the Civil War, becoming an honored veteran, and at the close of that great conflict came West to California, where he joined his uncle, the late John Mitchell, who was the pioneer developer of the Mitchell ranch stretching for thousands of acres through Stanislaus and Merced Counties. In 1881, he purchased from Mr. Mitchell a tract of 2,000 acres just north of Turlock, and from that time he directed his attention toward improvements in farming, extensively growing wheat and grains. About 1904 he retired from active duties to a comfort able residence in Oakland; and in 1914 he passed away there. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a Master Mason, and due honors were ac corded him by the fellows in his fraternities. Fred Geer was reared at Turlock, where he spent a lively boyhood on his fath er's farm; and, after the usual round of grammar school studies and farm chores, in 1897 he entered St. Matthew's Military Academy at San Mateo, and two years later finished the preparatory course there. Then he spent three years as a student at Stan ford University at Palo Alto, studying mining, and was soon offered the position of mining assayer and sampler with a New York mining company, which had over 100 claims in the territory of Thunder Mountain, Idaho, 180 miles from the nearest wagon road or town. After a hazardous trip with pack-horses, during which the traveler was forced to pack over again on their backs, and continue the rest of the way by foot, Mr. Geer, who had left Boise, Idaho, in May, 1902, arrived on the ground for active work just about a month later. Three years were required for the assaying of the ma terial, and it was during this period that a fellow-workman, Johnson, found the first quicksilver bearing ore, but was never awarded the honor. Since that time the ter ritory has been proved up, and is heaviest in quick-silver production of any territory. On account of their abandoning prospective improvements, Mr. Geer was re leased by the firm from further duty, and he was immediately attracted to a neigh- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 685 borhood about thirty miles north, where he had work in assaying and mining for five years. During that period he established his office in Boise City, Idaho, where he spent his winters ; in the summer months he put a man in charge, while he went off on assaying and sampling tours, over various claims in the territory. He himself owned a claim; but when he went to Goldfield, Nev., he disposed of his interests in the Big Creek country. He was at Goldfield about twelve months when he returned to San Francisco to be married to Miss Matilda Ray Quigley, a native of that city and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Quigley, now both deceased. In 1911, Mr. Geer left San Francisco and returned to Turlock, to attend to important interests of his own in Stanislaus County. A son, christened Raj'mond Henry, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Geer live on their ranch north of Turlock, while they lease out the farm-land surrounding them. Mr. Geer has entered the real estate field, and has constructed in Turlock a modern business block devoted to stores. He is a Republican and marches with his party in all matters pertaining to national legislation ; but his broad- mindedness repeatedly leads him to support local projects in the most non-partisan manner. During the War, he served as a "dollar a year" man. Mr. Geer belongs to the Masons, being a Knight Templar and a Shriner, and also to the Elks of Merced, and he is serving on the executive committee of the Ma sonic Temple of Turlock, which has a fine building in course of construction. Dur ing his college days, he was distinguished as an athlete; and not only has he main tained a live interest in his favorite sport, football, but he has hied himself off, when ever possible, to the high Sierra, and there enjoyed to the fullest the great outdoors. ANDREW PETER NYLIN.— A rancher whose well-earned retirement is a source of much satisfaction to his many devoted friends, is Andrew P. Nylin, a native of Northern Sweden, where he was born near Hofors, Gefleborglan, on April 18, 1865. His father was Anders Andreson, an iron worker who was very expert at his trade and was esteemed by everybody on account of his high integrity; he was born and died in the province mentioned, and there he married another native, Miss Anna Hostrom, who passed away in 1890, twenty-three years before her husband laid aside the cares of this world. Andrew went to school until the middle of his fifteenth year, and during that time he was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. He was then duly apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade, which he learned thor oughly, and after that he took up machine work and acquired his credentials as an expert machinist. Then, in 1885, he left home and went to a city called Avesta, in the south part of Dalarne and there secured a position as a machinist in a rolling mill. Having been accustomed to do his work accurately and conscientiously, he could not fail to give satisfaction to his employers, and had he remained where he was, he' would doubtless have risen to still higher posts of authority. Mr. Nylin, however, had begun to fix his thoughts upon the New World ; and in 1886 he crossed the ocean to the United States and located at Joliet, 111., where he worked at the blacksmith trade, and later in the nearby sandstone quarries. Not being satisfied, he moved westward after two years, and in 1888 arrived in San Francisco, where he secured employment at O'Brien's wagon shop. For two years he helped manufacture various kinds of vehicles; and then he went to Portland, Oregon, and put in two and a half years there as a blacksmith, then came back to San Francisco and opened a shop of his own on Mission Street and Richland Avenue, and there he carried on a successful business for over eleven years. In February, 1904, Mr. Nylin pitched his tent at Turlock, locating on thirty- three acres of raw land which he worked hard to improve, and which he has since sold as two separate farms. This land was formerly part of the Crane estate, north of the town, and was of such a nature that our subject was called upon to pass through the real hardships of pioneer days. He worked for a while at his blacksmith trade, while he labored hard to further the project of irrigation ; and for the past seven teen years he has given his attention solely to agriculture, thereby contributing some thing toward farm development in Stanislaus County. Since selling out his ranches 686 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY he bought three acres on Geer road, just outside of the city limits, and upon this tract he erected a modern residence. While at Portland, Mr. Nylin was married to Miss Emma Johnson, the cere mony taking place on May 25, 1891. The good wife is a native of Skona, Sweden, and came to America ten years before that time. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nylin are members of the Swedish Mission Church, where Mr. Nylin was for seven years treasurer of the congregation. In 1919 he was elected a trustee of the Emanuel Hospital at Turlock, both of which he helped to establish. At San Francisco, in 1893, Mr. Nylin was made a citizen of the United States, and anyone who has known him as a ruggedly honest, self-made man must feel that American citizenship gained by the accession. He soon associated himself with the Republican party, and whenever the question of liquor legislation came up for his support or rejection, he made known where he stood — a stanch Prohibitionist. In 1913 Mr. and Mrs. Nylin enjoyed a five-month visit with relatives in Sweden. RALPH B. CROW. — The worthy representative of one of the most interesting old-timers in all Stanislaus County — the son of a pioneer who was born at La Grange some sixty-five years ago — Ralph B. Crow can hardly ever fail of a welcome at any hearth in the Golden State. He was born on September 26, 1887, on the home farm eleven miles east of Modesto, the son of Albert N. Crow, who had married Miss Laura Browder on October 17, 1876, in the same house in which he is now dwelling. Grandfather William Browder, who was born in Missouri, came to California in 1851, and traveled across the great plains in a prairie schooner drawn by an ox team, taking six months to make the trip. He came with an emigrant train from Cairo, 111., and followed the Salt Lake Route and the Sonora Pass, to Chinese Camp ; and the trip through the Pass was not only long and tedious, but it was so difficult that it was often necessary to use blocks and tackle to let themselves down safely. After arriving in California, Mr. Browder purchased the Crimean House southwest of Chinese Camp, and this place he used as a stage station. In 1854 he took up Government land on the Tuolumne River, in Stanislaus County, about three miles east of the present loca tion of Hughson. Here he engaged in stock and grain raising. The first plow he used on the place was made by himself ; the wood for it he cut from an oak tree. His brand was W.B. and ranged in those early days from the Tuolumne to the San Joaquin River. He became a large land owner, was an indefatigable worker, and while cradling grain he became overheated, caught a cold, which resulted in pneu monia, from which he died at the age of forty-two. His wife was Sarah E. Hudelson, who crossed the plains from Missouri in the early days. She died in 1907. Laura Browder was born on the home ranch and attended school in Turlock. In those days people sought river-bottom land and hauled water from the river for domestic use; and sometimes a spring was found, which proved a still greater blessing. Grandfather Browder's next step was to purchase 360 acres ; and since then more land has been added until now there are 2,500 acres in the estate. Grandfather Wm. Crow was born in Utah, and coming to California as a young man, he married in Stanislaus County a Miss Dorsey, whose parents were pioneers of La Grange. Wm. Crow owned a farm on the north side of the Tuolumne River, three miles west of Waterford, where he followed ranching until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Albert N. Crow engaged in farming the Browder ranch and in time became its owners. Meeting with success, Mr. Crow bought other lands until he owns a large tract and was one of the large grain growers until he retired from active ranch ing. Mrs. Crow passed away in 1913, a woman much beloved by all who knew her for her splendid example of womanhood. Of their five children, four grew up: Myrtle was Mrs. W. T. Scoon of Modesto, and passed away in 1911; Edith died in 1919; Hattie died when a mere child; Ella N. presides over her father's home; Ralph B., the youngest, is the subject of this sketch. He attended the Empire district gram mar school at Hughson, and later was a student in the Anderson Military Academy at Irvington, Cal. In 1907 he started to ranch for himself, and leased the old Crow homestead, and also additional land, making in all about 4000 acres, which he planted to wheat, oats and barley. For years he had about sixty head of mules, and now he £Sy£&6tf £&*^/ ~Gy^U~uA. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 691 maintains some forty-eight. He has purchased eighty acres from Mr. Tomlinson, a tract of exceptionally fine land, which he is improving and will make his home place. He is now the largest grain grower in Hughson township, gathering his crops with a combined harvester and using the latest implements and methods in his ranch enter prise. Lately he has turned his attention to raising alfalfa. The eighty acres above referred to is already an alfalfa field. He also owns 160 acres more in the vicinity, which he has improved to alfalfa. This 240 acres will be divided into three ranches, with each a set of buildings and rented as dairy ranches. The irrigation system is equipped with concrete gates and drops, simplifying the work of irrigating. On October 11, 1908, Mr. Crow was married at Modesto to Miss Elizabeth Osvald, the daughter of Carl and Julia K. Osvald. Mr. Osvald is a successful and prosperous farmer in Hickman. Two children — Elizabeth A. and Laura May Crow — are the source of endless pleasure and happiness in this rural home. Mr. Crow is a Democrat, and a popular member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. E. MRS. ELLA McCABE ERVIN.— The early days in the West tended to produce and develop a race of women of self-reliance, independent thinkers and possessing executive ability, yet in no wise losing their womanly charms and characteristics. Of this type of Western woman is Mrs. Ella McCabe Ervin, the widow of the late W. H. Ervin, a pioneer of Stanislaus County and a man of ability and high integrity. Mrs. Ervin is a native of the state, born at Marysville, in 1863, the daughter of Owen and Margaret (Fitzpatrick) McCabe, who pioneered into California with his wife in the early '50s and farmed near Marysville, in Yuba County. She has one brother living, Eugene McCabe, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, a man well known in Stanislaus County. Mrs. Ervin finished her education at a boarding school in San Francisco, graduating with honors, but did not take up the teaching profession, as she had originally intended. Instead she was married on June 5, 1879, to W. H. Ervin, who was leasing land on the Tuolumne River. They later bought 150 acres, that is owned by Mrs. Ervin. Six children have been born to her, all of whom are living, and natives of the county, and all but one residing in Stanislaus County. They are William W., married and residing at Modesto, where he is a cement and concrete contractor, and the father of four children ; Katherine Irene, the wife of S. B. Walden, also residing in Modesto, and the mother of four children ; Nellie, wife of A. S. Holcomb, of Fortuna, Humboldt County, and the mother of two children; Walter James, single, born February 20, 1887, and now his mother's manager, residing with her on the home farm, and for two and a half terms serving as clerk of board in Shiloh school district; Isabelle M., the wife of Benjamin Fox, residing in Modesto ; and Arthur H., who served in France in the World War, receiv ing his discharge after the war. He was formerly a member of the Modesto Fire Department and now employed in Modesto. Mrs. Ervin is a great favorite with her children and is deeply beloved by her grandchildren, of whom she is exceptionally fond. Her property consists of 150 acres of land on Paradise Road, eight miles southwest of Modesto, in Shiloh precinct, where she takes an active interest in local affairs. WINTHER GLADWIN ADAMS. — Progressive ranchers of California are now giving much thought and attention to the grade of their chosen breed of poultry or stock, with the result that financial results are kept at a maximum of profit. W. G. Adams, owner of a splendid ranch of sixty acres, in Hart precinct, six miles west of Modesto, has been a leader in this line, and now owns a herd of fourteen graded dairy cows, and a fine flock of pure-blooded Barred Rock hens, of which he is justifi ably proud, and which return him. a handsome profit. His latest venture in the line of pure-blooded strains is in breeding pigeons, three strains having been chosen for his punoses. His first stock was purchased from Allen G Curry of Hayward, in 1919, and Mr. Adams now owns some birds of unusual beauty and of great value. His equipment and breeding pens, for both his pigeons and his Barred Rocks, are of the latest scientific designs, and he is planning to exhibit at various fairs and poultry shows, and fully expects to carry away his full share of blue ribbons. 692 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. Adams is a native of Stanislaus County, born on Dry Creek, near Empire, ten miles east of Modesto, February 8, 1880, his family being one of those who pio neered into the West at an early date, his father having come to California in 1863. Mr. Adams has always lived in Stanislaus County and has done much to aid in the development and upbuilding of this part of the state. He is a sportsman and loves hunting and fishing and the pleasures of the great outdoors. He is a member of Wildey Lodge No. 149 I. O. O. F., of Modesto, and of the Encampment and Re bekahs, and is known as a stanch friend and a splendid neighbor. Mr. Adams was married in Stanislaus County, at her father's home, six miles west of Salida, March 18, 1902, to Miss Etta J. Butler, the daughter of Charles D. and Elizabeth (Updike) Butler, born January 13, 1882, west of Salida. Her par ents were natives of Ohio, but came to California at an early date. Her father is now deceased, but her mother is one of the well-known ranch owners of the county. Mrs. Adams is the sister of J. W. Butler, residing on the Maze Road, near Modesto, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Adams has borne her husband three children, two sons and a daughter, Charles S., engaged in ranching, but residing at home ; John Wilbur and Claracy Alice, attending the Hart school. Mrs. Adams is a member of the Rebekahs at Modesto. It was in 1909 that Mr. Adams settled on his present place in Hart precinct. His father is John Adams, a native of Ohio, born August 29, 1848, the son of Wil liam and Maria Adams, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. John Adams crossed the plains with his parents in a "prairie schooner" when he was a lad of fifteen j'ears, settling at Lodi, in the Sacramento Valley, and coming to Modesto in 1867, where he has since resided. He was married November 29, 1878, to Alice Love, the daughter of Nelson Love, who came to Stanislaus County in 1 874, and they became the parents of two sons, W. G, the subject of this sketch, and Earl. William Adams engaged in grain farming soon after coming to California and was one of the pioneers in this great industry, in which line he was followed by his son, John, and his grandson, W. G. John Adams now lives at 620 Fifteenth Street, Modesto. LEONORA V. ROUSSEAU. — An able business woman, who is an enthusiastic supporter of Stanislaus County, is Leonora V. Rousseau, the county recorder, who was born in Somerset, Pulaski County, Ky., the daughter of Jesse Wilder, member of a family well known in Alabama. He was born in Williamsburg, Ky., practiced law until the Civil War, in which he served over three years as a Union soldier. As a member of a Kentucky regiment under General Sherman, he participated in the famous march through Georgia to the sea. Naturally he was for years prominent in the Grand Army of the Republic and became commander of Somerset Post. Some years after the war he served for eight years as district judge. Having studied civil engineering in younger days, he engaged in surveying and became a dealer in lands and also a large owner. He was mayor of Whitley City, McCreary County, Ky., for four years He still resides in his native state at the age of eighty. Mrs. Wilder was Eliza Higgenbotham, also a native of Pulaski County, Ky., and a member of an old Virginia family. She died in May, 1918, aged seventy-three. The third youngest of seven sons and three daughters, all of whom are living, Leonora was reared in Somerset County, and attended both the grammar and high schools. She was married in Somerset to Dr. J. W. Rousseau, also a native of Pulaski County, Ky., the son of John W. and Martha (Stewart) Rousseau, who were born in Kentucky. They came of French and Scotch descent, and were planters in the Blue Grass State. When nineteen years of age, young Mr. Rousseau came West to Oregon, and having graduated from Willamette University, he taught school in Washington, Oregon and California, and then attended the medical school of the University of Tennessee, from which he was graduated with the degree of M.D. He practiced in Kentucky, was surgeon for the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, and later surgeon of the Kentucky & Tennessee Central Railroad. In 1908, Dr. Rousseau located at Modesto, where he acquired several hundred acres. He continued to reside at Modesto until March 1, 1917, when he departed this life, mourned by a widow and three children: Bessie is the wife of Frederick HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 695 Park of Hollywood ; Opal is assistant in the county recorder's office ; and the third child is James Rousseau. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Rousseau has made her home in Modesto and, while engaged in the insurance business, has directed the edu cation of her children. In November, 1918, Mrs. Rousseau was elected county recorder by a majority of 2,153 votes, and on January 6, 1919, she took the oath of office. Since then she has installed the loose leaf system of records, the most up-to-date and practical method of keeping and handling the valuable data entrusted to her. In national principles a Republican, Mrs. Rousseau knows no partisanship in supporting local measures. In the practice of her Christian faith, Mrs. Rousseau is a consistent Methodist. Prom inent in civic and social circles, Mrs. Rousseau is a member of the Woman's Improve ment Club, as well as a member of the Artisan and Yeoman lodges. As an esteemed public official, she is also influential in the State Association of County Recorders. MRS. CHRISTINE M. ELHOLM.— Prominent among the pioneer women of Stanislaus County is Mrs. Christine M. Elholm, who for more than thirty years has been a resident of California, most of that time in this county, actively identified with its growth and development, contributing in full measure her share in toil and conse cration to its prosperity and welfare. The widow of the late Andrew H. Elholm, since his death she is the lessee and manager of the great grain ranch near Newman, which they have farmed for twenty-six years and on which she resides with her sons and daughters, a credit to the community and a power for good. Her marked ability as manager of her wide acres is an inheritance from farmer ancestors on both sides, thrifty Danes, living for generations in Schleswig at Tands- let near Sonderburg, on the Island of Alsen, Denmark. She is a daughter of George and Anna (Nelson) Christensen, well-to-do farmers. On both sides the families have lived there for many generations, more than 400 years, because in the house where Mrs. Elholm was born "1642" is carved into the massive beams. Her parents are dead and the oldest brother, Christen, now owns the place. Here Christine was reared and educated in an atmosphere of culture and refinement. She had two broth ers, George and Andrew Christensen, who had come to California about 1881 along with Andrew H. Elholm. After a year in Iowa, they came to California in 1882. George died two years later. Andrew became a business man in San Francisco and died January 24, 1916. In 1890 Andrew Elholm made a visit to his old home and renewed the ac quaintance of Miss Christensen, who was a school girl when he left and before the end of his visit they were engaged to be married. She then came to California in 1890, making her home with her brother in San Francisco and they were married in that city, March 21, 1891. Mr. Elholm was also born on the Island of Alsen on November 24, 1860. He had come to California in 1882 and about 1884 to Hill's Ferry. After their mar riage they located in San Joaquin Valley and engaged in farming at Orestimba for three years, when they leased the present place of 1,200 acres, where he continued until his death, December 19, 1916. He was a good man who was well liked by everyone and was mourned by his family and friends. Mr. Elholm was one of the influential and progressive men of the community, interested in public welfare, was trustee of Cleveland school district and for many years served as trustee for the New man Union High School, since the district was started and until his death. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World and Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mrs. Elholm is the mother of six children, all well and favorably known at Newman. They are Jesse J., an automobile mechanic in Newman ; Herbert George, the capable foreman of the great grain ranch ; Andrew C, Roy H., Anna C. and Alice C, all residing at home, the latter three still being in school. Of these Jesse J., the eldest son, won an enviable record for service during the great World War. He entered the service November 19, 1917, and after only three weeks at Camp Lewis, he was transferred to Washington, D. C, where he was made first sergeant of the Three Hundred Eighteenth Motor Transport Company, in charge of automobile repairs, with a large force of men under him. On May 21, 1918, he sailed with his com- 696 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY pany for France, and after a year of service on French soil, he was afterwards sta tioned for months with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine, near Mayence, Ger many. He received his honorable discharge at the Presidio at San Francisco, Sep tember 12, 1919. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Elholm has assumed the management of the ranch and with the aid of her children she is carrying on the business of raising bar ley and wheat. She is operating the ranch with tractor and teams. She has a 65 horse-power Holt caterpillar and combined harvester and also uses teams of mules and horses, her sons being her able assistants. She has inherited from her sturdy ancestors much business ability as well as habits of industry and has demonstrated her ability in her farming enterprise and is giving a good account of her stewardship. Mrs. El holm and her children are members of the Presbyterian Church at Newman, and she also takes an active interest in the Rebekah lodge. EARL FRANCIS SAWDEY.— A highly esteemed resident of Hughson whose researches as to the origin of his historic family have stimulated within him the historic sense, and have led him to take a deeper interest in the eventful past of the Golden State, is Earl Francis Sawdey, who was born at West Mill Creek, Erie County, Pa., on October 26, 1873, the son of Nelson Sawdey, a native of Cortland County, N. Y., who became a merchant in Lockport, Pa. He ran a store in the early days on the Erie Canal, and supplied many of the necessaries then demanded by those building and operating this waterway. He married Miss Lois Ball, a native of Erie County, Pa., a valued helpmate; he died at Arcadia, Hancock County, Ohio, aged seventy-five. Earl Sawdey attended the grammar school at Lockport, and later at North Balti more, Ohio, having moved to Lockport with his parents when he was four years of age, and after that to Wood County, Ohio. When fourteen years old, he started to make his way in the world. He went to Fostoria and worked for a year in a hotel, and then, removing to the city of Cincinnati, he found employment on a steamboat. He went up and down the Ohio and the Mississippi to New Orleans, and he finally quit steamboat- ing at St. Louis, Mo. In the spring of 1891 he went to Denver, Colo., where he stayed for a summer, and in the fall of that year he came out to San Francisco. On coming to the Coast, Mr. Sawdey at first intended to go to sea, but finding that his sailing vessel would be away for seven months, he entered the service of a coastwise steamer plying between San Francisco and Vancouver, B. C, but after a year he returned to San Francisco, where he became night clerk in a hotel. Then, with Victor Twedell, he opened a restaurant at 22 Turk Street, in that city, and in that field he remained active for a year. Selling out, he migrated to Phoenix, Ariz., where he went "broke" through speculation. This led him to drift to other parts of Arizona and to Texas, and finally he wound up in Nome, Alaska, during the gold rush of 1898, where he put in a season prospecting. Returning to the United States, Mr. Sawdey spent two years in touring the country, looking up his family, and he found some.1,600 Sawdeys, whom he traced back to A. D. 1641. The family came from Scotland and Wales, and the Sawdeys, there fore, are Scotch-Welsh. He spent a year in New York City, and then went on to Kansas, where he was for a time in the oil fields. He next moved to St. Louis, and during the Exposition was in the photograph business. At the close of the Fair, he went to Longmont, Colo., and near there, at Pleasant View, he ran a general mer chandise store during the following year. Returning to Denver in 1906, he established the Mile High Photograph Company for the purpose of doing commercial photography, and he prospered so from the start that he had ten men in his employ. He specialized in railroad, mining and irrigation projects, as well as in all kinds of reproduction, and did the advertising photograph work for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, the Moffat Road and the Colorado & Southern Railroad. He also did work for many years for the Denver Livestock Show. After seven such busy years, he spent another year in travel in order to determine the best place for settling down, and finally his choice fell on Hughson, Stanislaus County. In 1912, Mr. Sawdey formed a partnership with J. V. Date to carry on a real estate business, and he also purchased ten acres on the Hughson-Ceres Highway, just fycuSl \^, OJA&AA HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 699 west of the town. He built a home on this ranch and lived there until 1920, when he moved to his new home in the town. Then he sold the ten acres to W. P. Hobbs of Grand Junction, Colo., and at once purchased another ten acres adjoining the town on the east, which he set out to Thompson Seedless grapes. In the spring of 1919, Mr. Sawdey, with seven others, organized and incorporated the Hughson Sorghum Syrup Company and built a factory in Hughson with a capacity of 25,000 gallons a year and arranged for the raising of sorghum cane and the manufacture of sorghum, which they have operated with success for two j'ears. This encouraged them to enlarge the busi ness and it has just been merged into a new company known as the California Sorghum Syrup and Products Company, with headquarters and manufacturing plant in Modesto. The Hughson factory was the first on the Pacific Coast to attempt the manufacture of sorghum syrup on a large and commercial scale. The new plant now being completed in Modesto is located on the State Highway north of the city, adjoining the Borden plant. It will have a capacity of 350,000 gallons a year, and equipped with modern sugar machinery, with steam boilers and electric power. Besides sorghum syrup, they will manufacture stock food and other by-products and anticipate using the product of 1,500 acres of cane. This establishes a new industry in the state and an added agri cultural industry in Stanislaus County, the farmers obtaining cash for their product when the cane is delivered at the mill. Mr. Sawdey is president of the company and a member of the board of directors. It has been proven by investigation that the San Joaquin Valley produces a superior quality of sorghum cane, containing twenty-five per cent more sugar than that raised in the East. Knowing that every gallon of cooking syrup used by the housewives in the West has been sent here from the East, they con cluded its manufacture here would be a great success. The first unit built at Hughson proved a success, so it is no longer an experiment. In addition to the large plant at Modesto, they will add others as they have carload orders from the East. Mr. Sawdey's marriage occurred at St. Louis on August 8, 1903, when he took for his wife Miss Minnie May Sawdey, a distant relative, their great-great-great grandfathers having been brothers. She was born in Sidney, Nebr., and her parents were Frank and Hannah E. (Lewis) Sawdey, born in New York and New Jersey, respectively. Her father came to Colorado in 1871, and she was reared and educated at Longmont. Mr. and Mrs. Sawdey are the parents of six children: Ivan G, who fives at Taft, graduated at the Hughson high school, and while there won the state prize for an essay on the injurious effects of tobacco; Francis E. attends the high school at Hughson; Allie Dell is also a high school student; Frank M. and George R., twins, go to the local grammar school ; Earl Allen passed away at the age of six weeks. Always a public-spirited man, Mr. Sawdey has responded for service whenever called upon by his neighbors. He was a grammar school director, was secretary of the Hughson Board of Trade for two years, and was on the Democratic County Central Committee when E. B. Maze was chairman. He also served on every committee for loan drives during the late war and also helped along the drive of the Salvation Army. He belongs to the Masonic lodge and the Eastern Star at Geneva, Ind., and is a member of the Sciots of Modesto. He attends and supports the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife and family are members. Mrs. Sawdey is a member of the Ladies' Aid, the Red Cross and the W. C. T. U., and is very active in the Women's Improve ment Club of Hughson, of which she was secretary for four years. CYRUS J. PHILBRICK. — Prominent among the native sons of California, C J. Philbrick was born May 13, 1866, near Duncan's Mills, on Russian River, in Sonoma County, and where he resided for many years. He owns a fine ranch of thirty-four and a half acres about three miles west of Modesto, on Paradise Road, where he has proven the value of dairy farming along scientific lines and of intensive farming generally. He came into Stanislaus County from Sonoma County in 1909 and purchased a tract of unimproved land. The following year he built an attrac tive home on this property and added other improvements necessary for dairying. He acquired a herd of twenty-one high-grade milk cows, which he recently sold, and is now engaged in double cropping, with the exception of ten acres in alfalfa. 700 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. Philbrick's father, Edwin Prescott Philbrick, a man of great integrity of character, was one of the early pioneers of Sonoma County, where he was a well- known figure for many years. A native of New Hampshire, he came to California in 1863, and for a number of years was engaged in mining in Grass Valley. Later he took up farming and dairying on the Russian River, where he also was known as an efficient lumberman. Both he and his wife died in Santa Rosa in 1906. On his maternal side, Mr. Philbrick is descended from a long line of hardy Scotch ancestry, his branch of the family having been transplanted to American soil several generations ago. His mother was Mary Jane Knowles, a native of Illinois. Her father was Joseph Knowles, a native of Maine, who emigrated to Illinois, where he was married, when that state was on the western frontier. He came to California in 1849, mined for a time, then went back to Illinois and in the early '50s returned with his family, settling in Sonoma County, where he was owner and manager of a grist mill across the river from Markham's for many years; afterwards owning and operating the grist mill at Paradise City, in 1878, when he sold out in Sonoma County and moved to Stanislaus. His death occurred in 1891, at the home of his daughter, Mr. Philbrick's aunt, Miss Sarah E. Knowles, who now resides at the old homestead. Mr. Philbrick's early life was passed on his father's farm, and at the age of twenty-one he went into business for himself, and for nineteen years was in the team ing business on Russian River. He was married at Guerneville, September 9, 1891, to Miss Cecelia Ambrogia, a native of Switzerland. They are the parents of five children: May Rebecca, a graduate of the State Normal School and a teacher at Shiloh; Josie Jane and Clara A., both stenographers; Edwin Cyrus and Lodovina Anna, attending high school in Modesto. Both Mr. and Mrs. Philbrick are active members of the Christian Church, and Mr. Philbrick is a member of Salmon Creek Lodge No. 234, I. O. O. F., in Sonoma County, and of the American Yeomen. He takes an active part in all questions of public interest, and during the recent great war was one of the most loyal and generous supporters of Liberty loans, the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other war activities. ALEX McCALL BIBENS. — A sturdy, brainy Vermonter of interesting Scotch ancestry and fine old American forefathers, with both ideas and ideals, is Alex McCall Bibens, the president of the Stanislaus County Holstein Breeders Associa tion, and one of the most prominent and best-posted Holstein breeders in California. He was born at West Rupert, Bennington County, Vt., on August 26, 1866, the son of Lucien Albert Bibens, a native of Fairfax, Vt., probably the best judge of stock in New England. The grandfather of our subject on the maternal side was Capt. Hugh McCall, a native of Scotland, who served in the War of 1812, and lived to be ninety-six. His brother was Alexander McCall, the distinguished jour nalist and editor of the Troy Daily Post, after whom A. M. Bibens was named ; and the latter has the volumes of the Daily Post, from 1842 to 1845, in bound form, which he prizes very highly. The motto of the paper was: "Slave to No Party — Bigot to No Sect!" He was also a prominent Mason. Great-grandfather McCall traced his ancestry back to the Campbell, Stuart and McCall clans of Scotland, from which country he brought his family to Vermont when Grandfather McCall was nine years old. Grandfather Bibens, on the other hand, was a Vermonter and a farmer, who passed away when Mr. Bibens was only two years of age; he had mar ried Miss Lydia Powell, also of Scotch ancestry, a lovable lady, as was Mrs. L. A. Bibens, whose maiden name was Eliza McCall, and who was born at Hebron, Washington County, N. Y. L. A. Bibens' death was caused from his becoming overheated while putting out a brush fire that threatened his neighbor's field of grain, and to save it he put the fire out by running and carrying water in his hat. The exertion and inhaling so much smoke caused his death in his sixty-fourth year. His devoted wife, however, lived to be eighty-two. There were eight children in this noted New England family: Marietta, when only two years old, was so badly burned by the maple-sap kettle that she died ; Mary still resides at the old home where her parents died; her next youngest brother, Burnham Hugh, died on the old Bibens home place ; Adelia is the widow of Smith ¦ ¦ ' • % ¦ ' .¦::¦::. ' ¦ ' IL gig* Ml *'l ¦ R?l ^B m\ immmm Bf^f -5-* ^¦H J '; ' j ^m^m_W ^^1 ' BmIhHiP''' ¦¦'' 'V ¦¦ N ^>^<-^ Jk HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 703 Hilliard, an old Vermonter, and resides in Spokane, Wash. ; George L. is a farmer at Springfield, Vt. ; the sixth in order of birth is A. M. Bibens, of this review; Cor delia became Mrs. Alphonse Hilliard and died at Dickinson, N. D., where her husband was a banker ; Ellen J. is Mrs. Sherman Swank and resides at Spokane, Wash. A. M. Bibens attended the old brick schoolhouse in West Rupert district, Ben nington County, and after that he went to the Episcopal College at Salem, N. Y. At the age of eighteen, he began to keep a store in his home town, and during the next three years was more than successful with the venture. Then, with his eldest brother, now deceased, he bought a half interest in the old home farm, after which he engaged in the nursery business at Shushan, N. Y., and there, on September 16, 1891, at the age of twenty-five, he was married to Miss Fanny M. Foster, a daughter of John S. and Ellen J. Foster, and a native of New York State. The following March, Mr. and Mrs. Bibens left for Washington and on St. Patrick's Day, 1892, landed at Uniontown, Wash., where Mr. Bibens entered the banking house of S. Hilliard & Company, and helped to organize the First State Bank of Uniontown, occupying the position of assistant cashier for about four years. He did not like the confinement of inside work, however, and removing to Spokane, bought into the C. O. D. Grocery Company and for two years, from 1896 to 1898, was its president and manager. Then he went back to Whitman County, Wash., and in partnership with his brother-in-law, Smith Hilliard, bought a wheat ranch of 640 acres; and having later bought Mr. Hilliard out, he is today the sole owner of one of the best ranches in the famous Palouse country in Washington, a ranch that he ran until 1911. Then, on account of the health of Mrs. Bibens, Mr. Bibens came south to Cali fornia; and being familiar from previous personal visits and observation with Modesto, he at once thought of Stanislaus County. Another brother-in-law, R. L„ Foster, of Shoemake Avenue, was then farming near Claus, and there at first he bought eighty acres, waiting until 1913 before he bought, at Modesto, his first forty- acre ranch. Two years later he adde,d forty acres more. He rapidly made many desirable improvements and was not long in getting most tangible and flattering results. He built a large house of fourteen rooms, with every modern convenience, and put up a dairy barn 114x46 feet, which holds 120 tons of hay. He has built two Tuolumne silos holding respectively 100 and 120 tons, and has equipped the barns, outhouses and yards with electric light. Mr. Bibens' forty acres on the' Tully Road, north of the home place, is operated by his son-in-law, Oscar Shirk. Mr. Bibens began breeding Holsteins in Whitman County, Wash., in 1900, and since then his cow, Abbie De Kol, of Eastbank, 2nd, took the third prize of fifty dollars in a free for all ten-months' butterfat contest, and was the only cow in Stanislaus County to win in this contest, which was open to all breeds. Abbie De Kol in the ten-months' butterfat contest in 1917 produced 832 pounds of butter, while in the national contest, in 1916, she took first prize in butter fat and second prize in milk production. Mr. Bibens' senior herd sire is the five-j'ear-old Holstein bull, Aaggie Cornucopia Pauline, Count 40th, whose granddame was Aaggie Cornu copia Pauline, the world's first thirty-four pound cow. She carried the world's rec ord for eight j'ears, and she now heads the only four direct generations above thirty pounds. His first junior sire is the two-year-old King Mead Aralia Burke, a son of King Meade of Riverside, while his second junior sire, one year old, is Ormsby Jane King Pontiac, whose grandsire was Pontiac Korndyke, from a thirty-two pound cow. Mr. Bibens has taken first prizes at four different exhibits, but relies more upon pedigree and individual worth and excellence of his cattle than mere prize winning. He is bringing together three of the best strains of the Holstein breed in existence, and this speaks both for the scientific spirit and the business initiative actuating him in all his enterprises. Among his recent sales has been a son of Leda De Kol Ormsby, a pure-bred Holstein calf, to K. GriebeJ of Empire. His home ranch of eighty acres is on the Tully Road, four miles north of Modesto. One of his prizes is a handsome silver loving cup, two feet high, bearing the engraved legend: "First Prize Given by Carpenter Cheese Company for Dairy Production, Special, Modesto, California, 1917, Awarded to A. M. Bibens," and this is very highly prized by the winner. 704 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY In addition to being president of the Stanislaus County Holstein Breeders Asso ciation, Mr. Bibens was one of the leaders in its organization and has always taken the livest interest in its affairs. When the president of the National Holstein Breeders Association was on his trip over the Coast counties, he said that he con sidered that Stanislaus County had the best Holstein Breeders Association of any county in the state, and one of the very best in the United States. Such a statement coming from that authority reflects great credit on the president and the members of the association. A firm believer in cooperation, Mr. Bibens is a director in the Milk Producers Association of Central California, and has taken an active part in get ting the association back to a solid financial foundation and in harmonious working order, a matter to which he has devoted much time and study, for he believes it is the foundation for the success of the dairy and stock interests of the county. In national politics a decided Republican, Mr. Bibens stands ready at all times to work in the most commendable and nonpartisan manner for the advancement of the best community interests, socially and commercially, as well as industrially, and for help ing along the business interests and welfare of others as well as himself. Four children have blessed the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Bibens: Esther is the wife of Glenn W. Shirk; Ruth has become the wife of Oscar Shirk; Smith and Ellen are students at the Modesto high school. All the children and sons-in-law are interested with Mr. Bibens in the breeding of Holstein^ cattle. Prominent in Masonic circles, Mr. Bibens was made a Mason at Pawlet, Vt., in Morning Star Lodge, A. F. & A. M., from which he was demitted and is now a member of Stanis^ laus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., Modesto; also of Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M., Modesto Commandery, K. T., Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Oakland, and of the Woodmen of the World at Modesto. Mrs. Bibens is a mem ber of the Presbyterian Church. The successful achievements which have marked the career of Mr. Bibens stamp him as a man of excellent judgment, foresight and ability, and it is due to the exertions of strong and forceful men like himself, who have worked no less for the community's interests than for their own that this locality has come to be accounted the most flourishing agricultural section of Central California. JOHN GUE BARKER. — Among the most enterprising men giving their best efforts and energy in the building up of Stanislaus County, is John Gue Barker, who was born on Fifty-first Street, New York City, and is the sixth generation removed from Joseph Sawyer Barker, who came from England to Massachusetts; later this branch of the family located in New York City. Grandfather Barker was born at White Plains and was a manufacturer in New York City. Mr. Barker's father, also named John G. Barker, was a wholesale merchant in New York City. Our Mr. Barker completed the New York City high school course and. then entered the wholesale business. In 1887, he came to San Francisco and engaged in the realty and hotel business. He owned different hotels and at the time of the big fire was proprietor of the Hotel Colonial, after which he became associated with Charles A. Stewart in building Hotel Stewart. Later, in 1915, he rebuilt and re furnished the Hotel Plaza in time for the Exposition. In 1917 he sold it and since then has given his time to the La Grange Gold Dredging Company, of which he is president and manager, but has been interested in the company since 1908, first as vice-president. All these years, he has been active in building up the new San Fran cisco, having no less than ten large structures to his credit, and is still heavily interested in three large edifices. In this he is associated with Harry R. Bostwick, the famous mining engineer of the Colbran & Bostwick holdings in Korea. In connection with his mining business, Mr. Barker makes frequent visits to New York City, thus keeping in touch with his old friends and the growth of the great metropolis. In San Francisco in 1908, Mr. Barker was married to Mrs. Rebecca (Jennings) Doolittle, a native daughter of San Francisco, the widow of Col. J. E. Doolittle. Mr. Barker, who is never idle, despite diverse interests, spends more than half of his time in Stanislaus County. In the future of Stanislaus he. has abiding faith, based on her agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, mining and manufacturing resources, actual and potential, all of which the great dam and power plants now being built at Don ^_^^?^4?^^^;^^s^^^i?;^^^^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 707 Pedro will facilitate. He is enamored of the climate and enjoys it, as he does the spirit of the people of Stanislaus County. Mr. Barker prophetically announces Modesto will be one of the most important inland cities of California. This will be brought about mainly from its strategic marketing location and horticulture possibilities, being less than 100 miles from San Francisco. Modesto has a hub-like aspect in marketing all its horticulture and agri culture products almost at its doors, with trains and truck meeting piers and ships at the nearby ocean. MRS. RECA DALBY.— A native of Ohio, Mrs. Reca Dalby, was in maiden hood Reca Fink, was born near Marion, September 19, 1849. Her father, Jacob Fink, was born in Germany and came with his parents to Ohio when a young man. There he farmed until 1859, when he removed to Batavia, Wis. In 1873 he located near Crows Landing, residing on his farm there until his death. His wife was Ro- zalia Harsh, who was also born in Ohio and died in California. They had seven children, all of whom are living, Reca of whom we write; Mrs. Caroline Warren of Cottonwood, Merced County; Wm., a farmer at Crows Landing; Jacob resides at Pasadena ; Charles of Lodi ; George of Crows Landing, and Julius of Oakland. Reca Fink came to Wisconsin when she was ten years of age, and there she was first married September 12, 1869, to Mathew Kniebes, who came to Wisconsin as a boy. He had made the journey to California across the plains in pioneer days and returning to Wisconsin he married Miss Fink, and they came on one of the early overland trains to his farm, three miles south of Crows Landing. Here he died in 1875, and the widow was married again three years later to Samuel Price Dalby, a native of Boston, Mass., who was a veteran of the Civil War, and who came to California soon after his discharge and became a successful stockman and farmer. He owned a farm adjoining Mrs. Kniebes' and as soon as the canal was complete, forty-two years ago in February, 1879, they improved their 320 acres to alfalfa and engaged in dairying. In 1910 they sold and removed to Newman, where Mrs. Dalby still resides, her husband having passed away on August 19, 1919, aged seventy-seven years and six months. He was a prominent Mason. Byi her first marriage she had three children : Albert resides near Gustine ; Mrs. Caroline Boggs lives at Newman; Walter also lives in Newman. By her marriage to Mr. Dalby she had one child, Savillion C. Dalby, a prominent rancher and dairy man at Newman. Mrs. Dalby is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. LOUIS F. BAUMAN. — Born on the fertile plains of Kansas, where his boyhood and early years were passed on a farm, Louis F. Bauman, prosperous farmer of Car michael precinct, Rossmore Park Tract, early learned the rudiments of farming. His father was Henry Bauman, a native of Germany, who came to America in the early '50s, settling first in Bentley County, Mo., where he followed farming, the occupation to which he, too, had been reared. Louis F. Bauman was born in Crawford County, Kans., August 3, 1866, near the little town of Girard, where his father's farm lay. His father died when he was three months old, and his mother remarried and died when he was eight. Life was hard under the new conditions, and before he was fourteen the fatherless lad had learned the weariness of long hours of hard toil in the fields. Leaving home, he took up his abode with his brother-in-law, where he learned the carpenter's trade, in which he engaged for thirty years, being an expert workman and an excellent finish worker. Several pieces of furniture now in Mr. Bauman's home are hand-wrought, of his own workmanship, and will prove interesting and valuable family heirlooms. The marriage of Mr. Bauman to Miss Elsie Edgecomb took place in Prophet, Crawford County, Kans., in 1892. Mrs. Bauman is the daughter of William Edge comb, a minister of the German Baptist Church, now retired and living in Whittier, Cal, being well past four score years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Bauman' are the parents of eleven children : Mrs. A. L. Scrivner, of Modesto, mother of two children : Edgar H., ex-service man* with the rank of corporal, now living in Modesto, married and the father of one child ; Roy E., a rancher in Wood Colony, married and with two 31 708 HISTORY OF* STANISLAUS COUNTY children; William H. G, single, in Sacramento; Elmer L., married and engaged in ranch work with his brother Roy, at Modesto ; Ora and Thelma, residing at home ; Estella, Verna, Ralph and Melvin Roosevelt, attending school. They were all born in Missouri, where the father was engaged for many years as a contractor and engineer on a threshing machine, in which occupation his health broke down, and he came to California where he has regained his former robust physique. Mr. Bauman first settled in Sacramento County, nine miles from the city, in the spring of 1913, where he farmed a six-acre ranch, setting it to almond trees and growing vegetables and small fruits, producing some of the finest strawberries in the state. In 1917 he met with financial reverses, and in the fall of that year disposed of this property and came into Stanislaus County, and now owns a valuable twenty-acre ranch in the Rossmore Park Tract, two and one-half miles west of Modesto, where he is engaged in diversified farming, having a profitable dairy and poultry business. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bauman are devout Christian characters, whose lives are devoted to family and friends and to the faithful discharge of business and social responsibilities. JOHN MILTON FINLEY. — A pioneer who helped pave the way in the develop ment of Stanislaus County so that coming generations might better enjoy the comforts and luxuries of today, was the late John Milton Finley, who had been a resident of Modesto for forty-six years and one of its most prominent as well as influential and best-liked citizens. He was born in Missouri, September 20, 1841, of a family of old settlers in that state. On July 5, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Sixth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, serving in the great conflict of the Civil War until July 16, 1864, when he was honorably discharged. In 1873 Mr. Finley came to California, locating in Stockton, where he resided for a year before coming to Stanislaus County. Here he engaged in farming owning a ranch on the Maze Road, six miles west of Modesto. Here he made his home for many years, until he retired, when he located in Modesto. He was married in Mis souri to Miss Sarah Tennessee Hailey, a native of Tennessee, who came to Missouri with her parents. They became the parents of seven children : Estella became the wife of W. H. Frazine and died in 1919; Fannie, Mrs. J. W. Ross of Oakland; Jesse M. Finley of Waterford ; Dr- J- H. Finley of Seattle ; Lulu, Mrs. W. O. Thomp son of Modesto; Edna, Mrs. W. W. Cox of Westley, died in 1915 ; Edgar died at the age of three years. Mrs. Finley passed away at Modesto in December, 1906. Mr. Finley spent his last days with his daughter, Mrs. W. O. Thompson, passing away on March 23, 1920, at the age of seventy-eight years, five months and twenty-nine days. He was active in local reform work and was an ardent advocate of prohibition. He was a charter member and an officer of the Christian Church and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school. Generous, kind-hearted and enterprising, he was a valuable citizen, and at his passing Stanislaus County lost one of her best men. DAVID B. THOMPSON AND HARRISON H. THOMPSON.— An enter prising dairyman of strict integrity, is H. H. Thompson, known and esteemed as a man who has already accomplished much for Stanislaus County and the advancement of Modesto as an agricultural center. He was born in Orange County on October 16, 1888, the eldest son of David B. Thompson, a native of Canada; he was brought, a babe in arms, by his parents to the United States and settled in Minnesota. When a lad of sixteen, David B. crossed the great plains with his folks, who were of a party of fortune-hunters traveling by ox teams ; and after all' kinds of thrilling experiences with Indians, he pitched his tent in Ventura County and went in for raising stock on the open range. He also engaged in agriculture in Modoc County. He had married Miss Mary Spaulding, a native of New England, who proved a model wife and most devoted mother. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are now deceased. He died in April, 1917, leaving behind, among other memories worth while, a record ol efficient service as a Republican and as a delegate to various state conventions; also a record of forty-six years a member of the Masons. He ako did much to help develop Stanislaus County, having improved a ranch of forty acres on the Carver Road, where he carried on dairying and stock raising ; also improved other properties and at the time -Ji ,Ji HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 711 of his death he was living on the Oakdale Road, practically retired from active labor. He was one of the most progressive farmers in the county during his residence here. Perhaps was best known as the man instrumental in making a success of the Stanislaus County Fair, an institution formerly of great value, especially for its educational and "boosting" influence. Mr. Thompson was also one of the jurors of agriculture at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915, and was a live wire in many other public affairs. H. H. Thompson attended the district school at Tustin, Orange County, and he grew up to follow farming and the stock business. In October, 1905, he came to Stanislaus County, and with his brother-in-law, Blake Vent, engaged in dairying on the T. K. Beard ranch on the Waterford Road. He went to Chowchilla in 1913, having spent practically the entire time until he was twenty, under the home roof, ranched there for a time and did not prosper as he anticipated, and in 1919 returned to Stanislaus County and bought 120 acres in Central school district and he now has a dairy of fifty cows on the place and is adding improvements from time to time. In April, 1908, H. H. Thompson was married at Modesto to Miss Nellie West, a native of Moscow, Latah County, Idaho, who came to Stanislaus County in 1905. Her father and mother were E. E. and Mary West, and they were both residents of Peck, Idaho, where they raised grain and stock. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have seven "children: Harriet Marian, Clarence H., Lowell R., David H., Edna Ethel, Ellis R. and Evelyn L. EDWARD KB3RNAN. — A highly-intellectual and influential citizen, who was especially interested in irrigation and worked hard to start the Don Pedro dam project, was the late Edward Kiernan, a native of Boston, Mass., the son of Edward Kiernan, who sailed for California by way of Cape Horn in 1849, at the time of the first great rush for gold, and followed mining, with ups and downs, in Columbia, Sonora County. He finally located at Salida, Stanislaus County, and there he died. Edward came out to Sari Francisco with his mother when he was three years old, the two traveling, by way of Panariia ; and growing up in California, he received a good education in her progressive schools. He was married at Salida to Miss Annie Smith, who came with her mother, when a girl, via Cape Horn to San Francisco, and in 1887 he moved to Turlock, which place thereafter became the scene of his important operations. He engaged in grain raising, then all the vogue there, until the canal was built, and from its start became intensely interested in the plans for the Turlock Irrigation District. Later he was elected a trustee, which position of responsibility he held for many years, and he was made president of the board, a post he was ably filling at the time of his death in 1914. Mr. Kiernan was also one of the most enthusiastic movers in starting the Don Pedro dam project, now soon to be a reality. He was outspoken in his support of popular education, and gladly served in earlier days as a school trustee. He owned a ranch of forty-three acres west of Turlock, which he set out to trees, vines and alfalfa, and there he made his home until he died. In January, 1916, his devoted widow followed him to the Great Beyond. The family still own the old Kiernan ranch, renting it out. Five children biessed this worthy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kiernan : John L., who belongs to the Turlock Board of Trade, is a member of the firm, the Turlock Ice & Fuel Company. William E. was also interested in this live concern until his death, from accident, in December, 1916. Irene is a teacher and resides in Modesto. Frances is proprietor of the Hat Shop at Modesto. And Agnes, who is also a valued member of the Turlock Board of Trade, is associated with her brother, John, as proprietor of the Turlock Ice & Fuel Company. In the passing of Edward Kiernan, Stanislaus County lost one of her best citizens, for all the active and business years of his life were spent in the county. He had studied and knew of its wonderful resources, was optimistic for its future greatness and his ambition was to make it what he knew the county would some day be — the greatest agricultural and horticultural section of California. He was fair in all of his dealings, conscientious and upright in his decisions, and his integrity and honesty of purpose were never questioned. 712 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY TURLOCK ICE & FUEL COMPANY.— One of the important business con cerns of Turlock is the Turlock Ice & Fuel Company, owned by John L. and Agnes Kiernan, and has been successfully built up by them from a small beginning until it is one of the largest of its kind in the county. The business was established in the spring of 1907 by William Kiernan, at the time only handling ice. In the fall of the sTime year his brother, John L. Kiernan, became a partner, and the firm was known as Kiernan Brothers ; the business was then located on South Front Street. In 1916 a sister, Miss Agnes Kiernan, became a partner, the firm then taking the name of the Turlock Ice & Fuel Company. On the death of William Kiernan, John L. and Agnes Kiernan became the sole owners and since then have continued the business, enlarging it as the growth of the surrounding country demanded. Finding their quarters on South Front Street becoming too small for the increas ing trade, they purchased a favorable location at 540 North Center Street, 150x200 feet, where they have erected new buildings, sheds and scales, the office being of con crete construction. The yards have a siding from the Southern Pacific Railroad, the whole being one of the most complete plants of the kind in Stanislaus County. Delivery of ice, coal and wood is made both by truck and teams. The proprietors of this business, John L. and Agnes Kiernan, are natives of Stanislaus County and represent one of the oldest pioneer families in this section. Their father, Edward Kiernan, was one of the most prominent men in the upbuilding of the county and took a leading part in irrigation matters, being president of the Turlock Irrigation District at the time of his death and was one of the most enthu siastic workers for the Don Pedro dam project now in course of construction. GEORGE C. NELSON. — The son and grandson of pioneers who thus crossed the plains by ox team, George C. Nelson, one of the younger generation of native sons of California, was born near Waterford, Stanislaus County, November 7, 1883. He is the son of George Washington Nelson, a native of Lee County, Iowa, born Sep tember 16, 1849. His grandfather, John Nelson, a native of Virginia of English ex traction, was among the pioneer farmers of Iowa, and crossed the plains to California in 1850, where he followed mining a few years in Placerville and at Sonora, Tuol umne County. He returned to his Eastern home via Panama on the historic old John L. Stevens, and farmed in Iowa until 1857, when he sold his interests and started overland for Texas, dying en route of pneumonia. His wife, Elizabeth (Hizer) Nelson, was born near Montreal, Canada, and was the daughter of Dennis Hizer of Canada, who settled in Pennsylvania, where he afterwards died. Two chil dren were born to John Nelson and his wife, George Washington Nelson, passing away October 1, 1919; the other son, William, a farmer by occupation, died in March, 1916. After the death of her husband, Elizabeth Hizer Nelson returned to Iowa, contracted a second marriage with Joshua Martin, and crossed the plains to California in 1861. They settled at Linden, San Joaquin County. Mr. Martin after wards died at Placerville. His widow was living with her son George W. at the time of her demise at about the age of eighty-six. George W. Nelson was a lad of twelve when he accompanied the family across the plains by ox-team train. He grew to maturity in the San Jftaquin Valley, was educated in the public schools, and in 1869 went to Stanislaus County, rented land and engaged in raising grain. Later he purchased 540 acres in the Tilden school district, and also leased land,- and continued the occupation of raising grain. He farmed from 4,000 to 5,000 acres at one time, and ran a combined harvester, using five ten-horse teams. Later he purchased more land, owning altogether 1,440 acres, 640 of which he afterwards sold. He owned 800 acres at the time of his death in the fall of 1918. He married Elizabeth Hudelson in Stanislaus County, a native of California, and daughter of James Hudelson, a pioneer of the valley. Two chil dren were born of their union, George C. and Lena, now Mrs. George H. Sawyer, who resides near Waterford. George C. was reared on the farm until fourteen years of age. He then attended the Oakland high school, graduating with the class of 1902. Afterwards he engaged in ranching on his own account, leased land in the vicinity of Waterford and raised dlciuJllfr HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 715 grain on 1,400 acres for about three years. In October, 1906, he entered the First National Bank of Modesto as bookkeeper. He was with this bank four years, and when the Union Savings Bank moved into its new quarters, in 1911, he became cashier of that institution, retaining the position until October, 1917, when he resigned and accepted the position of manager of the Bank of Italy, at Mode«to. He resigned from the latter position January 1, 1919, to accept a positio ' as manager of the Langdonmerl Company. He devotes his entire attention to their business, and has charge of the several ranches of the company. He is also president of the Woodtite laboratories, a Modesto company that manufactures a line of automobile accessories, particularly spoktite, toptite and other chemical accessories. Mr. Nelson was married at Modesto to Miss Lena Conneau, a native of that city and daughter of Frank Ernest Conneau, a native of France, who came to Cali fornia in 1849, and to Modesto in 1871. Mr. Nelson served as treasurer of the city of Modesto from 1915 until his resignation in 1918. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Modesto Lodge of I. O. O. F., is affiliated with the W. O. W. and Modesto Lodge" B. P. O. E., of which, in 1916-17, be served as exalted ruler. He is also a director of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce. DENNIE HACKETT.— A Native Son of the Golden West, whose father and grandfather crossed the plains with ox teams in 1865 and settled in Tulare County, is Dennie Hackett, one of the prosperous and influential farmers of Stanislaus County, owning and operating a splendid ranch six and a half miles southeast of Modesto. The family is one of the best known and highly esteemed in Central California, and has been intimately associated with the extensive farming interests of the state for well over half a century. Mr. Hackett's father was John S. Hack ett, well known in Stanislaus and Tulare counties as a man of character and ability. He came to California from his native state of Indiana in 1865, and located in Tulare County, where he engaged in farming hpth in Tulare and Fresno counties on an extensive scale. At the time of his death in May, 1913, he was stopping with a son at Reedley. The mother was Lois (Leonard) Hackett, a native of Ohio, and of her marriage with John S. Hackett were born eleven children, all of whom she reared to maturity. Four of these are now prominent residents of Stanislaus County, namely: Dennie, the subject of this review; W. J. Hackett, whose sketch also appears in this work; D. M. Hackett, who lives north of Modesto, and Mrs. E. E. Murray, of Ceres. The mother passed away at Modesto in July, 1911. Dennie Hackett was born at Hanford, then in Tulare County, January 26, 1879. The family at that time resided on the home farm, three miles north of Han ford, and here he was reared, attending the district school until he was sixteen years of age. He early learned the details of farming through assisting his father with his grain and stock raising enterprises, as all farm-reared boys do. Later he went into Fresno County where, in partnership with his brother, George T., he engaged in dry farming 1,500 acres for a number of years, being also extensively interested in the live stock business. It was in 1908 that Mr. Hackett came into Stanislaus County and bought thirty acres on the Ceres Boulevard, six and a half miles from Modesto, in partnership with his father. For this land they paid thirty-five dollars an acre, and today, only twelve years later, it is valued at more than $600 an acre. Here Mr. Hackett engaged in the dairy business and in the breeding of high-grade Jersey milch cows, meeting with more than ordinary success. In 1915 he sold his dairy interests and has been since engaged in dry farming and double cropping. He has eight acres now set to vineyard, and purposes to devote the entire thirty acres to grapes in the near future. In 1920 Mr. Hackett bought 400 acres of land near Snelling, Merced County, which he devotes to grain raising. The marriage of Mr. Hackett and Miss Bessie Howe was celebrated February 5, 1911, at Modesto. Mrs. Hackett is the daughter of William G. and Caroline (Morgan) Howe, her father a native of Canada and her mother of Indiana. Thv. father was for many years a well-to-do farmer in Nebraska, and Mrs. Hackett was 716 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY born in that state, at Herman, Washington County. She is the mother of four children: Alice May, Orena Lily, Lenna Caroline and Dennie Mervin. Mr. Hackett has always taken a keen interest in the welfare of his native state and is especially active in supporting any measures for the benefit of his own com munity. He is a Democrat in his political affiliations, but in all local matters he believes in supporting the man best fitted for the office and in demanding effective, economical administration in all public affairs. He has been interested in all mat ters of cooperation among the farmers since the inception of the cooperative ideas, believing that the solution of many disturbing questions of production and distribu tion will be solved in that way. He was one of the charter members of the Central California Milk Producers' Association and has always been active in its affairs, is a member of the Bean Growers Association, the Keyes Farm Bureau and the Farm Bureau Exchange of the Tri-Counties" He stands high in farming and business circles of tbe county, and holds the confidence and esteem of the leading men of Stanislaus, Fresno and Tulare counties. JACKSON W. SEARCH. — A pioneer of Stanislaus County and one of the old business men of Modesto is Jackson W. Search, who was born near Lebanon, Laclede County, Mo., December 25, 1854. His father, John Search, was a native of Indiana, who came to Illinois and there married Rachael Williamson, a native of Ohio. They moved to Missouri where John Search ran a ferryboat in Laclede County until 1857, when he brought has family across the plains, making the journey in a large train of ox teams and wagons. In this same train came John Jones and his family. Mr. Search purchased a ranch on the Tuolumne River at what is now Waterford, where he engaged in farming and stock raising and there reared his family, becoming a man of affairs and prominence. When he sold his ranch he retired to Oakdale and there he died August 6, 1886, his widow surviving him until March 6, 1891. The eight children born to the worthy pioneer couple are all living: Mary is Mrs. Pinkston of Los Angeles ; Susie is M#s. Chittim of Oroville ; Jackson W. is the subject of this review; Wm. Thos. lives in Coulterville; Nancy is Mrs. Prather of Gridley; Louis lives in Stockton; James H. in Modesto, and John R. in Oakland. Jack Search, as he is familiarly known by his numerous friends, is to all intents and purposes a native son, for California is the scene of his first recollections. His first schooling was at a subscription school on the present site of Waterford, taught by John Quinley; then he attended school in Rowe district. He was brought up on his father's farm on the south side of the Tuolumne River, assisting faithfully on the ranch until twenty-three years of age. He then worked on adjoining farms for a couple of years, when he took up carpentery, working in Modesto and Oakdale and in time engaged in contracting and building in Oakdale for about twelve years, during which time he built many substantial residences that are still a credit to his skill. H" then purchased a half interest in a blacksmith shop in Oakdale and went to work learning the trade under his partner, Mr. Hudson. Two years later, however, he sold his interest and dissolved partnership and moved to Modesto. This was about 1890, and he purchased a blacksmith shop on Ninth and J streets. Soon afterwards he bought 100x140 feet on Ninth street, between K and L streets, where he built a shop and there did a large business in general blacksmithing and also built two resi dences. In 1919 he sold the property to Mr. Parks, who erected the Ford Garage building. In April, 1920, he moved to Berkeley and purchased his present artistic bungalow at 3026 Stanton Street, where he lives in comfort. Mr. Search was married September 1, 1897, being united with Mrs. Mary (Cornett) Voorhees, a native of Michigan, who migrated to California with her first husband, an estimable woman much loved by all who knew her for her amiability and kindness of heart and of whom Mr. Search was bereaved February 17, 1916. . ,p"e was a devout member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Search was for four years ¦> member of Company D, Seventh Regiment, National Guard of California. In polit cal views he terms himself a black Republican. For many years, while living in Oal dale and Modesto, Mr. Search sang in the Methodist choir, frequently favoring aud>- ences with selections, his beautiful bass voice being much appreciated by the people. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 719 JAMES J. HARDIE. — An enterprising Californian who is an enthusiastic advo cate of the Farmers Union movement and has become prominent in the good work that organization has been accomplishing for both the individual agriculturist and the development of the state, is James J. Hardie, who was born at Dunfermline, Fife shire, Scotland, on March 17, 1872, the son of James Hardie, a farmer who came from a very old family that had been resident on the same estate for about 300 years. Mrs. Hardie was Margaret Auchmuty before her marriage, and she was also a mem ber of an old Fifeshire family of Scotch Presbyterians. Both parents died in their native land, and of their eight children James J. is the youngest, and he and his two brothers are the only ones in California; James attended the common schools, and when fourteen was apprenticed as a clerk in the offices of Messrs. McDonald, Fraser & Company, in Perth, Scotland, the larg est livestock firm in Great Britain, with which he continued as an accountant till he was nineteen j'ears of age. Then he decided to break all his home ties, to leave even his native land and, coming to America, to push on to the Pacific Coast, and here to cast in his lot with that of the thousands before him. He arrived in Fresno in 1891, and for two or three years was employed at horticulture and viticulture, after which he came to the Bald Eagle ranch near Modesto, where he was fruit and wine foreman for three years. Then Mr. Oramil McHenry made him superintendent of the ranch, a place he filled until 1899 when he resigned and returned to Fresno. He was next in the employ of the Phoenix Packing House, as traveling solicitor, and after that with the California Wine Association under the district manager, George Beveridge, and was in charge of leveling and grading the Great Western Vineyard north of Reedley. When this was completed Mr. Hardie took charge of the Reedley Winery for a sea son, and next superintended the building of the Smith Mountain Winery. Then he managed the Calway Winery for a year, and still later had charge of the Smith Moun tain Winery for another j'ear, and finally took charge of the Goodfellow ranch north of Reedley and ran it for two years. He then returned to Modesto in 1910 to engage in ranching on his own account, and he bought his present farm of fifty-three acres on the Coffee Road, six miles north of Modesto, and there he set out twenty-six acres as a vineyard, all Alicanti Bouchet grapes, while the balance is now in peaches and apricots. The whole he has so well improved that it is no exaggeration to speak of it as a real "show place." When the agitation for a Farmers Union began, he joined the Riverbank local and was elected its vice-president, and the next year he was elected president of the Riverbank local and vice-president of the Stanislaus County Farmers Union. One year later, in 1918, he was elected president of the Stanislaus County Farmers Union and also elected president of the California division of the Farmers Educational Co operative Union of America, both of which positions of influence, responsibility and honor he now holds. In 1918 he was sent as a delegate to Washington, D. C, as a representative of the California division to attend a meeting of representatives of farm organizations and the result was the organization of the National Board of Farm Organizations. He was elected as the California representative of the Committee of 48 to plan and build a Temple of Agriculture in Washington, and one result of his attending the convention at the national city was a mass convention of farmers from California held at Modesto on June 6, 1919, over which Mr. Hardie presided. Among those present were men of national prominence in the Farm Organization movement who took an active part in the discussion which did much to impress upon the farmers the necessity of organizing in order to protect their interests. Mr. Hardie was one of the active organizers of the Stanislaus County Warehouse Association, formed in July, 1917, and from its beginning, he was elected its manager. The Association bought their building at the corner of Ninth and L streets, and have erected a large structure, 100x130 feet, adjoining the old building which was 75x130 feet in size. It is conducted entirely for the benefit of its members, and is a non-profit association. He is also a member of the Co-operative Garage Association in Modesto and was one of the original incorporators of the Farmers Press Association, of which he was elected the first president. In December, 1918, the Farmers Union State Con- 720 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY vention issued invitations to representatives from all farm organizations in California, to meet in Modesto for the purpose of affiliating farm organizations ; and at this meet ing a committee was appointed to draft by-laws for a general affiliated organization of farm societies. As might be expected, Mr. Hardie took an active part. Always an exponent of popular education, he is also trustee of the McHenry school district. Mr. Hardie was married in Stanislaus County, on January 11, 1905, to Miss Mary Winans, a native of this country and the daughter of William Winans, born in Illinois, a pioneer wheat farmer. He came to California, crossed the plains during the gold period. He was married at Sacramento to Miss Nellie Livingstone, a native of Illinois who also crossed the plains with her parents. Grandfather Samuel Livingstone settled in Stanislaus County about 1870 and farmed here. Mr. Winans came to Stanislaus County in 1874, bought a farm and engaged in grain farming, also horti culture, setting out one of the early orchards. Here he resided until his death when he passed away, his widow surviving him. Mrs. Hardie was educated in the excellent common schools of her neighborhood, and later successfully pursued a course and gradu ated from the Sacramento high school. Almost immediately she became bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Modesto, and there she remained until her marriage. Three children blessed the union — Ian Winans, Donald McDougal and the baby, Rosemarj'. During the World War, Mr. Hardie's patriotism led him to assist all move ments to aid in furthering this Government in the success of the great struggle for the Allies. During this time he was the agricultural representative for Stanislaus County Council of Defense, being appointed by Superior Judge Langdon, and it is a well known fact that he gave his best services to the Council until it was disbanded. He also took an active part in the various Liberty Bond and other drives for war funds. In fact, every movement for the advancement of the country and state, particularly along agricultural and commercial lines, receives his hearty support and co-operation. CHAS. D. ELFERS. — Among the men who put their shoulder to the wheel and helped to improve the west side in Stanislaus County was the late Chas. D. Elfers, who was born in Germany, February 14, 1852, and came to California when he was seven years of age with an uncle to join his parents, who had migrated to the Pacific Coast a few years before, and were living in Oakland. His father, Aaronhold Elfers, was a successful business man in Oakland. How ever, he became interested in farming, and moving to Stanislaus County, he purchased land on the West Side and engaged in raising grain, becoming owner of a large tract of land near Westley. He also owned a large ranch near Selma, in Fresno County. After years of activity the parents retired, living in Alameda until the mother died, when the elder Elfers made his home with Chas. Elfers and his wife on the Westley ranch until his last illness, when he sought restoration to health at a sanitarium in Alameda and there he died. Of the four sons and four daughters born to this pioneer couple, all of whom grew to maturity, Chas. D. is the eldest. He received a good education in the Oak land schools and at Heald's Business College at San Francisco, being graduated from the latter July 31, 1868. He then assisted his father on the West Side ranch, driving the big teams in the grain fields, thus gaining the experience and knowledge of grain farming that was of such great benefit to him in after years. Soon after reaching his majority he began farming on his own account on the ranch at Westley, which Mrs. Elfers still owns. He met with success and through subsequent purchase, became a large land owner, and one of the bonanza grain farmers in the San Joaquin Valley. At the Cyrus H. Abbott ranch, Mr. Elfers was married to Mrs. Charlotte Frances Abbott Stanage, who was born near Sheffield, Bureau County, 111., the daughter of Cyrus H. and Martha (Grunendyke) Abbott, of New England and Knickerbocker stock. Her ancestors were represented in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Cyrus H. Abbott served in Company H, Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, through the siege of Vicksburg, Chattanooga, the Georgia campaign and the March to the Sea; serving from August, 1862, until June, 1865, when he was honorably discharged as first lieutenant. In 1872 he brought his family to California and became a large grain farmer in Stanislaus County. He is JpAadiQ). (j2$W /0A*v*/*J4o /-^A^yts HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 725 now retired and makes his home with his children. Mrs. Abbott passed away in 1905, leaving him four children, of whom Charlotte F. is the second eldest, coming to California with her parents in 1872. She was educated in the Stockton grammar and high schools. Soon after completing her education she married Thos. W. Stan- age, a native of Ohio, by whom she had three children: Harry W., of Modesto; Myrtle E., Mrs. Brown, of Berkeley; and Oscar H., a graduate of Stockton high school, the celebrated baseball player who was catcher of the Detroit Americans for twelve years, and one year played in the World's Series. He now lives in Los Angeles. After Mrs. Stanage's marriage to Mr. Elfers, they continued to farm to grain on a large scale at Westley until they retired to Alameda, where they made their home in their comfortable residence at 2050 San Antonio Avenue. Here Mr. Elfers passed away September 21, 1914, a man highly respected and honored by all who knew him. His ashes were buried in the family lot in Modesto. He was a popular member of the Elks in Alameda, the Newman Lodge of Masons and Modesto Lodge, Knights of Pythias. One son had blessed the union, Chas. Delwyn Elfers, of Alameda high school class of '21, who will enter the University of California. Since Mr. Elfers' death Mrs. Elfers continues to look after the large interests left by Mr. Elfers. She still owns the 800-acre ranch at Westley and 160 acres at Crows Landing, and with J. H. and C. D. Elfers as partners, owns the old Thompson ranch of 3,000 acres, and individually she owns 160 acres at Westley. These interests take a great deal of time, which with her many social and civic duties make her a very busy woman. She is also a stockholder in the Bank of Newman. She is a member and past matron of Corita Lodge, O. E. S., Alameda, and a member of Oakland Court No. 16, Order of Amaranth, as well as of Fair Oaks Rebekah Lodge and the Delphian Club, Alameda. Being a descendant of Revolutionary stock she is a prominent member of Copa de Oro Chapter, D. A. R., in Alameda, in which she has served as secretary and is also past regent. A Presbyterian of lang standing, Mrs. Elfers is a member of the First Presbyterian Church and very active in the Ladies' Aid, while politically she is a firm believer that principles of the Republican platform are for the best interests of this great Union and its people. THOMAS CASWELL. — A large land owner in the San Joaquin Valley, and profitably engaged in the buying and selling of grain and livestock, Thomas Caswell is known throughout the state as a man of power and force, possessing business and execu tive ability of a rare order. He has probably done more for the county in the matter of the development of raw waste lands than any other single individual and is still interested along this line in Stanislaus and other counties of the valley. He has been a resident of this county since 1900, coming here directly from Iowa, where he had been engaged in farming for many years. Mr. Caswell is a native of Ireland, born in County Armagh, October 12, 1844. His parents were Andrew and Mary (Dickson) Caswell, both natives of the County Armagh, Ireland, the father being a linen weaver by trade. They came to Canada in 1846, where they engaged in farming. Here our Mr. Caswell was reared and received such educational advantages as the country afforded at that time. At the age of twenty years Mr. Caswell started out for himself and came first to Michigan, where for six years he worked in the lumbering industry north of Grand Rapids. He was frugal and industrious and saved his money, and at the end of that period was able to go into farming on his own responsibility. In 1871 he made a trip to Iowa, and liked the country so well that he located there, buying land near Cherokee, and since that time has been continuously engaged in agricultural pursuits. The marriage of Mr. Caswell occurred in April, 1871, at Hector, N. Y., uniting him with Miss Mary Andrews, a native of New York state, born January 18, 1844. She is descended from a long line of American ancestry, her great-grandfather having come to America during the Revolutionary War and settled in New York. Her own father was the Rev. Richard Andrews, minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a member of the first temperance society to be organized in America. Mr. and Mrs. Caswell have three children living, sons, Wallace, Henry and Andrew, all of whom are now located at Cherokee, Iowa, where they are engaged in the manufacturing business. 726 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Since coming to California in 1900, Mr. Caswell has taken an active part in all that pertains to the welfare of his home community, making his residence during this time at Ceres. He and his sons are interested in farm lands, owning four rich farms in this county, numbering respectively, 300 acres, 320, 160 and 185 acres. In San Joaquin County Mr. Caswell owns a valuable tract of 654 acres, and also owns 875 acres of land in Mexico. Both Mr. and Mrs. Caswell take an active interest in any movement for the betterment of local conditions, and may be counted upon to give their support to any good cause.' Mrs. Caswell is a member of the Stanislaus County Tem perance Union, and of the Ceres local with which she works, and both are members of the Presbyterian Church in Modesto. WILLIAM J. HACKETT.— The dairy interests of Stanislaus County are well represented by William J. Hackett, who is carrying on extensive operations in this line on his ranch near Modesto, and who is also prominent among the breeders of Jersey cattle, his high-grade stock being in demand not only in California, but he has also made several shipments as far away as the Hawaiian Islands. Mr. Hackett was born on a farm seven miles from the Miami River, near Blanchester, in Brown County, Ohio, on March 5, 1861. His grandfather, Daniel Hackett, was born on the old Hackett homestead at Hackettstown, N. J., which was named for the family. He was an early settler of Butler County, Ohio, and served in the U. S. Army, in a regiment of artillery, during the Civil War. In 1859, he and his sons started for Pike's Peak, but on the Platte River trail they met several discouraged parties return ing from that Eldorado, so decided to push on to Californina. He was much taken with the Pacific Coast country, and on returning home by way of the Isthmus of Panama, it was his intention to come back to California with his family in 1861, but the war broke out and he did not get back until 1876. He spent ths remainder of his life here, passing away at Hanford. John Hackett, the father of our subject, was born in Butler County, Ohio, becom ing a farmer in Brown County, in that state. In 1871 he brought his family to Cali fornia, locating for a time in Merced County and then at Hanford. His ranch was in the Mussel Slough country, and he was a member of 'the committee that eventually obtained a settlement with the railroad company over this contested land, the settlers finally purchasing it from the company. He helped construct the irrigation system and improved his ranch, bringing it to a high state of cultivation. He was prominent in the life of the community and did much in its upbuilding, lending a generous hand in the erection of churches and schoolhouses. His wife, who was Lois Leonard before her marriage, was an estimable woman, also born in Brown County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Thomas Leonard, a native of Pennsylvania, who had a fine farm at the forks of the two Miami rivers. A genuine helpmate to her husband and a devoted mother, she passed away at Reedley, Cal., deeply mourned by her family and friends. The eldest of a family of twelve children born to this worthy couple, William J. Hackett was brought up on the Brown County farm until he was ten years of age. In 1871 he came with his parents to California, making the journey on one of the slow transcontinental trains of that day, taking a full week to make the trip. They arrived at Stockton on May 7 ; on locating at Merced, remained there until 1875, when they removed to the vicinity of Hanford. His education was acquired in the public schools, but from the time he was a lad he was kept busy on the farm. At the age of twenty-two he began farming for himself, leasing land and engaging in grain farming, and in 1898, he first began dairying, selling his products to the Kings County Creamery. In 1902, Mr. Hackett sold his holdings in Kings County and located in Stanis laus County, purchasing his present place of forty acres half a mile west of Ceres. It was raw stubble land and he immediately set to work to leveling and checking it and sowing alfalfa, in which he has been very successful, and here he has built up a splendid dairy herd. Since 1908 he has been breeding registered Jerseys. At the head of his herd is Romulus Interest, by Interested Prince, and his dam is by Marigold Exile King. He now has a herd of thirty cows, all registered, and one of the finest Jersey herds in the valley, all traced back to Interested Prince. Mr. Hackett has /y/J^fc^r HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 729 sold many fine specimens of his herd, shipping them to different parts of California and Nevada, as well as to the Hawaiian Islands. He has had orders from Mexico, but was unable to ship there on account of the restrictions against the Texas tick and the unsettled conditions in that country. He has exhibited his Jersej's at the State Fair at Sacramento five different seasons and has taken his share of the first and second prizes, and it was from there that he shipped his stock to Hawaii. His farm is nicely located, with sanitary barns and buildings, pumping plant, separators, and he is fully equipped to make all the necessary tests. For some years he was also engaged in raising pure-bred Duroc-Jersey hogs. Mr. Hackett served for two years as tester of the milk at the Keyes Creamery. He has been a close student of the dairy industry and the manufacture of milk products for twenty-two years, hence he is naturally greatly interested in cooperative movements for marketing, so in 1917 he became a charter member of the Milk Producers Associa tion of Central California. In January, 1921, he was elected a member of the board of directors and on the organization of the board he was made its president. He also engages in horticulture on his ranch and has set out ten acres to peaches and apricots. The marriage of Mr. Hackett occurred at Hanford, when he was united with Miss Gertrude Fellows, who was born in Sonoma County, a daughter of David Fellows, who came to California in 1852 and was a pioneer farmer at Hanford. Mrs. Hackett is a very estimable lady, much loved by all who know her for her amiable disposition and many acts of kindness. Mr. and Mrs. Hackett are the parents of seven children : Lester is ranching near Ceres ; Claire is assisting his father on the ranch, and served in the One Hundred Fourteenth Ammunition Corps and was stationed overseas for some time during the World War; Fannie is Mrs. Mall and resides near Ceres ; Dorothy, Mrs. McKenzie, also lives near Ceres ; Lois is Mrs. Smith of Ceres ; Dwight attends the Ceres high school, while Phillip is at home. Mrs. Hackett and the children are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Hackett gives no small credit for his success to his devoted wife, who has aided him in every way in his achievements. Mr. Hackett's father and grandfather were both veterinarians, and he, too, always having had a natural love for animals, studied this science and in earlier years did much veterinary work, until his time was so taken up with his dairying that he could not give it attention. This love for animals, no doubt, has been one of the reasons why he has been so successful in building up such a splendid herd of Jerseys. He is a member of the American Jersey Cattle Club, the California State Jersey Breeders Association, serving as its president one term, the California Prune and Apricot Grow ers Association, the California Peach Growers Association, and the California Co operative Cannery, of which he is a director. Enterprising,, liberal and kind-hearted, Mr. Hackett has always tried to help others and he has done his full share in upbuild ing the great commonwealth of California. Mr. and Mrs. Hackett have a host of friends who appreciate their true worth and the contribution they have made to the betterment of the community. MISS BESSIE B. SILVERTHORN.— A young woman of rare musical and literary attainments who is contributing much to the building up of Stanislaus County is Miss Bessie B. Silverthorn, the efficient librarian of the Oramil McHenry Library at Modesto. This building is the headquarters for the Stanislaus County Free Library and Miss Silverthorn is also head librarian for the various libraries housed here. The library building is a gift of Oramil McHenry to Modesto City and is one of the best and most substantial and beautiful buildings of its kind in the San Joaquin Valley. Miss Silverthorn was born at Evansville, Ind., but her parents were from way down East. She was the daughter of John M. and Elizabeth (Babbitt) Silverthorn. Her father was the editor of the Evansville Courier- Journal and was born in New Jersey, while her mother was born at Bethel, Vt., and educated in Italy for grand opera, being the fortunate possessor of an exceptional voice and operatic ability. Her father having died, her mother left Evansville when her daughter was only two years old. She was educated under private governesses and at Virginia College, Roanoke, Va., later entering the New England Conservatory of Music at Boston and 730 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY becoming a proficient pianist. She then took up literary and library work, her first post being assistant reference librarian at Washington, D. O, and later she served as college librarian at Norwich University at Northfield, Vt. Coming to California in 1913, she accepted a position as librarian of the Kings County Free Library and engaged in the work there from 1913 to 1916, when she became librarian for the Siskiyou County Free Library at Yreka and continued there until the year of 1920, when she accepted her present position as librarian for the Stanislaus County Free Library, succeeding Miss Cornelia Douglas Provines. The library is daily receiving new books, having already on its shelves 50,000 volumes. There are fifty-six branches of the Stanislaus County Free Library. The principal branches are located at Oakdale, Patterson, Newman, Turlock, municipal branch, Denair, Ceres, Hughson. Gifted with a winning personality and an excellent memory, Miss Silverthorn's ability and experience have made her valuable to the patrons of the various libraries and their numerous branches over which she presides. She is a welcome addition to Modesto's best social and literary circles, and with her mother she makes her home at 227 Hackberry Avenue, Modesto. Miss Silverthorn is vice-president of the Woman's Improvement Club, and she keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and especially with all that has to do with educational interests, and her life has been one of great activity and usefulness. MRS. JEAN MARIE SAMSON.— Among the pioneers of Hughson who did much to improve that section and also left an influence for good that has done much to build up the schools and church and aided materially in raising the standard of morals, is Mrs. Jean Marie Samson, who is a native of Nebraska, born at Omaha, where she was reared. She is a daughter of the late Erick L. Oberg, who is mentioned on another page in this work. Mrs. Samson attended the public schools in Omaha and Fremont, Nebr. On completing the Fremont high, she entered the Omaha Business College, where she was duly graduated and then assumed a position with the Hon. E. G. McGilton, a prominent attorney, at one time lieutenant governor of Nebraska, when she held the responsible position of private secretary, taking a part in the social activities of that metropolis on the Missouri River. While there she mar ried Oscar Samson. In 1905 she came to California, and while living at Oakland, she concluded to locate on a ranch, having been advised by her physician that the out door life on the farm was necessary for her son's health. So in 1907 she and her brother, G. A., came to Turlock to look for a location. Mr. Samuelson of that place showed them the country and lands for sale at that place, but it did not appeal to them. He then took them to the new colony of Hughson, just subdivided. Thev liked the soil and purchased sixty acres. She set about improving the place, had an orchard of peaches planted and a vineyard set out and in 1910 she moved on to thi' place. She built a comfortable residence, planted ornamental trees and shrubbery, and her place soon became a show place and others followed her example, so that Hughson soon had many well-kept and beautiful homes. The balance of the ranch was planted to alfalfa and she also engaged in dairying for a while. In 1915 she again made her residence in Oakland to take advantage of the better schools for her son's education. After three years she returned to Hughson, where she became bookkeeper for the Con densed Milk Company at Hughson, a position she filled acceptably until 1920, when she resigned to locate in Los Angeles, where her only child, a son, Wendell, is attend ing Manual Arts high school. An accomplished woman, reared in an atmosphere of culture and refinement, Mrs. Samson has a very pleasing personality and she commands respect wherever she goes. Her influence for good and public progress was very perceptible in Hughson, where she took a leading and prominent part in civic and social circles. By her energy and enthusiastic support of progressive measures for the community and particularly for a high standard of morals and society, she accomplished much good and laid a founda tion that is being followed to the great advantage of the people of that section. A friend to the cause of education, she was one of the principals in the organiza tion of the Parent-Teacher Association and was a prominent worker for good schools. She was a leading and active member of the Baptist Church in Hughson and was / 2 RalPh and Bernice. Mr. Michael is a member of Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Texas and is a Mason. In national politics he is a Democrat, while Mrs. Michael is a Methodist. He is also a member of the California Peach Growers, Inc. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 767 JAMES WESLEY FREDERICK.— A good type of the progressive citizen is James Wesley Frederick, a native son who was born near Ripon, in San Joaquin County, on April 3, 1873, the son of John Frederick, a native of Iowa. The father had married Nancy Underwood, also a native of that state, and soon after their mar riage they crossed the plain, in 1861, in an ox-team train. They had many adven tures, and after a hard and dangerous trip through the Indian country, when they were followed and threatened by the_ Redskins, they finally reached California in the fall of the same year. The first two years of their life in the Golden State were spent in farming near Stockton, but in 1863 they located three miles from what is now Ripon, where Mr. Frederick began improving a farm. He built a fine residence, reared a worthy family, came to own 320 acres, and was a well-to-do and highly- respected man. He died as early as 1884, survived by a widow, who passed awav in August, 1916, at the age of seventy-four, and seven children, all of whom are still living. The old home ranch is still in the family, now owned by one of Mr. Frede rick's sons. James Wesley, being the j'oungest, was reared on the home farm thirteen miles from Modesto, while he received a good education in the public schools. His father died when he was only eleven years of age, and he continued to assist his mother on the ranch until he was twenty-one. In 1894, Mr. Frederick was married at Ripon to Miss Lizzie Edwards, a native of Monroe, Green County, Wis., who had been brought to California when a babe of six weeks. Her parents were Joseph and Charlotte (Sergeant) Edwards, born in Columbia City, Ind., and who spent their last years in San Francisco. Grandfather James E. Sergeant was a veteran of two wars, having served in the Mexican War and then was a captain ih the Civil War. In 1896, Mr. Frederick leased a ranch of 640 acres near his old home and there engaged in grain raising until 1903, when he came to Stanislaus County and leased the old M. B. Root ranch near Salida, on the Stanislaus River, which he farmed to grain for five years. Meantime, he had bought eighty acres a mile and a half south of Salida, which he improved and sowed to alfalfa. He built a residence and barns, and farmed for three years; and then he sold the property at a good profit. Having made a success of the venture, he determined to engage in the real estate business, and to both buy and sell lands ; and while he improved the eighty acres, he bought forty more, which he also improved and later sold at a profit. In September, 1911, Mr. Frederick moved into Modesto, and in April of the following year he began the real estate business in partnership with W. D. Toomes, the firm being known as Toomes & Frederick. They handled both city and country property, and met with much success. They have bought several ranches which they have improved and sold, and they still own a couple of good farms, one a ranch of fifty-seven acres near Salida, given up to alfalfa, the other a vineyard of twenty-one acres on the State Highway near Salida. Mr. Frederick built a beautiful residence in Modesto, where he dispenses the same hospitality for which he was noted when he was trustee of the school district at Salida. He is a member of the Modesto Elks. RICHARD GRANT THOMPSON.— The junior member of the firm of Thompson Brothers Grain Company, Richard Grant Thompson gives the major part of his time and attention to the realty interests of this thriving concern, which has taken a prominent place in the business life of the county, and he is rapidly becoming one of the best-informed realtors in this part of the county. Richard G. Thompson was born at Superior, Wis., in 1894, the son of Gaylord W. and Emma (Rowe) Thompson, further mention of their lives being given in the sketch of Howard G. Thompson on another page of this work. When a lad his parents removed to Lewiston, Idaho, and there he attended the public schools, grad uating from the Lewiston high school. The Thompson family removed to California in 1913, settling at Modesto. Here Richard continued bis studies and then entered Stanford University. In the meantime his brother, Howard G. Thompson, had estab lished himself in the grain business at Modesto, so in 1916 they joined in partnership, forming the Thompson Bros. Grain Company. Their business has expanded rapidly, and to the original activities of buying and shipping grain and beans, they have added 768 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY the lines of real estate and insurance and now have a volume of business that is second to none in the county. They are underwriters of life, fire and accident insur ance, representing the old, established companies of the country, and they now have about fifteen sub-agencies in Stanislaus and surrounding counties. Although he had from the first assumed a very active part in the conduct of the firm's business, Mr. Thompson put loyalty to the service of his country ahead of his own interests, enlisting soon after America's entrance into the World War. He was stationed at Fort Worth, Texas, in the Quartermaster's Department, and while there received injuries which laid him up for four months. On receiving his honorable dis charge after the armistice, he returned to Modesto and entered with renewed energy into the affairs of the concern, his brother having meanwhile conducted the business. Mr. Thompson's wide acquaintance and personal qualifications are added assets in insuring unqualified success in all his undertakings. Stanislaus County indeed owes much to men of this type, for it is through their energy and enterprise that the work so nobly begun by the pioneer settlers is being continued. Mr. Thompson is affiliated with the Masons, being a member of Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Elks, the G. E. K. Society, the Progressive Business Club of Modesto, the Chamber of Commerce and the Stanislaus Country Club. J. L. COLLINS, M. D. — A successful physician who saw distinguished service in the late World War is Dr. J. L. Collins, well known also as an enthusiastic and skilful hunter. He was born in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1875, the son of Richard Baxter Collins, a native of Virginia, who was educated at Louisville, Ky., and engaged in farming at Keokuk, where he was killed in a railroad accident. He married Miss Thankful McGregor, a native of Columbus, Ohio, but of Scotch parentage. They had twelve children, and our subject was the seventh in the order of birth. He was educated in the public schools at Keokuk, and then studied at the Cotner University at Lincoln, Nebr. In June, 1898, he volunteered for the Spanish-American War and served as one of Company A Fiftieth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was stationed at Camp Cuba Libra at Jacksonville, and served there until after the close of the war, when he was mustered out with his regiment on November 30, 1898, and was honorably discharged. He then became a traveling salesman and rep resented the Elastic Starch Company on a drumming circuit of Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and Iowa, and in 1902, at Steelville, Mo., he was married to Miss Bertha A. Carter, a native of tbat town. Three years later he decided to settle down and study medicine, according to his desire for many years, so in 1905 he entered, the College of Physicians and Surgeons in St. Louis, Mo., and four years later was graduated. Dr. Collins then located in Hampton, Franklin County, Iowa, where he prac ticed medicine and did graduate work, and next he settled for a while at Sheffield, the same county. He practiced medicine and also was a member of the Hampton clinic. During his residence at Sheffield he was a member of the board of education, and largely through his efforts the standard was raised and the school was brought from a non-credited to a recognized accredited school. A new high school building was erected at a cost of $50,000, with a large auditorium: — this being but one of many good works effected by Dr. Collins. He was president of the school board, the board of health, and the Community Club. In July, 1918, he volunteered for service in the U. S. Medical Corps, and on October 3 he was detailed to the air service at Fort Omaha. He was commissioned a first lieutenant; and so continued until January, 1919, when he asked for his dis charge because the fighting was over. The request was granted, and having been duly mustered out, with honors, he came west to Jerome, Ariz., for a month, and in May, 1919, reached Turlock and began that practice of medicine and surgery in which he has been so successful. This success has been amply recognized by his fellow citizens, and he has very properly been appointed a lecturer on surgical diseases at the Girls Training School at Emanuel Hospital in Turlock. He belongs to the American Medical Association, the State Medical Society, and the Stanislaus County Medical Society. Dr. Collins is also interested in improving the natural resources of this section. Associated with two partners, he is developing a large tract of land at Livingston, ^^9 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 771 setting it out to Thompson seedless and Malaga grapes with a border of apricots and figs alternating and both sides of the avenues throughout the tract are lined with fig trees. The tract is known as the S. B. C. Vineyard, taking its name from the pro moters, Sweet, Boise and Collins. Three children have blessed the union of Dr. and Mrs. Collins. The eldest is Marion Carter, the second in order of birth is James Wallace, and the youngest is Lillian Winifred. Dr. Collins as a sportsman has always been a lover of hunting, having made several trips into the big game districts. In 1917 his hunting trip ex tended into Cook County, Minn., where he killed a big bull moose which he donated to the Red Cross. They in turn presented him with the head, which he has mounted, and it now adorns his office. Fraternally Dr. Collins was made a Mason in Pearl Lodge No. 426 A. F. & A: M. at Sheffield, Iowa, from which he demitted and is now a member of Turlock Lodge No. 395 F. & A. M. and with his wife he is a member of the Order of Eastern Star. The Doctor also belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Sheffield. In patriotic societies we find him a member of the American Legion as well as the local post of the Spanish-American War Veterans just organized. Intensely interested in the growth and development as well as upbuilding of this favored section, he is naturally a valued member of the Board of Trade and the Progressive Business Club, being a director in the latter organization, and in both of which his counsel has much weight. A great reader, well posted and much traveled, and having a retentive memory, Doc tor Collins is a very interesting conversationalist. JAMES W. McALISTER. — Among the most worthy pioneers who crossed the plains to the Pacific Coast in the early sixties are Mr. and Mrs. Jas. W. McAlister of Turlock, who reside in their comfortable home at 730 West Main Street, and are enthusiastic over the soil, climate and possibilities of Stanislaus County. Mr. Mc Alister was born at Ashmore, Coles County, 111., June. 30, 1854, of Scotch forebears. His father, S. Harvey McAlister, was a native of South Carolina, his parents having immigrated thither from the Highlands of Scotland. He came out to Illinois when a j'oung man and there met and married Rebecca J. Anderson, who was born in Indiana and descended of Irish and German lineage. They removed to Putnam County, Mo., where they followed farming and stock raising for a period of seven years. Having a strong desire to move to the Pacific Coast, Mr. McAlister, outfitted with ox teams and wagons and with his wife and four children, crossed the overland trail in 1862 to Union County, Ore., where he was among the very first white settlers —for the inhabitants at that time were Indians with the exception of about six white families. He preempted as well as bought state lands, and purchasing cattle from emigrants, he succeeded in getting started in stock raising. In 1867, with his son, J. W., he made a trip into the Willamette Valley, where they purchased cattle and drove them over the mountains to eastern Oregon. He also ran a freight train with oxen as the motive power and a pack train of horses into Baker County. The latter he traded for mules, so he continued raising cattle, horses and mules. The country was open and he cut hay on the range. He met with success and acquired a fine ranch, well located and valuable, and there he and his wife continued until they passed to the beyond, the father on April 5, 1870, while his wife survived him until April 5, 1874. By this union there were nine children, six of whom are living. James W., being the oldest, had the interesting experience of crossing the plains when he was eight years of age. In the new country of eastern Oregon he imme diately began assisting his father, driving the oxen to the breaking plow, helping to cradle, bind and gather the wheat. He made a trade for a hen from a passing emi grant, giving the man some of the wheat they raised. By the purchase of a few more, they started raising poultry, receiving as high as $2.50 a dozen for eggs. A school was started and he attended school whenever he could, until his father died, when J- W. was fifteen years old. His father had been blind for two years, so from the age of thirteen he had taken charge of the ranch and stock and was his mother's right- hand man. For two years after this he attended Blue Mountain University at La Grande, laying a foundation of useful knowledge, which has stood him in good stead. 772 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY In 1876 Mr. Thompson drove a band of cattle to Cheyenne, Wyo., where he sold a part of the herd, and then continued on to Kansas. The grasshoppers were very bad and they drove the cattle on to Plattsmouth, Nebr., and disposed of them. In 1878 he drove another band of cattle to Cheyenne and on to White Bluff and there joined another cattleman and they shipped them by rail to Chicago. In Union County, Ore., November 27, 1879, Mr. McAlister was united in marriage with Miss Arabelle Hailey, who was born in Macon County, Mo., of Eng lish descent. Her father, Benjamin Hailey, was also born in Missouri, where his father was a pioneer. Benjamin Hailey was married in Missouri to Elizabeth Hailey, also a native of that state, whose father, Richard Hailey, crossed the plains in an ox-team train in 1849 to' California and for a year mined gold. He had married a Miss Smith of Holland Dutch descent. Richard Hailey spent his last days in Oregon. Arabelle Halley's mother passed away when she was eleven years old, while her father lived until 1898. This worthy pioneer couple had six children, four of whom are living, of whom Mrs. McAlister is the second oldest and crossed the plains with her father in 1864. He had outfitted with good strong horse teams and made good time, making the journey in about three months. At one point the Indians stole some of their horses, but they followed them up, and when the Indians were hard pressed they abandoned the stolen property, much to the satisfaction of the emigrants. Taking the old Oregon trail into eastern Oregon, Benjamin Hailey engaged in stock raising in Union County and later in Wallowa County, where he improved a farm. However, he returned to Union County and there resided until his death. A son, Edward Hailey, now owns and operates the ranch. In those early days the families of that region had many experiences with Indian troubles, being obliged to be on the con tinual watch for savage treachery. Arabelle Hailey, after completing the grammar school, attended Blue Mountain University. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McAlister continued the stock business in Wallowa County, purchasing land near Enterprise, where they were very successful, and as they prospered they purchased land until they had over 1,000 acres, well located, with a splendid range accessible. Here he ranged his herd of Aberdeen Polled Angus cattle, for he was the first in that section to bring in the Black Aberdeen Polled Angus cattle from Missouri. At first other cattlemen laughed at him, but he was convinced of their superior quality as beef cattle and he kept on and in time he demonstrated that they would outweigh the other cattle and eventually he won out as having the best beef cattle on the range. Others finally saw their mistake and they organized the Aberdeen Angus Association, and the result is that in that section they use thoroughbred Aberdeen Angus sires and hence have a splendid quality of cattle that have taken more prizes than all others the last years. Mr. McAlister naturally was one of the organizers and a most valued and enthusiastic member. The Mc Alister ranch was known as the Romance Ranch, beautifully located on the Wallowa River, and was also watered by Hurricane Creek. A ditch was taken out seven miles up in the mountains and water brought down for irrigating their field of alfalfa. Mr. McAlister was also engaged in raising Hampshire sheep and he became well and favorably known as a successful and enterprising stockman, as well as a prominent man in civic and educational affairs. From a j'outh he had a great love for the outdoors and particularly hunting and he became known as a fine shot. He has had much pleasure hunting bear, elk and deer, and has killed scores of them as well as numerous wildcats, and it is interesting to hear him tell of his numerous experiences. In 1907 Mr. and Mrs. McAlister made their first trip to California, locating at Turlock, where he purchased a beautiful home at 730 West Main Street, where they have since made their home, making trips to Oregon in the summer to look after his ranch, as he still retains 600 acres of fine farm land. In "1919 he sold his cattle and now rents his lands to his son. Mr. and Mrs. McAlister have been blessed with two children: Chas. A., who is farming the home ranch, is married to Olive Johnson and they have two children, Frances Belle and James Joseph ; Leeann is Mrs. C. M. Graham, and resides in Port land. Mr. McAlister was made a Mason in Wallowa Lodge, F. & A. M., of which ^/V.rfLtMir*- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 775 he is still a member, and with his wife is a member of Wallowa Chapter, O. E. S., Mrs. McAlister having just taken the chair of matron when she moved to Turlock. She is a member of the Christian Church and takes an active part in its benevolences. A cultured woman, she has been of much assistance to her ambitious husband by her encouragement and assistance in every way. They are well and favorably known in Turlock, being much esteemed for their kindness and hospitality. WILLIAM HENRY RUSHING.— Few men better represent the highest type of the native Californian than William Henry Rushing, for a decade and a half one of the broadest minded supervisors, the organizer of the Rushing Land & Cattle Com pany, and the owner and lessee of several choice farms in the Dickinson precinct. He was born near Columbia, in Tuolumne County, on June 3, 1861, the son of William K. Rushing, a native of South Carolina, who was taken from his home when only five or six years old and grew up in Texas. He crossed the plains in 1856 and settled at Columbia; and in 1863 he moved over to Dry Creek, where he engaged in the stock trade. And in that enterprise he continued until the time of his death, in 1880, at the age of forty-five. He left a widow and four children, having married Miss Elizabeth Dobbin, a native of Ireland, who had left her native country in 1857, and crossed the Isthmus on coming out to California. The four children are Joseph A., J. T., William Henry and Mary Ellen. Joseph was born in 1858 and married Miss Johanna Carey, and he died in Tuolumne County in 1894, and left three children. J. T. Rushing is a dairy farmer at Manteca, and Mary Ellen has become the wife of George E. Sweetland, who resides on the old Rushing Ranch now held by the Rushing Land & Cattle Company, in which he is the secretary and treasurer. Wm. H. Rushing attended the local public schools and assisted his father in the stock business. Thus from a mere lad he learned to ride and rope and brand. His father was also a pioneer dairyman and William assisted in that work when it was done in a much more tedious way than the present day method, with a separator run by electricity. In March, 1876, he entered the employ of Miller & Lux, on the Santa Rita Ranch, where he continued until August, 1878, when he returned home, assist ing his father and putting in two more winters at school. When he was nineteen, his father died and then he took charge of the ranch and cattle and in time engaged in the business for himself. From time to time he enlarged his operations and purchased lands until he has become one of the large landowners and cattlemen in his section. About thirty-five years ago Mr. Rushing was married to Miss Alice Hill, a native of Iowa, who was reared in Boston and came out to California and Sonora when she was fourteen years of age ; and for several years she taught school before she was married. One child was granted Mr. and Mrs. Rushing — Royal H., who married Miss Ray Shore of Jamestown, Cal. Gifted in various ways, Roj'al Rushing owns and operates a garage at Jamestown, Cal. As has been said, Mr. Rushing organized the Rushing Land & Cattle Company about fifteen years ago, and he is now its president. This company raises and keeps on hand at all times about 800 head of beef cattle. Mr. Rushing favors in particular the old reliable Durham, or shorthorn strain. Royal H. Rushing is the vice-president of the company. It is incorporated for $75,000, and is sure to expand to much greater proportions. Besides his extensive interests in this land and cattle company, Mr. Rush ing owns individually three fine ranches and he rents other lands. One of the ranches which he owns is the home place of 400 acres, where he resides, in the Dickinson district, another is the adjoining tract of nearly 636 acres, and a third is a farm of 200 acres, thirty of which are devoted to the growth of alfalfa, twenty-one to almonds, and fifty to wheat. Besides these he rents 400 acres, which he has planted to wheat. The Rushing Land & Cattle Company, of which Mr. Rushing is the head, owns 714 acres in Stanislaus County, and 5,000 acres, one farm consisting of 3,000, the other of 2,000, in Tuolumne County. This corporation also rents the U. S. Government range and another large acreage from the Standard Lumber Company, in Tuolumne County. The company's brand is a reversed R, and his individual brand is reversed R with half-circle over the top. Mr. Rushing also owns a large number of cattle of his own, which are independent of those held by the company mentioned ; and on his 776 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Stanislaus County ranch he has a fine orchard of three acres for family use. From the well upon his home place, which has an abundance of the best water, issues a current of natural gas, which would seem to indicate that a prospect well might disclose gas in commercial quantities, together, perhaps, with oil. He is a member of the California Cattlemen's Association. For sixteen years Mr. Rushing, while in Tuolumne County, was elected and repeatedly reelected as supervisor from the fifth supervisorial district, serving as chairman for them, and he made an enviable record for himself as supervisor on ac count of his broad and aggressive, if sensibly conservative views. DANA J. WALTON. — A successful rancher who worthily represents both the spirit and the attainment of Stanislaus County, the ideal section of California for the progressive farmer, is Dana J. Walton, who was born at Pacific City, Mills County, Iowa, in 1866, and first came to California in December, 1905. He had removed to Dakota in 1887, and located near Sturgis, Meade County, in what is now South Dakota, a j'ear before the division of the territory; and when of age, he preempted 160 acres of land, and later homesteaded a like amount. He improved the place for grain and stock raising, and ran the cattle on the range. He was in the Dakotas eighteen years, and during the last six years devoted himself largely to cattle raising in the western part of the state, his brand, "48," coming to be well known. He had added to his homestead until he acquired 480 acres of land ; and this land he leased, on coming to California, and finally sold it in 1918. Having decided to swing away to the Pacific, Mr. Walton sold his cattle in the fall of 1905 and came on to California and Turlock. Soon after he made a trip to North Carolina, but returned to San Francisco on April 14, 1906, and was at the Lick House, four days later, when the earthquake shook the very foundations of the city. This hotel was afterwards destroyed by fire. Returning to Turlock, he bought sixty acres of land, in May, which he improved by setting out Zinfandels and peaches and alfalfa. Later, he dug out the vines and put in alfalfa only. He still owns this place. He also owns twenty acres at Denair, which are devoted to melon raising. Other ranches, too, he has bought, improved and sold from time to time, and has probably improved over 200 acres. Mr. Walton was one of the organizers of the Turlock Merchants & Growers, Inc., and was a director of the same, but he is now a trustee of the company. He has been a stockholder in the People's State Bank of Turlock ever since soon after its organization, and has also been a director for many years. He is a member of the Turlock Board of Trade, and has been a director in that. In national political affairs a standpat Republican, Mr. Walton has always worked for local movements, measures and candidates in the only way in which one ought to support the best for the com munity — without partisanship. CARL C. CARLSON. — A successful business man who has become influential as a popular citizen known to be unselfishly active in civic and social affairs, is Carl C. Carlson, president of the Turlock Lumber Company. He first came to the town in 1903, and he has been connected with the lumber business here since 1905. He was born near Ogden, Boone County, Iowa, on July 13, 1884, the son of Abel Carlson, who in 1886 removed with his family from Iowa to Chappell, Deuel County, Nebr., where he was a pioneer homesteader. He followed farming there until his removal to Turlock in 1905, although he had purchased land here on his first trip to California two years before. He was engaged in dairying for several years, but is now retired. In 1880 he had married Miss Ella Johnson, the ceremony taking place in Iowa, and they had seven children, of whom five are still living — A- J. Carlson of Modesto, the second, our subject; Paul W., a rancher of Turlock, and two daughters, at home. Carl Carlson was educated in the public schools, and when nineteen, in 1903, came to Turlock, taking charge for a couple of years of his father's ranch. In 1905 he entered the employ of the Turlock Lumber Company, beginning as a yard man; and sixteen months later he was given a position in the office of the company as secretary and manager — a post he filled with much ability. In 1913, Mr. Carlson purchased c/^Ct^si-Ot-, <% . ^ctsrrttt HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 779 an interest in the company, and six years later he bought out his remaining partner and since then has been sole proprietor. It is the largest lumber yard and business of the kind in Turlock ; and in connection with the yards he owns and operates a planing mill. He has worked hard both to build up and to upbuild the town in which he lives and flourishes, and which he has so much at heart, and Turlock has been good to her adopted Hawkey e. Mr. Carlson was one of the organizers of the Turlock Merchants & Growers, Inc., and was president of the company for the first four years, until he resigned in 1919 on account of his other large business interests to which he had to devote his time. He is a trustee of the Union high school, and in 1916 was elected city trustee, and in 1918 chairman of the board, or mayor. He has been much interested in public improvements, and has favored paving and the building of sewers. He is a member of the Board of Trade and an ex-vice-president, and was president of the Merchants Association for three years. At Turlock Mr. Carlson was married to Miss Edith Krantz, and they have a daughter, Marjorie. He belongs to Turlock Lodge No. 402 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he is a past grand, and was made a Mason in Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., and with Mrs. Carlson is a member of Wistaria Chapter of the O. E. S. He is also a member of Turlock Lodge No. 98, Knights of Pythias. MRS. LAURA E. JARRETT.— California- has long been the land of oppor tunity for women, and coming here with her family in 1907, Mrs. Laura E. Jarrett has found wide scope for her splendid native ability and enterprise. She purchased eighty acres of unimproved land from the L. A. Finney tract, which she has since improved until it is highly productive and very valuable property, with comfortable modern residence and other improvements, all of her planning and construction. She is a leader among the women of the county, a successful farmer, a true Christian character, taking an active part in all matters of public interest where a woman's aid can be of benefit. Mrs. Jarrett's father was a cousin of D. T. Curtis, the founder of the town of Salida. Mrs. Jarrett, who is the widow of the late Clifford Jarrett, a native of Monte rey County, Cal., was herself born in Warren County, Pa., where her father owned a farm of 230 acres near Columbus, engaging in general farming all his life. Her parents were Charles H. and Mary E. (Parker) Walton, both natives of Pennsyl vania, her maternal ancestors being generally professional men of high standing. Her mother died when Mrs. Jarrett was a mere child and she was reared by a stepmother, with whom she was in close accord. She attended the public schools at Corry, Pa., later graduating from a select school for young ladies. When she was seventeen she made a trip to California with her father and a cousin, coming to Yuba City, Sutter County. The father later determined to return East, but leaving Laura E. in Cali fornia. She was married at Colusa, September 9, 1876, to Clifford Jarrett, who was born at Monterey, Monterey County, June 13, 1857. His father, Frank Jarrett, was identified with the mining industries of California in 1849. Clifford Jarrett received his early education in the public schools of Sutter County. His parents were natives of Illinois and Indiana respectively. The desire to see other portions of the country, abetted by homesickness of his bride, caused him to move to Pennsylvania nine years after his marriage to Miss Walton. They engaged in general farming on the old Walton farm, meeting with much success. Four children were born to them in California, one son and three daughters. Mr. Jarrett prospered in his business, but met with a railroad accident, which occasioned his death in 1903. Three years later Mrs. Jarrett lost her father, and soon determined to give her children the opportunities offered in the West, returning to California in 1907, locating on her present property on the Beckwith Road, six miles west of Modesto, where she has since made her home and since 1912 has been ably assisted in the management of her ranch by Tony Avila, a native Californian and a dependable employe. Mrs. Jarrett is a member of the Salida Woman's Improvement Club, and takes an active part in its various enterprises for civic betterment. She is also a member of the Congregational Church, an energetic church worker, and a true, patriotic Amer- 780 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ican at all times. She has reared her family with great care and has given to society a son and two daughters who are a credit to the state, one daughter being deceased. They are: Charles L., who owns a prosperous ranch across the road from his mother, where he resides with his wife and five children ; Lelia, the wife of Scott Beach, super intendent of the Gilmore Oil Lease, located in Southern California; Jessie, the wife of Myron A. Beckwith, a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Stanislaus. She is the mother of one daughter. The deceased daughter was Pearl, second from the youngest, who married E. W. Smith, and died September 22, 1920, after a short ill ness. She left three children, sturdy little sons, to mourn her loss. These lads, Ljle J., F. Boj'd and Kenneth E., are with Mrs. Beckwith, and have now become the chief care of their grandmother, the subject of this sketch, which insures to them the love of a true mother heart. HOWARD G. THOMPSON.— A typical business man of the West, alert to every opportunity presented, of which his enterprise prompts him to take advantage, is Howard G. Thompson, a native of Superior, Wis., where he was born on September 8, 1891. His father, Gaylord W. Thompson, first saw the light in Michigan and was of Scotch descent ; he came out to Minneapolis and then became an early settler of Superior, Wis., where he was engaged in the land business and the selling of real estate. After removing to Lewiston, Idaho, where he spent eighteen years, he entered on a period of unusual prosperity and influence, and as a stanch Republican was an active politician, known as a person of winning personality with a gift in speaking. He located in Modesto in 1913, and here he made a host of friends, who lamented his passing away in September, 1920. Mrs. Thompson was Emma Rowe before her marriage, and she was born in Ohio. She became the mother of five children: Robert R., a graduate of Annapolis, holds the rank of lieutenant-commander, and is stationed with the U. S. Navy at Honolulu; Howard G. is the subject of our review; Richard G., who is his partner in business, is mentioned elsewhere in this work ; Elizabeth Treat Thompson, a grad uate of Mills College, is physical director of the Eureka schools ; George is a graduate of the Modesto high school and is now attending Stanford University. Howard Thompson was reared in Idaho, where he attended the public schools, graduating from the Lewiston high school. He then entered the University of Idaho at Moscow, but continued his studies there but three years, however, for he left to take up his business career, entering the employ of the Mark Means Company. Eighteen months later he resigned to engage in the fruit business in Idaho. In 1913 Mr. Thompson came to Modesto and a year later he began in the grain trade. After a while his brother, Richard G. Thompson, became his partner and the firm is known as the Thompson Bros. Grain Company. Since then they have dealt in grain and beans and have become both large buyers and shippers, widely and favorably known for the quality of their stock and the promptness and squareness of their business methods. They also have an insurance department, and as sellers of fire, life and accident policies, conduct the largest insurance business in the county. To do this they maintain from twelve to fifteen agencies in the valley, located at Merced, Madera, Mariposa, Tuolumne, and in San Joaquin County. They represent the leading old-line fire insurance companies and also the Western Union Life Insur ance Company of Spokane. Mr. Thompson is also interested in grain farming in Alberta, Canada. He is a member of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, the California Bean Dealers Association, the Modesto Merchants Association, was an organizer and is president of the Progressive Business Club of Modesto, and is vice- president of the Stanislaus County Country Club. In Pasadena, on January 8, 1920, occurred the marriage of Mr. Thompson, when he was united with Miss Frances Elizabeth Merry, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, coming to Pasadena to reside with her mother, Mrs. Harry Merry. She was graduated from the Laurel Valley (Ohio) school, then attended Bryn Mawr College at Bryn Mawr, Pa.; on coming to California she first went to the University of California, afterwards entering Mills College, where she was graduated, having majored in dramatics. Cultured and accomplished, she is indeed a welcome addition HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 783 to the social life of Modesto, where her husband has been a leader since his advent to the Golden State. Mr. Thompson is an Elk, being a popular member of Modesto Lodge of the P. B. O. E. He was made a Mason in Modesto Lodge No. 207, F. & A. M., and is a member of the Modesto Odd Fellows. In national politics he is a Republican, but he displays no undue partisanship in his loyal support of all sensible measures and every worthy candidate desirable for local reform and progress. He is an Episcopalian in his religious affiliation and is a vestryman of St. Paul's Church. THOMAS J. CRISPIN. — For many jears deputy assessor of Stanislaus County, Thomas J. Crispin, is rated as one of the best informed men on land and land values in this part of the state. He is a self-made man in the truest sense of the word, winning his way through honesty, integrity and good old-fashioned hard work, and has been a resident of Stanislaus County since 1878. During the almost half-century which has intervened since that time, Mr. Crispin has been actively identified with the affairs of the county. He has been a member of the Republican County Central Committee since 1884, has served as deputy county assessor, is a former director of the Modesto Irrigation District, a member during the construction of the Dallas reservoir, and was instrumental in the success of the recall election of three members of this board of directors, in 1920, one of the most hotly contested elections of the district. During the great war, Mr. Crispin served as chairman of the district committee on war loans, rendering important and efficient service in the country's hour of great need. Frater nally, he is a Mason, a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter, an Elk and a Wood man of the World, being affiliated with the Modesto lodges of all these organizations. Born in Mahaska County, la., November 6, 1858, Mr. Crispin is the son of Francis Crispin, a native of Ohio, and a direct descendant of Sir William Crispin, who was a surveyor in the colony of William Penn*, and married to Penn's own sister, at Philadelphia. The name, Crispin, is, according to Shakespeare, of interesting origin. The first St. Crispin, whose birthplace was Germany, wandered into France, and because he was a cobbler, the French called him by the name Shoemake. It is interesting to note that the manufacturers of boots and shoes have been known for centuries as the St. Crispin Organization of Manufacturers the world over. Thomas J. Crispin's mother was Miss Adaline Bonsell, a native of Virginia, and of Scotch ancestry. She moved with her parents into Ohio and later into Iowa, where she was married to Francis Crispin, one of the representative men of his district and for many years supervisor of his county, where he was a prosperous farmer. After finishing the public schools and graduating from the denominational college of the Quaker Church, at Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mr. Crispin returned to his father's farm, where he spent a few years working hard in the farm labor, raising grain and stock. In 1878, when he was twenty years of age, he came to Stanislaus County, where he worked for his brother-in-law, William Shoemake, who was engaged in grain farming west of Modesto, working on threshing crews and harvesters, the day's work usually numbering from sixteen to eighteen hours. Later he purchased land in Fresno County, which he traded for land near Turlock. Here he met with reverses, and for a time rented land near Waterford, farming about 1,800 acres to wheat. Later he pur chased 400 acres of which 200 acres are now covered by the Dallas Reservoir of the Modesto Irrigation District. In Stanislaus County, Mr. Crispin married Miss May Milton, a native of Iowa, who came to California with her parents. She passed away in 1895, leaving four children: Edna, now the wife of Harry Wood, residing in Modesto, and the mother of two children ; Charles, auditor for the Oriental Consolidated Mining Company of New York, now located in Korea; Harry E., one of the prosperous ranchers of this county, and the father of a daughter, and Laura, the wife of D. W. Sharp, a well- known rancher in the Paradise precinct, and they have two sons. Mr. Crispin was married a second time in Modesto, in April, 1898, to Mrs. Flora (Wilkins) Davis, a native of Los Banos, and the daughter of Frank Wilkins, a resident of Stockton, where he was a successful harness maker and merchant for many years. Of this union have been born two children : Francis, now a student in the Modesto high school, and Harold, still of grammar school age. 784 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Within the last ten years Mr. Crispin has practically retired from active farm labor. The present family home is on 160 acres, the old Shoemake farm, three miles northwest of Modesto, on the State Highway, where he makes a specialty of fine figs, peaches and grapes. He also owns eighty acres in Salida precinct, which is farmed at present by his son Harry, and valuable city property in Modesto. Mrs. Crispin is an active member of the Christian church at Modesto, and a member of the Eastern Star chapter and the W. C. T. U., and was active in Red Cross work during the war. DAVID T. CURTIS. — An upright and honorable citizen, a thorough and industrious agriculturist, and an intelligent, patriotic and useful man, the name of David T. Curtis will ever be numbered among Stanislaus County's foremost citizens. Especially will he be remembered as the founder of the thriving town of Salida, as he platted the townsite on his own property and erected the first buildings. The son of James and Alzina (Hills) Curtis, honored pioneers, David T. Curtis was born at Columbus, Warren County, Pa., April 28, 1844, a settlement founded by his grandfather, David Curtis. Later James Curtis brought his family to Mitchell County, Iowa, making the journey in covered wagons, and here David T. was reared. In 1859, with his father and a brother-in-law, W. H. Thornburg, they crossed the plains to California, arriving in September of that year. Stopping at Hangtown, now Placerville, there they mined until 1861, when James Curtis returned to Iowa, where he resumed farming until the fall of 1868, when he again returned to California, where he spent the remainder of his life. David T. Curtis remained in California after his father had gone back East. He was located at Stockton until coming to Stanislaus County in 1864, when he took up a homestead three miles west of what is now the town of Salida. His first crops suffered both from the droughts and the depredations of wild cattle. Later, however, he raised bumper crops and sold them in the mining camps for good prices, and thereby laid the foundation for the comfortable fortune he amassed. It had been arranged that as soon as the father should reach California that David would go East to claim his bride; this he did in 1869, and on October 19 of that year he married Luella Holloway. That same afternoon he started on the return journey to California, accompanied by his bride, his mother, a brother, James Lee Curtis, a sister, Rossey, children of sixteen and eleven years of age, respectively. With two young ladies, the promised brides of Eldor and Charles Curtis, who had come to California in 1868 by way of the Isthmus of Panama, they were met by the father at Stockton, Eldor and Charles, and the double wedding occurred there. David Curtis made a success of his ranching here and in 1883 he colonized some of the land at Reedley, Fresno County, that he had secured very cheap, disposed of it advantageously and later purchased the land upon which Salida now stands. He also owned property in Tulare County and in Los Angeles. He platted the town of Salida, erected the hotel and the store building now occupied by C. E. Capps & Company, installed the water works and was the prime mover in all the town's enterprises. He donated sites for the public school, the Women's Improvement Club building, the Congregational Church, and gave to the Southern Pacific Railroad a strip of thirty feet through the town lying immediately west of the tracks, and two lots for depot purposes. He was a strong prohibitionist and had a dry clause in each deed, which provided for a reversion of title in case liquor was ever sold on the premises. He became extensively interested in raising fine horses for the San Francisco market and it was while so engaged that his life of accomplishment came to a tragic close, the injury received when kicked in the head by a horse proving fatal, his death occurring in November, 1912. Generous to a fault, his many benefactions to Salida will keep his name in lasting remembrance. His widow, Mrs. Luella Curtis, makes her home in Oakland at 144 Ninth Street, which had been their home since 1887 and the scenes of many social gatherings. Mrs. Curtis has been an ardent supporter of the prohibition cause and president of the Women's Prohibition Party of California. She is a member of the Ebell Club and she has held offices in state W. C. T. U, and still ewes of her time to temperance work. She belongs to the Business and Professional <=^Q /~ U^L^*-^7* ^- Z9. TQ^ctU HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 785 Woman's Club and other philanthropic societies and movements in the state. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were members of the Oakland Congregational Church for many years, and she is carrying on the work instituted by her husband and keeps open house to all his relatives and friends. JOHN H. WOODS. — An enterprising contractor of large experience and capable of meeting almost any emergency, is John H. Woods, who was born in New York on January 4, 1871, and on coming to California brought with him the Empire State spirit for doing large things on a generous and lasting scale. . Having profited by the grammar school courses of the metropolis, when nineteen he took up carpentering and for five years served an apprenticeship in New York under J. M. Rogers, con tractor and builder. He continued to work in New York City as a journeyman carpenter, and occasionally made a trip to Chicago or Iowa, to further inform himself of the growing West; and it was not until 1910 that he came to California. Mr. Woods settled first in San Francisco, where he followed his trade, and in 1912 became associated with Christian Hansen as his foreman and went to various points in the state and throughout the Northwest, building in San Francisco, San Jose, Monterey, Pacific Grove and Southern California. He spent a short time in Truckee, when they built there the high school; and to commemorate the ill-fated Donner party at Donner Lake, they erected a monument with a concrete center and facings of cobble stones, and a bronze statue of the pioneer and his family eighteen feet high. At Provo, Utah, they built the engine house for the Salt Lake Railroad. Later he was foreman carpenter with the Houghton Construction Company and built the .Floriston Hotel between* Reno and Truckee on the Southern Pacific. After that, still as foreman carpenter for the engineer C. H. Hansen, Mr. Woods went to Sacramento and built the Libby, McNeill & Libby cannery, and then at Tracy they put up the new roundhouse for the Southern Pacific Railroad. He also went to Soldier's Summit, in Utah, and constructed the engine house for the D. & R. G. R. R. These succeeding enterprises completed, Mr. Woods took a vacation and then came to Modesto, where, with Christian H. Hansen, he formed the partnership of Hansen & Woods, and with him, in August, 1920, opened offices for both architectural and building contracting. The firm caters to the largest type of first-class buildings. GEORGE SIDNEY KEITH.— A man of pleasing personality and progressive business methods, who is the longest-established merchant in his field in the town, is George Sidney Keith, the shoe dealer, who never neglects an opportunity to con tribute what he can toward the success of any Turlock movement. He was born at Lima, Ind., in 1880, the son of S. M. Keith, also a native of that place and a farmer, who moved to South Dakota in 1884 and followed agricultural pursuits there for three years. In 1888, when new commercial life seemed to have been infused into California, he came out to the Golden States and settled at San Jose, and there he engaged in contracting and building, which he followed until he died. He had mar ried Miss Lucy A. Lang, a native of Grand Rapids, Mich., and she still resides at San Jose, the mother of a son and a daughter. George Sidney, the eldest, attended the public schools of San Jose, including the excellent high school of that city, and then he went to Santa Clara high school, from which he was graduated in 1898. Afterward he learned the shoe business under Robert Butler, beginning at the bottom round of the ladder and continuing until he became manager for C. W. Green in San Jose. There he remained until 1902, when he went to San Francisco and continued in the shoe trade until 1907. He next re moved to Palo Alto, and wherever he went, he enjoyed more or less success. On February 28, 1910, Mr. Keith located at Turlock and bought out a general merchandise stock, all of which he soon disposed of entirely except the shoes. He then opened a shoe store, and having made it exclusively an exclusive stock, he rapidly built up an enviable trade and with it an equally enviable reputation for first-class wares and an exemplary way of selling them. He made friends for Keith's, which soon came to be a synonym for the largest shoe stock in the county, and friends always mean patronage and prosperity. He joined the Board of Trade, of which he has been 786 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY trustee, and the Business Men's Club, becoming president of it for a while; and he took an active interest, as a Republican, in seeking to raise civic standards. At San Jose, in 1907, Mr. Keith was married to Miss Jessie E. Warner, a native of Wisconsin, and two children have brightened the life of their happy home — Helen Jean and Robert Sidney. Mr. Keith is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he is a past chancellor of Turlock Lodge No. 98, and he is a member of the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan in Stockton. H. E. CORNWELL. — Preeminent among those who have done much to make Modesto the greatest dairy center in California is Stanislaus County's pioneer breeder of Holstein cattle, H. E. Cornwell, who ranches on the Prescott Road about two and one-half miles northwest of the town. He is perhaps the breeder who has exhibited most Holstein-Friesian cattle and won the most prizes in the county. He was born at Fayetteville, Washington County, Ark., on June 16, 1872, and grew up till his sixteenth year in that state, when he came to California, traveling alone, and followed later by his parents. His father, George Cornwell, now eighty- one years of age, is a native of Tennessee, in which state his mother, Mary Riggins before her marriage, was also born. They are now living, retired, at Glendale. Our subject was the second of a family of eight children, and the first to come to California. He began at the foot of the ladder when he took a job as a farm hand, and for ten years he Worked for wages here and there on farms in California, and never missed a day. At the same time, he worked his way through the business college at Los Angeles. When a boy in his early 'teens in Arkansas, it is a significant fact that the first twenty dollars he had saved from his hard-earned wages, working fpr fifty, seventy-five cents and one dollar a day, he spent in order to buy a cow which he let his parents have in order to assist in their living. He was married at Los Angeles, December 25, 1897, to Miss Huldah Jewell, a native of Green County, Iowa, who was fourteen when she came to the City of the Angels, accompanying her parents, both of whom are now dead. Six years after his marriage, Mr. Cornwell came to Stanislaus County and purchased the forty acres which is now his home place. Later on, he bought the forty acres across the Prescott Road in the Wood Colony precinct, of which he later disposed of twenty acres, and there he has made very substantial improvements. Mr. Cornwell has been very suc cessful in his agricultural experience, raising some splendid crops. His exhibits at fairs has brought him prizes on pumpkins, quinces, sweet potatoes and muskmelons, and he was the first to make a success of raising Henderson bush lima beans, which has since become a most valuable crop in this section. Besides belonging to the Milk Producers Association of Central California, he is a member of the National Hol stein-Friesian Breeders Association, which have their headquarters at Brattleboro, Vt, where all of his stock is duly recorded. He also belongs to the state and the Stanis laus County Holstein Breeders' Association. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cornwell and have shared in the esteem accorded the family as among the most representative people in the Wood Colony, and the most progressive and prosperous citizens of Stanislaus County. Homer A. married Miss Bessie Cowan of Prescott precinct and a niece of Thomas H. Cowan, a bonanza wheat farmer of Riverdale, Fresno County. They have three children — Genevieve, George and Ruth; Winnie is at home; Adah is a senior in the Modesto high school, and so is her brother, Fred; Irma is a sophomore in the same institution; Linnie and Minnie were twin sisters, but the latter died when she was two months old, and the former is now in the seventh grade of the grammar school. Mr. Corn- well, who is a Republican, is a member of the Modesto lodge of Odd Fellows, and his son Homer, who is an enthusiastic Odd Fellow, has been through the chairs and the encampment there, and was representative to the Grand Encampment held at Sacra mento in October, 1920, when he was elected district deputy. As has been said, Mr. Cornwell is the pioneer and one of the principal breeders of Holstein-Friesian cattle in Stanislaus County. His farm is on the Prescott Road, about two and a half miles northwest of Modesto, in the Wood Colony precinct. His senior herd sire, tipping the beam at 2,400 pounds, is Sir Johanna De Kol Rag Apple. UJZ^C^SL^yuU^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 789 and ranked at the top at the show. He is out of the cow Adirondac Wietske Dairy Maid, the best in the state, and holds the Pacific Coast record, and now finished a year's record with 31,800 pounds of milk and 1,296 pounds butter, placing her the fifth cow in the world for milk and butter. She also holds the United States record for milk and butter tests, continued for thirty and sixty days, with an average better than thirty-four pounds for seven days for four years in succession. Mr. Cornwell's junior herd sire is Hiske Senorita, and his sire was Prince Hiske Walker, full brother to Lady Hiske Walker, with a thirty-four pound record as a four-year-old. He is three-fourths brother to Miss Valley Mead De Kol Walker, with a thirty-seven pound record, which won three times the world's prize record in one year. She is the dam of the bull that sold for twelve thousand dollars at Higdon's sale in Tulare, and he the sire of the bull that sold for $41,000 to Mrs. Anita Baldwin. His dam is Senorita Ciruela Mechthilde III, with a sixteen-pound two-year-old record, and one of twenty-three pounds for three years, twenty-five pounds for five years, and 707 pounds for the year as a three-year-old. She won over $300 in butterfat prizes at fairs in less than three years. A sister to the said junior herd sire, namely, Ciruela Walker, took the first prize at the State Fair in 1919, and freshened on the ground, made eighteen pounds of butter in seven days as a two-year-old. She received the grand champion prize at the Fresno and Stockton Fairs that year and the first prize at the State Fair in 1920, and she was also the first on butterfat at the State Fair in 1920, making for the year ending 1920 534 pounds of butter in ten months. Mr. Cornwell has eight more half-sisters to this cow, and they are among the most valuable cows in California. He keeps only the best of registered stock, and has, all told, a herd of sixty-five head of registered Holsteins, large and small. He began breeding Holsteins in Stanislaus County in 1906, and is, therefore, the pioneer breeder, with the experience of a quarter of a century in breeding Holsteins in par ticular. He has bred from the five leading strains, as follows: 1. Ignar De Kol, one of California's great bulls, the sire of two world's record daughters ; 2. Prince Hiske Walker; 3. King of the Pontias; 4. Sir Skylark Ormsby Hangville, and 5, King Segins. His cattle have been bred from pedigreed stock of proven quality for milk production and the production of butterfat; and while breeding, he has incidentally developed size and virility, working step by step, using the best of judgment and keep ing at it persistently. In this important scientific work Mr. Cornwell has been ably assisted by his gifted wife and his enterprising son, Homer, both of whom have proven to be right-hand assistants. DAVID ANDERSON MILLARD.— A successful merchant and general truck man, widely and favorably known for his enterprise in carrying a large stock of feed and grain, and then in being able ahd ready to haul the same for any distance, is David Anderson Millard, one of the best exponents in Turlock of the square and liberal deal. He was born in Pennock, Kandiyohi County, Minn., November 26, 1879, the son of Louis Anderson, a farmer, and was reared on a farm. Louis Ander son also came to California, in 1902, and was a pioneer for a while at Hilmar, later locating on a farm west of Turlock, where he died from a runaway accident. His good wife, Caroline, also died here. They had nine daughters and one son, and all reside here but one, who is living in Los Angeles, and one who died in Minneapolis. On coming to Turlock, our subject found two other residents by the name of David Anderson, and it was not long before such a confusion arose in the delivery of their mail that he was persuaded to change his name. This he did by the addition of "Millard," thus retaining the original form, after all. As a boy, David received a good public school education while growing up on the farm, and he finished off at Willmar Seminary. In 1902 he came out to California and to Turlock with his father and bought 190 acres at Hilmar, somewhat improved Property for which he then paid thirty-two and a half dollars an acre. They devoted 't for a while to general farming, then planted forty acres to peaches and grapes, and forty acres to alfalfa, and the family still own forty-five acres of the fruit orchard and vineyard. In 1907, they bought eighty-five acres one mile west of Turlock, which they improved to alfalfa and fruit; and this has since been so subdivided that six of the 790 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY sisters reside upon it. Two years before, about 1905, David Millard had started one of the first nursery establishments hereabouts, but in two or three years he sold out his nursery stock. Then, at about the present site of the Southern Pacific freight depot, he was manager of the local branch of the Merced Milling Company, continu ing in that capacity, while the neighborhood steadily grew, for five years. Having seen the need of still another provision for the wants of the community, Mr. Millard started in 1912 a feed, flour and seed business, opening his own store on Marshall Street on the railroad reservation; but in 1916 he bought and built his present site on Third Street. He sells hay, flour, potatoes, salt and other commodi ties usually found in his line, buys only the best, replenishes his stock frequently and so carries only fresh goods, and offers the same at the lowest price possible. He also carries on a general trucking business, owning two Fageol trucks. He is a live mem ber of the Turlock Board of Trade, contributing actively to its effective work, and profiting by its co-operation; he also belongs to the Progressive Business Club, Tur lock branch, and is a member of the finance committee. At Turlock, in May, 1911, Mr. Millard was married to Miss Ida W. Olson, a native of Wisconsin, but reared from the age of fifteen in Turlock, who attended with him the Swedish Mission Church, where Mr. Millard was once secretary. But they now belong to the Swedish Mission Tabernacle where he is superintendent of the Sunday school. Before coming to Turlock, he was a charter member of the Swedish Mission at Hilmar. In 1917, Mr. Millard and his wife made a three months trip to their homes in the East, where they found many changes in the interval since they left there. ROBERT CHARLES GECKLER.— A far-seeing, successful business man whose enterprise is well reflected in hjs ideally-appointed funeral parlor, one of the best in all the state, is Robert Charles Geckler, the efficient and popular mayor of Turlock, who came to California nearly a score of years ago. He was born in Orange, Franklin County, Mass., in 1882, the son of E. F. Geckler, also a native of the Bay State, and the grandson of Charles Geckler, who was born in Germany and crossed the ocean to the United States when he was only sixteen years of age. A year later, like so many of his fellow-countrymen who gave their all to support the cause of their adopted country after they came here, he enlisted as a volunteer for the Mexican War, after which he returned to Massachusetts; and when the Civil War began, he quite as freely and patriotically enlisted in defense of the Union and served as a member of Company K, Twenty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry. He was employed in one of the large car-shops at Chicopee, Mass., although he resided at Springfield, and had charge of the work in gold lettering until his death. E. F. Geckler, on the other hand, is living in Turlock, after having been inspector for the New Home Sewing Machine Company at Orange, Mass., for nearly forty years. His good wife, who was Clara J. Foskett before her marriage, is also living, the center of a circle of devoted friends ; she was born at Orange, Mass., and is a member of an old New England family of English descent. She is the mother of two children, both boys — Burton Edward, who is in Springfield, Mass., and Robert Chase, the subject of our review. Brought up at Orange, Robert Geckler attended both the grammar and high schools there, obtaining an excellent preparation for his future tussle with the world. Having an uncle, F. W. Foskett, later president of the First National Bank at Con cord, living in Concord, Contra Costa County, Mr. Geckler came out to California in 1901, and worked on the latter's farm; but the next year he went to San Francisco and followed steel-ship fitting at the Fulton Iron Works until the steamer "Progres sive" blew up, killing thirteen men. Mr. Geckler, who was at work on the ill-fated vessel, escaped unhurt, and then he accepted employment in the Union Iron Works and was busy for eight months on the U. S. cruiser "South Dakota," helping to lay her first shell plate. In 1904, Mr. Geckler quit shipbuilding and entered the undertaking field under J. C. O'Connor; and having completed the study of embalming, he joined C. H. J- Truman, and was with that undertaking establishment in San Francisco and Oakland through the trying experiences of the earthquake and fire. After the first, he was HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 793 manager of the San Francisco business, and he was also deputy coroner under Dr. Walsh during the earthquake and fire periods, and remained with him for four years. Mr. Geckler next went onto his ranch in Glenn County and was one of the pio neers in the Jacinto unit of the Sacramento Valley Land Company, under W. C. Wooster, having a farm two miles north of Jacinto, on the old Glenn home ranch. He engaged in farming, and was employed by the Glenn estate to take charge of the repair of buildings. He was also for two years trustee in the Ord school district. He owned twenty acres in fruit and alfalfa, but at the end of three years accepted a posi tion as manager of the Truman Undertaking Company in Oakland, and opened for them their new place at the corner of Thirtieth and Telegraph Avenue. In 1915, Mr. Geckler came down to Modesto to join Messrs. Wood and Shannon in undertaking; but after six months he bought out the G. S. Wright Undertaking Company at Turlock, as well as the Claypool Undertaking Company, and established himself in business under the firm name of the R. C. Geckler Undertaking Company, locating at first at 201 North Broadway. In 1919 he planned and built his present large funeral chapel at 247-253 North Broadway, a fire-proof structure of tiles and terra cotta, 65x65 feet in size and two stories high, with an ornate chapel, a reception room, a family room, show-rooms, offices, morgue and operating room. He drew the plans for the edifice himself, and this accounts for its handsome features and its equally attractive furnishings. As a graduate of the Pacific College of Embalming, conducted by Prof. Albert Warsham, where he received his diploma on July 17, 1915, Mr. Geckler has always been regarded as both scientifically expert and of artistic taste. He is a member of the Turlock Board of Trade, and is chairman of the board of Progressive Business Club directors ; also a Yosemite Hotel stockholder. At Fruitvale, Cal., in 1907, Mr. Geckler was married to Miss Anna Maude Guy, a native of Concord, Cal., and with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs. Mrs. Geckler also belongs to the O. E. S. Mr. Geckler was made a Mason in Oakland Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is a past grand of the Turlock Lodge of Odd Fellows here, and also a member of the K. of P., the K. O. T. M., the Independent Order of Foresters, and the D. O. K. K. He also belongs to the Turlock Club In national politics a Republican, Mr. Geckler is a member of the Turlock Board of Trustees, and was also police commissioner. In 1920 he was reelected a trustee, and then chosen by the board as its chairman, or mayor. During his term of office a new pumping plant costing $5,000, and sewerage disposal alterations at $34,000 are notable. ALBERT EDWARD SOLLARS. — An enterprising manufacturer who has 'well sustained in his ideals in the making and purveying of only first-class products, is Al bert Edward Sollars, the wide-awake proprietor of the Turlock Soda Works. A na tive son of California, he was born in lone, Amador County, the son of Perry Sollars, also a native of that county, whose parents had crossed the great plains in pioneer days and had eventually died here, leaving Perry an orphan. Therefore, as a mere boy he paddled his own canoe, becoming pretty early a miner. He was married to Miss Minnie Button, who was also born in Amador County, a daughter of Orlando Button, who crossed the plains with ox teams during the gold excitement, and then followed mining and teaming in Amador County. Later, he located near Visalia, and there he resided until his death. Perry Sollars after mining for a time located at Visalia, and then farmed for a while in Stanislaus County, when he engaged also in threshing, and went all over the San Joaquin Valley, threshing crops for the ranchers. Mr. and Mrs. Perry Sollars at present reside in San Jose, the parents of four children, among whom Albert Edward is the oldest. He was reared in Amador, Tulare, Fresno and Stanislaus counties, and as a boy worked in the Einstein grocery store at Fresno, and later in Stockton and Lodi, in which town he accepted a position in the soda water works. In 1900 he went to San Francisco to enter the service of the Del Monte Milling Company, as foreman, and at the end of two years he was with the Consumers Ice Company, with whom he re mained until the earthquake and fire in April, 1906, when he went with the National Ice Company. From 1911, for two years, he traveled through the state. 794 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY In 1913, Mr. Sollars located at Turlock and purchased the Turlock Soda Works from John Lundeen. It was then in an alley in a barn, but in 1914 he bought his present site, and put up the building there, and equipped it with modern machinery to be run by electrical power. As a plant for the manufacture of soda and carbonated beverages, it is new and fine, and the establishment also jobs in cereal beverages and cordials, and all kinds of mineral waters. The factory made syrups for both wholesale and retail trade and Mr. Sollars served an area of twenty miles, deliveries being made by truck. In August, 1920, he began the manufacture of Ward's Orange and Lemon Crush, with a franchise for Stanislaus County. In Janu ary, 1921, he took on the franchise for Merced County and added Ward's Lime Crush to the business, and he covers the territory with auto trucks. In the manufacture and distribution of his products, Mr. Sollars employs four men. He is a member of the Turlock Board of Trade and takes a lively part in its deliberations. At San Jose, Mr. Sollars was married to Miss Louise Miller, a native of Canada, who came to San Jose when a girl and in California received a sound edu cation, and for nine j'ears taught school in the Santa Clara and San Joaquin valleys. Two children blessed this union — Albert Edward, Jr., and Cecile Marie. The fam ily dwell in a handsome residence, and Mr. Sollars enjoys the esteem of all who know him, but especially of those who are associated with him as a member of the Stanislaus County Council of the Knights of Columbus at Modesto. FRANK EUGENE SMITH. — Notable among the far-sighted and aggressive men of affairs in Stanislaus County who have done all that they could and have contributed much for the development of the great California commonwealth, must be mentioned Frank Eugene Smith, who was born in Maryville, Nodaway County, Mo., on January 12, 1882, the son of Fayette Smith, who was born in New York, came west to Wiscon sin with his parents in the fifties and when sixteen enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment and served in the Civil War. He was married in Wisconsin to Miss Emma E. Hess, a native of Illinois, and like himself so identified with old American lineage that the sisters of our subject are members of the Daughters of the American Revolution and our subject is eligible to be a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Fayette Smith moved to northwest Missouri in 1870 and was a farmer and grain merchant. He died, leaving eight children, when Eugene, the only son, was four years old. Frank Eugene Smith attended both the grammar and the high school of Maryville, and later studied for a year at the Maryville Seminary ; and having successfully com pleted the classical course at the Northwestern University at Evanston, 111., he was graduated in 1904 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. At Northwestern he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and also a member of the honor senior society, Deru. He had spent his early days on the home farm with his parents, and so was better equipped to strike out for himself after graduating from college. He managed his mother's farm for four j'ears, and in 1908 came out to California, locating in Modesto. His mother and sisters afterward joined him in Modesto. Here he went into the real estate business and with a partner formed the firm of Smith & Sweet, Inc., and in that field he continued for five years, completing several large subdivisions. His company handled, for example, the Smith & Sweet Tract on the Maze Road and also developed successfully the tract known as the Idaho Colony, four miles east of Modesto on the Dry Creek Road, and was instrumental in bringing into Stanislaus County many satisfied Eastern and Idaho people. About the same time they had four other large tracts under development in the Turlock and Oakdale Irriga tion districts. In 1910, Mr. Smith obtained the Ford agency, and later he took in as his partner C. C. Parks, the two men forming the firm known so well as Smith & Parks. In the spring of 1916, however, he sold out his interest to Mr. Parks and then took the Over land agency, with that of the Willys-Knight, adding after a while the agencies for the Nash and the Franklin cars. He purchased the corner lot, 100x140 feet, at Ninth and J streets, opposite the Southern Pacific depot, on which he erected a building which he leases; he also leases the corner for a service station, while adjoining his property he maintains a firstclass garage and a finely-equipped machine shop, with every HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 797 facility for the most difficult repairs. He is a member of the Progressive Business Club of Modesto, and is a director of the club. He is also an active member of the Stanis laus County Auto Trades Association. When in the real estate field, he was actively participating in the work of developing Stanislaus County under the direction of the County Board of Trade and the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, and he has never failed to maintain the livest interest in all matters likely to affect the ultimate or the immediate welfare of the county or city. At Modesto, on November 22, 1916, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Genevieve Flanders, a native of Minnesota and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Flanders, who moved from the North Star State to California in 1904. Mr. Smith is a member of the Methodist Church, and marches under the banner of the Republican party. MARTIN HEDMAN. — A prominent business man who has taken an active part in the building up of Turlock and vicinity since he first located here in the early nineties, is Martin Hedman, who was born in Vermland, Sweden, in 1869, and there reared on a farm at the same time that he received a good education in the public schools, for which Sweden has long been famous. Then he learned the carpenter's trade, and when nineteen years of age migrated to the land of the Stars and Stripes, locating in St. Paul, Minn. There, for eight years, he followed his trade, and then he made his way to Duluth and was among the pioneers on the Mesaba range, which has since become so well known for its production of iron ore. He camped on the present site of Virginia City, Minn., when he had to cut and clear the brush in order to erect his tent ; both snow and slush abounded, and conditions were very unpleasant, so that he endured great hardships where there is now a city of 40,000 or more. For $1,500 he could have bought a claim site now worth millions, but at that time things did not look good there. It was simply a wild country, with bears roaming. After serving the Hamilton Ore Company for two and a half years as foreman in charge of lumbering and carpenter work, and when he had badly exposed himself in the swamps, he was taken with typhoid fever and returned to St. Paul to recuperate ; . and when he had recovered, he went back to the Mesaba range in the employ of the same company. But he was again taken ill, and then he left the region for good. Soon after his return to St. Paul, he was married to Miss Marie Anderson, who was born in Linkoping, Sweden, and he and his wife then removed to Warren, Minn., and located thirty-three miles north of Crookston in the Red River Valley of the North, where he followed contracting and building with success. Wishing, however, to settle on the Pacific Coast, Mr. Hedman came out to Cali fornia and Turlock in 1902, when there were about 100 people here, and he purchased a ranch of forty acres in Hilmar, which he improved by sowing alfalfa and setting out an orchard. At that time the country was infested with jack rabbits, and to such an extent that both crops and trees were destroyed by them, and some relief came only when the settlers formed drives to kill them off. Grasshoppers, also, came in swarms, reminding one of the old Egyptian days. After a little more than a year he rented out his ranch and returned to Turlock, and here he began contracting and building. About 1905 Mr. Hedman formed a partnership with Theodore Olson and they started a lumber yard on the East Side. They were incorporated as the Turlock Lumber Company, and with a large j-ard and a planing mill they built up an extensive business. Mr. Hedman had charge of the building department, while Mr. Olson looked after the yard. In 1909, they sold the plant to Andrew Johnson, and then Mr. Hedman, with Theodore Olson, James Quigley and Roger Young, incorporated the Turlock Hardware Company, and opened an attractive establishment on West Main Street, to which he gave his time for three years. Then he sold his interest and bought sixty acres in Tegner, where he engaged in raising alfalfa and running a dairy ; but at the end of fifteen months, he rented this out in order again to engage in business in Turlock. Then he started his present concern for the handling of hardware and implements, and incorporated it as the Hedman-Johnson Hardware Company; and at the same time he built a private resi dence, choosing a choice location on West Main Street, at that time considered "away °ut." As the city grew, however, this site became valuable business property, where- 798 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY upon he erected the Hedman building, where his former residence stood, and now there ¦ is a beautiful brick structure, 100x200 feet in size, and two stories high, which is used as a store and for the warehousing of agricultural implements. When Mr. Johnson died his interest was sold to Mr. Lundell. Hedman and Johnson had started a branch store in Hilmar and erected a brick edifice, 50x100 feet in size, where they engaged in the sale of hardware, implements and groceries ; this branch was later under Mr. Lundell's charge. Under the personal management of Mr. Hedman, their busi ness has grown in volume to be the largest of its kind in Turlock. Mr. Hedman also helped to organize the People's State Bank, and in that he continued until he sold out his interest. He belongs to the Board of Trade, and stands for any movement or measure that will build up the town. Six children are still living to bless Mr. and Mrs. Hedman. Myrtle is with her father in business, and there are Ruth, Agnes, Esther, Roy and Harold. In Hil mar, Mr. Hedman was clerk of the school board, and he was also an organizer of the Swedish Mission Church there, and was secretary of its first board of trustees. After locating in Turlock, he helped to build up the Swedish Mission Church and has been very prominent and active in otherwise building, and also upbuilding the town. ANDREW JOHNSTON.— Among the successful members of the California Bar who have become distinguished beyond even the territory in which they are most active may be mentioned Andrew Johnston of Turlock, who was born at Kelso, Rox- buryshire, Scotland, on August 9, 1869, the grandson of Andrew Johnston, a native of that section, who was born in the family residence where our subject first saw the light of day and which was built by the great-grandfather. Andrew Johnston, Sr., was a newspaper man, and edited the Kelso Chronicle. His son Archibald, our Andrew's father, was also born in the same family mansion, and later became a merchant, residing at Coldstream, on the Tweed, then at Paisley, and still later at Glasgow, until he took the important step of migrating to the United States with his family. In 1883 he settled at Chicago and connected himself with a real estate and building company, removing later to Montrose, Colo. There he now lives, a horti culturist, with his good wife, who was Miss Amelia Wilson, a native of Ayrshire. They had five children, three now living, and among these Andrew is the oldest. He enjoyed a good beginning in education in the schools of Scotland, and on com ing to Chicago, continued his schooling until, in 1886, he entered the office of the Santa Fe Railroad Company as a clerk. He was quick to learn, and was soon pro moted to be private secretary for the vice-president, and then the president, and later for the agent of the receiver of the company. Ambitious to become a lawyer, Mr. Johnston began the study of law by attend ing the evening classes at Kent College of Law, now the Chicago Kent College of Law, from which he was graduated in 1895 and on June 6, 1895, was licensed to practice by the Supreme Court of Illinois. He had continued in railroad work, and that, with the confinement and close study of the law brought about a breakdown of his constitution. In October, 1895, therefore, the railroad company transferred him to New Mexico, and he became private secretary to Mr. Wells at Albuquerque; and the same year he made his first trip to California. He was so well pleased with what he saw in the new Golden States that in 1897 he again had himself transferred, this time to Los Angeles. After a few months, however, his health again broke, and he went out on the desert, and was with the railroad company between Mojave and Gallup. For about eighteen months he roughed it and found it very beneficial ; and he then quit the service of the company for over a year, and spent that time in recuperating on a cattle ranch in Texas. Then he took a trip back to Chicago and went on to Minneapolis, where he was with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad in the office of the assistant general superintendent, W. J. Underwood, at Minneapolis. Having returned to Chicago, Mr. Johnston came out to California in 1900; and at Fresno he was for a while in the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad Company, as chief clerk in the superintendent's office. Later, for a few months, he was agent at Bakersfield, and then he was made chief clerk in the superintendent's office at Needles. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 801 On going there, he handed in his resignation ; but it was four months before he was relieved, the company refusing to accept it. He came away, however, with the highest record and credentials, and in 1907 located at Turlock. For a short time he handled real estate here ; and when the Turlock Board of Trade was reorganized, he was elected secretary, and did abundant, effective work to make that useful organi zation a success. On June 26, 1911, he resigned to engage in the practice of law in Turlock and opened his present offices. Since the first day of his entrance into this new field, Mr. Johnston, who so worthily represents the important and always interesting contribution of the Scot to American progress, has been favored with an ever-growing clientele, until now he is attorney for the People's State Bank and for the American Surety Company, as well as for R. G. Dun & Company. He is a Democrat in matters of national politics, but he finds pleasure in putting aside partisanship whenever nonpartisan support of men or measures guarantees success and broad, permanent development for the community. At Los Angeles, Mr. Johnston was married to Miss Maude Martin, a native of Woodland, Cal., and the daughter of the Rev. J. M. Martin, who was reared in Illinois. He came out to California in 1852 and was president of Hesperian College, and later still president of Christian College at Santa Rosa. After that, he entered the real estate field, and engaged in mining, and was a successful man until his death in 1914. Mrs. Johnston is a graduate of the Oakland high school, and is a lady of accomplishment and attractive personality. Mr. Johnston is vice-president of the Stanislaus Bar Association. SYLVAIN S. LATZ. — A prominent citizen and leading business man of Stan islaus County is to be found in the person of Sylvain S. Latz, manager of the oldest and the largest store devoted exclusively to the sale of dry goods in the county and located in Modesto. Mr. Latz has been able to contribute much towards the upbuild ing of Modesto and on every occasion he has demonstrated his progressive ideas and made his influence felt in promoting the greatest good to the greatest number. A native son, he was born in the city of Modesto on February 2, 1886, the eldest of the two sons of Phillip Latz, who is mentioned on another page of this history. He was reared in Modesto and educated in the Modesto schools and grad uated from Heald's Business College of San Francisco and since 1915 has been the manager of Latz's Dry Goods Store, and at the same time has been a live wire in both the Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants Association, serving as a director of each for several years. At the present writing (1921) he is a director and the treasurer of the Modesto Progressive Business Club and interested in every good thing possible for both Modesto and Stanislaus County and ready to use his connec tions and influence to further worthy ends. Desiring to help win the war and support the nation by giving actual aid to the farmers and producers during the World War, Mr. Latz entered heartily into the plan proposed by C. O. Lee of Modesto of forming among firms, professional and business men of the locality an organization to be known as the Loyal Legion of Farm Workers, of which he was made the chairman. Through this medium employers would agree to place themselves and those of their employees who would be willing, both male and female, subject to conscription as farm laborers, and also to furnish automobiles for free transportation, and to pay their employees their full _ salaries while the latter were thus employed in farm work. This movement resulted in much aid being given Uncle Sam to help fight the battles of the Allies which might other wise never have been afforded. Mr. Latz was a member of the County Executive Committee of the Allied War Work Campaign and also active in all the Allied drives for funds to help those at the front and put the county over the top in every case. Besides his local associations, Mr. Latz is interested in the manufacture of the Keystone tractor, an invention that was started under the name of the Paulsen Plat form Tractor Company, of which he is secretary and treasurer. In this age of progress it is the machine that is fast supplanting the horse and tractors are now almost univer sal in use by both large and small ranchers. This particular tractor company was 34 802 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY organized by people of Stanislaus County in 1919, and duly incorporated under the laws of the State of California. It was capitalized at $500,000, and the following officers were chosen: President, H. T. Johnson, a structural engineer and ranch owner; vice-president, T. R. Paulsen, mechanical engineer; secretary and treasurer, S. S. Latz. The tractor is being manufactured in Los Angeles at a plant on Santa Fe Avenue and advertised and sold under the name of the Keystone Tractor. Patents on exclusive features have been obtained in all countries and there is every reason to believe that the Keystone Tractor will be a great commercial and industrial success, to the entire satisfaction of the purchaser and user, as well as to the promoters. Among the features superior to that of any other tractor are the following: It can turn within a radius of its own length, or nine feet; it overcomes the irregulari ties of land surface without sudden lifting, jarring or falling of the entire machine, for it virtually bends with the ground. This is overcome by using the center drive and idle wheels at either end of the track, which wheels raise or lower when meeting any elevation or depression, thus having a saving of tractile power over any other caterpillar type. It will work on sandy or any other ground because the track is not lubricated. The possibilities to stockholders and promoters are unlimited. In 1914, in San Francisco, S. S. Latz was united in marriage with Miss Carolyn Marks of that city and their union has been blessed with the birth of a daughter, Cecile Marjorie. The family reside in their home at 128 Elmwood Avenue, Modesto. Mr. Latz is also interested in the growing of rice and owns a tract of 180 acres three miles from Escalon, San Joaquin County, and he is a director of the Pacific Rice Growers Association, having been appointed in July, 1920. He is a Mason, holding membership in Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., of which he is past master; belongs to Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M. ; the Scottish Rite Bodies No. 1, of San Francisco; and to Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of that city; also to Modesto Pyramid No. 15, A. E. O. S. He is also a member of Modesto Parlor, N. S. G. W., president of the Modesto Tennis Club and chairman of the National Sports Com mittee of the National Progressive Clubs. It will be seen by the foregoing that the life of this business man is indeed a busy and useful one. REV. A. G. DELBON. — Among the most prominent ministers of the Swedish Mission Church in the United States and a leader among the clergy of that denomina tion, was the late Rev. A. G. Delbon, the principal in the founding of Emanuel Hospital at Turlock. He was born in Dalena, Sweden, August 26, 1871, the son of Andres Gustaf Pearson an agriculturist who now resides in Norway, Mich. The fourth eldest of a family of seyen children, who all took the name Gustafson, but on coming to Turlock, Reverend Gustafson changed his name to A. G. Delbon for convenience, particularly in obtaining his mail, which frequently went astray because of the great number of the name of Gustafson. Coming to Michigan in 1890, he first followed mining, and in 1894 he began to study for the ministry, entering North Park College in Chicago, where he graduated in 1898, and was ordained to the minis try in the Swedish Mission Church in June of that year. During his college course he preached, serving as pastor of the Swedish Mission Church at Elgin, 111., during the last year of his course and one year afterward. Then Reverend Delbon went to Butte, Mont., organizing and building the Swedish Mission Church there and was its pastor for five years. In January, 1904, he located in Omaha, Nebr., as pastor of the Swedish Mission Church, but in the fall of 1905 he suffered a nervous breakdown and came to Los Angeles. Here his health improved and he became the pastor of the Swedish Mission Church there and through his efforts the congregation was greatly increased and the new church was built on Francisco and Lincoln streets. He con tinued there until June, 1911, when he came to Turlock as the pastor of the Swedish Mission Church. Here he had a successful and congenial pastorate and during this time the flock grew from 130 to over 400, and the church was rebuilt. Reverend Delbon also started the movement to establish a hospital at Turlock, which resulted in raising the money for the building of Emanuel Hospital, and was completed in June, 1917, at a cost of $30,000, and in 1920 an addition was completed at an equal cost. It has accommodation for fifty patients, with private rooms, and is Jar^UJll fy 77/^aUju HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 803 open to physicians of all schools. During this time, Reverend Delbon had been president of the hospital, but he resigned April 20, 1919, from his pastorate in order that he might devote his time to other matters he had undertaken. At Norway, Mich., June 25, 1898, Rev. Delbon was married to Miss Ida M. Forsberg, also a native of Sweden, born in Westergotland, a daughter of P. J. and Anna (Bengtson) Forsberg, who were farmers in their native land, until they passed away. Ida M. came to Norway, Mich., when she was twelve years of age, receiving her education in the excellent schools in Michigan. Mrs. Delbon was reared and educated in an atmosphere of culture which well fitted her to preside over his home and assist him in his religious work, and as a leader among the ladies of the congregation, always giving him her encouragement and aiding him in everything he undertook. They were blessed with six children : Naemy is a fine pianist and an excellent teacher of this branch of music and she frequently favors the people of Turlock with her rendition of beautiful selections from the classics. The other members of the family are Montana, Elfie, Astrid, Walden and Rodney. Mr. Delbon was not privileged to enjoy the fruits of his labors, however, for his health failed and he passed away February 11, 1921, mourned by his family and friends, not only in California, but in the various places where he had resided. He was president of the California Ministerial Association of the Swedish Mission Church for several years and was also a trustee of the state organization of the denomination. With Mr. Ullberg he started the publication of California, the church organ for the Swedish Mission Church in California, and was its editor for the first year. An eloquent speaker, Rev. Delbon had always been a great student and was well informed, not alone on religious subjects, but on the current events of the day, and his sermons and speeches were much enjoyed. His death was a distinct loss, not only to Turlock, but to the Swedish Mission Church of California. SAMUEL NELSON McBRIDE.— A man of more than ordinary ability and prominence in Stanislaus County is Samuel Nelson McBride, well known as an edu cator, and owner since 1910 of a model dairy farm in Prescott Precinct, near Salida, where he resides, and manager since 1919 of the three Grange Company warehouses at Salida, through which pass annually tens of thousands of sacks of grain and tons of alfalfa from the fertile fields adjoining. Mr. McBride is a native of Ohio, but came to California with his parents when he was a small lad. He was born near Deshler, Ohio, April 6, 1863, the son of Rev. John and Mary (Hubbard) McBride, the former a minister in the United Brethren Church. When he was eleven years of age his mother died, and thereafter he passed much of his time with his paternal grandparents, Samuel and Abigail Mc Bride, on a ranch in Yolo County, near Sacramento. His preliminary education was obtained in the public schools, and he was graduated from San Joaquin Valley College at Woodbridge, Cal., then took a post-graduate course at the Normal School in Weston, Ore., and now holds a California state life diploma. For a year following his graduation, Mr. McBride engaged in farming, and then answered a call to teach in the United Brethren School at Huntsville, Wash. And now began "an active career as an educator, which lasted for twenty consecu tive years, with the exception of one year, during which he engaged in the general mercantile business at Montpellier, in partnership with his brother-in-law, H. C. Keeley. Following the year at Huntsville, Mr. McBride taught the commercial department at Weston College, Weston, Ore., for a year, returning then to California, where he taught for four years at Salida, and for the following seven years in the schools of Tulare County. He then returned to Stanislaus County and taught for one year at Langworth, one year just east of Claus, and for four years in Stanislaus. Although an active educator, Mr. McBride did not by any means confine his interests and activities to his profession. In 1891, while still engaged in teaching, he commenced to spend his summer vacations in the employ of the Grange Company, and in May, 1919, was appointed manager of the three large warehouses at Salida, in which capacity he has established an enviable reputation for integrity and ability. 804 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY In 1910 Mr. McBride purchased forty acres of the old Keeley ranch, which he made into a model dairy farm and operated with marked success, owning at one time a herd of thirty graded milch cows. In 1917, after seven years of constructive labor, he sold the herd and leased the ranch, retaining for his own use only the residence portion, including a handsome modern bungalow and a splendid orchard. In 1889 Mr. McBride was married to Miss Alice Keeley, and their union has been blessed with one son, Willard K., now in the employ of the California Milk Products Company at Gustine, Cal. When the war was declared he was attending school in Philadelphia and he at once enlisted, took the examination for the aviation corps, was accepted and assigned to the Quartermaster's Department, and later passed successfully an officers' training camp and then was assigned as an instructor in military tactics to men being sent to France until discharged for physical disability. Mr. and Mrs. McBride are members of the Presbyterian Church at Modesto, and Mr. Mc Bride is a prominent member of Wildey Lodge No. 149, I. O. O. F., and is a past grand of that order. He also belongs to Modesto Encampment No. 48, and the Woodmen of the World. Politically he has always been allied with the temperance forces, and several years ago, in spite of his reluctance to enter public life, he was persuaded by friends who realized his sterling qualities and ability to accept the nomination for county school superintendent on the Prohibition ticket. Mr. McBride first came to Modesto in 1873, accompanying his father, who came here to fill a pulpit of his church, and who was for many years prominently identified with the work of the United Brethren Church in this state; he now resides on a ranch in San Joaquin County, north of Riverbank, retired from the active ministry, being now eighty-four years of age, but is still recognized as a powerful influence in the church. His first wife bore him four children, of whom our esteemed fellow citizen is the only one living. After her death he married Miss Eliza Monholland of Stanislaus County, who bore him nine sons and daughters, eight of whom are living and are well known in this county. They are: Henry, Orin, Lena, Lettie, Louis, Leo, Dillon and Esther. Levi died in early youth. REV. JOHN M. SPENCER.— A worthy representative of the Christian min istry who, by proving a successful rancher, has also done something in advancing California agriculture, toward making the state more golden and roseate to those seek ing homes and fields of occupation, is the Rev. John M. Spencer, the head of a large and highly respected family, and the owner and proprietor of two farms in Lang worth precinct, in Stanislaus County. He was born at Canton, in Fulton County, 111., on December 18, 1848, the son of Richardson and Jane (Hardesty) Spencer, who were among the highly respected folks of Canton, 111. Richardson Spencer was born in Indiana in 1800, and came from Indiana to Fulton County, 111., about the time when Peoria was founded. There he farmed successfully; and in Canton he died at the age of eighty-nine. His wife had preceded him about fifteen years. Nine children were born to this worthy couple; and our subject, the youngest, is the only one sur viving today. Some years ago he returned to Illinois for a visit, and four of his sisters were then living; but they have since passed away. John M. Spencer had the ordinary school advantages while he grew up on his father's farm and worked hard. Self-made and self-taught, he studied for the ministry, and in 1885 was ordained in the Free Methodist Church, and at different times had charge of the churches at New Bedford, Algonquin, Streator and Marengo, 111. He was married in Hermon, Knox County, 111., September 24, 1872, to Miss Mary M. Goforth, a daughter of Andrew and Phoebe (Eggers) Goforth, and in addition to attending to the work of the minister, he also ran a farm in Illinois. For a few years after his marriage, he lived in Kansas, where he also farmed ; but he was persuaded to return to his native state, from which he came to California in January, 1895, coming almost direct to Oakdale. After pitching his tent here, he was ably assisted by his sons, who ran the farm while he traveled about as a missionary, organizing congregations and establishing churches under the rules of the United Brethren. He was cordially received and helped by many persons, but he will always remember with gratitude the late Thomas HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 805 Snedigar of Oakdale, who gave him the right hand of fellowship. He has served as presiding elder, and in 1920, was appointed conference missionary by the United Brethren conference. The Rev. Mr. Spencer resides upon his home ranch of sixty acres, where he has a flourishing grove of forty acres of almonds. He also has another ranch, of thirteen and one-half acres, where he has three acres of timber and the balance in alfalfa. He is a member of the California Almond Growers Association of Oakdale, and he main tains, besides, a keen interest in all that pertains to the cultivation of the soil and the development of Stanislaus County's resources. As a minister of the Gospel seeking to work in the most practical manner, he not only preaches at Oakdale frequently, but he travels throughout the San Joaquin Valley, where many recall the uplifting influence flowing from his visits and labors on behalf of others. They had eleven children, nine of whom grew up and eight are living, and add joy to the lives of this pious couple. Cludia May was born in Kansas, and married and died in DeKalb, 111., leaving one child; Charles Andrew is an upholsterer in San Francisco; Niles Franklin works in the furniture trade and resides in Modesto; Alvin Howard is a farmer in Los Angeles County; Walter is a farmer in the Langworth precinct; Mary Edith is now Mrs. C. A. Lukins of the home place ; Roy is a rancher at Oakdale and grows almonds ; Robert B. works out on ranches, and Ida May is Mrs. Elmer Turner of Modesto. I. A. HODGES. — Among the most reliable real estate dealers in Turlock, and the oldest realty man in the local field, is I. A. Hodges, who was born in Lincoln shire, England, on May 1, 1851, the son of Isaac and Rebecca (Scarbra) Hodges, who brought his family out to Canada in 1855 and settled near Brussels, Ont. There our subject was reared on a farm, while he attended the public schools; and there, on March 3, 1873, he married Miss Mary Buchanan, a native of Ontario. In 1874, he removed to Virginia City, Nev., and followed mining, becoming well known as the able and considerate superintendent of the quartz mill of the Comstock Mine. Three j'ears later, on July 12, he moved on to Fresno and bought land on the McCall Road six miles north of what is now Selma, and there, with 280 acres, he engaged in general farming. He bought 160 acres of this land at seven dollars an acre, and forty acres at five dollars an acre, and with this advantage, he went in for grain and stock raising, having fine standard-bred horses. In 1898 Mr. Hodges went to the Klondike over the all-Canadian route to the Nation River country, then back to Pt. Simpson and then to Glendora at the foot of Teslin Lake, and after that to Dawson ; and as superintendent of mines, he continued there for three years. He was the first man in the Klondike to thaw ground by using steam. After that he returned to California and took his wife and son back to Nome, where he remained for a year as superintendent of a mine. When he came back to California, he located in Oakland, and for a year was in the real estate business there. Mr. Hodges permanently identified himself with Turlock in February, 1906, when he opened a real estate office here. He had always been a "booster" for California, and he bought lots, built a residence, owned and sold farm and city property, and acted as agent for tracts. He maintained an office at the corner of Front and Main streets, where patrons always knew that fair and open representations, corresponding to the truth, would be made, and he, naturally, joined the Board of Trade and, quite as naturally, became more than a mere member in it. He has been actively engaged in the real estate business in this valley for about thirty-five years and he is the best posted man on land values and production in Central California. A Democrat in his preference for national political platforms, Mr. Hodges was for four years deputy sheriff under George Davis, but he has otherwise never sought or agreed to fill office, although he could doubtless have had other public trusts. He belongs to Turlock Lodge, Loyal Order of Moose. Four children acknowledge him with pride. Cora B. is Mrs. Rice of San Francisco, and the mother of a son, Virgil H. Dr. George A. Hodges is a dentist at the same place. N. Corinn, a mechanical dentist, volunteered for service in the navj' during the World War and was stationed at Yerba Buena as an instructor in the hospital and a sergeant-at-arms. And Della M. is Mrs. I* R. Payne of Fresno, and the mother of two daughters, Marian F. and Dorothy D. 806 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY HENRY S. KRIGBAUM.— For more than forty-five years a resident of the Pacific States, including California, to which he came first at the age of twenty-three years, Utah, Nevada and Montana, Henry S. Krigbaum is truly one of the pioneers of the West, and has within the span of his years here witnessed many wonderful changes in the growth and development of the country. He has been actively engaged in various enterprises during that time, and has met with merited success at all times. He has been a resident of Patterson since 1916, and stands high in the community He has taken an active part in all movements for the welfare of the town and vicinity. is public spirited and patriotic to the core, and is exceptionally proud of the splendid service record of his son Lowell during the recent World War. The son of Jonathan and Agnes (Gaynor) Krigbaum, Henry S. was born near Zanesville, Ohio, June 9, 1855. His father was a woolen manufacturer, formerly of Maryland, and the Gaynors were also a well-known family of Maryland. Our Mr. Krigbaum received his education in Ohio, but at an early age was filled with a desire to go to California, and in 1878 he came west to Utah and 1879 to Grass Valley, where he found employment in a commission business. Later he went to Corinne, Utah, then the only Gentile town in the state, and was engaged with his uncle, J. W. Guthrie, a banker of that place, later becoming cashier of the bank. The opportuni ties at Corinne were good and he soon engaged with his brother Charles in the general merchandise business, meeting with merited success. The marriage of Mr. Krigbaum came in the midst of his prosperous manhood, uniting him with Miss Helen Mary Dayton at Salt Lake City, June 9, 1886. Miss Dayton was a native of Illinois, born at Sycamore, De Kalb County. Her father was a native of Vermont and her mother a New Yorker, the father being engaged in the mercantile business at the time of her birth. When she was eighteen months old the family removed to Denver, Colo., at the time of the great gold rush, and for a time her father engaged in the mercantile business. Returning to Kansas after the crest of the gold excitement had passed, he settled at Spring Hill, where for six years he farmed, remaining until the time of his death in 1885. At Spring Hill, Kans., Mrs. Krigbaum passed much of her girlhood, receiving her education in the grammar school, and later attending Park College, at Parkville, near Kansas City, Mo. Following her graduation she came to Utah as a Presbyterian missionary to Brigham City, where she taught for two years, followed by two years of successful teaching at Corinne, where she met the energetic young merchant who claimed her for his bride. Following his marriage, Mr. Krigbaum continued in the general merchandise business at Corinne for a year, and then went to Marysville, Mont., where he opened a general merchandise store, selling at the end of a year and going into the coffee, tea and spice business at Helena, Mont., then a thriving mining town. Here he remained for two years, selling at a profit at the end of that time, and returning to Utah, where he located in Salt Lake City and engaged in the real estate and insurance business. It was in 1893 that Mr. Krigbaum finally returned to California to make his home. He came to San Francisco to take charge of the Casualty Insurance Company as manager of the Western Division, covering Montana, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Washington and California, with headquarters at San Francisco. He was an ex perienced insurance man and the business prospered under his management, and San Francisco became his family home for some years. He bought a fruit ranch in Yolo County and in 1897 went there to make his home for the next three years. Following this he went to Bakersfield and ran the Grand Hotel, then the leading hostelry of that city, for a year and a half. He then returned to San Francisco and engaged in the hotel business, being one of the victims of the great fire in 1906, and remaining there until he came to Patterson in 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Krigbaum have many warm friends in Patterson, and their pleasant home just north of town is a delightful place to visit. They were the parents of one son, Lowell, a sketch of whose life is on another page of this work. He was engaged as a mining and civil engineer with the California Debris Commis sion, and was among the first to answer the stirring call to arms when America entered the great World War in the spring of 1917. He enlisted immediately and yd^x^^v, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 809 was sent to an officers' training camp at Vancouver, Wash., on September 5, where he received his commission as first lieutenant. On December 22 of that year he was transferred to Arizona, and trained for a short time, but was sent almost immediately to France, where he was commissioned captain. For the greater part of his overseas service Captain Krigbaum was attached to the Supply Transport Service in Tours, where he saw much active service and met with many thrilling experiences, but escaped without disaster. He returned to America in July, 1919, and received his honorable discharge that same month at New York. He returned immediately to San Fran cisco, where he had been employed with the California Debris Commission at the time of his enlistment, and within half an hour of his landing was again installed at the old desk in the same office, ready and eager for business. 'He met a tragic death on May 10, 1921, in an automobile accident while returning from the mines. GEORGE K. PIKE. — A representative of an old and prominent California family, George H. Pike is very naturally much interested in the preservation of Cali fornia history, nor is his good wife, a cultured, accomplished helpmate, less enthusiastic about the obligation of the present generation to those of the past. Mr. Pike was born in Montezuma, Calaveras. County, Cal. — the region immor talized by Mark Twain — on October 25, 1861, the son of Samuel T. Pike, a native of Eastport, Maine, who came to California by way of Panama in 1850, and in San Fran cisco worked at his trade of carpenter, earning at that time extraordinarily high wages. He had a brother, too, named Jacob, who was first mate of a ship, and got the gold fever; he came around Cape Horn to San Francisco, and Samuel Pike got him off the boat at midnight, and Jacob, with three other shipmates, took a boat to Stockton. There they fitted themselves out for the mines, and the first mining was done about a quarter of a mile below La Grange dam. Later they formed a company to turn the Tuolumne River at Don Pedro Bar, and were very successful. In 1857 Samuel Pike opened a •store at Copperopolis, Calaveras County, which Jacob ran, while Samuel conducted the Montezuma House at Montezuma. On the trip across Panama, on mule-back, Samuel Pike met Janet Simpson, a na tive of Edinburgh, Scotland, who was brought by her father to Cincinnati when she was three months old and where she was reared and educated. In 1850 she was coming by way of the Isthmus to join her father on the Coast. She was placed in charge of Mr. Pike, who saw that she was brought to Montezuma; and this acquaintance con tinuing pleasantly and ripening into friendship, they were married in Stockton in 1853, and she spent her last days in Oakland, passing away in 1920. Grandfather Simpson went into Mexico, learned the language and held office there until the dis covery of gold, when he came to California and died at an advanced age. Samuel Pike came to Milton and for three years was busy as a contractor and builder, and then he came to West Side, where he took up 320 acres ; but on account of the dry season he let it go, and it is now the site of Crows Landing. After that he moved to Tuolumne City, and went in for farming ; later he traveled for a San Francisco cigar firm; then, with Jacob M. Pike he opened the U. S. Restaurant on Clay Street, in San Francisco, and with this experience he came to Merced in 1882, and opened a restaurant there. From 1887 to 1890 he ran the Cosmopolitan Hotel at Tulare ; but when they moved the Southern Pacific Railroad shops away, he retired and died at Oakland in June, 1915, aged eighty-nine years. Three children were born to this estimable pioneer couple ; but a daughter, Ella, now Mrs. W. D. Collins of Oak land, and our subject are the only two to grow up. George K. Pike was educated in the San Francisco schools and enjoyed the ad vantage of the high school there, after which he attended the Bernard Business Col lege, where he was prepared to take a position with the Goodyear Rubber Company in that city. When he left them, he went into the service of C. D.JLadd, a dealer in sporting goods, traveling as a salesman for him from his twenty-first year and for the following four years through the Pacific Coast territory. Then he came to Merced and afterward to Tulare, to engage in the restaurant and hotel business; and he assisted •n conducting the Cosmopolitan Hotel until 1890. 810 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY In that year, owning the California Hot Springs, thirty-five miles east of Porter- ville, Mr. Pike for five j'ears ran it with great success. Then, in 1902, he located in Modesto as manager of the Tynan Hotel for his uncle, J. M. Pike, and this he directed for eight years. When the lease expired, he engaged in business in Modesto until 1916, when he went in for agriculture. In 1919 Mr. Pike was one of the organizers of the Western Soap Products Company, manufacturers of waterless soap, with the trade mark "Hyssop," being the original soap of its kind made on the Pacific Coast. Mr. Pike is office manager and is giving his undivided time to make a success of the enterprise. He owns a fine residence at 404 Laurel Street. On May 30, 1892, Mr. Pike was married in San Francisco to Miss Jean McBride, a native of Kirkcudbright, Scot land, and the daughter of Duncan McBride, who was born there and married Mar garet MacLaughlin, who died in Scotland. Duncan McBride came to California, then went to the Klondike, and is now in Alaska; Mrs. Pike was reared by Grand father McBride, and brought to California when a girl, and here attended the public school. Two children have blessed this union: Ella M. Pike, who is a graduate of Heald's Business College, Oakland, and is the wife of Harry B. Halford of Modesto, and Kelton W., who is a graduate of the Modesto high school, then attending Stan ford University. During the great war he enlisted in the United States Naval Re serve. Force, but he is now on the advertising department of the Modesto Evening News. While at Stanford he was captain of the Stanford University baseball team. Mr. Pike was president of the Yosemite Parlor No. 24, N. S. G. W. at Merced. W. A. HARTER. — Among Modesto's leading citizens and men of affairs W. A. Harter stands prominent. He is one of California's native sons, born at Sonora, Tuolumne County, October 8, 1860. His father, James, a native of Little Falls, N. Y., and a blacksmith, came to San Francisco via Panama in 1850, going thence to Sonora, where he did mining and blacksmithing. He continued mining until 1869, when he located in San Francisco, with the Kimball Manufacturing Company. He afterwards went to Cacheville, Yolo County, Cal., and to Stockton, where he was with the Miller Carriage and Manufacturing Company. He located in Modesto in 1870, when the town first started, and opened the first blacksmith shop in the place. This was on Tenth, between H and J streets, and later he owned the southeast corner of J and Tenth streets, where he had his blacksmith shops. After retiring, he died at Modesto, in 1909. His marriage with Charlotte Tibbetts, a native of Little Falls, N. Y., who died at Modesto in 1883, brought three children, of whom two are living. W. A. Harter is the youngest of the paternal family of children, and received his education in the public schools of San Francisco, Stockton and Modesto, having located here in 1870, afterwards attending the Pacific Business College at San Francisco, from which he was graduated. He afterward entered the Modesto postoffice under Postmaster James Swain. Soon he entered Brusie's grocery, where he remained six years. He then started a grocery of his own on Tenth and H streets. After five years he sold his interest in the business and entered the DeYoe-Riggs furniture store. He was here several years, and while there, in 1893, was elected city clerk of Modesto, retaining the office about ten years. In 1903; when the Farmers and Merchants Bank was organized, W. A. Harter entered as bookkeeper, in 1904 was made assistant cashier, and later, promoted to cashier. He was also a stockholder and director and at the first election after the death of President High, January, 1914, was elected president, and continued as manager of the institution, then located on H and Tenth streets. The bank began business with a capital of $75,000, and later was affiliated with the Security Savings Bank of Stanislaus County and the capital was divided, the Farmers and Merchants Bank being capitalized for $49,500, and the Security Savings Bank for $25,500. Mr. Harter was president and stockholder of both banks, and when the Bank of Italy, absorbed the two, February 1, 1917, it became the Modesto branch of the Bank of Italy. Mr. Harter was chairman of the Modesto advisory board and manager of the bank, but the amount of work in the two positions was found to be onerous, and a manager was elected separate from the chairmanship. August, 1917, the bank moved to its present quarters at I and Tenth streets, in remodeled and refitted HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 811 quarters. In May, 1920, he resigned his position with the Bank of Italy and was elected cashier and vice-president of the First National Bank of Modesto. The bank was later merged with the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bank and became its Modesto Branch, on July 10, 1920. Mr. Harter continued with the new bank as vice-president. He is also a stockholder as well as a member of the advisory board. Thus he is giving all of his time and years of experience to the new financial institution. In 1900 Mr. Harter bought unimproved land in the Turlock district and set out the first peach orchard. He also raised alfalfa, but in 1917 disposed of the property. His marriage at Modesto united him with Miss Emma F. Fulkerth, a native of Stockton, and daughter of A. S. Fulkerth, ex-sheriff of Stanislaus County. Mr. Harter was bereaved of his wife in 1912. One child was the issue, a daughter, Blanche C, a graduate of the Modesto high school, now the wife of A. V. Wickman of Modesto. In his religious ties Mr. Harter is a member of the Christian church. Fraternally he affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, and the United Artisans. While busily engaged with important financial affairs he has also taken an active part in civic matters and in all movements promoting the advancement of Stanislaus County. He has built up an enviable reputation as a financier, and is a highly respected, reliable and honorable Californian, and has the respect of his associates and the unwavering confi dence of the general public. JOHN MADISON WALTHALL.— A distinguished representative of a famous American family long identified with California and its marvelous development, and associated in an enviable manner with the leaders and the history of the nation itself, is John Madison Walthall, great-grandson of President Madison's sister. He was born, a native son, on December 31, 1871, at Stockton, the son of Madison Walthall, of a British family, originating in Wales in 1400. Early in the Seventeenth Century, two Walthalls settled in Virginia, and by seventeen hundred there were about seven Walthall families in the Old Dominion. Later, a Walthall married a sister of President Madison, and had a family of ten children, and among these was one son baptized Madison, who became the grandfather of our subject. One of his sons was also named Madison, and he was John Madison Walthall's father. Grandfather Madison Walthall was a veteran of the Mexican War ; and Edward Cary Walthall, known in Civil War history as a brave general in the Confederacy, died a United States Senator. He commanded the rear guard of General John B. Hood's army after that general's defeat at Nashville, and held off the pursuing forces of General George H. Thomas. He succeeded Lucius Q. C. Lamar in the United States Senate in 1885, was re-elected, and until his death at Washington in 1898, aged sixty-seven years, he was unquestionably one of the foremost citizens of Richmond at the national capital. Grandfather Madison Walthall came to California in 1848, and settled at San Jose, where he was one of the first legislators during the year 1850, and after render ing that responsible service, he went in for farming near Stockton. Madison Wal thall, John Madison's father, who was born at Columbus, Miss., came into California in 1851 and also settled near Stockton. He took up mining, however, received a Federal appointment in the Government land office, and was soon busy making some of the important early surveys. During this arduous work, however, he contracted pneumonia, which developed into consumption ; and he was hurried swiftly to his death at the promising age of thirty-six. Mr. Walthall had married Miss Sarah E. Covert, daughter of the pioneer, John B. Covert, who came to California with General Fremont in 1838, to fight Indians. Returning to Little Rock, Ark., his home, he set out in 1861 with ox team and prairie schooner, and brought his family to California. He had eight children, and Mrs. Walthall was his eldest daughter. He settled at Stockton, and then came on to Tuol umne City. Later he built a mercantile store in Modesto, just west of the present site of the Southern Pacific depot. During the latter years of his life he was farming near Hanford, in Kings County ; and there he died. Some of his sons took up land near Tuolumne City and between them they acquired an extensive and valuable acreage. While they were living in Modesto, Mrs. Walthall, who was a recognized social 812 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY leader in 1870, was queen of the carnival at the first masque ball given in the new town. John Madison Walthall attended Salida grammar school, and later, when he lived with his uncle and aunt, David and Ora Rickart, he was sent to Oakdale school. Still later he was a pupil at Laurel Hall, a military school under direction of Dr. John Gamble, an Oxford graduate, located first at Litton Springs, but removed to San Mateo, where John was graduated. He then entered the University of California; but he preferred to matriculate in the Hastings Law College, graduating in May, '98. On June 1, 1898, he came to Modesto, received the nomination of District-Attor ney for Stanislaus County and was elected on the Republican ticket in November. He served the balance of that term and the year following. In 1900 he engaged in law partnership with L. L. Dennett. This partnership existed until 1914; but since that j'ear, Mr. Walthall has practiced law alone, making his home in Modesto. He has aimed particularly at local practice ; but the demands of his ever-increasing clients com pel him frequently to travel. He belongs to the Rotary Club, and is one of its popular and influential members. At Oakland, on June 25, 1907, Mr. Walthall married Miss Alice N. Atwood, a native of Portland, Me., daughter of Edward N. and Emma Atwood. Mrs. Walthall's grandfather was an analytical chemist and discovered a process to make kerosene out of a liquid found in Lake Trinidad ; but about the same time oil was discovered in Penn- sj'lvania, and John D. Rockefeller put the scientist out of business before he had really begun to accomplish his aim. Afterward, Edward N. Atwood was employed by Mr. Rockefeller as an assistant to Henry Rogers in the Philadelphia office of the Standard Oil Company ; and when his health broke, he settled in Oakland, where he became general western manager for a large Eastern life insurance company. And in Oak land, in October, 1909, he passed away, esteemed by all men. Mrs. Walthall went to college, and also attended the Convent of the Holy Names in Oakland, receiving there that finish to an education and culture which have always been recognized as among her real accomplishments. Mr. and Mrs. Walthall have one daughter, Sidney, nine years of age, a bright pupil in Modesto grammar school. GEORGE W. LITT. — A wide-awake, experienced and successful rancher, George W. Litt is interesting to all Californians as the son of a worthy pioneer, closely iden tified in his day with many of the great forward movements. Grandfather John Litt came across the plains in 1849, driving an ox team for Colonel Foreman. He settled in Tuolumne County and was interested in mining, making his home at Springfield. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, and came to America, locating in Illinois, where he married and two of his children were born. His wife brought the two children to California by the way of Panama in 1852 and joined him in Springfield. Two more children were born in California. The four children were as follows: William, the father of George W. ; Christine, who became Mrs. Lancaster, died at Oakdale in 1921 ; Edward of Claus and Henry in Modesto. William Litt was born near Vandalia, 111., in 1847 and came with his mother via the. Isthmus of Panama in 1852 to Springfield, Cal., where he grew to manhood. When he married he took for his wife Martha A. Pratt, who was reared at' Oakland, a sister of George Pratt, an early pioneer of California, who mined at Jackson and Chaumet and later teamed between Oakdale and Groveland. Her father, George Pratt, was born in Massachusetts, while her mother was born in Vermont. They were pioneer ranchers living four miles from Groveland, where they resided until they passed away. William Litt in 1865 was among the first settlers in this section, now Claus precinct, where he homesteaded and also preempted land, and his sister, who afterwards became Mrs. Christine Lancaster, was the first woman to homestead land in California. Later on, George Litt bought out Mrs. Lancaster, and kept on acquiring land until he owned 820 acres of fine land, six miles southwest of Oakdale. He ran one of the first Minnesota Chief sixty horsepower steam threshing machines in the San Joaquin Valley, and for a number of years threshed in Stanislaus County. He was one of the first directors of the original Oakdale Bank, before it went into bank ruptcy, and was also one of the directors of the H. and K. Warehouse Company at Oakdale, now the Oakdale Milling Company. He was greatly interested in irriga- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 815 tion, and helped build the old Turlock system, now the Oakdale Irrigation District. He died in April, 1916, survived by his widow and two children, Mrs. Rose E. Med ford of Salida and George W., our subject. George W. Litt was born on January 29, 1886, on the old Litt home ranch of 821 acres in the Claus district, and attended the Milne school when the old school- house was still standing. This school room held only sixteen pupils, and has been replaced by a large modern school building. He finished his grammar school work at Oakdale, and later studied at the Modesto high school. He remained on the home farm with his father until it was sold in 1910, and then went to Los Angeles. In 1912, he returned to Claus and leased some 2,500 acres in the Claus district. He also bought seventy-five acres at Salida, but this he now rents out. He made this purchase in 1916, and the acreage is now double-crop land. In 1912, he also leased the old James Thompson ranch called Lanark Park, consisting of 800 acres which, with 1,200 other acres, make about 2,000 acres he is leasing. Mr. Litt has a seventy-five horsepower Holt caterpillar and a Fordson tractor, with other tractor machinery, and also fourteen head of horses and mules ; he gathers his crops with a Haines-Hauser combined harvester. He also has a McCormick harvester which, while in use, is drawn by horses and mules. At Stockton on December 20, 1919, Mr. Litt was married to Miss Ruby a Morgan, who is a native daughter, born at Fern, Shasta County. Her father, William Morgan, was a native son of California and married Anna Billings, who was born at Anderson, Shasta County. Mr. Morgan was a rancher and died when Ruby was seven years of age. Mrs. Morgan is now the wife of Judge Barnes of Chico. Ruby Morgan is a graduate of Redding high school and of the Chico State Normal, class of 1918, after which she engaged in teaching and it was while thus engaged in Stanislaus County that she met Mr. Litt, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage. A son, George W. Litt, Jr., born February 3, 1921, has blessed this union. Mr. Litt has always been interested in athletics, and while at Modesto high school, was a leader in the sports, taking part in baseball, football and track meets, and obtaining points at the interscholastic meets. He belongs to the Oakdale lodge of Masons and to the Modesto lodge of Moose, and he is a member of the Native Sons at Modesto, Parlor No. 11. In politics he is an independent. C. C. EASTIN, JR. — Stanislaus County points with pride to the rank and file of its public servants, nor need one be surprised in view of the record of such men as C. C. Eastin, Jr., the efficient and popular county clerk. Mr. Eastin was born at the old Eastin home, two and a half miles from- Newman, on August 6, 1887, a son of Cassius C. Eastin, a pioneer of the West Side, who has become one of the large landowners of that district, and who is represented on another page of this history. The next to the youngest of the family of nine children, Claude,, as he is familiarly known by his many friends, was reared on the home farm, and on completing his studies in the Newman grammar school, he attended the Merced high school, later entering the Los Angeles Business College, where he was graduated in 1905. For a time he was with his brother, who was in business in Los Angeles, and he then became bookkeeper for the Mechanics Bank in that city. Resigning from this post in 1909, he returned to his home in Newman, and in a short time he was made chief deputy in the office of the county clerk of Stanislaus County. He began his duties in November, 1909, under S. B. Mitchell continuing until his death in 1911, and then under his successor, Hugh Ben son. During these years he did valuable service as chief deputy, and became very familiar with the duties of the county clerk's office as well as gaining wide acquaintances with the citizens of the county. During the World War his patriotism was stirred and resigning his position in June, 1918, he responded to the call to the colors and en listed in the trench mortar service, being attached to the Fortieth Division. He was in training at Camp Kearney until he was sent over seas. In August, 1918, he sailed from New York City for Liverpool, England, and thence across the channel to Cher bourg, France, where they resumed their training, being ordered to the front and ready to start when the armistice was signed November 11, 1918. He remained in France until Christmas Eve, 1918, when with his comrades he went aboard the trans- 816 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY port which in due time landed him in Newport News. A week later they resumed their journey to the Presidio, San Francisco, where he was mustered out and honorably discharged January 26, 1919. Mr. Eastin immediately returned to old Modesto, where his position was open for him and he resumed his duties as chief deputy county clerk. On the resignation of Mr. Benson on July 29, 1921, taking effect on August 11, Mr. Eastin was appointed county clerk by the board of supervisors, his twelve years as chief deputy admirably qualifying him for the office. Mr. Eastin's first marriage occurred in Modesto in 1911, when he was united with Miss Kathryn Ring, who came to California from her home in the East. She passed away August 13, 1913, and on March 25, 1919, Mr. Eastin was married to Miss Fanchon Flanders, a native of Minnesota, who came here with her parents in 1905. She graduated from the Modesto Business College, and spent several years as a deputy in the county clerk's office until her marriage to Mr. Eastin. Mr. Eastin is much interested in preserving the early history and landmarks of California, and is naturally an enthusiastic member of Modesto Parlor No. 11, N. S. G. W., and has been its secretary for the past four years. He is also a member of New man Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Modesto Post No. 74, American Legion and Thos. Enright Post No. 97, Veterans of Foreign Wars. FRED W. MOFFET. — As one of the pioneers in the fruit industry in Stanislaus County, and one of the most successful orchardists, nurserymen and general fruit dealers in this part of the state, Fred W. Moffet is recognized as an authority on matters of fruit culture, shipping and marketing. From a very small beginning he has forged ahead, until today he is half owner in the Superior Fruit Ranch, an extremely valuable property of 320 acres two miles east of Ceres, and of other valuable farm lands in the same section of the county. He is known as one of the most substantial men financially in the Ceres district, broad minded, public spirited, liberal in his judgments of men, but conservative in his business enterprises, patriotic and loyal to the core. Mr. Moffet is one of the men who came to Stanislaus County with a very small capital, and when he wishes to boost for the county of his adoption he points to his own success, achieved in some seventeen years, from a working capital of thirty-five dollars, a pair of willing hands and a stout heart. He is a native of Shenandoah, Page County, Iowa, born December 6, 1874. His father was William Moffet, a native of Iowa, a constructive plaster contractor, and his mother was Miss Sarah Ackerley, a native of Wisconsin. She was the mother of three children, of whom our Mr. Moffet was the first born, the mother passing away when he was a lad of seven years. The father married again, and' of this second marriage six children were born. As the eldest of such a generous family, Fred W. Moffet early found it neces sary to provide for himself with such money as he could earn, and so became self re liant and industrious. He attended the grammar and high schools, and later the Western Normal School of Shenandoah. At the early age of twelve years, however, he began to lay the practical foundation for his future success by working in the Mt. Arbor nursery for E. S. Welch, in Shenandoah, in which association he remained for twelve years. During this time he acquired a thorough knowledge of the nursery busi ness in all its details, becoming an expert horticulturist. It was in 1903 that Mr. Moffet came to California, and at Modesto entered into partnership with D. D. Campin in the nursery business, under the title of Smyrna Park Nurseries. His capital in hand was thirty-five dollars, but he was an experienced nurseryman, and although they met with reverses which almost swamped them, they managed to weather the storms of those first trying months, and to get on a paj'ing basis. From the first Mr. Moffet had unlimited faith in the future of Stanislaus County, and as soon as he began to accumulate surplus capital he invested in real estate, turning his lands at a profit as fast as he could, and re-investing, again and again. He has also acted as sales agent for several pieces of property with advantage to all concerned. In the nursery business he was manager of the sales department, and so continued until 1917. The business prospered under his able direction and became one of the best known nurseries in the county, and one in which complete confidence might be HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 817 safely placed. Since 1917 he has been active manager of the Superior Fruit Ranch, which he owns in partnership with E. S. Welch, of Iowa, for whom he worked in the Mt. Arbor Nursery at Shenandoah, and from whom he received his early training. This land of 320 acres was grain land on which in 1907 a crop of grain was harvested. In 1908 Mr. Moffet began to develop the place by setting out vines and trees and has built it up to what it is today. This is one of the most profitable fruit ranches in the county, and one of the best kept. It employs as many as 120 men regularly during the fruit season, including the cooks and camp outfits, and produces as high as ten tons to the acre. Mr. Moffet also owns ten acres within the city limits of Ceres, which he will highly improve as the family residence. A native daughter of Stanislaus County won the heart of this thrifty son of Iowa, and on April 27, 1905, Mr. Moffet was married to Miss Berdelia Hall, the daughter of M. J. and Rhoda A. Hall, of Ceres. Mrs. Moffet's parents were among the early California pioneers and were well known in this county where they resided for many years. The mother came west by way of the Isthmus of Panama in the early '50s, and the father crossed the plains with an ox team at about the same time. They have both passed away since their daughter's marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Moffet have a charming daughter, Margaret Ann, now a student in the Ceres high school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moffet have a wide circle of friends and are known for their gracious hospitality. Mrs. Moffet and Miss Margaret Ann are both members of the Baptist Church at Ceres, and take an active part in church work and iii social activi ties of many kinds. Mr. Moffet is very prominent in civic and commercial circles and is always on hand to support any plan for the betterment of conditions or the develop ment and growth of Ceres and the county. He is a member of the Ceres Board of Trade and one of the most consistent boosters in that organization of live wires. Fraternally, he is a member of the Elks, Modesto Lodge, No. 1282. Politically, he is a Republican and a supporter of party principles in national questions, but in all local affairs he stands for progressive measures, general development of resources, clean government and business administration of civic affairs, regardless of party lines. On July 29, 1921, the board of supervisors appointed Mr. Moffet a director of division two, of the Turlock Irrigation District. He is a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers' Union and of the Nurserymen's Protective Association. LOUIS J. NEWMAN. — Bearing a family name that has been worthily and prominently linked with Stanislaus County's West Side for the past generation, Louis J. Newman has made a distinctive place for himself in the Newman community, named for his father, Simon Newman, to whose enterprise and genius as a business builder this section owes much, not alone for its early development, but the large scale on which he conducted all his enterprises gave an impetus to all the business and agricultural life of this district, making its progress exceptional. A native of Mellrichstadt, Germany, where he was born in 1846, Simon Newman came to the United States when only fifteen years old, and thus grew up from an early age in the democratic atmosphere of his adopted country. Arriving here about the time of the breaking out of the Civil War, he enlisted for service when seventeen, and when the war was over made his way to California. Through clerking in the mines, his attention was turned toward the mercantile possibilities of this new land, and he became the pioneer storekeeper at Hill's Ferry. When the Southern Pacific built its road through Stanislaus County in 1889, Simon Newman came to the com munity that has since borne his name, and established the nucleus of the business that is now the largest enterprise of its kind in Stanislaus County, and, indeed, one of the largest corporations on the Pacific Coast. The business of the Simon Newman Company, which was incorporated in 1898, consists of the large mercantile business at Newman, the ranch properties, which in clude thousands of acres in Stanislaus and Merced counties, stocked with the finest Hereford cattle on the Coast, and a chain of large grain warehouses, all wonderfully successful enterprises. One of the five children of Simon and Pauline (Strauss) Newman, Louis J. Newman was born at San Francisco in 1886, where he received his early education in 818 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY the public and high schools. After finishing the course in the latter, he entered the University of California, but at the close of his freshman year, he quit college to take up the mercantile business with the Simon Newman Company at Newman. Begin ning at the bottom in 1906, he thoroughly learned all the details of this immense busi ness, and since 1917 he has been second vice-president of the company and its resident manager. His inherited business ability and his years of practical experience have well fitted him for this responsibility. The other officers of the corporation are: Juda Newman, president; E. S. Wangenheim, first vice-president; R. J. Walsh, secretary; J. S. Hofmann, merchandise manager; A. Pfitzer, superintendent of ranches. Prominent in all the affairs of the community, Mr. Newman takes a keen interest in its future development and in preserving a record of its historical events and landmarks. He is a director of the Bank of Newman, a member of the board of trustees of the city of Newman, and treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce. Fra ternally he is a member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. E., and of the Con cordia and Argonaut Clubs, San Francisco, and Beresford Country Club, San Mateo. WILLIAM F. BOTHE. — A well informed and successful horticulturist and general farmer, William F. Bothe has resided in Stanislaus County since 1904. He has applied the latest scientific methods to his orchards and vineyard, which are among the finest in the state. When Mr. Bothe bought his present property sixteen years ago it was the middle of a grain field, but he has brought it under a high state of cultivation, with some of the most beautiful and interesting ornamental and shade trees on the coast, especially worthy of note being a eucalyptus tree grown from a seed planted in 1904, which is now eighteen inches in diameter and over a hundred feet in height ; and a silk oak tree of great beauty, also grown from a seed coming from eastern Australia. Mr. Bothe's place of twenty-seven acres, in McHenry precinct, five miles northeast of Modesto, is almost entirely set to orchard and grapes. For ten years after coming to Stanislaus County Mr. Bothe worked and waited for the fruition of his labors, and in 1914 he took unto himself a wifej being united in marriage with Miss Martha Weissbrod, August 27, of that year, and has since established a com fortable home on his farm. He is the father of four children : Henry William, Marian Elizabeth, Myrtle Gladys and Esther Ada. Mr. Bothe is a native of Illinois, born near Dixon in Lee County, October 26, 1856. His parents were farmers, both born in Koenigsberg, Germany. His father, Henry Bothe, who was of French descent, came to America when he was eighteen years of age, and his mother, Catherine Hutzel, was brought across the seas when she was but three years old. They both settled in Lee County, 111., where they grew to maturity, were married, and where they still reside, owning 212 acres of fine farm land in that county. There were nine children in the Bothe family, of whom William F. is the eldest born and the only one in California. His youth was the usual experi ence of the Illinois farmer's son, and his education was received in the public schools. He remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty-six, and then rented and farmed for himself in Lee County. In 1878 he came to Colorado and home steaded 160 acres in what is now Sedgwick County, on which he proved up and then returned for a time to Illinois. In 1903 he joined a party of landseekers making an excursion to the Pacific Coast,' and the following March returned to California and in April purchased his ranch in Stanislaus County, and is an enthusiastic booster. Mrs. Bothe is a California girl, the daughter of John M. and Elizabeth (Tweed) Weissbrod, now living in San Diego, Cal. Her father is a native of Germany and her mother is descended from a good old English family of the gentry. They were married in Wyoming, where for many years Mr. Weissbrod was engaged in the cattle business on an extensive scale, operating 1,000 acres, with 400 or more head of cattle. The family came to California in 1907, locating first at Lakeport, Lake County, and two j^ears later removing to Modesto, where the father bought eighty acres of farm land in the northern part of the county. There were three daughters and five sons in the Weissbrod family, of whom Mrs. Bothe is the first born. They are: Martha Elizabeth, now Mrs. Bothe; Augusta, Mrs. Joe Foster, of Modesto; Moritz, of San W^Obofc HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 821 Diego; Dave, engaged in the garage business in Modesto; Dewey, an ex-service man in the U. S. Navy, living at Norfolk, Va. ; George, living in San Diego ; Ellen and Walter, in San Diego with their parents. Mr. Bothe has always taken an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the county, particularly in all matters affecting horticulture. He is a member of the California Associated Raisin Company and of the California Peach Growers, Inc., and is a strong advocate of cooperative marketing and of national advertising. JOHN GORHAM. — Known throughout Stanislaus County as one of its pio neers and identified with its early history, John Gorham made a trip through that por tion of the country in 1865, where Newman is now located, when elk and antelope were running in plentiful numbers over the wild grass, and with only two or three houses in the entire territory. Born in Elk Grove, Lafayette County, Wis., on April 5, 1845, he was the son of James Harvey and Elmira Gorham of New York, who settled in Wisconsin. In 1850 James H. Gorham, with a brother, came to California in the gold rush, returning to Wisconsin a year later, but in 1853 he brought his family in an overland ox-team train, bringing horses and cattle across the plains, settling on a farm in Contra Costa County, about three miles from Walnut Creek. Here John Gorham lived until he was sixteen, when he started out to make his own way. For two years he worked on ranches and at eighteen, commenced farming for himself. In 1869, Mr. Gorham came to Merced County, farming there for two years. On account of the drought of 1870 and 1871 it was almost impossible to eke out even a bare existence on the farm and after two years of struggle he gave up farming and in 1874 came to Hill's Ferry. He ran a livery stable and later purchased four acres, and here has made his permanent home, engaging in various kinds of work and is now engineer in charge of the Newman water pumping plant. In September, 1882 Mr. Gorham married Mrs. Cynthia (DeHart) Gambling, a native of Iowa, who came to California in 1876, daughter of John D. DeHart, who first came to the Golden State in 1850, together with Jesse Hill, after whom the town of Hill's Ferry was named. Mr. Gorham worked for J. J. Stevenson for twenty years, but now on account of Mr. Gorham's advancing years it was necessary for him to seek employment suitable for his phj'sical strength and since 1918, he has been care? taker of the pumping plant at Newman. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. there. EDWARD NELSON DAVIS. — A wide-awake couple whose business ability has spelled for them success such as many another might well desire for himself, and whose successes, oft repeated, add weight to their optimistic views as to the future of Stanislaus County, are Mr. and Mrs. Edward Nelson Davis, live members of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, and valued participants in local civic efforts. Mr. Davis is a realtor and the proprietor of the Tynan Hotel. He was born in Kansas City, Kans., in 1882, the son of A. L. Davis, who was a native of Covington, Ky. He settled in Iowa, became a builder there, and in that state married Miss Minnie L. Vossler, a native daughter. They now reside in Modesto, the parents of five children, three of whom are living. The second is the subject of this interesting story. When three years old, his parents took Edward to Denver, Colo., and seven years later they moved to Portland, Ore. The lad attended the local public schools of Portland, although beginning with his boyhood in Oregon he worked off and on in the lumber camps along the lower Columbia River, receiving fifty cents a day for his services. This was not much, but then he only had to grease the skids over which the oxen hauled the long string of logs. Later, for two and a half years, he took up carpentering, after which he traveled as a salesman through different states, going eastward as far as New York, and increasing his experience with the world, since that work for sixteen years took him into nearly every state in the Union. Then he was engaged in business in different cities until he located for a while at Seattle, where he taught athletics. After another trip East, when more than ever he was able to compare and judge towns and neighborhoods, Mr. Davis pitched his tent at Modesto, an act he has never repented, and which was due to the move made by the parents of his wife. They 822 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY liked Modesto so well that they remained; and Mr. Davis also concluded to locate here. He purchased a small farm which he improved ; and at the same time he estab lished himself as a realtor, and found that his experience in life and services in behalf of those wishing to acquire property of a reliable kind, were wanted in the growing community. Indeed, Mr. Davis has been so successful that in 1920 he sold over three-fourths of a million dollars worth of property, Mr. Davis also purchased the Swan Hotel and ran it until it was sold. Then he bought the Plato, and that he also made successful, and finally resold. At length, in January, 1921, he purchased the Tynan Hotel, fitted it up well, and set about eclipsing the hotels already mentioned ; and he is still the proprietor of the favorite resort, enjoying in its conduct the valuable assistance of his wife, and together they study to meet and also to anticipate the wants of their numerous patrons. At Ogden, Utah, Mr. Davis was married to Mrs. Lula Story Bean, a native of Nebraska and the daughter of Thomas and Melvine Story, who located in Los Angeles in 1900 and later came to Modesto. Mrs. Davis was educated in the excellent schools of California, and by her first marriage, she had one child, Lennie Bean, who married Louise Schloah, which resulted in the birth of a boy named Edwin Thomas Bean. When Congress declared war on Germany Lennie Bean responded patriotically in defense of his native country in the World War, and was permitted to do what was not granted to everyone, to make the supreme sacrifice. Fortunate already in a circle of admiring friends, he lost his life while in camp in Florida, and was mourned by all who had come to know his manly qualities, never better displayed than in the life of the soldier. CHAS. C HALE. — An enterprising young business man, the junior member oi Hale Bros., in Turlock, is Chas. C. Hale, who was born in Baldwin, Iowa, April 21. 1891. His father, Alex Hale, was born in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Mr, Hale's grandfather was Wm. Hale, a native of the north of Ireland, who brought his family to America when Alex Hale was eleven years of age. For a while they resided in Toronto, Canada, then in Michigan and afterwards in Youngstown, Ohio. Later he moved to Iowa, where he spent his last days. Alex Hale came to Iowa, where he engaged in farming. His first marriage was to Augusta Tabor, who died leaving a small boy, E. A. Hale. His second marriage was in Baldwin, Iowa, in 1890, to Miss Zadie Clark, who was born in Minnesota, a daughter of James and Jane (Blair) Clark, natives of Pennsylvania, who were early settlers of Minnesota, afterwards moving to Baldwin, Iowa, and passed away in that state. After their marriage, Alex Hale engaged in farming, meeting with success. On account of his health, he retired, and since 1910 he has resided in California, and he and his wife are now living in Turlock. This union was blessed with two children, Chas. C, of whom we write, and Erma, a teacher in the Turlock schools. Mr. Hale was reared on the farm in Iowa, attending the grammar and high schools. In 1910 he came to Kingsburg, Cal., and in 1911 to Turlock. He had be come proficient as an automobile mechanic, which occupied his time until 1913, when he formed the present partnership with his brother, E. A., as Hale Bros., and obtained the Ford agency, founding the nucleus of their present large business, which includes the southern part of Stanislaus County and northern part of Merced County. Their first location was on First Street, then in different locations until 1918, when they built the present large new brick garage building, 100x150 feet, of two stories, on the corner of South Broadway and A street. Afterwards they purchased the corner oppo site and rented it to the Union Oil Company for a service station, until they sold it. Hale Bros, also are agents for the Fordson tractors and the implements that go with it. They have a large, modern and well-equipped repair department, and have established a splendid reputation for service. Mr. Hale is vice-president and director of the Yosemite Hotel Co. Mr. Hale was married in Rushmorc, Minn., being united with Miss Marie Thompson, a native of that place, who was a graduate of the Worthington high school; she was a daughter of Frank and Alice Thompson, who now make their home r&K6u&— HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 825 at 635 Florence Street, Turlock. The father was a native of England, coming to Minnesota when he was seventeen years of age, and was a pioneer of that state. Mr. Hale was made a Mason in Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., in which he is senior warden. He is also a member of Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M., and San Francisco Consistory No. 1, in San Francisco, as well as Islam Temple, A .A . O. N. M. S., in San Francisco. With his wife, Mr. Hale is a member of the Wistaria Lodge No. 296, O. E. S., and the Court of Amaranth in Modesto. He is a member of the California State Auto Trades Association and the Turlock Pro gressive Business Club, and in all movements for the upbuilding and improvement of Turlock and vicinity, Mr. Hale can be counted upon to give generous assistance. JAMES E. ARTHUR.— Although he is a New Englander by birth, James E. Arthur is a typical Westerner, having spent about forty- four years in the coast and mountain region of the West. Mr. Arthur was born at Ryegate, Caledonia County, Vt., January 23, 1856, the son of William Arthur, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, who came when a young man to Vermont, where he married Miss Maria Gates, who was a native of Vermont, coming from one of the old New England families who trace their ancestry back to Revolutionary days. They were engaged in farming in the vicinity of Ryegate for a number of years, and both passed away there. This worthy couple were the parents of two children, James E., of this review, and William, who also resides at Turlock. James E- Arthur was left an orphan, so very naturally had to assume the respon sibilities of life at an early age, but the experience developed in him a self-reliance and capability to master every difficulty he encountered that has been of great value to him in later years. He worked on the farm and attended the public schools, acquir ing a good grammar school education, which has been supplemented in later years by exhaustive reading, so he is today a well-informed and very interesting man. Having a great desire to see the Pacific Coast country, he came to California in 1877. The first season he spent in the lumber country of Sonoma County, going from there to Marin County, where he was employed at dairying for three years. In 1881, Mr. Arthur removed to Arizona and engaged in mining at the cele brated Silver King mine, continuing there for a period of six years, becoming mill foreman, a position he filled with ability and with much satisfaction to his employers. After producing over $15,000,000 the mine finally was worked out, and then Mr. Arthur was employed in the Congress mine, as well as other mines in this district until 1890, when he was induced to go to Cana, Colombia, South America, where he was mill foreman of a gold mine for two years. During this time he crossed the Isthmus of Panama many times between Panama and Aspinwall (now Colon), but his system finally acquired the fever prevalent in that district, and he was obliged to return to the States. Going back to Arizona, Mr. Arthur purchased a ranch on the Gila River, in Pinal County, where he engaged in stock raising. He used "88" for his brand and the ranch was known far and wide as the Eighty-eight Ranch, and he made a splendid success of the enterprise. It was at Mesa, Ariz., that Mr. Arthur's marriage occurred on August 11, 1897, when he was united with Miss Anna L. Whitlaw, who was born in Denton County, Texas ; her parents were Allen and Josephine ( McKee ) Whitlaw, natives of Louisville, Ky., who became farmers in Denton County, Texas. From there they crossed the plains in 1861 to Pinal County, Ariz., but they found the Indians in an ugly mood, so to protect his family, Mr. Whitlaw brought them on to San Ber nardino, Cal., where he established them in a comfortable home, and there they resided for eleven years. Mr. Whitlaw, however, went back to Pinal County, Ariz., where he engaged in freighting into the mountains for some j'ears. During this time he had many interesting experiences, among them several encounters with the Indians, who at times became troublesome. His family rejoined him in 1872, and there this worthy couple pioneered it for many years. However, they finally came to California and spent their last days at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. E. Arthur, in Turlock. They had eight children who grew to maturity, and Mrs. Arthur, who was the fifth in order of birth received a good education in the public schools of California and Ari- 35 826 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY zona. Her acquaintance with Mr. Arthur began in 1881, soon after Mr. Arthur took up his work at the Silver King mine, and after their marriage, they devoted their attention to making a success of the Eighty-eight Ranch, near Florence, on the Gila River. Mr. Arthur built up his herd by bringing in full-blooded Hereford sires, until he had a herd of high-grade cattle. In 1900 Mr. Arthur was elected a member of the Territorial Legislature of Arizona, on the Republican ticket, and was a member of the agricultural committee, taking an active part in needed legislation. In 1904 Mr. and Mrs. Arthur came to Turlock and after locating here, they sold the ranch and cattle in Arizona and purchased a forty-acre ranch two miles southeast of Turlock, where for a period of two years he had a dairy of Jersey cows. He then sold his ranch and built his present home at 208 Vermont Avenue, Turlock, where he resides with his estimable wife, a woman of pleasing personality, who has made many warm friends during her residence here. A man of excellent qualities of mind and heart, Mr. Arthur is a much-esteemed man, and being a believer in the principle of protection, he is very naturally a stanch adherent of the Republican party. JOHN BYRON TRASK. — A business man of much native ability and unusual experience, known for his good nature and geniality, and is at all times approachable and, therefore, to be had for co-operation in every good work, is John Byron Trask, late director of the Modesto Irrigation District, and one of the well-known men of Stanislaus County. He first came to California in the middle of the nineties, but he has long ago been looked upon as quite as much of a Californian as any native son. He was born in Oregon, Ogle County, 111., on January 23, 1864, the son of Israel Trask, a native of Baltimore, and the grandson of Isaac Trask, who was born in Maine, and was a sea captain, master of an Atlantic vessel. When Israel Trask was five years old, Captain Trask, having abandoned the sea, moved west and settled in Ogle county, 111. He owned 320 acres of fine land, grew to prominence, and as a Republican was sheriff for two terms; and there he died, his life rich in service since his birth in West Virginia. Israel Trask was also a farmer, and died in Illinois in 1903. His wife was Margaret Worthington before her marriage; she was born in Ogle County, III., and died in Modesto. John Byron Trask was brought up in Illinois and attended the public school, from which he passed to Brock's Business College at Madison, Wis., later living at Monroe, Wis., for a while with an uncle, Worthington. Having returned home, he married Miss Effa Roe, a native of Oregon, 111., and the daughter of Dr. M. C. Roe, and then he engaged in the meat business at Ashton, in Lee County. His first wife died, leaving one child, Isabelle, now Mrs. Canfield of Ogle County; and later he went to Rockford, where he was a clerk for Andrew Ashton, dealer in dry goods and clothing. At the end of three years, he returned to the home farm and ran the ranch; and since his father had 400 acres of land and was in the stock business, there was plenty to be done. At the same time, he was tax collector of his township, Pine Rock, having been elected at twenty-one, but ran the farm until his father sold it. In 1902 Mr. Trask returned here and located permanently. He went back to the California, locating for a while at Newman, where he engaged in ranching and dairy ing; he bought a ranch, planted to alfalfa, and maintained a high-grade dairy. This he afterward sold, and made two trips back East, once stopping for a while in Sioux City, Iowa, where he bought a dairy, and then bought and sold cattle. He liked the country, but he liked California better. In 1902 Mr. Trask returned here and located for good. He went back to the Newman ranch, and sold out, then he moved to Livermore, where he bought 320 acres. In 1905 he sold this property and located at Modesto, buying the thirty-five acres of the Broughton Tract, which he planted to alfalfa, but in eighteen months sold again at a profit. Then he purchased a ranch in the Wood Colony and improved it, and after that bought and sold three other ranches. He has come to reside in Modesto, where he bought sixty acres on Crows Landing Road, three and a half miles out of HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 829 town. There he had forty-five acres of peaches, including the Tuscan, Philipp and Hauss, with some apricots, and fifteen acres in apricots and almonds, all under irriga tion. This place he sold in 1919 and with his brother owns eighty acres at Salida, which he devotes to alfalfa. He also owns a forty-acre vineyard and orchard two miles east of Modesto on Waterford Road. In 1909 Mr. Trask was elected director of the Modesto Irrigation district, and he was president of that organization for several years, and was in that office when the last bond issue was carried by the voters of the district. While living in Illinois, seven years after his first wife's death, Mr. Trask was married at Monroe, Wis., to Elizabeth Chadwick Banta, a daughter of Jeremiah Banta, a prominent business man in Monroe. She passed away at Newman, Cal., leaving two children, Jean Carrol, who died in Modesto at fifteen years, and Jay, who was a graduate of Modesto high school, after which he assisted his father in his farming operations, until he died suddenly of influenza in 1921, only twenty j'ears of age. He was a fine young man and had many friends. Mr. Trask was married again at Modesto, his bride being Miss Jennie Mullen, a native of Ireland; she died and left one child, Evelyn Ramona, who is at home. Again he married, at Oakland, choosing Mrs. Dora (Dramer) Free, a native of Hannibal, Mo., who was reared in Arkansas, and who came to California in 1906. Her father was Lewis Dramer, a German who settled in Missouri, and married Elizabeth Mensor, also a native of that state. He removed with his family to Jud- sonia, Ark., and was both a farmer and a merchant there until his death. In national politics Mr. Trask is a Republican. OMER C. GLASS. — A progressive, interesting and highly esteemed rancher is Omer C. Glass, who lives on the McHenry Road, five miles north of Modesto. He was born at Donnelsville, Ohio, on December 7, 1884, son of David E. Glass, who was born in Augusta County, Va., and survives. He was a blacksmith and in Virginia married Miss Maggie J. Good, a native of Rockingham County, where she died, aged fifty-five years. There were six children, of whom Omer was eldest ; and he grew up in Donnelsville, receiving a good public school education. After school days he entered the employ of the Victor Rubber Company, meanwhile studied telegraphy and qualified for a position with the Dayton, Springfield & Urbana Electric Railway. California beckoned, hence he resigned after eight months to spend a year in Los Angeles, then going to Catalina Island. Here, in the employ of the Bannings for another year, he rose to be foreman of their farming operations. In 1905, Mr. Glass came to Stanislaus County, acquiring his home place of ten acres. Here there are apricot trees twenty-five years old and in full bearing, planted by his father-in-law, R. E. Bangs. This is one of the first orchards set out in the county and flourished before the formation of an irrigation district, because Mr. Bangs, undaunted by water scarcity, hauled water by tank on a wagon. This is now one of the finest orchards in the district, Mr. and Mrs. Glass having exhibited dried apricots and peaches therefrom at the Modesto Fair, which won blue ribbon prizes. The quarter-century-old trees are wonderful bearers and have produced in one season as much as 1,110 pounds to one tree. Mr. Glass has helped to improve several ranches which he has owned, besides the one inherited by his wife, which was formerly a part of the R. E. Bangs ranch of 480 acres, and he has succeeded much beyond the average farmer. This may be in part due to his views in regard to drainage, for he has long advocated that proper drainage is just as essential as adequate irrigation. He has also had experience in dairying, in raising alfalfa and grain, and at one time operated the entire Bangs ranch. At Oakland, in 1908, Mr. Glass married Miss Caroline Bangs, daughter of R- E. Bangs, a pioneer educator of this section, who in later life became the rancher- owner of the 480 acres well known as the R. E. Bangs ranch. Mr. Bangs died in 1901, and Mrs. Bangs, who was Miss Isabella Taylor, a native of Scotland, passed away, aged seventy-two, in 1912. Caroline Bangs, a native daughter of the county, was born on the Bangs ranch on the McHenry Road, Modesto, and graduated from 830 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY the Modesto high school in 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Glass are the parents of two daughters, Marjorie Evelyn and Helen Louise. In addition to his own holdings, Mr. Glass rents lands in the vicinity, he also is owner of city property at Pacific Grove. He was one of the first members and stock holders in the California Peach Growers, Inc., a member of the Prune and Apricot Association of California, and an original stockholder of the California Cooperative Canneries of Modesto. In national politics a Republican, he prefers a nonpartisan attitude toward all local questions, and exercises influence as a well-read, thinking and intelligent citizen for the greatest good. WILLIAM J. ASPE. — Another native son of California who for more than forty years of an active life has participated in the changes through which this great state has passed, is William J. Aspe, now owner of a splendid forty-acre ranch on Almond Avenue, just south of Patterson. He is descended from one of the early pioneer families of the state, his father, William Aspe, having come to California in the early '60s, rounding the Horn in a sailing vessel on which he was the first mate. He was a native of the Balkan States, and came to the Pacific Coast with no intention of remaining, but was so attracted by the splendid opportunities offered here that he resigned his berth on the vessel and remained. He was married shortly in San Fran cisco to Miss Anna Will, and of their union were born two daughters and one son, the subject of this review. The father passed away while our Mr. Aspe was an infant and the mother removed with her little family to Benicia, where he spent his boyhood days and where he attended the public schools. At the early age of fourteen he began to work for wages and to support himself. The first real adventure into the romantic life of the west came when Mr. Aspe was eighteen years of age, at which time he went to Alaska with the salmon packing companies, and spent three years as a salmon fisherman on the Alaskan coast, remaining from 1896 to 1899. He then returned to San Francisco, but the next summer was again induced to sign on for the season in Alaskan waters with the great fishing indus tries. In 1900 he came again to San Francisco and entered into the teaming business, making a specialty of handling pianos, and was the only firm thus engaged at that time. He prospered and built up a flourishing business, which lasted until the great fire of 1906, when he was forced to make a new start. It was in 1910 that Stanislaus County claimed Mr. Aspe, and he bought his present property and devoted himself to raising alfalfa. After a number of successful years, ill health compelled him to lease his property and return to San Francisco for medical treatment, and it was not until about 1919 that restored health allowed him to again take over the management of his ranch, where he has since made his home. The marriage of Mr. Aspe occurred in San Francisco, May 1, 1909, uniting him with Mrs. Louise Cooney, a native of San Francisco and the daughter of Leopold and Louise (Lorenz) Juzix. Mrs. Aspe's father is a native of France, descended from a highly honored old French family. His father was a prosperous merchant in Bor deaux, an exporter, and Leopold Juzix came to San Francisco in 1849 for the purpose of adjusting certain financial accounts for his father, and was so held by the oppor tunities offered and by the fascination of the infant city on the Golden Gate, that he determined to cast in his lot with the pioneers and remain. He was variously identified^ with the growth and development of the city, and was one of the original members of the old Monumental No. 10, Volunteer Fire Department of San Francisco. He met and was married there to Miss Louise Lorenz, whose parents came to San Francisco across the plains in the early '50s. Mr. and Mrs. Aspe are the parents of two children, a son and a daughter, both of whom rendered splendid service during the great World War. The daughter, Miss Gladys Cooney, a daughter of Mrs. Aspe by a former marriage, is a graduate nurse, having received her training at the French Hospital in San Francisco. When the war broke out she enlisted in the United States Nursing Service, and went to France with the San Francisco Unit, No. 47. In France sbe acted as a trained nurse and served on the battle front with Hospital Train No. 52 and also No. 60, rendering service under fire on many occasions, and meeting with many thrilling experiences. The son, / ^il^izr HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 831 Frank, enlisted in the naval service just prior to the outbreak of the war, and received his training on Goat Island, San Francisco, being sent out on the refrigerator vessel, Glacier. He made several trips from the United States to South America, where this ship went for cargoes of beef, and during his naval service he made fifteen trips across the Atlantic on the Glacier, in the transportation of provisions. He served as boat swain, class number two, and was honorably discharged in June, 1919. Both Mr. and Mrs. Aspe have many friends in Patterson. During the first two years of their residence here Mrs. Aspe acted as hostess at the Del Puerto Hotel, where her personal charm attracted to her many of the leading people of the vicinity. Mr. Aspe is prominent in fraternal affairs, and is a member of Magnolia Lodge, No. 29, I. O. O. F., Patterson, and Castro Parlor 232, N. S. G. W., San Francisco. REV. ELBERT CHUTE, B.A., B.D.— Retiring from many years of conse crated service to the cause of foreign missions, Rev. Elbert Chute, B.A., B.D., has made his residence in Ceres, Stanislaus County, since 1917, at which time he retired from active service as a foreign missionary of the Baptist church, having served faith fully for thirty-five years under the direction of the American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, in the mission at Palmur, Deccan, India. Thousands of natives from the country round about the missions gathered at the station on September 17, 1917, the day that the aged missionary and his faithful wife were ready to start on the long journey homeward. They bestowed their gifts and souvenirs as tokens of their love and gratitude, mingling with their tears of loving farewell many a God speed for a pleasant journey and a safe return to the land of their nativity. Mr. Chute has spent years of his manhood in the service of the Lord in India. The labor has been hard and strenuous, but his wonderful achievements during this period are a bright gem in the annals of the church, and a living memory in the hearts of friends and coworkers of the city of Palmur. In all his efforts Mr. Chute has had the support and cooperation of his wife, who has never been separated from him since their marriage. She was the efficient manageress of the schools, and the generous manner in which she conducted the two boarding houses for girls and boj's has left a lasting impression on the minds of many of the youth of Palmur. She soon endeared herself alike to young and old in the mission field, and was herself a living example in self-help and self-reliance. Reverend Chute is a native of Canada, born near London City, Middlesex County, January 13, 1848. He is the eldest surviving child of Edmund and Mary (Palmer) Chute, both natives of Nova Scotia, where they were reared on' the farms of their respective fathers. Edmund Chute Was a farmer and a deacon in the Baptist church, one of his brothers having been a minister of that denomination. Of his sons and daughters there are today four living. Edmund Chute passed away in 1891, at the age of ninety-one ; while the mother passed away at the age of eighty- seven years, in 1908. The early education of Mr. Chute was received in the grammar and high schools of his native city, and during the interval between his graduation from high school and his entrance to college he was associated for several years with his father on the farm. His marriage occurred on December 25, 1873, uniting him to Miss Sarah Jane Webb, a native of Ontario, and for many years previous to her marriage a warm friend of Mr. Chute. She was the daughter of William and Sarah (Wise) Webb, substantial farmers of Canada, and was well educated in grammar and high school. Following his marriage, Mr. Chute attended Woodstock College, at Woodstock, Canada, from which he received his literary degree in 1878. He then spent a year in theological work in Canada, and in 1879 entered Morgan Park Institute, graduating in 1881, with the degree of B.A. During these years in college Mrs. Chute also con tinued her studies, taking a special course in the same institutions. The life work of Mr. and Mrs. Chute, for which they had been preparing with so much care, commenced in 1882, when Mr. Chute received the appointment of the American Baptist Synod to the post of foreign missionary to the Nizam Indians, in the state of Hyderabad, India, located in the southern part of that province. They reached their post November 9, 1882. The natives had seen but one white person 832 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY previous to the arrival of the two missionaries. Schools were soon established, and the work of teaching the natives trades and civilized methods of thought and action soon commenced. The first school was started under a tree with but a few scholars, hut interest grew rapidly, and later a rough schoolhouse was constructed by Mr. Chute, and finally a more pretentious building was erected, with a veranda all around it, and divided into fourteen class rooms, with two large rooms for meeting purposes. A church was also erected, and in 1891 was officially dedicated, and serv ices have been held there continuously since that time. Mr. Chute also built their own residence, a comfortable bungalow, and with the help of the natives, made all their furniture by hand. Many were the hardships and privations endured by these faithful servants of God, but they never faltered in their determination to spread the gospel and to estab lish a new civilization in the wilderness. The mails were slow and unreliable, but better service was accorded after the white settlers became more numerous. Pro visions were hard to get. No milled flour was obtainable and no suitable material for clothing. Nature did her best to supply primitive foods, wheat and other grains and fruits being plentiful, and the work grew and prospered. Usually the mission aries had a corps of native preachers to aid with the work, these numbering from four to eight men who had been educated and trained in the mission schools. The keen interest of Mr. Chute and his wife never for an instant flagged, and it was only with advancing years that they were filled with a great desire to pass their remaining years in America, where most of their children were residing. Accordingly they retired from their arduous labors in foreign mission fields, and on returning to America in 1917, they came to Stanislaus County and located at Ceres, where they then had two daughters. living. They make their home on the Smyrna Park road, two miles east of town, and have made a host of warm friends during their residence there. Their principal interest in life now lies in their children and grandchildren. Of their marriage were born eight sons and daughters, namely: Ernest, born October 22, 1874, now a resident of Sugar River, Kans.; Ethel, born October 15, 1876, now the wife of Fred Wilson, and residing near Blodgett, Ore., has one daughter; Elmer, born August 30, 1878, residing now at Pittsburgh, Pa., and the father of four children, two girls and two boys, these three born in Canada ; Effie Inez, born August 13, 1881, at Morgan Park, Chicago, now the wife of W. A. Stowe, and residing at Ann Arbor, Mich., they have two sons and two daughters; Eral C, born July 17, 1884, residing now in Detroit, Mich., has three girls and one boy; Elberta, born Februarj' 23, 1886, now a missionary in India; Estella, born April 14, 1888, married J. B. Tupper of Ceres, and is now deceased, and Eulalie Mabel, born May 14, 1889, became the wife of John Thompson, of Ceres, and is also deceased, and left one daughter. Mr. Chute has been greatly impressed with the possibilities offered by Stanis laus County and has shown his faith in its great future by investing heavily in farm lands in this county. He now owns two very valuable ranches, one north of Ceres, which he leases to responsible tenants, so that he himself has no immediate responsi bility in its care, to interfere with his calm and peaceful enjoyment of his home and friends on his home place of ten acres. He also owns property in Ceres. WILLIAM FRANCIS HANEY, D. V. S.— Among California's native sons of whom she may be proud is numbered William Francis Haney, D. V. S. A young man of ability, he has been instrumental in a marked degree in the upbuilding of Modesto and in furthering the city's interests in many other ways. He was born March 28, 1888, at Petaluma, Cal., and is the son of the well-known horseman, Free Haney, and Linda (Helman) Haney, natives of Illinois, who came to California in the seventies. They settled in Sonoma County, where the father engaged in the livery business and dealt in horses. In 1899 he located in Stanislaus County and engaged in breeding draft and standard horses and training them on the track. For four years he ran the race track circuit and bred standard horses from Prince Nutwood. He is now raising alfalfa and breeding Percheron draft horses on a ranch north of Modesto. William Francis Haney is the oldest child in a family of four children and was brought up at Petaluma until his eleventh year, when the family came to Modesto, in ^>^^0 db (J{^&e^C4. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 835 1899. He received his education in the public and high schools, then entered the San Francisco Veterinary College, graduating in 1910 with the degree of D. V. S. He located at Modesto, engaged in the practice of veterinary science and conceived the idea of building a veterinary hospital. His cherished plan was realized in 1915 when the large two-storj' building, 50x50 feet in dimension and built of concrete blocks, was completed and ready for occupancy. Dr. Haney made the plans for the build ing, and it is called the Modesto Veterinary Hospital. It has a capacity for twenty- five horses, a department for the treatment of dogs and cats, and up-to-date operating rooms for all animals. Two other veterinary surgeons are interested with Dr. Haney in the hospital, Dr. R. A. Cilker and Dr. R. A. Ball. Dr. Haney's practice extends all over Stanislaus County and into Merced and San Joaquin counties. He has held the position of county livestock inspector for several years. Aside from his profession, Dr. Haney is also interested in breeding and raising pure-bred Holstein-Friesian cattle, and a member of Holstein-Friesian Association of America and the Stanislaus County Holstein Breeders Association. Dr. Haney's marriage at Modesto united him with Miss Leafy Goodenough, a native of Oregon, and they have two children, Louis Elmer and Leatha Frances. Mrs. Haney, in her religious associations, is a member of the Christian Church, and the doctor is affiliated fraternally with Stanislaus Lodge F. & A. M., and Wildey Lodge No. 149 of Odd Fellows, and Modesto Encampment No. 48, and the Wood men of the World, and is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the California State Veterinary Medical Association, and the San Joaquin Valley Veterinary Medical Association. JAMES D. REEVES. — Among the enterprising and progressive business men who have been instrumental in building up the city and county is James D. Reeves, who for over two decades has been the proprietor of the Modesto Marble and Granite Works. He was born at Wabash, Ind., November 14, 1853, and is the son of Rufus Reeves, a native of Ohio who taught school in early days in Indiana and at New Canton, Pike County, 111., and also farmed there. When the Civil War broke out, with true patriotic spirit he responded to the call at the first tap of the drum but was rejected. In 1862 he again tried to enter the service and this time he was accepted, enlisting in the Ninety-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died the same year while serving in Missouri. His wife, before her marriage, was Miss Anne Maria Middlekauff, a native of Baltimore, Md., and six children were born to them, three of whom are living, Flavius in Illinois, James D., our subject, and William, who resides in San Francisco. After the death of Rufus Reeves the widow was united in marriage with Donald Swan, a native of Scotland and a farmer in Illinois. Two children were born of this marriage, Charles, a prominent banker at Modesto, and Mrs. Flora Grubb of Bakersfield, Cal. Mrs. Swan continued to live in Illinois until 1900, when she came to California, passing away in later years at Modesto. James D. Reeves was brought up in Illinois, attended the public schools and followed the occupation of farming on the old homestead until he was twenty-two years of age, when he began his apprenticeship at the marble trade in Barry, 111., serv ing for three years. He afterwards went to Hannibal, Mo., and after two years came back to Illinois. Removing to Nebraska in 1883, he worked at the trade of marble and stonecutter for ten years at Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebr., and from there went to Pawnee City, Nebr., where he continued in this line. In 1899 he came to Modesto, Cal., and there started in business for himself. The Modesto Marble and Granite Works were first located at Downey and H streets, but in January, 1918, Mr. Reeves purchased his present site opposite the cemetery and there estab lished his business. He has established a high reputation for his work and it is in evidence all over the San Joaquin Valley, and the great demand for it attests its superior excellence. Among the local work he has done are the Enslen, Hughson, Dunne, Moore and Vacara monuments. His shop is equipped with an air compressor run by electricity and all the latest and most modern machinery is used. Mr. Reeves' marriage, which occurred at Barry, III, united him with Miss Marietta Edwards, who was born at Cairo, 111., and they have become the parents 836 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY of four children: Emery served in the Spanish-American War in the Twenty-Second U. S. Infantry as a musician; he has been in the Philippines for twenty years and is now with the Standard Oil Company as a salesman ; Sadie, who resides in San Fran cisco, married John Ellis, who was commissary sergeant at Angel Island, San Fran cisco, and who died in February, 1919; Pearl is with the General Electric Supply Company of San Francisco; and Frank is with the Standard Oil Company at Fresno. In his political views Mr. Reeves is an adherent of the Republican party. Fra ternally he was made a Mason, in Modesto Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., and is a member and past consul commander of the Woodmen of the World and past master artisan of the Order of Artisans. Mrs. Reeves is also a member of the Artisans as well as a past officer in the Women of Woodcraft and is a prominent member of the Baptist Church at Modesto. A man of strict integrity and honesty of purpose, Mr. Reeves is widely known for his straightforward and reliable business methods. WILLIAM H. THOMPSON.— Vigorous in mind and body, clear-headed and the possessor of energy and sound judgment, William H. Thompson has contributed much towards developing the resources of Stanislaus County. A native of Freedom village, Carroll County, N. H., he was born January 1, 1842, of patriotic ancestry, being a grandson of Samuel Thompson, who served in the war of 1812. Great-grand father Thompson was in the service of his country during the Revolutionary War. Mr. Thompson's father, Sylvester Thompson, was a lumberman and manufactured staves as well as being a manufacturing cooper near Center Harbor, N. H., and was thus engaged until he passed away. His mother was Miss Sarah Copp, a native of Rochester. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were the parents of five children, four of whom are living: William H.; Frances, deceased at the age of twelve years; Theodore, a shoe manufacturer of Chicago, 111. ; Charles and Mary. William H. Thompson resided with his parents at Effingham Falls, N. H., until he was fourteen, then removed to Sandwich Center, and there attended the public schools ; later went to Parsonfield Academy in Maine, where he remained for two years ; then entered Sandwich Center Academy for a time, then to the New Hampton Academy. During the time he was attending academy he engaged in teaching at odd times. He finally completed his education at the St. Johnsbury Academy, and was there when the Civil War began in 1861. When the call came for 300,000 men, Mr. Thompson was among the first to volunteer, and on July 16, 1861, he was mustered into the service of his country at St. Johnsbury in Company C, Third Vermont Volunteer Infantry, serving in the defense of Washington until November 10, 1862; then his regiment was moved to Fortress Monroe; he was in active service in the Siege of Yorktown, April 5 to May 4, during which time he was wounded and sent to the hospital at Hampton Roads, remaining there until fully recovered. He received his honorable discharge January 1, 1863, and returned to his home. After recuperating for a time, he secured a news agency for the Tenth and Eighteenth Army Corps. When Grant came back from the Peninsular campaign in 1864, the agencies were consolidated, and he sold his equipment and accepted a position as bookkeeper in Philadelphia. While there he again volunteered for service, enlisting in Company B, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, February 4, 1865, and saw active service during the battles of Boyton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, Dabney Hill, Five Forks, Sailors' Creek, Appomattox Court House, and was present when General Lee surrendered; later he was at Lynchburg, and was mustered out August 11, 1865, at Richmond, Va. Mr. Thompson then returned to his home and was engaged in the shoe manu facturing business for about four years. His many years of service during the war had somewhat undermined his physical condition, and he was forced to seek a different climate. He traveled through Kansas and Iowa looking for a suitable location. Stopping for a time at Bedford, Iowa, he was offered a school and became principal of the schools at Pacific City; later removing to Broken Bow, Custer County, Nebr., he settled on a homestead; he also took a preemption and a tree claim and had 480 acres which he improved. After a time he disposed of 160 acres, retaining 320 acres and engaged extensively in raising grain, cattle and hogs, residing there for twenty- three years. During his residence there, he was principal of the schools of Arnold, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 837 Nebr., for four years, and also served several terms as justice of the peace, resigning this position when he decided to migrate to California. He was active in church cir cles, and to him is due the credit of advancing the cause of the Christian Church in Nebraska, where he was, for some years, a deacon. During the year of 1904, he dis posed of his holdings in Nebraska and removed to California, locating at Modesto, where he purchased a farm north of town, which he improved, planting to alfalfa and orchard, building also a commodious residence. After living on his farm for two years, he sold out and moved into Modesto, and here he went into partnership with Mr. Lee in the real estate business, with an office in the National Bank building. They were successful in building up a very lucrative business, doing their full share in advertising the vast resources of this wonderful county. Frequently Mr. Thomp son was called upon regarding soldiers' claims, and became so well posted regarding pension matters, that he applied for and was licensed to practice as a pension agent. On the death of Mr. Lee he discontinued the realty business, but continued as pen sion agent, and has been a notary public for twelve years. In all his transactions he is fair and honest, and is widely known as a man of high principles, and enjoj's the well deserved esteem and respect of the community in which he resides. The marriage of Mr. Thompson occurred February 21, 1867, and united him with Miss Elizabeth D. Langford, a native of Candia, N. H., a daughter of Joseph and Pluma .(Howe) Langford, New England farmers. Her ancestors were of gcod old Revolutionary stock. She was educated at Chester Academy, and for many years was engaged in teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of two children, bpth of whom are deceased : Ernest L. died at the age of six, and Martha B. deceased at seventeen years of age. Mr. Thompson was one of the organizers of Excelsior Post G. A. R. in Nebraska, and was for some time the honored post commander. He is an active member of the Grant Post No. 9, G. A. R., at Modesto, of which he is past commander and is now serving as adjutant. Mrs. Thompson is affiliated with the W. R. C. at Modesto. Politically Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are stanch Republi cans, and quite active in party work. Before removing to California, Mr. Thompson served as delegate to both state and county Republican conventions. They are repre sentative members of the Presbyterian Church, and lend their efficient support. CHAUNCEY E. POOL. — An enterprising Califprnian by adoption who has attained well-merited success is Chauncey E. Pool, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was born on July 23, 1869, and now one of the progressive business men of Turlock. His father, John Pool, was born in England, and came to America and, by means of ox teams, across the great plains. He settled at Salt Lake and there fol lowed farming. And there he married Miss Mary Therkell, also a native of Eng land, who had come with her parents across the plains to Utah. John Pool con tinued agricultural pursuits in Utah until 1884 when he settled near Santa Rosa, in Sonoma County, and was a farmer raising grain and stock. He also made a* spe cialty of poultry, on a large scale. He and his good wife afterwards returned to Utah, and at Salt Lake City he died, survived there until 1919 by Mrs. Pool. When she passed away, she was the mother of fourteen children, among whom Chauncey, the only one in California, was the seventh eldest. His early school advantages in Utah were limited, but he was able to attend the public schools in Sonoma for a while, although he early went to work on a farm to assist his father. When twenty-one, he commenced farming for himself, and then for fourteen years he was in the employ of Sonoma County as road overseer, having a district south of Santa Rosa. • He built new roads, and he also kept the older ones up to a high standard. In 1910, Mr. Pool removed to Turlock and started the transfer business which became so favorably associated with his name. He commenced with horse-teams ; dr veloped the patronage until he had need of a truck, and finally used three trucks He engaged in heavy hauling and also in the leveling of lands. His business was conducted under the firm name of the C. E. Pool Dray & Transfer Company, with an office on East Main Street; and be was helpfully active in the Turlock Board of Trade, always ready to do his share of exploiting and "boosting." In 1920 Mr. Pool 838 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY traded his transfer business and residence for forty acres of land on the State High way, south of Turlock, and moved there. He leveled and checked the land, sowed seventeen acres in alfalfa, and the balance is devoted to orchards and grain. At Santa Rosa, Mr. Pool was married to Miss Mary S. Tullar, a native of Watsonville, Cal., and they have three children. Luella is now Mrs. Saxby of Mo desto; Clarence A. resides at Turlock, and Hazel lives at home. Mr. Pool is a Re publican in matters of national politics, and having been a school trustee in Sonoma County, he takes a deep interest in popular education in Turlock. He also owns a twenty-one-acre ranch adjoining Turlock on the east, which he leases for cantaloupes. EUGENE D. WOOLSEY. — Among the people who have come from all over the United States to lend a hand in its upbuilding of this wonderful country is Eugene D. Woolsey, who was born on September 2, 1848, near Dowagiac, Cass County, Mich., the son of Richard and Alice (Buck) Woolsey, both natives of Ohio. His father followed the stone and brickmason and plasterer's trade. When Eugene was but a babe, his parents moved to La Grange County, Ind., and boiTght 160, acres of timber land, and here he grew up helping in the clearing of the land. His education was gained under the tuition of a "Hoosier schoolmaster" in the early days of Indiana. The father had six children, so Eugene, being the eldest, stayed home from school and worked on the farm, while his father worked at his trade. His mother died in January, 1862, when he was only twelve years old; his father married again and Eugene never lived at home much after this. In 1864, being still too young for a soldier, he enlisted and served in the Commissary Division of the quartermaster's department of Tennessee, also in the edge of Georgia. After the war, he went back to Indiana, but in October, 1865, decided to leave his native state for good and going to Kansas and settled near Lawrence, where he resided from 1865 to 1867, traveling all over the state. Mr. Woolsey's marriage in 1868 united him with Miss Amanda Beck, a native of Missouri. He bought a farm in Cass County, Mo., and farmed, living through many hardships, one of which was the drouth of 1874. During this time, he was compelled to split rails and cut wood in order to support his family, working for seventy-five cents per day and boarding himself. From Missouri, Mr. Woolsey returned with his family to Stafford County, Kans., where he had been engaged in the stock business for ten years, staying there for six years, buying and selling cattle. He then moved to California in 1891, where he has followed various lines of business, first running a meat mark'et and livery barn in Nipomo, San Luis Obispo County, then going to Santa Cruz, where he ran a meat market. After that he entered the mercantile business, dealing in men's furnishing goods and groceries at Sutter City, Cal., and for three years was one of the successful merchants. In October, 1905, he came to Modesto and buying a place in Wood Colony in Stanislaus County, and farmed only for a year and a half, later sold it and improved another. Then after the loss of his wife in 1909, he sold the place. Since that time he has lived at Crows Landing, Stockton, San Jose for one year, and at Escalon, where he ran a notion store and farmed, later trading that place for an apple orchard at Watsonville, Cal. On June 7, 1920, he came to his present place, and here he has eight and a half acres of well-improved land, one mile east and one-quarter mile south of Empire. By his first marriage Mr. Woolsey had five children, all born in Cass County, Mo. Alfred C, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, is a rancher on the Mc- Kewin Road near Waterford, and was married in Kansas to Miss Anne Currants, who died and left three children. A. C. Woolsey's second marriage united him with Miss Edna Grafft of Fresno County and they became the parents of three children; two died in infancy and Eldon was run over by an automobile and killed the day he was twelve years old. Alice Woolsey became the wife of Geo. McNeal of Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, and passed away in 1894, leaving two children. Emogene Woolsey is the wife of Frank Hart, Claus precinct, the president of the Stanislaus County Rice Growers Association. Mr. and Mrs. Hart are the parents of seven children. Elvora Woolsey married Harry Talmage and they became the parents of two children. Her husband having died, she married Al Brockway, a rice &.<&, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 841 grower in Claus precinct, and they are the parents of one child, who, with Mrs. Brockway, is residing in Oakland. Addie Woolsey is the wife of Herman Leeotis, a mechanic and machinist at Alameda, and the parents of four children. Mr. Woolsey was married the second time in Newton, Kans., September 8, 1910, to Mrs. Nettie Davis, a native of Boston, Mass., who, before her first marriage, was Miss Gray, the daughter of Samuel A. and Henrietta (Davis) Gray. Her maternal grandmother, Sophia C. Chase, was born and reared at Portland, Maine, and was an heir to the great Chase and Townsend estate at Portland, Maine. She was an own cousin of Daniel Webster. The Chase family are of Pilgrim stock, being of the early Massachusetts Bay Colony settlers. Mrs. Woolsey's mother was born in Portland, Maine, and her father was born in Boston, Mass., and was a hardware merchant in Boston. Mr. and Mrs. Davis moved to Newton, Kans., where he was a locomotive engineer, later foreman of the Santa Fe shop at Purcell, Okla., passing away at Arkansas City at the age of forty-nine in 1902. They were the parents of five chil dren: Everett S. is mechanical instructor at the University of Oklahoma, at Norman, Okla. ; Warren, Jr., is inspector of boilers of the Santa Fe Railway Company, residing at Dodge City, Kans. ; Theodore K. is a machinist on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway and resides at Muskogee, Okla. ; Alice H. is now Mrs. Stoner and resides at Arkansas City, Kans. ; Claudia is in the employ of the Fisk mercantile establishment at Escalon, Cal. Although recent settlers of Empire, Mr. and Mrs. Woolsey have made many friends here, for he has been identified with Stanislaus County for more than sixteen years. C. E. FLESHMAN. — A native son who, after a successful business career, has recently embarked in a- new field, that of ranching, in which he promises to be equally progressive and prosperous, is C. E. Fleshman, a native son, born at Valley Center, in San Diego County, in 1884. His father, Joseph J. Fleshman, was born near Burling ton, Iowa, and in 1853, when ten years old, crossed the great plains in a train of mule teams in 1863, .and for some years was engaged in mining at Lewiston, Trinity County, Cal. Grandfather Frank Fleshman, while in Burlington, Iowa, married Rebecca Helwick. He came to California in 1854 and his wife joined him in 1860. For a while Frank Fleshman mined in Placer County, Cal., then he moved to Trinity County and remained until 1875, when he removed to Valley Center, San Diego County, where he died. His widow is still living there, aged eighty-six. Joseph Fleshman removed to Valley Center in 1871, and in 1875 he home steaded 160 acres, and for a time he followed farming. Later he moved to San Diego, where he was with the Pioneer Truck Company for three years. After this he returned to Valley Center and for a like period was engaged in farming, when he removed to Tucson, Ariz., and then to Phoenix, and there followed freighting. The last years he was engaged in moving quartz mills. However, he returned to San Diego County, locating in Escondido, and started the City Transfer Company, of which he was the head for eleven years. During this time he was enthusiastic in the building up and developing of the town and county. After this he spent two years at Julian and in 1899 he located at Bolsa, Orange County, where he farmed, later at Westminster until 1903, when he engaged in raising sugar beets at Alamitos and grain at Palos Verdes. In 1905 Mr. Fleshman came to Turlock, where he farmed until 1912, when he removed to Chowchilla, and in 1915 he located on his present ranch near Livingston. He had chosen for his wife Miss Margaret Tweed, born near Winters, Yolo County, and the daughter of William N. Tweed, an Englishman, who came around Cape Horn to California in 1849. He engaged in mining, then transported freight for a while, and after that went into the stage business. He early settled in San Diego, in 1868, and ran the first stage out of that city ; and there he spent his last days. Mrs. Joseph Fleshman is still living, the mother of seven children, six living, among whom our subject is the oldest. He was brought up in Southern California, and attended the grammar schools at Escondido ; and while yet a lad learned the transfer business. After that he farmed for a while in Orange County. In December, 1905, he came to Turlock and started 842 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY the transfer business with which his name has been so favorably connected. He com menced with a one-horse rig, and when his business steadily and finally rapidly grew, he organized the Turlock Dray & Transfer Company, went in for heavy hauling, and made a specialty of house moving, using ten head of horses — in 1908 moving the largest house here. He built his commodious barns on High Street, and opened a well-appointed office at 129 North Broadway. On April 1, 1920, Mr. Fleshman sold his business and bought a ranch at Liv ingston. It contains forty acres, and is improved with Thompson seedless grapes; and few farm properties of the same size are more attractive to the eye, or give evi dence of better crops. He is an active member of the Turlock Board of Trade. At Irwin, Merced County, Mr. Fleshman was married to Miss Annis Corbett, a native of Florida, and they have had one child — Beth. Mr. Fleshman joined the Odd Fellows and is now a past grand of Turlock Lodge No. 402. He also belongs to the Red Men. Mr. and Mrs. Fleshman are members of the Rebekahs, and she is a past noble grand there. LUTHER D. THOMPSON.— The men and women who left their comfortable homes and came to California in an early day, crossing the plains with ox teams and prairie schooners, or making the long and perilous journey by water around the Horn, were of necessity possessed of sterling traits of character, ambitious and fearless, and to their children and their children's children they have bequeathed this splendid herit age. Such a man is Luther D. Thompson, descendant from a sturdy line of pioneer ancestors, his father having come to California when he was four years of age, and both the father and grandfather being prominent men in the state and intimately asso ciated with its growth and development since the time it was a state. Mr. Thompson is a native son of whom California may well be proud, for he possesses the character istics for which the Golden West has always stood. Hi has been variously interested in Stanislaus County since 1908, owns valuable property here, but is now engaged in the development of valuable oil properties in Kern County, adjoining lands on which is located one of the Standard Oil Company's gushers. Mr. Thompson was born at Kelseyville, Lake County, Cal., March 6, 1884, be ing the fourth son in a family of six children, all living in California at this time. His father was Henry C. Thompson, a native of Arkansas, and his mother was Rosa S. Jamison, a native of Kelseyville. The Thompson family removed to Cali fornia in 1856, when Henry C. was four years of age, crossing the plains with an ox team, and located in Lake County, where the family was reared and educated. Henry C. Thompson became a land speculator, buying and selling extensively. He passed away at Escondido, San Diego County, Cal., in 1906, leaving his widow and six chil dren to mourn his loss. The widow now makes her home with her children. Luther Thompson's grandfather, Judge Thompson, was the first district attorney of Solano County, and then moved to Lakeport, where he was the first superior judge of Lake County and one of the most highly honored of the early California pioneers, prom inently connected with the bar of the state. He was a large, athletic man, six feet four inches in height, and made an impressive figure. He was married to Miss Elmira Blackburn of Arkansas, who recently passed away at Anaheim, Orange County, at the age of ninety years. She was a woman of unusual powers, and at the age of seventy-five she wrote a history of the Thompson family. She was interested in politics and all public questions, being a strict adherent of the Democratic party and a supporter of its principles. Luther D. Thompson lived with his parents in various parts of the state, but principally in Southern California, at Santa Ana, where he attended the high school. He then took a commercial course at Woodbury's Business College in Los Angeles, having earned his scholarship therefor while in high school by taking subscriptions for the Santa Ana Blade, and being given his choice of any business college in Orange or Los Angeles counties. His first business experience was after the close of his business college course, when he went to work for Albert Cohn ih the grocery business in Los Angeles. He worked himself up to the position of foreman, then resigned and engaged in the confectionery business for himself in Colton, San Bernardino County. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 845 Here he prospered, but eventually sold his business and came to Modesto in 1908, where he engaged in the confectionery business with marked success until 1914. He then sold out this business and bought his present home place two and a half miles north of Modesto, where he has erected a handsome modern bungalow and made other attractive improvements necessary to the establishment of a permanent home. He owns much valuable property in this part of the state, including eighty acres at Shafter, near Bakersfield, Kern Countv, and an interest in two sixty-acre places at the same place. He recently sold a thirty-five acre tract in Stanislaus County on which he raised alfalfa and was engaged in the breeding of registered Holstein cattle and Poland-China hogs, this sale being consummated in May, 1920. The lure of the great and growing oil industry has called to Mr. Thompson, and he retains valuable oil lands in Kern County. He has lately purchased a 100-acre ranch at Salida, whicl he is subdividing into small ranches. In January, 1921, Mr. Thompson became associated with Edward Ealev in the realty business at Modesto. The marriage of Mr. Thompson in Los Angeles, Tanuary 1, 1906, united him with Miss Mertvle Haigler, a native of Washinpton County, Iowa, where she was reared and educated. Her parents were John and Mary (Myers) Haigler, the mother having passed away in 1917, and her father beinp- still a resident of Sia-ourney, Iowa. He is seventy-five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have no children of their own. but have adopted a little girl, Mabel Elmira. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are very popular socially among a wide circle of friends and their home is noted for its hospitality. Mr. Thompson is gifted with a fine voice and is a talented singer. He studied music and had his voice training under Princess Long at Long Beach. His is a pleasing tenor, with a wide range, and during his residence in Southern California fre quently favored audiences and congregations with solos as well as being leader of choirs and choruses in the Christian churches. Unfortunately of late his business has en grossed his time to the exclusion of solo singing. To the credit of Mr. Thompson must be added that all his singing and work with choirs was done gratis. Mr. Thompson is a life-long Democrat and a believer in clean politics. He has entertained at his home here that great exponent of Democratic party principles, William Jennings Bryan, who is his personal friend. Mr. Bryan was at the time engaged in giving a series of Chau tauqua lectures, and he and Mr. Thompson drove in the latter's automobile to the scene of these various lectures, including Modesto, Turlock and Stockton. Mr. Thompson is prominent in fraternal affairs of Modesto, being a member of the Odd Fellows. In this he follows in the footsteps of his father, who was one of the most prominent Odd Fellows in tbe state, having passed through all the chairs of the order. CHARLES C. CROWELL. — A rancher to whom Stanislaus County has more than once looked for the solution of its difficult and interesting problems is Charles C. Crowell, who was born in Hanford, Kings County, Cal., on September 17, 1878. He is the third son of Abner Buel Crowell, who was born in Ohio on March 8, 1849, and when nine years of age came out to California with his father, traveling by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Two years later he returned to Ohio, and in 1865 he came out to California alone and located at Marysville, from which place he moved to Hanford in 1870. He married Miss Mary Kanawyer, who was born in Iowa, remained there until she was nine years of age, and then came with her parents, in a party drawn by ox-teams, across the great plains and mountains to California. For a while, her folks lived at Grangeville, where she was married, and then they settled near the bottom lands of Tulare Lake. Reared on the stock farm and range, like his brothers, Charles Crowell worked hard while he attended the public school; and in 1898 he was graduated from the Hanford high school. Then he joined his father and brothers in the Hanford Cheese Factory corporation, working there for eight years, or until it was destroyed by fire, in 1902, causing heavy losses to the entire family. This set the boys back upon their own resources, and with his brother, A. G. Crowell, Charles came to Turlock. Here he purchased eighty acres of raw land in the Roger Williams tract, and by hard, persistent work he has developed the acreage into a fine ranch, and has estab lished himself successfully in dairying, at the same time tbat he is prosecuting general 846 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY farming. His ranch, now reduced to sixty acres through a sale of one-fourth of the original tract, adjoins that of his brother. He is an active member of the Farmers Union and a stockholder in the T. M. & G. incorporated in 1915. His father served as a trustee of the grammar and high schools at Hanford for many years, and for ten j'ears prior to 1916, our subject also served as trustee of the Monte Vista school. At Hanford, in 1900, Mr. Crowell was married to Miss Lillie May Frederick, who was born on December 8, 1878, near Modesto. When she was ten years old, she removed to Kings County with her parents, both of whom are now residing in Fresno County. Mr. and Mrs. Crowell have six children. Ella May attends the Junior College at Turlock ; Orval Chester and Abner Melvin attend the high school at Tur lock; Loren Eugene, Virgil Lloyd, and Charles Coleman are pupils in the school at Monte Vista. Mr. and Mrs. Crowell are naturally imbued with both a deep love for California and the proper patriotic sentiments respecting their own great country; and during the recent war, when Mr. Crowell was a committeeman on various drives, he did commendable work in his district. THOMAS JEFFERSON PRICE.— One of the successful grain farmers of the Hickman section, Thomas Jefferson Price is closely related to several of Stanislaus County's pioneer families. He was born at Berryville, Ark., the county seat of Carroll County, May 14, 1885, the son of James Silas and Louisa (Baker) Price. His mother is a cousin of Gilbert Baker of Oakdale, also of Dick Baker, the pioneer settler at Waterford and a California '49er and former county treasurer, and Mrs. John Hayter of Waterford. His father is still living at Berryville, in Carroll County, Ark., while his mother died seventeen years ago. Of their ten children, Thomas Jefferson is the third oldest, and grew up in the Ozarks until seventeen years of age, then went to Texas and gradually came on west until he arrived at Oakdale, Stanis laus County, February 20, 1906, where he worked on ranches by the month, later coming to Hickman, where he worked for his cousin, Frank Brumley, for three years on the Yancey farm, the same farm that he is now leasing and operating. From here he went to Madera County, spending two years working on the D. F. Mullen ranch in that county. In all, he has spent thirteen years in the employ of grain farmers in both Merced and Stanislaus counties. In 1918, having gained a great deal of expe rience in farming, he rented a farm on the Stanislaus and Merced County line and after raising two crops, he rented a farm of 640 acres formerly owned by A. J. Yancey, and known as the old Hudelson ranch. It is located in Hickman precinct, just six miles east of Hickman. Here he has been very successful,. and as proof of the opportunities afforded in California, if one will only grasp them, he has made $40,000 alone and unaided. For his 1921 crop he will have 300 acres in barley and the re mainder he will summer fallow. He uses twelve head of mules in a team in his work. Mr. Price was united in marriage March 2, 1921, to Miss Annie M. Green, a native daughter of San Joaquin County, born near Stockton, a daughter of Joseph and Martha (Brown) Green, natives respectively of Tennessee and Missouri, who located in San Joaquin County, Cal., where the mother died, while Mr. Green now lives at French Camp. Mr. Price is considered one of Stanislaus County's live wires and having the regard and friendship of those of his community, is well on his way to an active, happy and prosperous life. He is a member of Oakdale Lodge No. 228, I. O. O. F., at Oakdale, and a charter member of Twintown Lodge, K. P., at Waterford, and a member of the Hickman Center of the Farm Bureau. DANIEL S. ANDERSON.— A rancher who believes in farming according to twentieth century methods, and who therefore attains results worthy of the age in which he lives, is Daniel S. Anderson, who was born near Clayton, Adams County, 111., on August 16, 1872, the eldest son of James T. Anderson, a native of Illinois, who had married Miss Eliza McCoy, of Indiana, both of whom lived in Portland, Ore., and where Mrs. Anderson died. They came to Brown County, S. D., in 1881, and homesteaded, and nine years later they removed to the state of Washington. Daniel went to Eastern Oregon and took a job in the harvest field, where he remained for two years; and in 1896 he went into Idaho, where he farmed for grain and pota- d^yyy^u^ J?- ^^^ y- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 849 toes. Selling out, he returned to Portland, to re-invest, later, in Idaho. After his second trial with Idaho, he returned to Portland and his parents' home. ' In 1911, responding to the lure of the Golden State, Mr. Anderson removed to Stanislaus County, and near Turlock he has since become a very successful farmer on ten acres of highly cultivated land, to which he has given years of hard, intelligent labor. He also rents land in addition to his own, and has no trouble in making that equally productive. One of the first things Mr. Anderson mastered was a knowledge of local soil and climatic conditions ; and with this information and experience as a basis he has pointed the way for others to follow. At Salt Lake City, on October 18, 1899, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Lulu Wise, a native of Brigham City, Utah, where she was born on February 23, 1881, the daughter of Jason T. Wise, of the Hoosier State, whose good wife in maidenhood, a native of Iowa, was Elmira Sheppard. Grandfather Sheppard was born on the ocean en route from England, but the maternal ancestors were of French extraction. Of this union, four children were born: Jason D., William F., Beatrice A. and Viola R. Anderson. The family attend the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. A Republican in matters of national politics, Mr. Anderson is an advocate of Prohibition to the last ditch, and is equally enthusiastic about popular education. He has always stood for good schools, and is a trustee and clerk of Monte Vista school. AUGUST GUSTAFSON.— A rancher who thoroughly understands the condi tions which every successful farmer in California must encounter and master, is August Gustafson, who was born on October 31, 1864, southwest of Stockholm in Central Sweden. He is the fourth son of Gustaf Anderson, who married Miss Christine Almstrom, and his parents are both natives of the same Swedish province. His father was a cooper, and August spent so many daj's of his boyhood in his father's shop, that he very naturally learned the same trade. However, when he went to Stockholm, he worked in a blacksmith shop. In 1887, Mr. Gustafson came out to America, and although that was the great boom year when the attention of the world was directed to California, he located for a while at Duluth, and there worked at his trade until 1 890. Then he pushed west ward to San Francisco, and for ten j'ears he was head cooper at the works of the Cali fornia Wine Association. Now he owns the ranch of twenty-five acres upon which his home place stands, where he lives a comfortable life, and is recognized as a leader. At San Francisco, Mr. Gustafson was married to Miss Hedvig Carlson, a native of Sweden and a daughter of Carl Carlson. They have one child, Albert H. Gustaf son. He is an ex-service man and belonged to the medical corps. Mrs. Gustafson died in 1898 in San Francisco, and afterward Mr. Gustafson married her sister, Miss Nina Carlson, who is the mother of two children — Evelyn and David. The second Mrs. Gustafson passed away in Turlock on March 3, 1920. Mr. Gustafson was granted American citizenship in San Francisco in 1900, and has since voted with the Prohibition party. When fifteen years old, he was confirmed in the Lutheran Church, and he has ever since endeavored to lead a consistent Christian life. He and his family belong to the Swedish Mission Church of Turlock, of which he has been a trustee, also serving as superintendent of the Sunday school. JONATHAN BIRD CURTIS.— A native of North Carolina and a descendant of one of the splendid old Southern families of an early day, whose fortune was sadly ravaged by the Civil War, Jonathan Bird Curtis is a type of the gentlemen of the old school. He is patriotic and public-spirited, alwaj'S a well-wisher for public enter prises and improvements. He has been a resident of the Patterson district since 1910, and now owns a valuable eight-acre home place on Almond Avenue, devoted to the raising of alfalfa. Always keenly alive to the public welfare, Mr. Curtis is a splendid citizen and holds a warm place in the regard of his neighbors and friends. Born near Franklin, Macon County, N. C, April 6, 1846, Mr. Curtis is now reaching the three-quarters of a century mark, and has witnessed some of the most eventful history of the United States and of the world. He was the son of J. A. Curtis and Elizabeth Bird Curtis, his father a plantation farmer of Carolina. In 1857 850 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY the father made a trip to California, by way of New York and the Isthmus of Panama. At the outbreak of the Civil War he declared his intention of returning immediately to the aid of his beloved Southland, but was detained and passed away in 1865. Jonathan B. Curtis received a common school education, but the current of his life was greatly changed by the troubled days of the early sixties. He was just eighteen at the closing days of the war and was drafted and served for three months, being in several skirmishes while guarding the southern mountain passes, but escaping without wounds. He served under Capt. John D. Berry and Col. J. R. Love. On February 22, 1872, he was married to Miss Lydia J. Allen, at Franklin, N. C. She was the daughter of William and Martha (Carson) Allen, a native of Macon County, N. C.r and a childhood friend of her husband, whose helpmeet and inspiration she has been through almost half a century of life together. Of their union have been born ten children, the first two of whom, Charles and Elizabeth, are now deceased. Of the eight living, three, John S., Thomas and Mary, now Mrs. William Fowler, are resi dents of Patterson. The others are widely scattered, with the exception of Cora, now Mrs. Ernest George of Newman. They are: Anna, Mrs. J. D. Sparks, who resides at the old home place in Georgia; George, residing in Alabama; Margaret, now Mrs. Ula Grissom, Los Molinos, Tehama County ; Robert, in the U. S. Army and Thos. E. Following his marriage Mr. Curtis moved to Union County, Ga., where for fifteen years he was engaged in farming, and where his children were born. In 1900 he moved to Denison, Grayson County, Texas, where he farmed for ten years, at the end of that time coming to Stanislaus County, arriving at Patterson in 1910. In 1911 he bought his home on Almond Avenue, where he has since resided, and where he and his good wife expect to pass their remaining days in peace and comfort. Both Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have many friends in Patterson and vicinity, where their kindly Southern hospitality is much appreciated. Mr. Curtis is a stanch Democrat and is a member of the Masonic order, affiliated with the lodge at Pottsboro, Texas. PHILIP O. ERICKSON. — Stanislaus County owes much to its enterprising and successful merchants, whose energy and sensible conservatism have contributed to steadying finance and trade. Among such men may be mentioned Philip O. Erickson, of Turlock, who was born in Kittson County, Minn., on May 13, 1887. His father was John O. Erickson, a native of Sweden, where he was born on November 18, 1851. He was eleven years old when he- came to America with relatives and located in Good hue County, Minn. He was married on July 4, 1879, to Miss Anna Christine Apple- quist, who was born at Ryddaholm, Sweden, on March 2, 1858. She came to America in 1878 and also joined relatives in Minnesota. Prior to marrying, Mr. Erickson spent two or three years visiting California, Oregon and Washington. John O. Erickson started farming in Goodhue County, and remained there until 1884, when he removed to Kittson County and there purchased a homestead right, on which he located until 1903. While in Goodhue County, he was made a citizen of the United States, and he also served as school director. He joined the Republican ranks and voted with that party, but he worked for prohibition. He had eight chil dren, of whom six are still living. Esther is the widow of Oscar Ekvall, and resides with her three children in Turlock ; E. T. Erickson is in the employ of the U. S. Post Office in Turlock; Philip O. is the subject of our sketch; D. H. Erickson is deceased; Lydia R. is living at home; Hilda M. resides in San Francisco; Alice R. is a teacher; her twin brother died in infancy. Philip Erickson's father came to Turlock in 1902 prospecting for land, and invested in 160 acres, eleven miles southwest of Turlock. He sold 120 acres of this tract, and also invested some money in 120 acres in the Tegner district, on which later he built the Erickson home. On February 23, 1903, he removed his family to the Tegner district and continued as a farmer until 1911, when he retired to live in town, where he owned ten acres, and built a fine residence. In organizing the school district, a name was naturally called for; and Mr. Erickson submitted the name of Tegner, in honor of the world-renowned Swedish poet, Esaias Tegner, whose sagas and long poem, "The Children of the Lord's Supper, Longfellow was the first to translate well into English, and this has been the name of HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 851 the district since 1905. He helped to build the first schoolhouse there, and served as director until the time of his removal to Turlock in 1911. He was one of the organ izers and stockholders of the People's State Bank of Turlock. He belonged to the Swedish Mission Church. Philip Erickson was married at Kennedy, Minn., on July 10, 1910, to Miss Ebba Rosberg, who was born on August 25, 1888, and is now the mother of two children — Merle J. and Anna Laurine. Mr. Erickson has continued to manage his father's estate for his mother, who resides in town in the home her husband so thoughtfully furnished, and which he himself enjoyed for only a year. Mr. Erickson succeeded his father as school trustee in the Tegner district, and continued to serve in that capacity until 1919, when he removed to town. He also served as secretary of the Farm Bureau for three years. He is a stockholder in the T. M. & G., and he owns and operates the Serv-U Station, at Lander and West Main streets. HENRY J. COFFEE. — An honored Modesto citizen who worthily bears the name of a noted and revered pioneer, is Henry J. Coffee, who is dairy farming exten sively three and a half miles northeast of that town. His father, Stockard W. Coffee, was born in Smith County, Tenn., on September 16, 1838, the son of Joel and Martha (Moore) Coffee, natives of Tennessee and South Carolina, respectively. Stockard early removed to Illinois and there took up farming; but in 1863 he set out to captain a party with eight or nine wagons across the great plains. They went along the Mis souri and Platte rivers, and through the Black Hills; and after passing the site of what is now the city of Cheyenne, they camped for the winter near Denver on account of the hostility of the Indians. They made a fort of sod, and the next spring set out with renewed spirit and arrived in California, safe and sound. Stockard Coffee had all the qualities which would make him a good leader and defender of such a party, and he also had the grit and the common sense, when finding himself with little or no means, to get to work, first at toll road building, and then at harvesting, to earn a living. In 1865 he preempted 160 acres of Government land, the present Coffee ranch in Stanislaus County, sunk a well and otherwise improved the property; and he kept on adding to his possessions until he had about 1,300 acres, all in Stanislaus County. He raised wheat ; but when irrigation came to boom the value of the land, he found it far more profitable to sell most of what he had at from $65 to $125 an acre. He kept eighty of the best and earliest acres, and after a while retired, with his good wife, to Modesto, and there he died on April 7, 1917. Mrs. Coffee, whom he married on March 7, 1870, was Miss Martha A. Howell before her marriage; and she was born on April 4, 1850, the daughter of William N. Howell, of Welsb forefathers who settled in North Carolina, from which state they removed, first to Missouri and then to California. He had married Miss Minerva Stewart, whose ancestors, of Scotch-English descent, settled in Virginia. Mrs. Coffee, who has survived her husband, still retains those charms of intellect and heart which always made her the center of a devoted and admiring circle. Henry J. Coffee is the fourth of the six children granted Mr. and Mrs. Coffee, and still living-— a seventh and oldest having died in childhood. He was born on April 17, 1876, on the ranch which he now owns, and went to school in the Bel Passi school district. Mr. Coffee was married in Sylvan district, August 13, 1898, to Miss Marie Holm, a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, a daughter of J. J. P. and Mathilda (Hansen) Holm, her father then being a business man in Copenhagen. In 1886 the family came to California, locating in Sonora, and a year later in Oakdale, where the father was in the shoe business until, he retired, passing away in 1902, his wife having preceded him in 1894. They had three children who grew to maturity: Annie, Mrs. Julius Coffee, died in Oakdale; Johanna, Mrs. Guy Laughlin of Hickman; Marie, Mrs. Henry Coffee, was educated in Oakdale, and resided there until her marriage. Having remained at home until he was twenty-one, Mr. Coffee commenced renting a part of his father's farm ; and then he bought the one hundred sixty acres °f the home place while his father was still living. He has checked it, brought it under irrigation, and otherwise greatly improved it ; and having formerly raised grain, for the most part wheat and barley, he has in recent years devoted himself to dairy- 36 852 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ing. He keeps full-blooded Holstein bulls, and four strings of milch cows, all high grade Holsteins. In 1920, Mr. Coffee was elected a director of the Modesto Irriga tion district, an honor which speaks for itself, and since then has given his best efforts to the building up and enlarging of the system which has done so much to make Stanislaus County one of the leading agricultural sections of the state, and now doing all he can to bring the Don Pedro Dam project to a successful completion. One daughter, Miss Mabel Ann, came to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Coffee; and now, as the wife of David Arrata, she has a lovely home of her own at Modesto. Mr. Coffee is a charter member of the Elks Modesto Lodge No. 1282, and also of the Odd Fellows of the same place, and with his wife is of the Rebekahs. GUSTAF A. LUNDGREN. — A successful rancher who understands agricultural conditions in this part of California is Gustaf A. Lundgren, who was born in Gestrik- land, Sweden, on December 2, 1853, the son of Peter G. Lundgren, a carpenter and contractor in his native land, who married Miss Joana Seblom. Gustaf attended the common or graded schools for which Sweden is so famous, until he was sixteen years of age, and having shown a marked proficiency for mill work, he was allowed to serve an apprenticeship of four years in the steel rolling mills near his home. At the end of that time he was appointed a roller in the steel works. When twenty-eight years of age, he crossed the ocean to America, and located for a while at Worcester, Mass., from which place he moved on to Cleveland; and in that city his work as foreman of the large steel rolling mill found such favor that he remained in that position for eleven years. An older brother was. superintendent of this mill for many years, and Gustaf added to the honor of the family name. In 1903 Mr. Lundgren came out to California and Turlock, and in April of that year he purchased a farm of twenty acres, which he has since so successfully developed that it is now in a highly productive state. When he took up ranching he was ignorant of the first principles of farming and his success is thus all the more creditable and satisfactory. He is a member of the Farm Bureau of Stanislaus County, and also a member of the Farmers Union, and in both of these his cooperation is appreciated. In 1875, at Forsbache, Sweden, Mr. Lundgren was married to Miss Amelia Peerrou, whose birthday was May 14, 1854, the daughter of a blacksmith, her parents being Gabriel and Saodin Peerrou, and they have had six children. Telka is the wife of William Anderson, of Turlock, and the mother of three children. Iver married Eva Malsbury and lives in Youngstown, Ohio, the father of eight children. Walter married Miss Augusta Anderson, a native of Southern Sweden, who came to Turlock in 1895 with her sister. Henry is an invalid. Otto married Miss Esther Hultfield, and they have one child. Mildred is the wife of Marshall McVey, of Parker, Ariz., and the mother of four children. Mr. and Mrs. Lundgren belong to the Unity School of Christianity, and Mr. Lundgren, who was granted American citizenship at Worces ter, Mass., on November 22, 1886, is a Republican. WILLIAM THOMAS CARSON.— A genuine early-timer, whose recollections of by-gone days are a never-failing source of interest, is William Thomas Carson, the prosperous rancher, comfortably situated a mile and a half from Hughson, to the north west. He was born at Albany, Gentry County, Mo., on November 16, 1856, the son of William Carson, who was born near Louisville, Ky., and came to Missouri when he was a young man. As a '49er, he made a trip to California during the first gold rush, then returned to Missouri, came again to California in 1856, and four years later went back to Missouri. He was a farmer and a stockman ; but when here he mined at the head of the Feather River canyon above Oroville, where he put in a wing dam, for which he never received any return. He married Miss Narcissa Duncan, who became the mother of our subject. William Thomas Carson, when seventeen years of age, came out to California alone, traveling on the first steam emigrant train sent out, and landed in Colusa County, near the present location of Willows; since 1874 located in Glenn County. He re mained there until the fall of 1877, working on grain ranches, when he moved into Stanislaus County and took charge of a large grain ranch on the West Side — now the --e^^-^P^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 855 Day Ranch — north of Crows Landing. He had the supervision of 2,000 acres for seven years and then took up farming on his own account, working a ranch north of Crows Landing, which he leased for a number of years. In 1886, he bought 100 acres of the Winter Ranch near the river and due north of the Brad Crow Ranch; and he had one of the first alfalfa ranches in Stanislaus County, upon which he raised mules and horses. There he farmed until 1900, when he sold out and came to Hughson, where he bought thirty acres of unimproved land northwest of the town. This he developed to alfalfa, and now he intends setting out ten acres of it to peaches and apricots. At Crows Landing, on September 4, 1882, Mr. Carson married Miss Amanda Thompson, the daughter of John E. Thompson, who was born on April 26, 1838, at Bowling Green, Ky. He married Miss Mary Oldham, a native of Pike County, Mo., the ceremony taking place at Benton, Wis., in the fall of 1860. Four children have blessed their union : Mabel, now Mrs. Appling, of Richmond ; Ethel, who is Mrs. Collives of Sacramento ; Nina, or Mrs. O'Brien of San Francisco ; and William T. J. Mr. Carson, who is a Democrat and can talk instructively by the hour on notable political events in the past, recalls vividly the dry year of 1877, when the fields were literally covered with dead stock, cattle would become so weak that they would fall by the wayside, apd the supervisors passed a law requiring all cattle and sheep men who drove their herds from one part of the state to the other to drag from the highway the animals too weak to travel and unable longer to stand up. GEORGE W. SQUIRE. — A citizen of California for over thirty-three years, George W. Squire has become a resident of Hughson, well thought of for his years of strenuous, honest labor and the substantial fruits of his toil, gathered entirely by his own hands. He was born at Barnstable, near Liverpool, England, on October 13, 1864, the son of Philip Squire, a farmer, who had married Miss Elizabeth Hutchins. He came to America with his wife and family when George was nine months old, and settled at Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Mich. ; and there for a while he worked for others at farming, and when he was able to do so, bought a farm, raised grain and ran a dairy. He died in 1904, his widow having preceded him six j'ears, leaving behind them an enviable reputation for intelligence and integrity. With little over three and a half months of schooling a year, available only dur ing the winter months, George Squire started to work for wages on a farm when he was fifteen years old, and nine years later he came to California, in 1887. He stayed only a short time in San Francisco, and then he took the steamer for Eureka, in Humboldt County. He tried the hard work of the lumber camps in the woods ; but at the end of three months gave that up and then hired out as a laborer on a farm. Once more he went into the woods, and for eight months felled redwood timber,- and then, returning for a short time to San Francisco, he came inland to Modesto, but finally settled at Waterford, in 1890. He worked for wages for John Roen, an early settler, and remained on his farm for six months. This was followed by various short terms on different ranches, and one winter he spent on Lewis Hickman's ranch. In 1892 he went to San Luis Obispo, and worked for a season. Then he returned to Stanislaus County and went to work for E. V. Coggswell at Hickman, and remained there for two and a half years. Returning to San Luis Obispo, he worked for Mr. Scott on a ranch for two and half years; and there, on September 1, 1898, he was married to Miss Margaret Paulsen, a native of Schleswig, Germany, a daughter of Peter N. and Anna K. (Anderson) Paulsen, ' who brought their family to Santa Rosa, Cal., arriving July 4, 1878. Later they moved to Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo County, where they engaged in general farming until their death. Mrs. Squire received a good education in the Santa Rosa public schools, removing to San Luis Obispo County, where she met Mr. Squire. After his marriage, Mr. Squire purchased a ranch of thirty-six acres, seven miles from San Luis Obispo and, farmed there until 1917, when he sold his ranch and came to Hughson. Here he bought forty acres on Tully Boulevard, south of town; he made the deal in 1912, but he did not move onto the land until 1917. In August, 1919, he purchased thirty-six acres north of the new high school, about a mile from 856 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY town, and this he now has in alfalfa and peach orchard, while the forty acres are devoted to alfalfa and barley, and a dairy with nineteen cows. He has erected there a modern house and garage, and made many improvements greatly enhancing the value of the estate. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Squire; Elmer who was educated at the San Luis Obispo Polytechnic and then the Hughson high school from which he was graduated, now gives valuable assistance on the ranch; Earl is a high school student. ARTHUR G. CROWELL. — A rancher who has the full confidence and good will of his fellowmen, is A. G. Crowell, who lives a couple of miles northwest of Turlock. A native son, proud of his association with the great California common wealth, he was born near Hanford, in Kings County, on February 5, 1883, the son of Abner Buel Crowell, a native of Ohio, who had married Miss Abigail Kanawyer, of Iowa. Both of these devoted parents are now living, retired, at Oakland, enjoying the fruits of years of strenuous exertion. In company with his father, Abner Crowell came out to California, by way of the Isthmus of Panama in 1858, and two years later returned to Ohio. In 1865 he came west again, this time alone, and settled at Marys ville; and five years later he removed to Hanford, in Kings County. His wife, on the other hand, crossed the great plains when a girl of nine, accompanying her parents, who belonged to a party travelling with ox-teams. Abner Crowell was the first mer chant at Hanford, and he was also one of the earliest farmers and stockmen of that country. He. established a reputation for exceptional integrity, and he has never wanted for the esteem of those who know him. A. G. Crowell's boyhood days were spent on his father's farm and in his store, while he attended the local school, and in 1902 he was graduated from the Hanford high school — an ordinary incident, mayhap, but of more interest owing to Abner Crowell's work, as a member of the board of trustees for years, in behalf of the public schools. Later, the young man was engaged with his father in the manufacture of cheese; but a disastrous fire caused such loss to the family that, at the age of twenty, he had to push out into the world on his own resources. That year he came to Turlock and purchased eighty acres in the Roger Williams tract, and today he is owner of the sixty-acre farm in a highly developed stage of agriculture. It was decidedly uphill work at first to make the needed improvements, but Mr. Crowell is one of those fortunate men who look far ahead and hopefully into the future, and then — work and work. Since 1912, he has been engaged only in open, general farming, although prior to that he was dairying; but in whatever he has attempted, it is not surprising that he has been invariably, in the end, successful. On July 18, 1906, Mr. Crowell was married to Miss Esther Hall, a native of Minnesota and the daughter of E. W. and Ingaborg Hall, now among the leading residents of Turlock. Mrs. Crowell came to Turlock in an early day and was secre tary and stenographer to Reverend Hultberg, who was the colonization agent and brought the Swedish settlers to this section of the country, and she has been an eye witness to the development of the country roundabout. Three children were born to them : Leila Joyce, Gladys Marion and Arthur Verne. Mr. Crowell is a member of the board of trustees of the Turlock Union High School, and he is also a chairman of the Turlock board of the Anti-Japanese League. He is a stockholder of the T. M. & G, incorporated in 1915, is a Republican, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. CHARLES H. AUSTIN. — A progressive, industrious rancher, whose foresight together with steady labor have enabled him, operating on a broad and thoroughly up-to-date basis, to attain an enviable prosperity, is Charles H. Austin, a native of Emporia, Kans., where he was born on December 7, 1880. His father was G. H. Austin, a native of Vermont, who had married Miss Florence Washburn, of Wis consin. As a genuine Yankee, the elder Austin made his mark in contract building, and did much in his time to improve the living conditions of others, as well as to establish higher architectural standards. Both Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Austin have joined the silent majority of those who rest from their labors. Eight of their ten children have survived them, and among these Charles is the third son of the family. C^ia^^^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 857 When seventeen years of age, Mr. Austin entered the employ of a carpenter, and after that he spent his life in Kansas as a general contractor and farmer at Emporia. In 1910, he came out to California and settled at Modesto; and two years later, he purchased a sixty-acre farm near Keyes, where he has since engaged in general farming. He is a stockholder and director of the Cooperative Warehouse at Modesto, and as one of the former local directors of the Farmers Union, he has made many true friends through his untiring efforts to advance the interests he represented. He is also a stock holder of the Cooperative Garage at Modesto. Mr. Austin was married on March 4, 1903, at Harlan, Kans., to Miss Alma Coffin, a native of Kansas, and five children have blessed their happy union. Leslie Irene attends the high school at Turlock; and the others are Charles H. Austin, Jr., Robert Dale, Doris Margaret and Mary Lea. A Socialist in politics, Mr. Austin finds pleasure in serving as president of the board of trustees of the Keyes district school, and he was also a very active committeeman on the successive Liberty Loan drives in the Keyes precinct. He belongs to the Masons, where his integrity, unselfish devotion to ideals, and his genial personality are appreciated at par value. CHARLES E. CAMP. — A Californian in his native spirit and large-hearted, broad-minded way of viewing things, through and through, Charles E. Camp exercises an enviable influence as deputy county assessor of Stanislaus County, and an influence making for better things. He is another example of the lowan who has adopted the Golden State and has contributed toward its development, having been born in the Hawkeye section of the West, at Belle Plaine, on June 15, 1866. His parents were James E. and Estella (Burnison) Camp, well known to the people of Iowa, where Mr. Camp, who operated extensively in trucking, was a deputy sheriff. He came out to California in 1872, bought 275 acres on American River, in Sacramento County,, and was a farmer in the Sacramento Valley, where he raised stock, hogs and alfalfa. Charles went to both the grammar and the high schools of Sacramento, and later attended the College of the Pacific at San Jose, and then took a course at Bainbridge Business College at Sacramento, from which he was graduated in 1889; after which he taught bookkeeping in the college for a time, and he also spent a part of his youth and early manhood on his father's farm, and after his marriage leased a part of the home place until the fall of 1895, when he removed to Martinez, continuing farming until 1897, when he came to Stanislaus County, and near Montpellier he farmed a ranch of 820 acres, planting to grain and maintaining a dairy. After thirteen years, he sold out his interest and purchased a half-interest in a ranch of 120 acres on the Stanislaus River near Salida. He had a dairy, and he raised alfalfa. Having rented out this ranch land, he accepted a position as deputy assessor in 1910, and he has filled that responsible office ever since. He has also done expert accounting for the county, and for the Modesto Irrigation District. He holds on to his ranch and to his home, • and so maintains a closer touch with this favored part of California, and feels a deeper interest in its future than he otherwise would or could. Mr. Camp was married at Sacramento on June 21, 1892, to Georgiana E. Hall, who was born near Escalon, in San Joaquin County, Cal., the daughter of Ed. A. Hall, who had married Miss Mary E. Jones, the daughter of John W. Jones of Escalon, a pioneer stockman and large landowner in San Joaquin and Stanislaus coun ties. Both the Halls and the Joneses were leaders in stock raising in pioneer days and deserve, as they are sure to receive, proper recognition at the hands of the historian. Three children crowned this union : Jessie Elizabeth is Mrs. J. E. Evans of Modesto ; Clarence A. is assistant cashier at the Modesto Bank; and Frederick A. is with the Modesto Lumber Company. Mr. Camp joined Wildey Lodge No. 149, I. O. O. F., Modesto, and is also a prominent member of the Modesto Encampment of Odd Fel lows, having passed through all the chairs and has been representative to the Grand Encampment of California, and with his wife he is a member of the Rebekahs. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, where he has made the same triumphal prog ress and is now keeper of records and seals. He is, besides, a member of the Modesto Moose, and is a trustee of the lodge. 858 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY JONAS S. WALLIN. — A Swedish-American who has succeeded well in America, thereby stimulating others to try their fortune in this favored land, is Jonas S. Wallin, who came to the Hilmar Colony nearly twenty years ago. He was born in Jemtland, Northern Sweden, on August 25, 1865, the son of Swens Swanson, who had married Miss Carrie Olson, of the same province, and he grew up on his father's farm, alter nating school with hard work, and getting confirmed, like the rest of the Swedish boys of Lutheran families, in the middle of his teens. He was one of six children, but with good parents, each child had all the advantages possible. In 1893, Mr. Wallin came out to the United States, just in time to see the World's Fair at Chicago, and located for a while in North Dakota, where he worked out on farms. Five years later, he went back to Sweden and his home to see his mother, who had become aged and infirm; and there he remained until 1900. On returning to America he stopped for two years at Anaconda, Mont., then came out to California, and after seeing San Francisco and concluding that it did not offer him, as a city, what he wanted, he came inland and located in Stanislaus County, where he began to farm on his own account. In 1905, at San Francisco, Mr. Wallin was made a citizen, and since then has espoused the Republican platform. Mr. Wallin is the owner of nine acres in North Turlock precinct which he devotes to a vineyard and intensive farming, and he takes a live interest in the work of the Cooperative Marketing Association. He is also a member of the United Growers Association of Turlock, and of the California Associated Raisin Company. In 1907, he was married to Miss Agnes E. Anderson, a daughter of the late Louis Anderson, who had married Miss Maria Caroline Carlson, like himself a native of Vermland, Sweden, where he was born on April 28, 1839, and she on June 5, 1842. In the old country, Mr. Anderson was known as a skillful carpenter; but on coming across the ocean, he preferred to follow agricultural pursuits. Hence he farmed, for a while, in Chisago County, Minn., and after nearly a decade removed with his wife and family to' Kandiyohi County, where they remained until 1902. Then they came to California and Turlock, and finally settled in the Hilmar Colony. About the middle of January, 1907, Mr. Anderson was killed through injuries received in a runaway accident; and eight years later, on July 8, Mrs. Anderson died. At the time of his death, Mr. Anderson owned about 200 acres, which were willed to his wife ; and when she died, the property was divided among the heirs. Mr. and Mrs. Wallin are members of the Swedish Mission Church at Turlock, and Mr. Wallin is a member of the male choir. They have adopted the child of some San Francisco friends, Ureil Verona, as their own, and enjoy life in their handsome modern residence which Mr. Wallin erected on his ranch in 1918. WILLIAM JOHNSON.— A native of Vermland, Sweden— where he was born on April 6, 1862 — who has made good in California, is William Johnson, the rancher, who lives one and one-half miles northwest of Turlock, having come to Stanislaus County nearly twenty years ago. He is the son of Jonas and Sarah Segelson, both natives of the same province, and the youngest of their five children. Having lost his mother when he was two years of age, William was reared on his father's farm; and since his father was an expert carpenter and blacksmith, the lad learned the car penter's trade. His schooling was not neglected, however, and according to the custom of the country and the denominational preferences of his parents, he was confirmed in the Swedish Lutheran Church when he was fourteen years of age. When nineteen years of age, William set out into the world for himself, and coming to America, he located at Minneapolis, where he found plenty of work until 1903. During 1895, he tried farming for nine months in Idaho Falls, Idaho, but owing to the heavy frosts there he abandoned the effort and resumed carpentering. In 1903 he came to the Pacific Coast. What he saw here led him very soon to purchase a farm of thirty acres northwest of Turlock, where he commenced farming in 1905; but after a while he sold a strip of ten acres to his sister-in-law, Mrs. E. M. Rissell, so he now has twenty acres, which he devotes to a vineyard and an orchard. He belongs to the United Growers Association, the California Associated Raisin Company, and the Stanislaus Farmers Union. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 861 At Turlock, in 1905, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Julia Anderson, who was born in Kandiyohi County, Minn., the daughter of Louis and Maria Caroline (Carlson) Anderson, both born in Vermland, Sweden — the father on April 28, 1839, and the mother on June 5, 1842. Mr. Anderson was a carpenter by trade, but follow ing his marriage and coming to America, in 1869, with his young bride, he took to farming and located first in Chisago County, Minn., where he followed agriculture for nine years. He and his wife then moved into Kandiyohi County, where they farmed prior to coming to Turlock in 1902. Reaching California, they located in Hilmar Colony, and there he owned 212 acres at the time of his death, which was caused by a runaway accident, on January 14, 1907. Mr. Anderson's property was all willed to his widow, who died on July 8, 1915, and the property was then divided among the heirs, and has since been subdivided and most of it sold off. So passed, at Turlock, two of Stanislaus County's most highly respected citizens. Mrs. Johnson was reared in Minnesota, and has certainly proven the best of wives and mothers. Three children have been granted Mr. and Mrs. Johnson — Louis Laverne, Doris Caroline, and Leola Juliette. In 1897 Mr. Johnson received the coveted documents attesting to his full Ameri can citizenship; and ever since, as a Republican advocating constitutional prohibition, he has been demonstrating his quality of "100 per cent American," winning thereby the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. MERTON W. DEMAREST.— An upright man of much native ability who is very satisfactorily filling the important post of assistant superintendent of the Modesto Irrigation District, is Merton W. Demarest, who was born in Michigan, January 20, 1883, the son of George Demarest, a native of New York and of old Knicker bocker stock. He came to Michigan when he was sixteen years old, and from there enlisted in defense of the American Union and served for four years in the Civil War, as a member of the Ninth Michigan Infantry. He campaigned under General Thomas, as headquarters guard, and was wounded ; and after the war he returned to Michigan, where he farmed for a while and then went into the livery business. He had a first-class livery at Tustin, Osceola County, but was eventually able to retire in comfort at Grand Rapids, Mich. He had married Miss Julia Baird, a native of Ver mont, but of Scotch descent, and she died in Michigan in 1898. They had four chil dren, two boys and two girls, and among these Merton, the third oldest in the family, is one of two in California. He was brought up and educated at Tustin, enjoying the advantages of both the grammar and the high schools, although as early as his eleventh year he went to work in the lumber woods for W. B. Miller & Company. At first he did the tallying, then he drove the big teams, and finally, in the nine years in which he worked for that firm, he became foreman. Then he spent five years with the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company, and served them faithfully as construction foreman. At Reed City, Mich., September 18, 1901, he was married to Miss Mabel Michael, born in Cadillac, Mich., a daughter of George and Mary (Wright) Michael, born in New York State. They engaged in farming near Cadillac, and there the mother died in 1895, while the father now makes his home with Mrs. Demarest. In 1908, Mr. Demarest and his wife came out to California and Modesto, where a brother-in-law, Ernest Michael, had preceded them. Here he was employed at the carpentering trade, and then he took contracts for building irrigation boxes. After that he built houses in Turlock, and then he was with the Modesto Lumber Company as clerk, leaving them to go to the Stanislaus Lumber Company as yard clerk. After that for A. L. Cressey, he made irrigation boxes for 480 acres. In 1910, he entered the employ of the Modesto Irrigation District, beginning at the bottom by tending ditches and working up, and three years later he was made assistant superintendent and was put in charge of the system, which then had about 14,000 acres under control, whereas it is now serving over 60,000 acres. He manages 165 miles of main canal, and 100 miles of private ditches. When Mr. Demarest joined the service there were 250 cubic feet of water, and now there are 1,600. He directs the labors of from forty-five to fifty men, and keeps every detail of the work under 862 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY absolute control and thoroughly up to the minute. The headquarters of the main tenance department of the district has lately been moved to a new site comprising ten acres on the corner of Woodland Avenue and the State Highway, where Mr. Dema rest will reside with his family. The added space gives room for sidings from the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the concrete pipe works and yards, where they manu facture all the concrete pipe used for the district, as well as for commercial use, for which there is a large demand by the ranchers of the district. There is also plenty of room for warehouses and barns for the stock as well as garages for autos and trucks. Seven children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Demarest. Harold R. was attending the Annapolis Preparatory School at Goat Island when, by competitive examination, he was appointed a cadet and now attends the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. The others are Blanche, Paul, Reva, George, Lola and Lois — the latter twins. Mrs. Demarest is a member of the First Baptist Church of Modesto, and Mr. Demarest marches in the ranks bf the Republican party, although he gives the heartiest, nonpartisan support to all sensible measures likely to be of benefit to the community. THOMAS W. CHENEY. — The son of a California pioneer, and himself a native son of the Golden State, Thomas W. Cheney has made a prominent place for himself in industrial development through his activities as a breeder of Jersey cattle and standard-bred horses, and his extensive interests in the poultry business. His father, Edward Cheney, was born in Vermont and grew up in the sturdy environ ment of the Green Mountain State, afterward being interested in the operation of cotton mills in Massachusetts. Later he migrated to California and became one of the pioneer settlers at Bodega Bay, Sonoma County. Thomas W. Cheney was born at Bodega Bay, Sonoma County, March 21, 1863, and when his school days were over he followed farming and stock raising in his home neighborhood. Beginning with 1906, he engaged in the poultry business and came to own one of the largest chicken ranches in Sonoma County. He was the proprietor of the Twentieth Century Hatchery that had an incubator capacity of 12,000 chicks and his extensive poultry yards comprised about 100,000 chickens. He also engaged in breeding Jersey cattle, and in this, too, he was very successful, his cows testing the highest for butterfat in Sonoma, Marin and Mendocino counties, the heart of that prosperous dairy district, the average for the whole herd being 6.3. While a resident of Sonoma County, Mr. Cheney was united in marriage at Valley Ford to Miss Florence Wall, a native of Teegarden, Columbiana County, Ohio. A physician of prominence at the time of her marriage, Dr. Cheney has attained a high standing in her profession, a sketch of her life appearing on another page of this history. They are the parents of one son, T. Walter Cheney, who has an enviable record for service during the World War. In January, 1910, the Cheneys located in Turlock, where Dr. Cheney opened an office and sanitarium. Mr. Cheney brought his fine dairy stock with him from Sonoma County and soon engaged in dairying on a ranch three miles east of Turlock. He also has given considerable attention to raising standard-bred horses, owning Sonoma King, with a record of 2:04. He also was the owner of several thorough breds, among others Gypsy Belle and Gypsy out of Gypsy Girl, that held a world's record. Energetic and enterprising, Mr. Cheney has met with splendid success in his undertakings and enjoys in a marked degree the confidence of the community. FLORENCE V. CHENEY, M.D.— So well has the medical fraternity of Cali fornia — widely recognized as among the foremost professional bodies of the United States — been represented for years past by women practitioners, that it is a pleasure to add to that group one of the distinguished residents of Turlock, Dr. Florence V. Cheney, the director of the Cheney Sanitarium. She was born near Teegarden, Columbiana County, Ohio, the daughter of Peter Wall, a native of Ohio, who was educated in that state and then became the proprietor of a sawmill. He also was the owner of two farms, and a coal mine under one of them. In 1885 he sold out his Ohio holdings and came out to California with his wife and eight children and set- t.ed at Elsinore; he bought ranches at Lake Elsinore and was proprietor of a general ^*4j HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 887 school class to be organized by Prof. R. S. Holway, now of the University of Cali fornia at Berkeley. All three of these sisters became teachers, Margaret E. being a graduate of the San Jose Normal School, and Almina and Mrs. Spyres taking the county teachers' examinations for their certificates. In the examination of 1889 Mrs. Spyres stood first in a class of twenty-seven ; her first certificate, however, bearing the date of March 22, 1885, and signed by W. B. Howard, M. D., county superintendent of schools, the board of education including: John J. Zielian, J. T. Davies, S. L. Hanscom and L. J. Maddux. Mrs. Spyres was a teacher in Stanislaus County from 1885 to 1905, at which time she was married to Mr. Spyres. Since that time she has served five years as clerk of the school board in the New Hope School district. She is the mother of two children, Velma and Martin, both attending the public schools. REV. G. W. GRANNIS. — Active for years among the worthiest members of the Christian ministry, the Rev. G. W. Grannis of Turlock has risen to national emi nence through his advanced, liberal views and his broad, humanitarian sympathies, whereby his work to spread the Gospel has met with phenomenal success. He was born at Hannahstown, Butler County, Pa., on August 24, 1847, the son of John C. Grannis, a native of Franklin County, Pa., who was an expert shoemaker of the old-fashioned type and had a large trade extending throughout Butler County. In 1867 he removed to Dent County, Mo. ; and afterwards he removed to Illinois, where he died. He belonged to a family which can trace its ancestry back to Flanders. Edward Grannis came to America in 1644, and settled near New Haven, Conn., where the name, Grannis Corners, originating with this family, is still known. He had two sons, John and Joseph; and from the son John is our subject descended. Several ancestors were in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. John C. Grannis had nine children, and six are still living. The second eldest, G. W. Grannis, was reared in Butler, and later at Lawrence, Pa., and he received a good education in the public schools. When sixteen years old, he responded to the call for defenders of the Union, enlisting in Company E, One Hundred and Ninety-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and he was on detached service in Maryland, and did provost duty throughout that section. He was mustered out at Pittsburgh, Pa., in November, 1864; and for a while he followed railroading out of Allegheny, Pa. In 1867 he went with his parents to help them get settled, intending to return East again; but in Dent County, Mo., he was licensed to preach by the St. Louis Conference, and later on he was ordained as minister. He preached in Missouri until April, 1872, when he spent the time until fall in Arkansas, and in 1874 he was transferred to the Pacific Northwest, and became a pastor at Walla Walla, Wash. Thus he came to have fourteen years of experience in the Christian ministry in Eastern Washington. During this time, he was presiding elder for four years, and he was pastor at Boise City and also Canon City. In 1888, Rev. Grannis was transferred to the Oregon Conference, where he put in thirteen years ; and during that time he was stationed at Astoria, at Portland, and at Salem, and then for a time he was agent for the Willamette University. In 1901, he was transferred to the Pittsburgh Conference where he held several pastorates; and while at Walton Church, an industrial section of Pittsburgh, he was led into the great work with which he was destined to be associated, that of securing one day a week for rest; and there the Sunday Rest Association was started, which resulted in wide industrial reformation. It was commenced in one corner of his church, when two members of his congregation came to him to ask him what could be done to secure a needed rest to the employees. The steel mills were a veritable slaughter house, ambulances being required frequently, in some cases as many as from ten to fifteen times a day, to carry overworked employees to the hospitals. The association then formed, demanded the safeguarding of human life and increased precautions against so many accidents. In this society the term "Safety First" originated. After an investigation prompted by Rev. Mr. Grannis and his associates, Jones & Laughlin and the U. S. Steel Corporation decided it did not pay to overwork their men, and granted them one day in seven to rest. Mr. Grannis then turned his attention to the abolition of unnecessary work in the. post office on Sundays. He 888 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY investigated the delivery of Sunday mail, and found that less than one-half of one per cent of the mail was called for on Sundays, and fifty per cent of this was called for by children, and only twenty-five per cent of them had any mail; fifty per cent of the employees of the post office were required to render this limited service. On August 30, 1909, at St. Paul, Rev. Mr. Grannis addressed the National Con vention of Letter Carriers, and he told them that he thought that with their undivided aid they could stop the delivery of Sunday mail — a thing that was actually accomplished in two years. They first got Congress to so amend the law that post office employees received as compensation one day free of the six days following those on duty; and then Rev. Mr. Grannis, by wide interviews with postmasters and offi cials, pressed the campaign for the one day of rest a week in every state of the Union. His prominence in the Allegheny Sunday Rest Association led to his selec tion to lead the national movement; and on that account he came to the Coast to make his home and give his attention especially to the Pacific Coast states. In the spring of 1909 he purchased a residence and lots in Long Beach; but he soon met with a railroad accident, and while convalescing he traded his Long Beach property for Turlock land, a ranch lying ten miles southwest of Turlock. This was in the spring of 1914. In 1917, he actually located here, and he has since greatly improved the property, and made of it a farm of which anyone might be proud. The first marriage of the Rev. G. W. Grannis occurred in Missouri in 1872, when he was united with Miss Eunice Barnes, a native of Wisconsin, who died in 1909. He was married a second time, in October, 1910, at Columbus, Ohio, to Miss Catherine Stannard, a native of England and a graduate of the Ohio Normal School. Mr. Grannis reared a boy, Frank L. Grannis, who is a graduate of Willamette University, and is now an instructor in the high school at Eugene, Ore. During the shortage of ministers at the time of the World War, Mr. Grannis accepted the pastorate of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Escalon, and at the next conference, he was reappointed pastor by the bishop. He awakened their interest to improve the church property, with the result that they finally built a new and attractive church, which was dedicated on April 10, 1921, Mr. Grannis having acted as the superin tendent of construction until it was successfully completed. Rev. Grannis was made a Mason in Canon City Lodge, Grant County, Ore., in 1876, but since then he has demitted, and he is now a member of Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M. He is a member of Turlock Post of the G. A. R., in which he is a past commander, and it is interesting to note that he was also commander of the G. A. R. post at Long Beach for two years. In former years, he served as aide on the National Commander's staff. Mrs. Grannis is active in both the church and the Ladies' Society, and also in the Woman's Relief Corps; and like her husband she is strong for temperance, and a hard worker for the Eighteenth Amendment, although subscribing to the platforms of the Republican party. JESSE M. FINLEY. — Among the progressive agriculturists in Stanislaus County, Jesse M. Finley of Waterford is well known as one of the successful growers of grain. He owns a large and excellent ranch in the Waterford district, and rents as much more. He was born in Dade County, Mo., on March 20, 1869, the son of John M. Finley, a native of Missouri and a farmer there, who married in that state Miss Sarah Haley; and in 1873 he came to California with his parents, who settled on a ranch six miles west of Modesto. A few years ago John M. Finley died at Modesto, in his seventy-sixth year. He had served in the Union Army in the Civil War; and Mrs. Finley passed away in Modesto when our subject was twenty-six years old. They had seven children, one of whom died very young, and four are now living, a sister, Mrs. Lulu Thompson, who resides at Modesto, the wife of Walter O. Thompson; Dr. J. H. Finley of Seattle, and Mrs. Fannie Ross of Oakland. The third in order of birth was Jesse, who attended school in Modesto. Jesse M. Finley is an adept at grain farming, and raises for the most part barley. He formerly owned a fine ranch near Waterford, consisting of 300 acres, and there built the elegant residence now owned by John Roen. His present home place is the Timbell Ranch, about six miles northeast of Waterford, made up of 1,040 acres, which MihUk- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 891 he bought in 1917. He has always rented extensively, in addition to owning land, and now farms 2,600 acres in Waterford precinct. He owns and operates a seventy- five horsepower Holt caterpillar tractor and combined harvester and thresher, and as a member of the Farm Bureau he has encouraged the use of up-to-date machinery. Mr. Finley is an organizer and a stockholder and director in the Commercial and Savings Bank at Waterford. He was also active in organizing the Waterford Irrigation District, and as one of the original directors, he is enthusiastic about the project. He started rice growing in 1919, and he has rented out 400 acres well suited to that culture to August Dickow, who was the first rancher to grow rice on a com mercial scale in the Waterford district. At San Francisco Mr. Finley was married to Miss Edna Welch, a native of Waterford and the daughter of Chas. E. and Sarah Welch. The latter still lives at Waterford. Fraternally Mr. Finley is a member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. 0. E., and being interested in the cause of education has served acceptably as a member of the Waterford school district, and is with the Chamber of Commerce. JOHN H. HOLT. — A very successful man in the commercial world of Stanislaus County, who brought to California the fruits of a valuable business experience, was the late John H. Holt, who was born at Lewisville, Wis., November 28, 1869, and reared for some years in South Dakota. His father was Joseph Holt, who entered the Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry at the age of only sixteen, and served throughout the Civil War. Then he married Miss Sina Cotton, a native of Ohio, who removed to South Dakota in 1881 and there homesteaded land, selecting a tract in Kingsbury County. Later he removed to Willow Springs, Mo., where he now resides, his wife having died about thirty years ago. Of their six children, John was the only son. He attended the public schools of South Dakota, and then studied at the State Agri cultural College at Brookings, after which he engaged in farming on the old home .place. Next he became manager of the Atlas Elevator Company at Manchester, and after that he engaged in the mercantile business in that town. Then he went to Mesaba Range, near Marble, Minn., where he worked for a hardware merchant. In the fall of 1911, Mr. Holt came to Pomona, Cal., and the following spring he removed to Turlock and soon engaged in the butcher business, running a meat wagon for seven years. With Mr. Hill, he started the City Market, and they were successful from the beginning. They made many improvements, installing an ice machine, so that they had the largest cold storage plant in the town. He was a member of the Board of Trade and did much to help in the growth of the town. At White, S. D., April 16, 1893, Mr. Holt was married to Miss Cora Bouchie, a native of Iowa. Her father was Joseph Bouchie, born in Richmond, Canada, of French descent, and her mother was Elizabeth Currier, a native of New York. They were farmers in Iowa until they removed to Kingsbury, S. D., where Mrs. Holt re ceived a good education in the public schools. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Holt, and all but one are still living: Homer met an accidental death; the pther children are Everett, Guy, Sidney, Clarence, Emory, Raymond, Alice, Vesta and Ethel. Mr. Holt was a member of the Odd Fellows, Loyal Order of Moose and the Independent Order of Foresters. Since his death, on September 6, 1920, Mrs. Holt continues to reside at their comfortable home, looking after the interests he left, and is rearing and educating the children as she had planned with her husband. She is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters. CHESLEY I. BENTLEY. — A thoroughly-trained machinist who also has executive business ability is Chesley or Chet Bentley, a worthy representative of a family of early settlers who became permanently identified with Central California, and the owner and proprietor of the Service Garage at Waterford. He was born at the Lone Star Ranch about eight miles south of Oakdale, on June 4, 1894, the son of Isam H. and Mae D. Bentley, and the grandson of the late R. H. Bentley of Oakdale, whose brother, J. D. Bentley, is the oldest living pioneer of Stanislaus County. Mr. and Mrs. I. H. Bentley had three children ; and the others beside our subject were Maud, now Mrs. George Stangier, who is in business at Pendleton, 892 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Ore., and Mrs. Lorena Moore, now deceased, who became the wife of Elmer Moore, an extensive rancher not far from Pendleton. When Chet was a boy of two years, his parents moved to Oakdale, and from there they moved on to Sonora, in 1899, and from Sonora to Modesto in 1905. Mrs. Bentley and the lad took up their residence in San Francisco before the earthquake, and so it happened that they were there during that awful calamity. Their house stood through the "quake," but it was ordered blown up by the fire chief as the flames advanced, and soon it was dynamited. Chet lived at various places, attend ing the public schools at Sonora, Modesto, Pendleton, Seattle, San Francisco and Waterford, where he graduated from the grammar school. Then in Oakland he went in for manual training and took a technical course in telegraphy, specializing in radio or wireless. With the exception of ten years spent in the Bay Cities, in Oregon and in Washington, and for five years in the radio service of the merchant marine at sea, he has been in Stanislaus County all the rest of his life. With the knowledge he had acquired of radio or wireless telegraphy, it was easy for Mr. Bentley to enter the United States merchant marine as a radio operator; and he spent five interesting years at sea on eighteen or twenty different ships, begin ning with the United States Wireless Service. He has circumnavigated the globe, and crossed the equator six times ; he has doubled Cape Horn twice ; he has visited China, Japan and the Philippines six times, and Russia twice, South America four times, and sailed the Mediterranean Sea, the Straits of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal, as well as the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, and has visited Northern Africa and India, Aus tralia, New Zealand and Alaska. And after all this he is content to settle down in Stanislaus County, and believes it to be the best place upon earth. He was in the Radio Service from 1911 to 1916, and was in the U. S. Naval Reserve in 1913 dur ing the Mexican Revolution. In 1917, Mr. Bentley returned to Stanislaus County and was married at Water ford to Miss Edith Horsley, and now they live in Waterford at the home of her" father, Chas. C. Horsley. One child has blessed their union — Barbara Mae. Fra ternally Mr. Bentley is a member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. E., and Twin Town Lodge No. 342, K. of P., and with his wife is a member of Baptist Community Church, while he is a publicity chairman of the Waterford Chamber of Commerce. In 1920 Mr. Bentley bought out the Service Garage at Waterford. He employs two competent mechanics steadily, and does a regular garage and auto repair business, making a specialty of acetylene welding and auto truck and tractor work. He has a first-class machine shop, with power lathe drill, press and up-to-date tools, and a three horsepower electrical motor. He has an authorized Ford service station, and carries Ford extras, besides a general line of auto accessories, tires, gasoline and oils. ROBERT S. TYRRELL. — A hard-working, highly successful dairy-farmer who has become a live wire in the community, is Robert S. Tyrrell. He was born at Ferndale, Humboldt County, Cal., on July 3, 1871, the son of Ransel S. Tyrrell, a native of Ohio, who removed to Wisconsin and from that state set out across the wide plains with an ox team in 1859. He married Eliza J. Gill, and upon arriving in California first settled at Rohnerville in Humboldt County, but later bought land at Ferndale. He ran a farm there on the very site of the present town, and there he and his good wife reared their nine children, two dying in early childhood. The seventh in the order of birth, Robert, grew up on the home farm and attended the grammar schools at Ferndale; and later he became a student at the University of the Pacific at San Jose. In 1894 he was married to Miss Josephine Worthington, a daughter of another family of pioneers known and honored in Hum boldt County; and after their marriage, he rented land for three years. Then he removed to the Coquille' River country, in Oregon, and bought a ranch where he established a creamery which he ran for eight years. It was known as the Willowdale Creamery, and enjoyed a patronage for miles around. Mr. Tyrrell's next move was on account of his wife's health when he came to the San Joaquin Valley, California, and for the next seven years he was extensively engaged in dairying. He had 100 cows, and besides that he put in sixty acres in HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 893 peaches and vines in Madera County, and, with his characteristic energy, he improved his 420-acre ranch and duly prospered. In 1917, however, he sold out and came to the vicinity of Salida, where he acquired a ranch of eighty acres, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Tyrrell are the proud parents of two living children, and the envied among patriots for their contribution of a third who gave his life for his country in the recent great War of the Nations. He was Harold H. Tyrrell, and had been a student at Redlands; he entered the army, served in France in a machine gun battalion, and during the fierce battle on the Vesle River, he was struck by a Ger man shell. The Government, for eight months, reported him merely missing, and finally he was officially reported as "killed in action." Ralph R., his younger brother, is a student of the agricultural school of the State University at Davis, where he has won his way with honor to the ranks of a senior ; and Ardj's is taking a kindergarten train ing course at a private school at Berkeley. Mr. and Mrs. Tyrrell are members of the Presbyterian Church of Modesto. In national politics Mr. Tyrrell is a Republican ; but he is such a devoted champion of the best for local development that he permits no partisanship to interfere with his support of approved candidates and measures. He is a member of the Milk Producers Association of Central California. LEVI WINKLEBLECK. — An experienced real estate operator, whose principles and methods, — so helpful, with his wide knowledge of local conditions, to inexperi enced, would-be purchasers, — are entirely consistent with his walk and profession as an elder in the Church of the Brethren, is Levi Winklebleck, who resides at 1519 H Street, Modesto, and keeps in close touch with all forward movements in Stanislaus County. He was born in Darke County, Ohio, on March 13, 1863, and when four years old was bereft of his father, Samuel Winklebleck, who came from Lebanon County, Pa., after having been married in Montgomery County in that state. He was a pious member of the Church of the Brethren, and left to a widow and eight chil dren the priceless heritage of an honored name. The youngest of the family, Mr. Winklebleck began to work out in the woods, carrying water to the men who cut and felled trees, and when old enough began to haul chips and ties. The mother, Nancy Brumbaugh, in maidenhood, a native of Montgomery County, struggled nobly to rear her family, and she eventually died at the home of our subject, in Hartford City, Ind., at the age of eighty-seven. The meagre earnings of the lad, through his very hard work, helped to support the family, and so he had to content himself with the most limited opportunities for schooling, largely obtained through the night school at Greenville, Ohio. When he struck out for himself, he went to Hartford City, Ind., and contracted to supply railway ties for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He built a sawmill there, and for years handled ties exclusively, giving up the enterprise when he came west in 1908. While in Blackford County, he united with the Church of the Brethren at Hartford City, in 1885, and immediately became active in that organization. The next year he was called to the ministry of the church, and at once established the Bethel Center, and in 1895 formed the church at Hartford City. In 1888 he had been ordained an elder, having risen from the status of a member to the position of deacon and then minister in the first degree, and then mniister of the second degree. At Hartford City, in 1883, Mr. Winklebleck was married to Miss Catharine Waters, who had been born and reared in Blackford County, Ind., a daughter of Law rence and Eva (Cline) Waters. Her father was the first blacksmith at Muncie, Ind., and he died at the home of our subject, at Hartford City, aged ninety-five years. Six children blessed this union : Blanche, the eldest, died in her twentieth year at Hartford City ; Almeda is the wife of P. A. Havelick, a real estate agent at Indian apolis; Edna also died at Hartford City, only twelve and a half years old; Margaret married Roy Garvey, a rancher of Empire; Helen is the wife of Worth Foster, a- civil engineer at Modesto ; Samuel H. is a sophomore at Stanford University. Mr. Winklebleck does a general real estate business, with offices at Waterford, and is at present engaged in subdividing a tract at Empire. In this great work of extending the principles professed by the Brethren through colonization, he has 894 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY probably brought more good, substantial people to Stanislaus County than has any other one man. He was one of the first three founders of the Indiana Church of the Brethren to settle at Empire, the others being Philip Detrick, with his family, and J. W. Deardorff and family, and they came to Empire in December, 1908. In part nership with L. J. Coffee, he erected the first store building at Empire, and he resided in Modesto while laying out the townsite. He has helped to organize and establish the church at Waterford, and is at present the elder in charge. CLARENCE E. OBERG. — A hard-working, successful farmer who has thor oughly demonstrated his capacity as a good manager, is Clarence E. Oberg, a native of Omaha, Neb., where he was born on January 8, 1876, the son of E. L. and Johanna Oberg, farmer folks near Omaha. After years of honest endeavor E. L. Oberg and his wife became pioneer farmers in the Hughson colony, where Mrs. Johanna Oberg passed away in 1911, this being the first death in the place after the town was laid out. The father continued to reside here, spending his last years with his son, Clar ence E., until his death, March 25, 1921. Clarence went to the district school in the vicinity of their Nebraska home, and he also took a business course in the Omaha Commercial College. Then, for ten years, he was with the Union Pacific Railroad in their hotel department at Omaha, where he was manager of the commissary department, and for two years thereafter he had a grocery business in Omaha. While in that city, on October 9, 1901, Mr. Oberg was married to Miss Alfhild Headland, who was born at Burlington, Iowa, the daughter of Eric and Wilhelmina Headland, and was educated in the Burlington schools. Her father was a tailor by trade and for a while had his business in Burlington, but later he removed to Omaha. In 1906 Mr. Oberg came to the Pacific coast, remaining at Los Angeles for six months. Receiving an offer from his former employer, he accepted it and removed to Memphis, Tenn., where for six years he was engaged in managing the commissary department for the Illinois Central Railroad at that point. It was while in Memphis, as early as 1907, that he purchased a ten-acre tract of vacant land at Hughson, which he im mediately had set out to peaches and grapes, hiring others to do it and care for the orchard and vineyard until he should locate on the place. The extreme heat and his wife's ill health caused him to resign his position after a faithful service of six years and he came to San Francisco, where he was for two years a dealer in fruit and vege tables. He then went to Oakland and for two j'ears conducted a grocery store in Fruit vale, so it was not until 1918 that he located at Hughson, purchasing a residence in that town and moved into it. In 1920 he bought another ten acres, which he set out to peaches and apricots. In October, 1919, when Mrs. Oberg was visiting in Los Angeles and was about to return home, she fell from a street car and fractured her skull, receiving such injuries that she passed away within forty-eight hours. She was esteemed and beloved by those who knew her, and a devoted mother to her two children, Margery and Lois, both now in school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Oberg were Baptists. ROY F. REYNOLDS. — Intimately associated with the development and growth of California through two generations preceding him, his father having been one of rhe first white boys born in Stanislaus County, Roy F. Reynolds, himself a native of San Benito County, born in Hollister, February 23, 1888, is today one of the prom inent young business men of Modesto, senior member of the firm of Reynolds & Prescott, owners and proprietors of the best equipped blacksmithing shop in Stanislaus County. Mr. Reynolds has inherited those splendid traits of character which impelled his forefathers to cross the plains and brave the dangers of a new land, and his business has grown from a small start to its present large proportions through his own efforts and through the reputation which he has earned for service and high grade work. Mr. Reynolds is the son of David Russell and Nellie (Bustard) Reynolds, the former born in Stanislaus County, about a mile north of old Grayson, on February 15, 1856. R. F. Reynolds' grandparents were Ephram Andres and Marine (Terry) Reynolds, the former from New York and the latter from Illinois. They came to HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 897 California in 1854 and settled for a short time near Grayson, but later moved to the Caliente Ranch in Santa Clara County, and became engaged in stock and cattle raising, and also in the livery stable business in San Juan, conducting the latter as an adjunct of the stock business. The son, David Russell Reynolds, attended the old Washington College at Irvington for a time. In 1877 Ephram Andres Reynolds was smitten by the hard times which befell all sheep men at that time, and lost much of his wealth, and for the following six years David Russell Reynolds followed various occupations, but in 1883 engaged in ranching in the Panoche country in San Benito County. After a few years spent at farming, he engaged in the buying and selling of pelts, in which he was very successful. In 1897 he came again to Stanislaus County and bought a ten-acre farm near Modesto, which he operated until 1915, when he sold his land and moved to Modesto, where he now resides. He is regarded as one of the successful and substantial men of the county and is highly esteemed by all who know him. His wife, Nellie Bustard, was the daughter of William and Anna Bustard, pioneer settlers of Hollister, San Benito County, having come west from Tennessee. The subject of this review was the second son born of their marriage, the first born being Russell, while the younger members of the family are: Minnie, now Mrs. W. S. Hanson of Merced ; Laura, now Mrs. Marvin Simms of Ceres, and Louis, a student in the Modesto high school. Ray F. Reynolds attended the grammar school at Modesto, and when only thirteen years of age became apprenticed in the blacksmithing trade and served for four years under M. H. Noonan, He then started in business for himself, having his first shop at Ninth and L streets, where he was located until 1919. He then, with E. S. Pres cott, built his present commodious shop, 50x90, located at 1218 Ninth Street. Here they installed the latest methods and machinery and are engaged in general black smithing, making a specialty of building trailers and automobile wheels. On May 11, 1912, Mr. Reynolds was married to Miss Ruby Prescott, in Manteca. Mrs. Reynolds is a native of Los Angeles, and the daughter of E. S. and Martha A. Prescott, her father's family being among the early pioneer settlers in Stanislaus County, Prescott precinct being named in their honor. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have had two sons born to them, Roy and Russell, but both passed away in infancy. They own the residence at 925 Needham Street, where they dispense a charming hospitality to a wide circle of friends. Mr. Reynolds is especially active in the Odd Fellows, being a member of Wildey Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Modesto; the Encampment, in which he was elected chief patriarch in 1921, and to Stockton Canton ; while both he and Mrs. Reynolds are prominent in the Rebekah lodge. CARL W. SHANNON. — An enterprising citizen of Modesto, who is especially fortunate in a pleasing, tactful personality, is Carl W. Shannon, senior partner of the firm of Wood, Shannon & Duncan, leading undertakers of Modesto and Stanis laus County. The two proprietors of this firm are Carl W. Shannon and A. F. Duncan, and they own the premises at 921-923 Twelfth Street, where they maintain a modern funeral home, it being the finest establishment of its kind in the county. . Carl W. Shannon was born at Coldwater, Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada, the son of George H. Shannon, a native of the North of Ireland, where he was a black smith and farmer. He invented what was known as Thompson's harrow, as well as other clever devices, and is still living, honored by all who know him, in Canada, where his inventions have proven very valuable to agriculture. He had married Miss May Bailey, and she died, the mother of this only child, when he was three years old. His father married again and there are several children by that marriage. In 1899, Carl Shannon was brought to California and Tulare County, by his aunt, Mrs. Henry Brubaker, of Dinuba, and went to live with his grandmother, Deborah Shannon, who owned a ranch between Visalia and Tulare. It was the old John Hays Hammond ranch, and is thus associated with the family of this eminent engineer. Here Carl worked and grew up, while he also attended the grammar school, and for three years the high school at Dinuba. Having finished his studies he decided to become an undertaker, a brief practical experience, while in the high school, as assistant to Mr. Dopkins, the Dinuba undertaker, having enabled him to form the 898 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY proper judgment; and after convincing himself that he had the requisite sympathy and human kindness, he went to San Francisco in 1909 and engaged with N. Gray & Company, the leading undertakers, to finish his apprenticeship. At the end of three years he took a special course in embalming with Prof. E. B. Hughes of the Warsham School of Embalming in that city, and with five years of practical work to his credit, received his certificate as a licensed embalmer in 1915. In July of the same year he came to Modesto and on the first of November purchased a half interest in, and became a half owner of, his present business. Mr. Duncan is also an undertaker and embalmer, and is equally fortunate in his personality, so that the firm bid fair to be of inestimable service to the community in the future, as they have in the past. Mrs. Shannon is also connected with the firm and is in attendance at the embalming and dressing of all cases of women and children. In January, 1920, Mr. Shannon was appointed public administrator and coroner of Stanislaus County. Besides being a member of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, Mr. Shannon is prominent in fraternal circles and holds membership in Stanis laus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M. ; Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M. ; Modesto Commandery No. 57, K. T. ; Modesto Pyramid No. 15, A. E. O. S.; Electa Chap ter No. 72, O. E. S. ; and Ahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Oakland. In Odd Fellowship he is a past noble grand and a trustee of Wildey Lodge No. 149, I. O. O. F. ; a member of Modesto Encampment No. 49 and Canton Ridgeley of Stockton, and he is a member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. Elks. STONEWALL JACKSON BOONE.— One of the well-known and interesting ranchers of Stanislaus County and vicinity is Stonewall J. Boone, a descendant of the Daniel Boone and Carter families. His birth occurred on September 5, 1863, in Mexico, Mo., his parents being Wellington Treeson and Elizabeth (Car ter) Boone, early settlers of Missouri and direct descendants of the famous hunter and trapper, Daniel Boone, and the Carter family. His father, together with two brothers, James and William, came to California in 1849 around Cape Horn, but after three years they returned to Missouri via the Isthmus of Panama, William passing away on the return journey and was buried in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Lower California. In 1865 Mr. Boone's father crossed the plains in a prairie schooner with an ox team, settling for a short time in Solano County and afterwards worked down in Contra Costa County near Danville, where he ranched until he died in 1881. Stonewall J. Boone was educated in the grammar school near Dan ville, known as the Green Valley school, and remained in the. vicinity working on ranches until he was nineteen years old. He made various trips south to San Joa quin Valley and during the harvest seasons of 1881 and 1882 he worked at the Cot- tonwoods near Hill's Ferry; the following year he spent in Woodland and from 1888 to 1891 he was engaged in the lumber business in Visalia and also did teaming in that vicinity. In 1893 he came to Newman and worked on the Draper ranch for fourteen years or until Mr. Draper retired from the farm, when he leased the ranch from Mr. Draper and has worked it ever since, and since Mr. Draper's death has leased it from the estate. At the present time he cultivates 1,600 acres of land devoted to barley and wheat and, being interested in the raising of mules, has approximately fifty head of fine mules on the ranch, which he raised himself, as fine a bunch of work mules as can be found anywhere, having four ten-mule teams and using a Hauser-Haines combined harvester drawn by thirty-two mules for harvest. On September 28, 1888, he was married to Miss Etta Ray, who was born in Sutter County, Cal., the daughter of Wm. and Mary Ray, early settlers of that county. His second marriage was in Sacramento and united him with Mrs. Jessie May See on September 18, 1909, a native of Kentucky, who came to California in 1907. Mrs. See is the mother of three children by a former marriage: Raymond, Omar and Irvin and twin daughters, Jennie and Alma, blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Boone. While Mr. Boone is a Democrat politically, he prides himself on the fact that he has never yet voted a straight ticket, always giving his vote to the man he thinks best fitted for the office. Fraternally he is a member of the Wood men of the World and Woodcraft of Newman, Cal. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 899 EDWARD C. DAVIS. — As the enterprising secretary of the Merchants' Asso ciation of Modesto for almost a decade, Edward C. Davis is well known throughout this part of the state. He is a native son of Stanislaus County, and descended from one of the early pioneer families of the state. His parents, Franklin C. and Roselle (Covert) Davis, came first to California from Arkansas in the early '60s, crossing the plains in t'he prairie schooner of pioneer fame, facing the perils and vicissitudes of the long journey with courage and fortitude. They did not find conditions here to their liking, however, and after a brief stay they returned to their former home in Arkansas. However, they soon discovered that their taste of the great unbounded West had but whetted their appetites for more, and so returned after a brief time, locating in Stanislaus County. Here Mr. Davis settled on a farm near Stockton and a few years later near Salida, where he resided for many j'ears, and was one of the first directors of the Modesto Irrigation District. It was on this family farm near Salida that Edward C. Davis was born, Septem ber 9, 1886. He attended the grammar school at Salida, and later the Modesto high school, followed by a year in the Van der Nailen Engineering College at Oakland, where he took special work in engineering. After completing this work he returned to Modesto and engaged in professional work, being associated for a time with the La Grange Water and Power Company. At the end of two years this company was taken over by the Sierra and San Francisco Power Company, and Mr. Davis turned his attention to new fields, entering the insurance business as agent for the Aetna Life Insurance Company, with whom he has been actively associated since 1912, and has been more than ordinarily successful. The marriage of Mr. Davis was solemnized in Modesto, September 9, 1908, uniting him with Miss Goldie Minniear, a native of Kansas, and the daughter of Charles W. and Sarah Minniear, who came to California in 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of a daughter, E. Roselle, now in the Modesto grammar school. Mr. Davis has taken an active part in public affairs in Modesto since his return from college. Politically he is a Democrat, but in all matters of local interest he stands for clean, businesslike administration of civic affairs regardless of party lines. He is a member of the Masons and affiliated with the Modesto lodge of that order. He was elected secretary of the Merchants Association in 1913, and has served con tinuously since that time. Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the Presbyterian Church in Modesto, and enjoy the friendship of a wide circle of friends. The Davis family dates back to a period preceding the American Revolution, with several ances tors participating in that great struggle for liberty. EUGENE RICE. — As the assistant cashier of the Modesto Branch of the Sacra mento-San Joaquin Bank, Eugene Rice has forged ahead rapidly since coming to Modesto and is recognized as one of the leading young men in financial circles of the county. Mr. Rice comes from an old Illinois family, both his parents, John Henry and Sarah (Ingles) Rice, being descended from early pioneers of that state. His father is a harness manufacturer at Augusta, Hancock County, 111., where Eugene was born, April 14, 1885. He received his early training in the Augusta public schools, and after graduating from the high school took a thorough business- course at Brown's Business College at Galesburg, 111. He then became associated with the drug business as a clerk and for three years was so employed. The opportunities offered by the rapidly growing West appealed to Mr. Rice, and in October, 1909, he came to California with Charles E. Rice, well known as a former manager of the Turner Hardware Company. Our subject became associated with the First National Bank of Modesto, beginning at the very bottom of the bank ing business and mastering every detail as he has climbed toward the top. For a time he was bookkeeper, then was promoted to the management of the bookkeeping depart ment, later becoming receiving teller, and finally taking the place of J. A. Dunn as Paying teller. In 1916 he became assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Modesto, and when that institution was purchased and absorbed by the Sacramento- San Joaquin Bank, and made into their Modesto Branch, Mr. Rice continued as assistant cashier of the new institution. 900 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY The marriage of Mr. Rice was solemnized at Modesto, January 15, 1912, his bride being Miss Ida Dunlap, a native daughter of California, born at Oakdale, and the daughter of J. W. and Nellie Dunlap. She passed her girlhood at Modesto, receiv ing her education in the grammar and high schools of her native county. Of this union have been born three children, one daughter, Shirley Jane, and two sons, Robert Eugene and Raymond Henry. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rice are prominent in social and civic affairs and give their support to all uplift measures for their city. GEORGE MILLS LOCK. — Among the dairy farmers of pronounced success in Stanislaus County, none should be more satisfied than George Mills Lock, a Cali fornian by adoption, but an enthusiastic, loyal American and "a jolly good fellow," who lives and operates on his trim ranch on the old Oakdale highway, six and a half miles northeast of Modesto, as well as engaged as a realtor in that city. He was born in Devonshire, England, on November 6, 1878, and grew up on a farm where his parents lived and died. His father was George Mills Lock, and he had married Miss Martha Cavill. They were worthy country folk, and provided just the comfortable home and environment needed to develop what was best in George, Jr. Being athletic, fond of sport, and withal fearless, he early took up riding in the hunting stables of Col. Garrett, a retired British gentleman of wealth and distinc tion, and broke young horses to the sadlde, at the same time that he taught them how to jump fences and other barriers, and prepared them for the hunt, polo and other sporting evolutions. He had reached the eighth grade in the public schools, and had been carefully reared in the Church of England; and when only seventeen, he volunteered in the Glamorganshire Yeomanry, a cavalry regiment of rough riders for the Boer War. He consequently shipped for South Africa, and in March, 1900, disembarked at Cape Town, after which he participated in the various engagements in the Orange River Colony campaign. He fought at Spion Kopf, and endured his share of each hard day's work in the campaign in the Orange Free State; and he also fought to the finish in the Transvaal in 1901, and was honorably discharged at Harrismith, and there mustered out of the service. The eventful moments of this great struggle in the progress of the world led Mr. Lock to ponder deeply the real significance of life and to resolve that, when the war should be at an end, he would come out to California where he might enjoy the greatest field for his abilities; a resolution that was quickened, no doubt, by the fact that he had an uncle, Henry Cavill, a Stanislaus County pioneer — now eighty-eight years old — living at 1119 Eighteenth Street, Modesto. At the end of a six weeks' visit with relatives in England, therefore, Mr. Lock bought a through ticket for Riverbank, Cal., and set sail from Southampton for his uncle's home. Mr. Lock arrived at Riverbank in November, 1902, and at once began to work out on farms. In 1918 he bought his present place of fifty-three acres, although for years he had leased the same, a tract for a long time a grain field, where he became one of the most extensive and successful grain farmers of Stanislaus County, raising barley and wheat. On purchasing the property, however, he leveled and checked it, and sowed it to alfalfa; he erected the necessary buildings, roomy and substantial, and there he is now operating on a large scale as a dairy farmer. How active Mr. Lock has been in his chosen field may be judged from the fact that he has cultivated as much as 1,800 acres at one time, and farmed this whole stretch of country from the Old Oakdale Road to Riverbank station, and has harvested barley, in fact, where Riverbank now stands. He has a cow-barn 64x75 feet in size, with a concrete foundation capable of holding 130 tons of hay, and a horse-barn 28x51) feet in size, which holds forty tons of hay, and also a substantial poultry house and poultry yards ; a blacksmith shop ; a tank house, a milk house, and a garage, as well as a thoroughly up-to-date bungalow of seven living rooms. His tank house is con nected with a well sixty-one feet deep, from which an aeromotor windmill furnishes plenty of water for stock and domestic purposes. He also keeps in reserve a gas engine of two and one-fourth horsepower. Around the residence are fine lawns, a j'oung family orchard, and an adequate vegetable garden. He keeps twenty_ graded Holstein cows, and has an excellent registered sire, a full-blooded Holstein bull. j$ M,c^4. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 903 He raises many calves, and is increasing and improving his herd from year to year. Aside from his dairy and stock business Mr. Lock is a member of the firm of Edward Ealey with offices in the Hughson Hotel building. Near Riverbank, at the Turpen home, December 13, 1906, Mr. Lock married Miss Lorena M. Turpen, "the oldest daughter of the late pioneer, Aaron Marion Turpen, who was a '49er and crossed the great plains with the other Argonauts, by means of oxen and rude wagons, as a part of the great emigrant train. He was a Kentuckian by birth and grew up in Missouri ; and he started west from Jefferson City. He arrived in the promised land still a young man, and the first night here he camped under the old oak tree beyond the Odd Fellows' cemetery at Modesto. He settled on the Tuolumne River at old Locust Grove, six miles southwest of Modesto, and there began that career which was to mean so much to a portion of the Golden State. At Modesto, too, Mr. Turpen married Miss Mary Frances Hud elson, who now resides at the corner of I and Third streets, in Modesto. Mr. Turpen died, lamented by a wide circle, on April 22, 1909, aged sixty-nine. Ten children were granted this worthy pair. Addison Edgar Turpen is the well-known contractor and builder of Modesto, and resides with his mother. Walter Marion is also a carpenter and resides in the same city. Lorena M. Turpen has become the wife of the subject of this story. Eugene Spencer works in the office of the freight department of the Southern Pacific Railroad at Modesto. James Marion is employed by the Kelly Hardware store at Modesto. Arthur Cleveland is interested in the Western Aluminum works at Oakland. Washington Bartlett is in the auto-painting business at Sanger, in Fresno County. Aaron Gresham resides on Sixth Street, Modesto, and is employed by the Union Oil Company. Mary Frances is the wife of Albert A. Dorfmeier, an electrician with the Valley Electric Company. Oliver Smith Turpen resides on Third Street, Modesto, and works for the Valley Ice Company. Mrs. Lock grew up on the farm of her father, who was an extensive grain rancher, on the boundary line of Stanislaus and Merced counties, and as a girl attended the Bearfield school in her home district. All the Turpen children were musically inclined, their parents made of the home a kind of social center, and hence the children had the happiest of childhoods. Three children were born to this esteemed couple. The eldest died in infancy; the next child in the order of birth is Frances Georgie; and the youngest is Marian Mills. It forebears and their hardihood count for anj'thing in prophecy, this family should long endure, for as pioneers of the sturdiest type, the Turpens have enjoyed extraordinary vitality. Mrs. Lock's mother and her ten brothers and sisters are all living; nor has death visited that family save once in half a century, when it called to his eternal reward the beloved pioneer, Mr. Turpen himself. Mrs. Lock herself has been privileged through her excellent health to devote her best energies and fore thought to her children, while preserving her own graces and adding to her own cul ture ; no doubt contributing her full share in the acquisition of the family estate. EARL R. McPHEETERS, M. D.— A man of marked ability in surgery and general medical practice, Dr. Earl R. McPheeters has proven a valuable addition to the professional ranks of Stanislaus County since coming to Modesto to make his home, July 10, 1919. He has had a wide experience both through his private practice and his military service, and keeps constantly in touch with the most modern and scientific methods in surgery and general medical practice. A native of Indiana, Dr. McPheeters was born near Bedford, Lawrence County, May 11, 1882, the son of James H. and Florence M. (Roby) McPheeters, both natives of Indiana. At least a part of Dr. McPheeters' skill may be accounted for through the fact that his father before him was a physician of ability and high stand ing, having served as a surgeon in the Civil War with the Twenty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and the son quite naturally followed his father's footsteps in the Path of healing human ills. He received his early educational training in the grammar and high schools at Bedford, Ind., and graduated from the University of Kentucky at Louisville with the class of 1905. He then entered the Medical School of the Post-Graduate Hospital of Chicago for special training, and is both a graduate and a 904 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY post-graduate of this splendid institution. Following this, Dr. McPheeters accepted a position on the staff of a hospital for one of the great mining companies at Globe, Ariz., where he was assistant four years, and then chief surgeon of the- hospital. Then came the great World War, and Dr. McPheeters promptly volunteered his services to the Government, and received the rank of captain in the U. S. Medical Corps. He remained in the United States for only six weeks after his enlistment, and was then sent to France with Evacuation Hospital No. 20, the detachment leaving from Camp Greenleaf. After a short time in France, he was transferred to Evacua tion Hospital No. 6, at Souilly, France, where he served faithfully until his return to the United States on July 10, 1919. He returned with his hospital unit, and was discharged at the Presidio at San Francisco. Following his discharge from military service, Dr. McPheeters after due con sideration determined upon Stanislaus County, and in September, 1919, he located in Modesto, where he has built up an exceptionally fine practice in so short a time. His hospital work has been his principal activity always, and since coming to Modesto he has been owner and chief surgeon of Evans Hospital, and has won a high standard. The marriage of Dr. McPheeters was celebrated in Bethlehem, Pa., June 1, 1910, uniting him with Miss Madaline Cox, the daughter of William and Georgianna (Weatherill) Cox, and a native of Pennsylvania, born in Bethlehem, where she was reared and educated. Her father was a prominent railroad man of that state, an offi cial of the Pennsylvania Railway Company, and specially engaged in handling of coal properties. They have two children, Florence and Kenneth. Both Dr. and Mrs. McPheeters have identified themselves with the best interests of Modesto and are members of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally Dr. McPheet ers is a member of the Masons and the Elks, being affiliated with the local lodges of each order. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Modesto. Although the professional activities of this progressive physician occupy most of his time, Dr. McPheeters has found a place in his busy life for a little ranching, and owns a valuable fifty-five acre fruit farm on the Waterford Road. GEORGE N. PFARR. — The new and growing Empire section of Stanislaus County has drawn to itself settlers from every portion of the United States and among them is George N. Pfarr, who was born in Pike County, Ohio, on June 9, 1878. His early life in Ohio was fraught with privations ; his parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Schramm) Pfarr, who were of German birth, lived on a hilly forty-acre farm in Pike County, Ohio, and were the parents of twelve children, of whom our subject was the fifth child. George N. had to work his way through high school, but being a diligent scholar, graduated and at the age of seventeen took the teacher's examina tion, passing with very good standing, and then taught public schools for two years in his native county. With the money thus earned he took a course at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, graduating in 1901, and came to California the next year, taught one year as principal of the Vineland school, in Napa County, then came to Stanislaus County in 1904, where he taught the first year in McHenry school district, three years at Thalheim, now Valley Home, and four years at Hughson. In 1910, Mr. Pfarr was united in marriage with Miss Antonia Kerl of Thal heim, Stanislaus County, now Valley Home, but she only lived a year after her mar riage. In 1912 he married Miss Myrtle M. Fortune, who was born in Iowa and came to California in 1911. Her mother, Mrs. Hannah Fortune, resides in Modesto, while a sister of Mrs. Pfarr, Pearl, is the wife of Mr. Widick, the merchant of Empire. Mr. and Mrs. Pfarr are the parents of two children : Ulilla and Lowell Robert. Mr. Pfarr has bought considerable land in East Empire precinct, where he resides, at first, in 1910, buying forty acres and later in 1913 adding twenty acres more and then in 1916 adding still another ten-acre tract. He now has around sixty-seven acres, having sold about three acres some time ago. He is the owner of a very attrac tive country bungalow, which he has built himself, with all the necessary buildings, and has a full complement of agricultural implements and farm machinery. He began planting and improving his land immediately after making the first purchase and has. HISTORY Of STANISLAUS COUNTY 907 made that a rule with the land he purchased later, having now trees that are ten j'ears old. He has a twenty-two-acre peach orchard of the following varieties : Tuscans, Phillips, Lovells and Muirs, and ten acres of Thompson's Seedless grapes. His peach orchard lies in the bottoms south of Dry Creek and is considered one of the show places of Stanislaus County, a picture of his orchard being used in illustration of the fruit possibilities of Empire in the Chamber of Commerce pamphlet. He is not only a horticulturist, but is a dairyman and stockman as well. He breeds full-blooded Holstein-Friesian cattle and is a member of the Stanislaus County Holstein-Friesian Breeders Association. He has seventy thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs, considered one of the finest droves in Stanislaus County. He is also a member of the County Duroc Breeders Association. He is considered a live wire, and is a member of the Empire Board of Trade, of which he is ex-president. WILLIAM O. CAULKINS. — There is no other element which adds more toward the upbuilding and development of a community than the strength and integrity of its churches, and the sincerity and devotion of its church members ; this being a recognized fact, it follows that those who contribute of their time and substance for the upbuilding and support of church activities are doing a splendid work for the welfare of the community at large, and of such a class are W. O. Caulkins and Mrs. Caulkins, prominent members of the Baptist Church at Ceres, of which Mr. Caulkins has been financial secretary for several years, and to whose financial support he gives with splendid generosity, while both he and Mrs. Caulkins are ardent workers in the various church organizations. Mr. Caulkins is one of the prosperous and progressive ranchers of this section of the county, taking a prominent part in the development and upbuilding of many phases of ranch activity. He is a charter member of the Central California Milk Producers' Association, a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers' Union, and of the Farm Bureau, and an enthusiastic advocate of co-opera tion among the farmers as a means of solving many of their problems. Mr. Caulkins was born in Delaware County, Ohio, December 26, 1860, and was reared on his father's farm while attending the public schools of the county. He married Miss Mary Emma Whittier, a native of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, born November 10, 1864, on January 1, 1884, and for a time was engaged in farming. Later he moved into Nebraska, where he also followed farming. Mr. Caulkins' forbears were pioneers of Delaware County, being one of a few families Who first settled in Berlin Township. Great-grandmother Lewis came to the county in the year of 1803 and Grandfather Caulkins came in 1805. It was in 1903 that Mr. Caulkins came to California, having sold his Nebraska holdings, and located in Stanislaus County. Here he purchased forty acres from the C. N. Whitmore Development Company, in the Smyrna Park Tract, then just open ing up. The property was an open barley field, with never a tree or shrub anywhere about, nor between the tract and Ceres. For the purchase of this property Mr. Caulkins paid his entire capital, and immediately began the task of developing it and making it provide a livelihood for his family. In this he has indeed been success ful, for his place is now one of the most highly developed and attractive in the vicinity, and of great value. He has for many years engaged in general farming and dairying, but of recent years has planted orchards on the acreage and is now engaged in fruit raising and the poultry business, having one of the finest flocks of hens in the district as well as one of the most profitable. He also owns two acres across the street from his home place, half of it he has set out to figs. Mrs. Caulkins' father, Philander E. Whittier, a native of Maine, came to Cali fornia during the gold rush of 1857, via the Isthmus of Panama, and remained here for nine years. Upon his return to Maine, he married and removed to Ohio, where he passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Caulkins have a delightful family of seven sons and daughters, of whom they are justly proud. They have been reared in an atmosphere of sincere Christianity and are all active members of the Baptist Church. Of these, Grace is now the wife of Frank Forney, a rancher at Ceres, and the mother of five children; Asa, Jiigh school teacher in Stockton, is married and has two children; Mary Faye is the wife of Dr. N. C. Davis, and has two children ; Fred is a rancher at 38 908 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Ceres, married and the father of one child; Ellis a graduate of Ceres High School and a student in the University of California, served during the World War, as corporal in Company E, Three Hundred Sixty-third Regiment, Ninety-first Division. He married Miss Merle S. Veach, June 8, 1921, and lives on a two-acre farm near his parents and owned by them. He also farms his own ranch of twenty acres, which he purchased about a year ago. He is the recipient of a victory medal with four bars from the War Department. Nelly, a graduate of the Ceres High School in the class of 1921, while the younger daughter, Dora, is still of grammar school age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Caulkins are ardent supporters of the Prohibition party and strong temperance workers. Mr. Caulkins was the only voter of this party in his precinct in Nebraska. Mrs. Caulkins has rendered splendid service as an officer of the Stanislaus County Woman's Christian Temperance Union for several years, and Mrs. Caulkins was a member of the first jury in the superior court in the county where women were called to duty. They are interested in all matters which pertain to the well-being of their home community, and may be always counted upon to sup port any movement for civic betterment or upbuilding. ELDER DAVID BOWMAN.— A veteran in the service of the Lord, whose many helpful deeds by the way have endeared him to all who know his life and purpose, is David Bowman, who has been a minister in the Church of the Brethren for more than half a century, and an elder for over forty years. He was born at Day ton, Va., in the center of the far-famed Shenandoah Valley, on May 22, 1842, the son of Daniel Bowman, a native of Virginia and the son of John Bowman, who was also born in the Old Dominion. His father was Benjamin Bowman, a native Penn- sylvanian, who settled in Virginia. Great-great-great-grandfather Bowman came to Penn's Woodland more than 300 years ago, and is the progenitor of the Bowman family in America. Historic as one who really helped to develop primeval Pennsyl vania, he was a German Mennonite who, in order to escape religious persecution, came out to America and Pennsylvania. His son, Benjamin, became one of the first ministers in the Church of the Brethren, and our subject's ancestors have all been members of that church, and every generation has had a Bowman who was either a minister or an elder, or one still higher up in the church. Elder David Bowman's mother was Sarah Miller, who also came from an early Pennsylvania-German family, who joined the. Church of the Brethren in the early days of that congregation in Virginia. She was born in Virginia, and lived to be over- eighty years of age. Her husband, David's father, lived to be over eighty-nine. He owned a farm and a huge grist mill, run by water power, at Dayton, Va., and there, until the time of the Civil War, David grew up. He attended the private schools and received what education he could ; and then he was forced into the Confederate army, in which he served for three years and then" deserted, having risked his life many times in the warring, and finally acting in compliance with his conscience and convictions as to slavery and the preservation of the Union. During the war, and while he was a Confederate soldier, his betrothed joined him, in the quartermaster's department, and they were married at Dayton, Va., on December 27, 1863. She was Miss Susan Hedrick before her marriage, and was born near Dayton, a daughter of John Hedrick, a native of Germany, and Elizabeth (McClary) Hedrick, of Virginia. When he deserted, they met at Hagerstown, Md., went to Dayton, Ohio, and later back to Dayton, Va. There Mr. Bowman farmed until the spring of 1874, and then he went to Versailles, Mo., where he became a landowner and lived more than forty years. Then he came to California, in 1914, and the next year settled at Empire. He immediately took part in the ministry, and was chosen the acting elder in 1916; he served a year, and has been an elder ever since. While Elder Bowman was brought up in the Church of the Brethren, some of the inconsistencies of church members drove him into agnosticism while he was still a young man. After the war, he engaged in deep study and extensive reading, search ing the Scriptures, and also the world philosophies, with the result that he rejoined the Church of the Brethren, and his experience in finding his way back has often enabled him to help others to return to the Light. V^Ctm. %>o-&m*^i Tfjf*^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 911 Mr. Bowman became a minister at Dayton, Va., in 1869, when he first preached, and was an ordained elder in Missouri in 1876, in which state he stayed for forty j'ears, and was the only preacher of that denomination. That portion of Missouri was the rendezvous of the Younger and James boys, and it was a rough locality, where the use of whisky was almost universal. There were three saloons and a Methodist Episcopal Church at Versailles at that time, and Mr. Bowman was the first minister to come out boldly, in that neighborhood, against the saloon, which brought about ostracism and violent opposition. While in Missouri, Mr. Bowman came to own 103 acres of well-tilled ground. Seven children have blessed the fortunate union of this couple. An infant, the first-born, died in Ohio ; Katie, who was born in Virginia, is the wife of Samuel S. Keeler and resides at Empire; Elizabeth became Mrs. J. E. Martin, of Versailles, Mo., but died, as did her only child, and her husband later; Annie, a native of Vir ginia, is the wife of L. M. Rogers, a farmer and fruit raiser, and they live at Grand Junction, Colo. ; S. F. Bowman, also a native of Virginia, is an auctioneer and busi ness man at Harper, Kans., and married Miss May Bayne of Morgan County, Mo.; John died aged one year; Fannie was born in Missouri, and died there at fourteen. MRS. SERENA COLEMAN ROGERS.— An estimable woman who has shown her ability in general, and her special gifts in particular in the conduct of her business, is Mrs. Serena Coleman Rogers, who was born near Little Rock, Ark., in Van Buren County, the daughter of Enos Coleman, a native of Pennsylvania. He was a veteran of the Civil War and as a soldier in the Union Army gave his services to help preserve the Union. He located in Arkansas, where he was a farmer until he came to California in the boom period of 1887. He first settled at Visalia, in Tulare County, but soon located in Fresno County, where he engaged in both horticulture and viticulture. He died, esteemed by all who had known him, in 1904. Mrs. Coleman, who was Miss Nancy Lester before her marriage, a native of Arkapsas, died in 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman were the parents of four children, three of whom are living, and of them, Mrs. Rogers is the second eldest and the only one in California. Sshe was educated in the public schools, came to California with her parents at the time of the land excitement here, and while at Visalia was married to David Rogers, a native of that place, who was both a farmer and a carpenter. A most interesting chapter in the life of Mr. and Mrs. Rogers covers the period from 1900 to 1904, spent in the frozen North. Mrs. Rogers' brother-in-law, W. H. Davis, while pros pecting in Alaska, made a discovery of gold on a creek about 180 miles inland from Nome and called it Old Glory Creek. Mr. Davis having located for Mrs. Rogers claim number one below his discovery and number two above, which on their arrival in Alaska they proceeded to develop. Mrs. Rogers' claim proved to be the richest on the creek. They were very successful in their mining operations and incidentally they had a splendid opportunity to familiarize themselves with life in the Land of the Midnight Sun, being located within the Arctic Circle. In the fall of 1904, having received word that Mrs. Rogers' father was very ill, they came back to Fresno, intending to return to their mine the next spring, but owing to her mother's prolonged illness the next year, much to their disappointment they never went back, although they had left their camp, mining equipment and dog trains. In 1904, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers located in Coalinga, when the town was begin ning to build up on account of the oil development there, and with a laudable desire to help the town, Mr. Rogers engaged in contracting and building, for which he was reputed to be a man of originality and initiative. During the month of November, 1912, he passed away at Fresno. In the following July, Mrs. Rogers moved to Fresno, but the next year she located at Modesto, where she purchased the con fectionery which she at present conducts with such taste and appreciation of what the public demands. She has since enlarged and remodeled the establishment and built up a large business with a laboratory, while she has a completely equipped basement for the making of ice cream and confectionerj'. She is the sole proprietor, and her products are familiar to patrons under the name of "Rogers" or as the 912 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY R. & G. Confectionery. The largest establishment of the kind in the city, there is seldom an hour when it is not among the busiest of centers. Aside from her business, Mrs. Rogers is greatly interested in viticulture and horticulture, having improved a splendid ranch of twenty acres on McHenry Road to Thompson seedless grapes and peaches. She also owns sixty acres of vineyard in Fresno County, as well as a ten-acre almond orchard at Arbuckle, Colusa County. Optimistic and endowed with much business acumen, she is making a decided suc cess of all her enterprises, and she is naturally an enthusiastic member of the Modesto Merchants Association and the Chamber of Commerce. Fortunate in a ' pleasing personality, Mrs. Rogers is well and favorably known in the business world of the San Joaquin Valley. A member of the Rebekahs, she enjoys an enviable popularity in its circles. Two children blessed her union with Mr. Rogers: Robert is a success ful rancher in Arizona and Carl has a vulcanizing works at Oroville. HENRY T. CROW.— A pioneer of Stanislaus County well known for his integrity and high standards of business conduct is Henry T. Crow, the proprietor of the Hotel Modesto, now receiving, under his aggressive management as sole owner, a fifth story, called for by the ever-increasing patronage of the popular hostelry. He was born in Crawford County, Wis., on March 10, 1871, the son of Henry Dodge, or "Dod," Crow, who had married Miss Mary Anderson. They were born in Wis consin, were married there, and there worked hard as worthy farmer folk until 1880 when they removed to Kansas. Nine years later, the Crow family came out to Cali fornia and Salida, when Mr. Crow for a couple of years worked for wages. Then they removed to Madera County, rented land and became grain farmers; and in the year of the St. Louis Fair they migrated to Oakland, and are both still living there, retired, at 617 Thirty-fourth Street. There were ten children in the family, among whom Henry T. was the third in the order of birth, and the lad attended the public schools of Wisconsin and Kansas, but only for about thirty months in all. The father took up a homestead and a timber claim in Ness County, Kans., and proved up on both. He worked in Denver, and supported his family with money which he sent from that city while proving up; and when they sold the property they went to Cloud County, Kans., and farmed for four years, when they came to California. They furnished a home six miles from Salida, when Mr. Crow had only $240 left of the snug sum with which he started. It has been a fine traditionary habit with the Crow family that they should work together and help each other, and so five members went to work at once for wages, and for two years they shared their earnings. Then they bought sixteen horses and mules and went to Madera County and rented two sections of land two miles from Berenda. For three years they raised grain, and after that Henry Crow and his brother Herman rented another two sections and farmed it to grain. In 1895, after two years of farming with his brother, Mr. Crow struck out for himself, and in September rented two sections of land which he put into grain. In November, 1896, he was married to Miss Kate Montgomery, who has proven a most excellent wife and helpmeet. She was born in New York City and came to California a young girl, and was reared about ten miles south of Modesto. Both of her parents are now deceased, but she has a sister, Mrs. Mary Freeman, living at Madera. Mr. Crow continued as a grain farmer in Madera County until 1900, when he came to Stanislaus County, and in Laurel Lodge Precinct bought 320 acres, and soon pur chased 146 acres more, making 460 acres in all. He worked hard and effected many and desirable improvements, and after dry farming for three or four years, he was active in helping along the Modesto Irrigation District project, and water was at last available for irrigation. He put 200 acres into alfalfa, and ran a dairy there, and after bringing the place up to a high state of cultivation, he sold one after another part of the ranch until he had only sixty acres remaining. In 1911, Mr. Crow became associated with Oscar Hogin in the project of a first- class hotel for Modesto, and they bought the southwest corner of Eleventh and H streets, and in 1913 built a thoroughly modern and up-to-date hotel, a four-story building which was opened in June, 1914. They conducted the hotel under the firm HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 915 name of Crow & Hogin, with a manager, and except for two years when Mr. Hogin managed it alone, Mr. Crow has been interested in running the hotel. On January 1, 1920, Mr. Crow bought out the interest of Mr. Hogin and put in his sixty acres as part consideration. Assisted by his wife and family, he employs thirty-three people. Mr. Crow has enlarged the Hotel Modesto from a four-story to a five-story building. The structure is built of brick, 100x140 feet in dimension, with a concrete basement and an asbestos roof. Hot and cold water are to be had throughout the building, as well as steam heat and electric light, and the 142 guest rooms will easily make it the largest, as it is the finest appointed, hostelry in this part of the state. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Crow. Clarence served in the Ninety-first Division in France, was honorably discharged and came home, and mar ried Miss Ella Brower, and now he is a clerk in the hotel, a very popular fellow. Isabelle is a graduate of the Modesto high school, and serves the hotel as its stenog rapher. Harry is buyer for the hotel, and the younger members of the family are school girls — Lenna and Dorris. Mr. Crow is a standpat Democrat; but like all men of broad views, he still prefers to exercise his judgment and to vote for the best men and the most appealing measures, and particularly in the matter of local issues, he knows no partisanship such as often interferes with men becoming of real service to the community in which they live and prosper. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce he does his part to build up Modesto. CHARLES LE ROY WOODSIDE.— A prominent, influential business man and public official of Stanislaus County, himself a native son, Charles Le Roy Wood- side was born on the Tuolumne River, three miles east of Modesto, November 25, 1876, the son of Thomas and Emeline (Marvin) Woodside. His father was born at Shaw's Flat of Scotch ancestry. His grandfather, Daniel Woodside, was a New Englander, who removed to Missouri and there married Harriette Blackwell, and in the early fifties crossed the plains in an ox-team train, whose leader was Emmett Grayson. Daniel Woodside engaged in freighting between Stockton and southern mines, and also followed mining. He was a leader in the community and particularly in sports and for years kept a bear to take part in the bear and bull fights so popular in those days of early California life. He died in Nevada, while his widow passed away in Stockton in 1894. Thos. Woodside followed mining until seventeen years of age, when he came to Empire City, where he was married in 1875 to Emeline Marvin, a native of Empire City, whose interesting life history is in another page in this volume. For some time Thos. Woodside was engaged in farming, then became interested in the hotel business, and when he gave up the Tynan Hotel in 1895 he engaged in mining at Algerine until he died in 1907. His widow now lives in Oakdale. Charles Le Roy is the only one of their children to grow up. His childhood was spent in Modesto from the age of ten until he was eighteen, and when he had completed the public schools he entered the post office as assistant postmaster under Chas. Post, and later served under Asa Fulkerth. After two and a half years, he resigned and removed to Algerine, Tuol umne County, with his parents and then followed mining until his father died in 1907. He then began railroading, running out of Oakdale as a fireman for three years, when he resigned and entered the employ of the Oakdale Lumber Company for three years. Next he was with the Standard Oil Company, but after six months resigned in 1915 and purchased the store at Cooperstown from F. H. Lee and has since conducted the business of general merchandising. On June 13, 1919, he met with a heavy loss, his building and -stock being completely destroyed by fire, his loss being $18,000, and only covered by $3,000 insurance. Nothing daunted, he started again and immediately rebuilt a new store and put in a new stock of goods to supply the needs of his patrons. Since July 15, 1916, he has also been the postmaster at Cooperstown, the post office being domiciled in his store. In connection Mr. and Mrs. Woodside also own and run the large, comfortable and well-kept hotel at Cooperstown. Mr. Woodside was married in Oakdale June 27, 1915, being united with Minnie Ellene Lee, a native daughter of Oakdale. Her father, Wm. Fred Lee, was born in Hamburg, Germany. He was an early settler of California, crossing the plains in 916 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY the early days and locating at Jamestown. He was a musician and taught music and was a bandmaster ; he was also an architect and builder and built the toll bridge at Jamestown. Later he removed to Oakdale, where he was a pioneer builder up of the town until his death. His widow still survives him. Of their eight children, Mrs. Woodside is next to the youngest and spent her entire life in Oakdale, and after com pleting the public schools was engaged in business until her marriage. Mr. Woodside is a member of Tuolumne Lodge No. 21, I. O. O. F., at Columbia, and a member of Stockton Lodge No. 391, L. 0. O. M., while Mrs. Woodside is a member of the Oakdale Lodge of Rebekahs and the Native Daughters of the Golden West. Mr. Woodside is very much interested in the preservation of the early history of California and its early landmarks and believes all possible effort should be hade to perpetuate the story of the hardships and trials of the early pioneers, as well as the stirring events. CHARLES H. EDISON. — To the enterprise and industry of such forceful men as Charles H. Edison is due the continued prestige of this section of California. A native of New Jersey, he was born near Rahway, on December 15, 1874, the son of Charles H. Edison, a native of Denmark, and a millwright, who had married Miss Rebecca Hone, born in Cornwall, England. Mr. Edison was active in millwright installation and construction work in New York City, after coming to America, the family afterwards moving to New Jersey, locating at Jersey City. There, first in the grammar school, and later in the high school, Charles obtained his education. After graduating from the Jersey City high school, he served an apprenticeship of three years in Brooklyn, learning the butcher's trade. However, when he struck out in the world in his middle 'teens, he did not continue at this trade, but began railroad ing, his headquarters being at Philadelphia, Pa., and while there he was married at Dover, Del., on June 12, 1893, to Miss Edith Taylor. She was born at Smyrna, in that state, and after their marriage, they took up their residence in Philadelphia, where Mr. Edison was with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. After only a little more than three years, Mrs. Edison passed away, on September 15, 1896, leaving a little daughter, Emma, who survived her mother until March, 1897. After the death of his daughter, Mr. Edison removed to Chicago and entered the employ of the C. W. & I. Railroad. At the end of three years he was trans ferred from the interlocking to the locomotive department and under that direction he served for two years as fireman, and as engineer for two and a half years on runs between Danville and Chicago, 111. When twenty-four years of age, Mr. Edison's second marriage occurred when he was united at Wayne, 111., on March 11, 1899, to Miss Fannie G. Johnston of Chicago, a native of Linkoping, Sweden, she was the daughter of John Johnson, a farmer of Kiso, Sweden, where he passed away in 1914. His widow afterwards came to Flagler, Colo., where she resided until her death, at the age of eighty-nine. For a year after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Edison con tinued to live in Wayne, and then in Chicago, for two more years of railroading. Coming to California, Mr. Edison settled at Modesto in 1903, where he started dairying. He leased a ranch of 160 acres in the Westport section and for a year and a half maintained a first-class, thoroughly sanitary dairy there. Then he sold off his stock and went to Ceres in the employ of J. C. Garrison, later purchasing a half interest in the business, dealing in all kinds of fresh meat. Eventually, however, he •sold his interest back to Mr. Garrison. On March 1, 1914, Mr. Edison came to Hughson and purchased a meat market in partnership with Harvey Van Selus, and under the firm name of Edison and Van Selus made it a market such as might be a credit to any town in the county. The result has been a substantial patronage, which enables the proprietors to maintain their establishment much above the average of what one would expect to find in a town of this size. They have installed a Cyclops ammonia cold storage system for their double cold storage plantj which includes their wholesale as well as their retail trade, the former having a capacity of fifteen beeves, besides sheep and hogs. One child has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Edison, Emma E., who is a graduate of the Hughson high school, and who, as an expert bookkeeper, is a valued employee of the well-known Williams Clothing House in Modesto. With her father HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 919 and mother, she is a member of the First Christian Church at Modesto. A Republi can in matters of national political import, Mr. Edison has found pleasure in putting aside partisanship in local civic affairs. Intensely interested in the cause of education, he has served for the past six years as clerk of the board of trustees of the Hughson high school. During this time bonds were voted and the new high school built at a cost of over $100,000, with fourteen large class rooms and a corps of seven teachers. Mr. Edison's fraternal preferences have made him a Mason, affiliated with Auburn Park lodge No. 789, A. F. & A. M., at Auburn Park, near Chicago, 111. HORACE WALTER OLDENHAGE.— Among the successful ranchers of Stanislaus County is Horace Walter Oldenhage, who is still very actively engaged on the 500-acre farm located five miles southwest of Crows Landing, of which he has the controlling interest. He was born at Athens, Clark County, Mo., on January 16, 1861, the son of John H. and Mary Jean (McCarter) Oldenhage. His father, who was a native of New Orleans, was a harness maker and leather worker. His mother was born in Virginia, a descendant of an old Scotch family by the name of Hickman, who moved from Virginia to Missouri in 1844. Several members of the Hickman family fought in the war of 1812 against England. Mr. Oldenhage's mother, who still resides in Clark County, Mo., is hale and hearty at the age of eighty-eight arid was recently awarded a medal for being the oldest settler in that county. John H. Oldenhage served in the Union Army in the Civil War and was at Centralia, Mo., when Bill Anderson and his guerrilla band massacred the inhabit ants of the town, when he was wounded but escaped with his life on his horse, while his captain, whose horse had been shot from under him, escaped on a big gray horse captured from one of the guerrillas who had been killed. Horace Walter Oldenhage was educated at the public schools at Athens, Mo., and after school days were over learned the harness trade under his father, with whom he worked for three years, and then spent seven years railroading on the Chi cago, Rock Island and Pacific from Des Moines, Iowa, to Keokuk, Iowa.- In 1887 he came to California, going by stage from Banta to Grayson, and since 1889 has worked some of the J. A. Crow ranch of 1,260 acres each year, also leasing other lands, so he farms about 2,000 acres to grain. He has never had a written lease, simply a verbal lease or understanding, but has always made his word his bond and has never been involved in a lawsuit. In 1917 he had a crop of forty-seven sacks of barley to the acre, a record that has not been beaten so far on the West Side. At Eddyville, Iowa, in November, 1886, Mr. Oldenhage was united in mar riage to Miss Nettie Totman, who was born in that vicinity, the daughter of Simon P. and Mary Jane Totman, who came to California in 1890. He was bereaved of his faithful wife March 3, 1898, and has never remarried |}ut has devoted his life to the three sons she left him: Walter, a rancher at Concord, Contra Costa County; Harry, who is on the home ranch ; and John, also a rancher at Concord. At the declaration of war against Germany, Walter, the eldest son, was employed as a mechanic at Detroit, Mich., but he immediately enlisted in the engineer corps, sailed for France and, while there, was engaged in repair work on the War Depart ment railroad cars. He now lives in Los Angeles. Harry F. was in the three hun dred sixty-third Regiment, U. S. A., Ninety-first Division, serving at Camp Lewis until he was honorably discharged on account of disability. He is the father of one son, James, and is now associated with his father in grain raising. John H. was in the Aviation Corps of the U. S. Army, serving overseas in England; he is now ranching at Concord. Mr. Oldenhage thus has every reason to be proud of his sons' record under the Stars and Stripes. Horace Walter Oldenhage is a well-read man and informed on general topics of the day and keeps abreast of the times and takes a keen interest in all public affairs. About a year ago he unfortunately lost his house by fire, but he has since erected a splendid bungalow on the old home site. In national politics he is a Republican, but in local politics he believes in fitness of the man for the office, and casts his vote accordingly. Mr. Oldenhage has never regretted casting in his lot in California, particularly in Stanislaus County, which he considers the garden spot of the world. 920 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY MR. AND MRS. OSCAR CARL HOLT.— A worthy member of that class of citizens whose practical education, inherent ability, and ready recognition of oppor tunities have advanced them to positions of prominence and substantiality, Oscar Carl Holt occupies an authoritative place in his profession as a construction engineer. He was fortunate in spending the early years of his life on the farm of his father, John Holt, in Smaland, Sweden, where he was born on December 28, 1884, receiving there a wholesome training in industrious habits that have been the foundation of his success. The Holts were an old and well-known family in this part of Sweden, where they had been for generations. Grandfather Peter Holt was a Swedish army officer. Oscar C. Holt received a good education in the excellent schools of his country. When he was fourteen he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade at Uldschult, where he also studied architecture. He continued there until he was nineteen years of age, when he came to America, locating in St. Paul, Minn., in 1903, where he fol lowed his trade, and studying to perfect himself in the English language in every spare moment. Having a great desire to see the Pacific Coast country, he came to San Francisco in 1905, taking up carpenter work there. With the determination to forge ahead, he attended night school, continuing the study of English as well as archi tecture and construction engineering, later on completing a course in the above branches with the International Correspondence School. Accepting a position with the Amalgamated Copper Company at Coram, Shasta County, he proceeded thither and was foreman on construction of their smelters, built rhe aerial tramway, seven miles long, from the mines to the smelter, and erected the big ore bunkers at the mine. After all was satisfactorily completed, he worked on the construction of a gold dredger on the upper Sacramento River until it was completed and started to operate. He returned to San Francisco in 1910 and there began con tracting and building for himself. He built the Ramona Apartments at Twenty-fourth and Harrison streets, Oakland, residences for Dr. Hull, Mrs. Horace Mann and many other beautiful homes there, designed and built an apartment house at Kenneth, the grammar school at Coram, and many other structures. In 1919 he built the Hil mar high school and while making his headquarters at Turlock he found much to attract him in this thriving locality. Upon investigation he learned more of its won derful resources and possibilities and decided to cast in his lot with this progressive community. Since establishing himself here in the construction line he has been very busy and has met with instant success. Even with the large volume of business he handles he keeps a personal superintendence over the construction of all his contracts, and completed his buildings in such a masterful and satisfactory manner, with such fin ished workmanship, that his thoroughness and care are much appreciated. He has built the Mitchell school, the Turlock high school, concrete bridges for Stanislaus County, did the remodeling of the*Turlock Irrigation offices, and built the beautiful Masonic Temple at Turlock, as well as many of the attractive homes on Sierra Avenue and in that section. Mr. Holt has just completed a very artistic and beautiful bungalow at 1015 Sierra Avenue, where he makes his home with his accomplished wife, and in their whole-hearted and generous way dispense a genuine hospitality.- His offices are in the new Masonic Temple building on East Main Street. Mr. Holt's marriage, which was solemnized at the First Congregational Church it Oakland, Cal., on June 22, 1920, the Reverend Brooks officiating, united him with Miss Fannie Etoile Granger, who was born in Hazleton, Ind. Her father, Clyde Granger, a native of Michigan, was educated at Columbia University, and with a decided talent for the stage, he took up that profession. He chose for his wife Miss Nellie Hazleton, a talented young actress, who was born in Indiana and a graduate of Valparaiso University, that State. Congenial in their tastes, with a mutual love for dramatic art, they traveled for years at the head of the Granger Stock Company, of which they made a decided success. The Hazleton family is a very prominent pioneer family of Indiana. Grandfather G. L. Hazleton, with his father, who was a civil engineer, was engaged to make a survey of Blennerhassett Island, in the Ohio River, near Parkersburg, W. Va., and made famous .through the activities of Aaron Burr. Proceeding to this island, which had been transformed into a garden of beauty and 3-O^vv^ cJlc^isL j4^jt HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 921 luxury by Blennerhassett, they found that the enterprise of the parties was question able, almost to treason, but when they sought to leave, they found it was not easy to elude the promoters. They finally made their way to an Indian settlement on the White River, however, and located in Gibson County, Ind., where they were among the pioneer settlers. Gervas Hazleton was a military surveyor in the early days and for his services he was given a land grant, and so took up a site on the White River, where his son, G. L. Hazleton, afterwards laid out the town of Hazleton. Here he built a number of mills and engaged in the manufacture of lumber until his death. His wife was Lucinda Wardell, a native of Friendship, N. Y., whose ancestors served in the Revolutionary War. Clyde Granger passed away in San Jose, Cal., in 1909, after which his widow returned East to her people, but came back to California in 1911, purchasing a ranch five miles from Turlock. Fifteen months later she went back East again and when she returned to California, a few months later, she was accompanied by her daughter, Fannie Etoile. Mrs. Granger was married a second time in Berkeley in 1915, being united with M. A. Niland, after which they located at their beautiful home ranch near Turlock. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Mrs. Holt is a graduate of the San Jose high school and the University of California, graduating from the latter institu tion in the class of 1917 with the degree of A. iB. She majored in languages and economics and is now the head of the department of Spanish and teacher of accountancy in the Turlock Junior College, demonstrating much ability in her profession. She is a member of Norroena at the University of California, of which she has been president ; is a member of the California State Teachers Association, the Stanislaus branch of the state association and of the California Spanish Teachers Association. Mr. Holt was made a Mason in Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., and is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, being a member of the Oakland Consistory and Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Oakland, and with Mrs. Holt is a member of Wistaria Chapter No. 296, O. E. S., and the Modesto Court, Order or Amaranth. Politically they are strong protectionists and Republicans and in their religious affiliation are members of the Christian Church. A man of genial disposition, strong and forceful, Mr. Holt and his charming, talented wife are indeed valued acquisitions to the com munity, where they take a lively interest in all movements for its upbuilding. J. B. JENNINGS.— Prominent among the well-known members of the bar at Modesto, Cal., is J. B. Jennings, a native of Warrenton, Warren County, Mo., where he was born March 19, 1852. His father, R. H., and grandfather, William H., were born in Virginia. The grandfather brought the family to Missouri in pioneer days and engaged in farming, ending his earthly career in Missouri. The father was also a tiller of the soil in Missouri, and after the war removed to Fort Worth, Texas, where he continued the occupation of farming. In those days there was only fifty miles of railroad in Texas, and Fort Worth had a population of less than 10,000. The father died in Texas. The mother of J. B. Jennings was, in maidenhood, Mar garet Jamison, a native of Missouri and granddaughter of Carlson Jamison, who was also born in Missouri. She died at Modesto, Cal, at the home of her son J. B. Of her thirteen children, six are living. J. B. Jennings is the oldest of the children, and was reared in Missouri until 1871, experiencing the usual lot that fell to the youth of those early days during and after the war, the tragedy of the Civil War having its prelude in Missouri and on the fertile plains of Kansas. J. B. attended public school after 1871, and later entered the University of Missouri at Columbia, Mo., where he was a student two years, after which he taught school in Texas for a time. He then entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich., and after two and a half years was compelled to relinquish school because of impaired health. Returning to Texas, he recuperated in health, and when well enough took the examination, was admitted to the state bar of Texas and began practicing law at Fort Worth. After two years in that city he went to Lincoln, Nebr., and continued the practice of his profession for eight years. In 1882 he was elected to the assembly of the state legislature of Nebraska, and served during the session of 1883. In 1890 he located at Denver, Colo., where he engaged 922 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY in the practice of law three years. In 1893 he located at Salt Lake City, Utah, and engaged in law practice, making a specialty of irrigation law, in which he was well versed. He spent two years in Idaho in irrigation litigation at St. Antony. He made a number of trips to California, the first in 1894, and traveled in all parts of the state, finally deciding on Modesto as the city of his choice in which to locate. In June, 1906, he opened a law office in that city and began the general practice of law, which he has continued up to the present time. He is a member of Stanislaus and California Bar Associations. Mr. Jennings was married in Utah to Miss Anna Schroder, a native of Utah, and they are the parents of five children. Leona Jennings is Mrs. Lee of Modesto^ and Ora May, John Burt, Catherine and Margaret are at home. In his politics Mr. Jennings is a stanch supporter of Republican principles. He is affable, honorable and fearless, and respected by all who know him. JACOB W. FALK. — A Californian of high standing who is widely known as a very successful cantaloupe grower and shipper, is Jacob W. Falk, who has a splen did ranch one mile from Turlock on the Geer Road. There he has been particularly fortunate in raising melons ; but he has been even more successful in shipping the fruit to market, so much so that his neighbors have asked him to pick up theirs and ship them, also. This he has consented to do, and the only charge he has made for the service has been the actual expense of loading. When he came here, 200 crates of cantaloupes to the acre was considered a good average crop ; and now by intensive cultivation and conscientious care, he sometimes raises three times that amount, or 600 crates to the acre. Mr. Falk was born at Dalene, Sweden, on April 24, 1859, where he received a good education in the public schools; after which he was employed for some years in a rolling mill and then apprenticed as a cabinet maker. In April, 1879, he came to the United States with his parents, and settled at Malmo, Saunders County, Nebr., when they purchased land and engaged in farming. There were three chil dren in the family, and his brother had preceded the rest to Nebraska. Jacob Falk went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad Company, laying steel and otherwise helping to construct the line, and he also worked at the round house, until his parents became too old to care for the farm. Then he took. up agriculture on the home place, even then in a frontier country. He broke the prairie and improved the place by raising grain and stock, and he made a specialty of raising pure bred Poland-China hogs, having the most excellent specimens from which to draw and also to sell for breeding purposes. He came to own 80 acres of land ; and while thus engaged, he was elected a delegate from his district to the National Democratic Convention which was held at Kansas City in 1900, where they nominated Sen. Towne of Minnesota, but he withdrew in favor of Wm. Jennings Bryan. Mr. Falk still has the badges of that convention. In the fall of 1910, Mr. Falk located at Turlock and bought fifteen acres on Geer Road ; and having improved this land, he built for himself a large, comfortable residence and put up the other necessary farm buildings, and began growing canta loupes. Finding local buyers, however, and shipping facilities very unsatisfactory, the fourth year he began shipping his own products, and the next year twenty of his neighbors applied to him for his cooperation in shipping their output. The following season forty-five were shipping with him, and recently over twice that number had consigned their output through his loading shed on the Southern Pacific Railroad, which he erected at a cost of $2,500 and uses for the inspecting and loading of cars. In 1919, Mr. Falk shipped 270 carloads of cantaloupes, sending them to vari ous large cities in the East, where he has commission agents; and he has thus been • able to obtain more money for the producer than any other shipping concern. At the California Land Show in San Francisco in 1913, he received the gold medal, the highest award for cantaloupe display and he took the highest prizes for his display of cantaloupes at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco in 1915, where he was given the grand prize. At the same time he received honorable mention for his watermelon display, which was the highest award on watermelons. He finds a*Jll). JkJ$S HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 925 Colorado seed the best for good production, and he has bought more and more land as he has prospered. The fourth year of his growing and shipping he paid $500 an acre for what he added to his holdings, and he now owns forty acres of land at Turlock and twenty acres at Denair entirely devoted to melons. Mr. Falk used to supply the best hotels, cafeterias and restaurants in San Francisco and Oakland with melons, until the labor problem became so complex, when he gave it up. He is now supplying the Southern Pacific dining cars and steamers with cantaloupes, a deal which was arranged with Mr. Falk by the visit of a representative from the com pany. If he has succeeded far beyond the ordinary man, it may be safely averred that he has worked hard for all that he has acquired. In Saunders County, Nebr., Mr. Falk was married to Miss Sophia Amalia Rergbom, a native of Sweden, and they have had seven children — Anna, Emma, Hilda, Ellen, Fridolf, Henry and Edward. The family attend the Swedish Mission Church, of which Mr. Falk has been a member since he was seventeen years of age. He belongs to_ the Republican party. Mr. Falk is a very strong man, of a muscular and athletic build, and has great physical strength. He is a very energetic man and is never idle, for besides manag ing his own ranches he takes an active hand in the ranch work. When a young man in Nebraska he never found a man stronger than himself, for he was able to lift a thirty-foot steel rail alone. Mr. Falk is a member of the Board of Trade, and a live wire, as might be expected from the up-to-date appointments at his ranch. These include a pumping plant with a capacity for raising and distributing two hundred gallons of irrigating water a minute. EDWARD O. TRASK. — In the history of our American families three gener ations are usually required to stretch from the shores of the Atlantic to the Pacific slope. This is true of the ancestry of Edward O. Trask, the able and efficient super intendent of the Modesto County Hospital at Modesto, Calif., who was born June 9, 1866, at Oregon, Ogle County, 111. His grandfather, Captain Isaac Trask, was born at Boston, Mass., and followed the vocation of the sea as a captain for twenty- one years before he renounced the calling and removed to the frontier state of Illinois, where he took up Government land and improved a farm from the unimproved prairie land at Oregon, Ogle County. Captain Trask's wife, who was Isabelle Rut ter before her marriage, was born at Baltimore, Md. Civilization was beginning to knock at the portals of Illinois when their son, Israel, was born. The grandfather died in Illinois, and Israel married Adeline Worthington, a native of Illinois who died in California in 1918 while visiting her son, E. O. Trask. Of the four chil dren born to Israel and Adeline (Worthington) Trask, Isaac lives in Illinois, John B. and Edward O. are pioneer residents of Modesto, Calif., and the only daughter of the family is Miss Florence Glencora Trask of Montana. Edward O. received a public school education, supplemented with a college course at Mt. Morris College, 111., after which he engaged in the meat business with his brother, John B., at Ashton, 111. He afterwards went to Chicago, 111., where he worked with a member of the Pinkerton detective force for two j'ears. He then became manager for the big restaurant of John R. Thompson, in Chicago, and about 1898 came to Newman, Stanislaus County, Calif., where his father and mother were living on an alfalfa ranch, and engaged in dairying for two years. At the end of that time they all returned to Chicago and Edward O. again became manager of a res taurant. But California appealed to him so strongly that he returned to the land by the Western sea in 1904. For a year he was engaged on special assay work for McGee Bros., in their Nevada silver mines, and in 1905, he came back to Modesto and engaged in ranching with his brother, John B. In 1907 he was appointed assist ant to the superintendent at the county hospital, and eighteen months later received the appointment of superintendent of the hospital. So ably has he filled the position that he has been reappointed yearly ever since. The hospital was built in 1891 on a Plot of nineteen acres, twelve acres of which are tillable. 926 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY At Stockton, Mr. Trask was united in marriage with Miss May L. Forsberg, who came to California in 1904. She is a native of Albert Lea, Freeborn County, Minn.,- and a daughter of John and Emily Forsberg, well-to-do Minnesota farmers, both now deceased, the mother passing away in September, 1920, in Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Trask are the parents of a daughter, Marguerite by name. In their religious views they are Presbyterians. Mr. Trask adheres to the principles of the Republican party politically. He is a man of unimpeachable integrity, takes a keen interest in all that concerns the life of his community and is ever alert to advance its best interests. MRS. LIZZIE MULLALLY.— An interesting early settler of Stanislaus County, Mrs. Lizzie Mullally is a native daughter, born at Milpitas, in Santa Clara County, on September 3, 1861, the daughter of Michael and Catherine Curran. Her father was a highly-educated man who studied, once upon a time, for the priesthood, and who came to the United States from Australia ; and when excitement concerning the discovery of gold was at its height, he came on a sailing vessel around Cape Horn to San Francisco, and mined for a while at Columbia on the Yuba River. Later, he settled in Stanislaus County and established himself as a sheep doctor ; ahd that he was a progressive man in the field of developing science one may judge from the fact that he attempted to get a bill passed by the Legislature to prohibit sheep herders from driving scabby sheep through the ranges — a wise proposition which, naturally, on account of the influence of those most vitally concerned, was duly killed and never heard from again, until years later when others accomplished what Mr. Curran first tried. When our subject was born the Currans lived at Milpitas, but as a babe was brought to their home in Stanislaus County. Here the father took up. land in the canyon west of Westley ; and on that account this canyon came to be named for him, Curran Canyon, although it is popularly mispronounced "Kern" Canyon. Mr. Curran was a man of foresight, and he was experienced enough to see the future possibilities of this region which first attracted him. He acquired 480 well- situated acres, and there Mrs. Mullally now makes her home, honored as one of the oldest settlers west of the San Joaquin River. She has about 500 goats on her farm, eighty head of sheep, some cattle, some turkeys and chickens and domestic stock; and these, as well as the land, she handles in such a manner as to reap the largest returns. Mr. Curran died November 8, 1880, his widow surviving him until January 28, 1898. Mrs. Mullally was their only child. On September 15, 1885, Miss Curran was married to Patrick Mullally, a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, who had come to California in 1883; and seven children have been born to their union. Thomas reached the age of twenty-six and was killed in a mine disaster at Tonopah, Nev. Leslie is Mrs. J. Costello of Patterson. Michael lives at Oak Flat. Stella is Mrs. Strait, and lives in San Francisco. Theresa died in 1908. Consuella is in San Francisco, while Rosaline is attending the Patterson high school. Mr. and Mrs. Mullally are engaged in stock raising and general farming. Mrs. Mullally has pure bred Angora and Toggenburg goats and actively superintends the ranch. She is now one of the oldest settlers in these parts. SAMUEL F. SANGER. — A resident of Stanislaus County whose many-sided work has already borne such good fruit that his labors for the spiritual advancement of others will no doubt exert a benign influence on the coming generation, is Samuel F. Sanger, the elder in charge of the Church of the Brethren at Empire, and formerly president of the Co-operative Colonization Company at South Bend, Ind., an agency which has promoted migration to the Golden State. He was born near Harrison burg, Va., on February 4, 1849, and spent his early life in the Old Dominion. His father, John Sanger, was a Rockingham County farmer, noted for his firm religious convictions, and he was a deacon in the Church of the Brethren. He was born near Harrisburg, Pa., and came to Virginia in 1814. In that state, too, he married Miss Elizabeth Flory. The Sangers were of German origin; the Florys probably French. Samuel Sanger grew up in Virginia on a farm, and was never, therefore, a stranger to hard work. His educational advantages were meagre in comparison to those afforded today, for during the Civil War, school was suspended. The young HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 927 man was of a studious turn, however, and when by himself, or at night, did a deal of study. His father was one of two men in his precinct who did not vote for seces sion. The other man was killed by a drunken mob, and the elder Sanger and his family were singled out for persecution. In 1869, Mr. Sanger started West to visit friends in various places, and during the winter of 1869-70, he was at South English, Keokuk County, Iowa, and attended the first teachers' institute at Sigourney, Iowa, where he took the teachers' examina tion. He taught his first public school near South English, and in the fall of 1870, returned to Virginia, and during 1871 and 1872 taught in public schools, four in all, an incident of more interest than ordinarily, for in 1871 the free public school was introduced into Virginia. He then entered the drug business at Bridgewater, Va., and conducted a drug store there for thirteen years, during which time, however, he kept up his interest in educational and religious work, and became one of the first trustees of Bridgewater College. During this time, he married Miss Susan A. Thomas, the sister of his first wife, Rebecca F. Thomas. The latter, Mr. Sanger had married on May 14, 1872, while he was teaching school. She died in 1873, after eighteen months of wedded life, but left one child, Elizabeth S., now the wife of W. H. Johnson, a carpenter and building contractor, at Empire. The second wedding ceremony took place at Bridgewater on August 23, 1875. Then Mr. Sanger branched out in business there, adding general merchandise to his stock of drugs, and running the whole with the co-operation of his two brothers, David and John. He continued in Bridgewater until 1878, when he removed to Manassas, Va., and from there, in January, 1900, to South Bend, Ind., where for ten years he was engaged in the manu facture of proprietary medicines, which were sold extensively in the United States and foreign countries, although his main interests were religious and educational. While at South Bend, he became a trustee of Manchester College, at North Manchester, Ind., and with rare fidelity discharged his sacred duties for seven j'ears. In 1910, Mr. Sanger came out to California, although he had previously visited here in 1907 when, in passing through Stanislaus County on the train, he was favor ably impressed with both Modesto and the surrounding country, so much so that on his return home to South Bend he conceived the idea of making an organized effort to colonize in Stanislaus County. Going north from Modesto on the Southern Pacific train, he viewed the country from the rear platform, and made notes according to the impression made upon him by Modesto, Wood Colony and Salida. Soon after he reached home, he was called upon by Mr. P. H. Beery, Colonization Agent of the Santa Fe, and the two interested others, and the Co-operative Colonization Com pany was organized, and the company appointed Messrs. Sanger and Beery, a com mittee in the Church of the Brethren to look up a location for a colony. They toured and viewed New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California, and came up through the latter state, but saw nothing which met their requirements. Then Mr. Sanger got out his old folder and determined to examine the country which he had marked "good" on his first trip. This led to their visit to Modesto ; and once there, they were taken in hand by the Chamber of Commerce and shown various localities in Stanislaus County, and among them was the Empire section, and here, at last, they found land which met their expectations. Mr. Sanger's first visit to Empire was in 1907, and the first three families to locate here in the fall of 1908 were those of J. W. Deardorff, now at Waterford, Levi Winklebleck and Philip Detrick, all of whom had settled here by December. The Church of the Brethren at Empire was organized on March 14, 1909, with eleven members, and now numbers 300 members. The Sunday school work alone is remarkable; there are sixteen classes, and they have 265 members. The congregation, being pressed for room for the Sunday school, is contemplating the building of a larger church, although their edifice is now the largest rural house of worship in California, seating 700 people. Mr. Sanger has been so favorably impressed with the future of Stanislaus County that he has invested all his spare means in land at Empire, and now he owns one ranch of twenty acres, which he is arranging to plant to fruits and vines. There being no postmaster at Empire, he accepted and served for 928 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY seven years in that capacity. He has been one of the bishops of the church at Empire, and he is now elder of the church. Mr. Sanger's second wife died on November 22, 1898, at Manassas, Va., and he was married a third time, at Salisbury, Pa., in October, 1899, to Mrs. Matilda (Yoder) Beechy, the widow of A. P. Beechy, of Salisbury, Pa., the daughter of Henry and Gertrude (Hostetler) Yoder. Four children were born of Mr. Sanger's second marriage: Mary R. is the wife of Virgil L. Miller, a farmer at Bridgewater, Va. ; Lula V. is Mrs. W. A. Dull, and her husband is a carpenter and builder at Empire; William T. Sanger, Ph. D., of Wooster University, the third-born, is at present the dean of Bridgewater College, in Virginia, a leading educator of that state, and formerly dean of the State Normal School of Harrisonburg, Va. ; Vesta is instruc tor of mathematics at La Verne College, in Los Angeles County. Mr. Sanger is a member of the board of trustees of La Verne College and chairman of the educational board of Northern California. In supporting the cardinal principle of the church — purity — Elder Sanger has aided the temperance and Prohibition parties, and participated heartily and courageously in all their activities. The class of people brought into Stanislaus County by the Church of the Brethren are rural folk, with deep moral convictions and high ideals. As a colonizer and as a teacher, therefore, Elder Sanger has wrought a greater work, perhaps, than he even can conceive, for high, moral standards and clean, simple living will bless the community for generations to come. Of genial, yet commanding pres ence, he is a forceful speaker, albeit at seventy-two years of age ; and having great powers of enunciation, he has often been selected to preside at general and district conferences as well as large conventions. JOHN BEATY. — A very successful business man who has demonstrated his ability particularly in the management of a first-class hotel, is John Beaty, the popular proprietor of the Hughson at Modesto. A native of Toronto, Ontario, he is the son of Joseph and Rachel (Dixon) Beaty, natives of the same place. They were of Irish descent, and as farmers in Gray County, enjoyed the inheritance of sturdy qualities. Jack Beaty, as he is familiarly called by his many friends, was brought up on the farm and received a good education in the local schools. He was stirred up, however, by reports of the still more favorable conditions in the far West, and in 1896 came out to Vancouver, B. C, where he entered the hotel business. From that time on, he was interested in different hotels at different places. In 1915 he came south to California, and for eighteen months he was proprietor of the Lodi Hotel. In 1917, he leased the Hughson Hotel at Modesto, where he has since made his greatest success. He has a well-appointed and well-regulated hostelry, the finest in Modesto or, for that matter, in all Stanislaus County. He also owns eighty-five acres on the State Highway, near the town of Ripon, where he raises fruit and vegetables for his hotel. He calls his farm the Hughson Hotel Ranch. He is very enterprising, and has placed signs advertising the Hughson Hotel and giving the dis tances to it and Modesto every five miles along the State Highway, in all directions. So well equipped, according to strictly modern ideas, is the Hughson that there is even a swimming pool in the basement for guests — the only one of the kind in the' state. Mr. Beaty belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and California Hotel Men's Assn. GEORGE P. OLSON. — An enterprising, liberal-minded citizen who has always proven an upbuilder of Turlock and the surrounding territory, is George P. Olson, who was born near Carlstad, Skane, Sweden, on September 1, 1862, where he was reared on a farm and attended the public schools. When he attained his four teenth year, he was apprenticed to a blacksmith and within three years learned the blacksmith trade; and then, as a journeyman smith, he traveled, according to the continental custom in Europe, through Sweden, France and Spain, and over to Algeria, in Africa, and then back to Sweden, the two years of his wanderings adding much to his knowledge and skill. In 1886 he was fortunate in reaching the United States and locating at Kewanee, 111., and later he settled at Buda, Bureau County, III, where he was a blacksmith in the railway shops. Then he worked in a shop in Galesburg HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 931 as a blacksmith for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. In 1893, he removed to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he homesteaded and improved 160 acres of land; he built a smithy on his farm, and for eight j'ears did the blacksmithing there. In 1902, Mr. Olson sold out his holdings and came west to California and Tur lock; and at Hilmar he bought 100 acres and built the first house in the section. He also brought in the first carload of goods, put up a blacksmith shop which was of great service to the new community, and leveled and checked his land, and set out a peach orchard and vineyards. In 1905, Mr. Olson bought twenty acres half a mile south of Turlock, which he improved, and to that choice ranch he removed in 1915. He also bought twenty-seven acres in Patterson, which he improved and sold. His home ranch is devoted to alfalfa and the growing of melons. At Princeton, 111., Mr. Olson was married to Miss Emily Swanson, a native of Karlskrona, Blekinge, Sweden, and the marriage has been blessed by the birth of six children. Oscar is ranching on the old home farm ; Emma, Mrs. Mathiesen, resid ing in Riverside, Fresno County; Esther is a graduate of the San Jose Normal School, and is a, teacher at Hilmar, where she began school; Albin is in the U. S. Naval Reserve Corps, and having served overseas is again at home; Ella is studying to be a nurse at Epanuel Hospital; Hilmar, first child born in the colony, is at home. The Swedish Mission Church of Hilmar was organized in Mr. Olson's home, where church meetings and the Sunday school were held until the church edifice was completed the following year. Mr. Olson, therefore, was one of the first church trustees, and he and his family are still members. He was also a school trustee when the district was organized and the schoolhouse built. WILLIAM R. VAN VLEAR. — A very successful stockman whose self-made qualities are reflected in all his enterprises, is William R. Van Vlear, a native son born in Farmington, San Joaquin County, Calif., where he first saw the light on February 6, 1875. His father was George Van Vlear, a native of Ohio, who was reared in Niles, Mich. He crossed the plains with ox teams to California in 1852 and for a while, devoted himself to mining; but he soon quit the hazard, to engage in stock raising in San Luis Obispo County. The dry j'ears, and then the big flood came, and he was not successful; so he removed, in 1862 and '63, to San Joaquin County, and bought a ranch at Farmington, where he went in for raising grain. In 1870, Mr. Van Vlear returned East, and in the fall of the following year he was married in Chicago — the year of the big fire — to Miss Mary Nye, a native of Niles, Mich., and then returned to his ranch in California. Soon after, he sold the farm and moved to Tulare County, where he engaged in farming ; and he was among the first settlers near Hanford, at that time in Tulare County. The malaria, how ever, affected him and his family, and as a consequence he sold out and came to Oak dale, where he was a fruit farmer until he retired, to make his home in Fresno, where his death occurred. Mrs. Van Vlear died in 1881, while on a trip East, when our subject was only six years old — the mother of three children: John, who resides at Hanford; William R., and Ella, who is Mrs. Charles Miner of Oakland. William was reared at Oakdale and educated in the public school, after which he attended the McKinzie Normal School, at Oakdale, where he completed a commer cial course. He then became bookkeeper for Messrs. Gilbert & Company, Oakdale, and for three years remained with that well known lumber firm. In June, 1899, he came to Modesto, and here he entered the employ of J. Scoon, the butcher, on Tenth Street ; and a month later, with a partner, Robert Coombs, he bought out Mr. Scoon. They moved the business across the street, and continued for two years there ; and the place is still known as the City Market. Next Mr. Van Vlear bought out Coombs and ran the City Market alone ; he built a slaughter house on the outskirts of the town, and eventually sold out to Morrison Bros. Some years afterwards Mr. Van Vlear started the Indeoendent Market, with J- Scoon as his partner ; and he managed it until Mr. Scoon died, when he sold it to Case & Hards. After that he continued to slaughter cattle, and was then in the commission business for a year. Then he purchased the City Market again from O. 932 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY McHenry, who had become its owner; and with C. K. Grider as partner, he ran the establishment until 1917, when Grider & Van Vlear sold out. In the meantime, Mr. Van Vlear had become interested in stockraising and had established his ranch eight miles east of Waterford; and when he sold the City Market, he continued in the cattle business. Now he owns 700 acres of land, but leases thousands of acres. He has a ranch of 3,750 acres from the Modesto Irrigation district; 1,500 acres procured from Luther Crabtree, and 500 acres leased from Roxie Harbert, or 5,750 acres in all, on which he has as many as 1,000 head of cattle. Some years ago he bought from Gov. Sparks' herd in Nevada some pure-bred Herefords, and for a while he raised Herefords; but he has just sold these, and now raises only Shorthorn cattle. He is a large buyer and shipper of cattle, and at times brings them from points as far away as Nevada. His brand, the Bar V, is the letter V, with a bar over the first half of the letter. Mr. Van Vlear was married in Jamestown, Tuolumne County, June 30, 1898, to Miss Cleo Reeder, a native of Sonora in the same county, and the daughter of Henry Reeder, who was born in Little Rock, Ark. He crossed the plains in the pioneer gold days of 1853 and followed mining. He was married in Sonora to Miss Cleo Cabrera and both died at Oakdale, where Mrs. Van Vlear was educated. They have two chil dren, Alvaneice and Reeder. Mr. Van Vlear is popular in circles of the Modesto lodge of B. P. O. E., and makes his home at 127 Hackberry street, Modesto. ARTHUR McCLELLAN HUDELSON.— One of the extensive grain growers of Stanislaus County in the Hickman section is Arthur McClellan Hudelson. He was born in Hickman township, September 21, 1892, the son of F. McClellan and Julia Ann (Buthenuth) Hudelson, born near Hughson and Jamestown, Cal., respec tively. Grandfather James G. Hudelson, who died about ten years ago, crossed the plains in the early fifties, took up land in Stanislaus County in the early days and became a prominent and influential farmer. F. McClellan Hudelson was married at Oakdale and then located on his ranch near Hughson, where he is a large land owner. They had six' children; of whom Arthur M. is the oldest, and attended the public schools of Empire, now Hughson district, and then Heald's Business College at Stockton, where he was graduated in 1910; he then began farming on his father's ranch near Hickman. He was mar ried in January, 1918, at Hughson to Miss Cora Donaldson, who was born in Min nesota, the daughter of -Daniel D. and Hattie (Bateman) Donaldson of Minnesota, who brought their family to Hughson in 1912 and there engaged in -horticulture. Mrs. Hudelson is a graduate of Hughson high school' and attended the College of the Pacific at San Jose for one term. "Mr. and Mrs. Hudelson live on the old Hudelson ranch just three miles east of Hickman, where they rent 800 acres from his father and 600 acres from Mayor Snyder of Los Angeles, located in Hickman precinct. He has 800 acres of the 1921 crop in barley, 200 acres in wheat, and summer fallows 600 acres. He uses the most modern equipment, operating a Yuba tractor in his work, and harvests with a self-propelled Holt combined harvester and thresher. He also owns a forty-five horsepower Yuba tractor and is able to handle the intricate power-drive harvester and thresher himself, with three hands to take care of the grain, etc. He is considered one of Stanislaus County's live wires and being young and enterprising, he and his young wife are bound to become successful and prosperous. They have made many friends and are highly respected in the com munity in which they reside. He is a member of Twintown Lodge, K. P., at Waterford and of the Hickman- Waterford Farm Bureau. Mr. and Mrs. Hudelson are Methodists, their member ship being at Hughson, and politically Mr. Hudelson is a Democrat. During the World War, his brother, B. W., ran the farm, while he served in Company H, Seventy-fifth Regiment, Twenty-fifth Brigade, Thirteenth Division, U. S. A. Enter ing the service August 7, 1918, he was stationed at Camp Lewis, Wash., until he received his honorable discharge at the Presidio, January 29, 1919, when he returned and took up his work of raising grain. O d^L^u CL- /%flisi^etOc4si?~rt^' HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 935 CHARLES G. SWANSON.— A splendid example of thrift and enterprise, Chas. G. Swanson has been a resident of Turlock since January, 1903. He was born in Kalmarlan, Sweden, December 3, 1847. His father, who was a farmer, died when Charles was a boy of eight years, leaving a widow and two sons. Charles, being the eldest, had to help in the support of the family, hence his schooling was somewhat limited, but he has profited in later years by reading and observation and has become a well-informed man. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed, and when he reached military age he served the required time in the Swedish army and received an honorable discharge. Coming to Chicago in 1880, he was employed at his trade, becoming foreman for a period of six years. He was then employed by the Illinois Central shops as cabinet maker, after which he located in Joliet and worked at the carpenter's trade. Finding the climate in Illinois unpleasant and having read of the rich soil and pleasant climate in California, he came to Turlock, arriving January 6, 1903, and was the first to purchase land south of town, where he built a house and began improvements. It was a barren waste of sand, but by leveling and checking the land, with the aid of water he soon had an alfalfa field and set out an orchard and vineyard, so he was among the men th.at paved the way to make a success of intensive farming. During these years he also worked at his trade of building houses in Turlock. He has lately disposed of his land and he is now enjoying the fruits of his labors. A man of sterling integrity and worth, he is highly esteemed by a large circle of friends. Mr. Swanson was married in Chicago, being united with Miss Maria Lena Gustafson, who was also born in Kalmarlan, Sweden, of whom he was bereaved after only two years. Their only son, Carl F., survived the mother only two years. Mr. Swanson is enthusiastic over the possibilities and future greatness of Turlock and never tires of praising this county of his adoption. He attends the Swedish Mis sion Church in Turlock, and is now one of the oldest Swedish settlers in these parts. JOHN ROEN. — A self-made and progressive man, blessed with the Biblical "three score and ten" years and more of active, fruitful life, is John Roen, an extensive landowner -of Waterford. He was born at Ringebo, Guldbrandsdalen, Norway, on January 1, 1849, the son of Lars Olson Roen, a tenant farmer in Guldbrandsdalen. He married Kari Iversdatter, like himself a native of that region, and there they lived and died, each attaining the remarkable age of ninety-two years, the father having first seen the light in 1803, and the mother in 1812. They had six children who grew to maturity, and among these our subject is the youngest. Iver Larsen, a brother, died in Oakdale after a strenuous life as a Stanislaus County rancher. John Roen is the only one of the Roens now in California; a sister, Annie, the wife of Ingebrit Hilstad, living at Eugene, Ore., and another sister, Marit, Lars Johnson's widow, living at Wheeler, Wis. Still another sister, Kari, is married and lives in Guldbrandsdalen. A brother, Ole, was drowned in Norway at the age of twenty-seven in 1860. John Roen attended the common schools in his home parish, where he received a limited education, and then for some years he worked at farming in Norway. In May, 1869, he came to America, landing at Castle Garden, in New York, in June, 1869. The day before they landed at New York City the steamship collided with an American vessel loaded with iron from Scotland, and the sailing vessel sank so quickly that six of the crew were drowned, while only four were saved. Coming West to Fillmore County, Minn., Mr. Roen began to work out on farms; and after three years he came to California, arriving in October, 1872. He came West with his employer's son, and intended to settle in Oregon, but was persuaded to visit some friends at Hill's Ferry, Stanislaus County, and, therefore, they bought tickets for Stockton. This was in 1872, when that section was little developed; and he engaged to work on ranches on the West Side, and he worked on farms at Hill's Ferry, coming to Waterford in 1873. In the winter of 1882-83, when he was severely injured in a runaway, he decided to go back to Norway for a visit while recuperating ; and on his return to California in 1883, he became acquainted with the young lady, also traveling in the party, whom he married at San Francisco on December 13, 1883. She was Miss Oline Olson Gunstad, a daughter of Ole E. Olson and Cecil (Syvers- 39 936 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY datter) Gunstad. They were natives of Guldbrandsdalen, and were freeholders, and people of considerable means, and owned one of the best farms in Norway. After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Roen took up their residence and work on his farm, then leased for the raising of grain. Mr. Roen bought his first land in 1885, 640 acres two miles east of Waterford on the Tuolumne River; and since then he has farmed to grain, wheat and barley, and raised cattle, horses and mules. He still owns that farm land. Later, he bought two or three large farms, and now he is the owner of 3,000 acres or more in different farms, all in the Waterford district. These are now farmed by the sons. In his cattle raising he uses the brand, J.R. Eight children were granted Mr. and Mrs. Roen : Clara is the wife of Hans Erickson, and they reside with their four children on their ranch at Eugene, in Stanis laus County ; Emma died on November 9, 1 920 ; Olga, who passed away in her twenty- sixth j'ear, was a pianist and vocalist, who had graduated with honors from King's Conservatory in San Jose in 1907, and was engaged in teaching piano until her illness which terminated in her death ; Thora closed her eyes to this world when only two j'ears old; Lewis runs the home ranch of 640 acres; Thora O. lives at home; Oltar John married Miss Alberta Pine ; he is a rancher and a partner with his brother, Albert S., on the large Roen ranch. They also assist the father invoking after Mr. Roen's stock ranch adjoining the Modesto reservoir. Albert S., the youngest, is married to Miss Marguerite Hermanson, the only daughter of Rev. Hermanson, the evangelist, and is now a partner of his brother, Oltar J. All the children are very musical and good singers and the daughters are also pianists Mr. Roen bought the beautiful residence built by Jesse M. Finley, a fine place with six acres in Waterford, making the transaction three years ago. In 1893, Mr. and Mrs. Roen and their four children made a visit to Guldbrandsdalen, Norway, where they stayed about two years; and on their return to Waterford in 1895, they bought a house in town, and have since resided there. In national politics a Republi can, Mr. Roen is always ready to put aside partisanship for community's interest. Mrs. Roen and daughters are prominent members of the Baptist Church at Waterford ; and Mrs. Roen is treasurer of the church. Their home is spacious and abounds with works of art and literature. Mrs. Roen has dispensed a lavish hosii- tality and in doing so has been exalted by motives of kindness and practical Christianity. Mr. Roen has been the means of bringing about 155 of his fellow-countrymen to Cali fornia. Many of these have been young men, farm-laborers, who came here during the days of the saloon, when there were no less than thirteen drinking places and dives in Waterford ; and Mrs. Roen has ever been interested in shielding these young men from the snares and pitfalls of the dram-shops. She has always extended a welcome to strangers, "especially to those from her native land, saying to them : "Keep out of the saloons ; keep yourselves straight ; you will ever be welcomed at my home.'' The amount of good she has thus accomplished cannot be told. But her cupboards full of elegant silverware testify to the gratitude and appreciation which her hospitable acts have instilled in the hearts of these younger friends, many of many are now well-to-do, and all of whom are respected citizens. HERBERT LEWIS BEARD.— A representative of a pioneer family who does justice to an honored name is Herbert Lewis Beard, the fourth child and second son of T. K. and Grace Adah (Lewis) Beard, of Modesto, and a member of the third generation of Beards in Stanislaus County. He bought the Eardly place of 265 acres two miles north of Waterford, in 1908, which he has since made his headquarters for his farming operations. Mr. Beard was born near Kiona, in the Yakima Valley, Wash., on April 26, 1885, and came to Stanislaus County with his parents in about 1887. At eighteen he started in business for himself; and coming to Waterford, he put in a wheat and barley crop. Now he farms 3,000 acres, leasing largely from his father, which is principally devoted to raising barley. He is an excellent farmer, unafraid of work and keenly alive to progress, so that the saying, "He who at the plow would thrive, himself must either hold or drive," well applies to him ; he is industrious, thrifty and success ful. Naturally, he belongs to the Farm Bureau. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 937 In 1909, Mr. Beard was married to Miss Minerva E. Hairgrove, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Charles and Mary (Fulton) Hairgrove. Her father died in Illinois, and in 1908 she came out to California with her mother, who still lives in Modesto. Mr. and Mrs. Beard have one child, Dorothy L., who attends the grammar school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Beard are highly regarded for their own sakes and for what they represent. CHRISTOPHER ROBERT WEILBERG.— A man of importance fostering important Stanislaus County interests is Christopher Robert Weilberg, the wide-awake agent of The Grange Company at Turlock. He was born in Alsace-Lorraine, in the ancient and picturesque city of Strassburg, December 28, 1887, the son of a hotel pro prietor who provided well for his family as long as he lived. His father, Wilhelm, having died, however, Christopher attended the public schools in Strassburg until nine jxars of age, then to the "Adler Flucht Schule," or Eagles Flight Academy, at Frank- fort-on-the-Main, and when fifteen years of age took to a seafaring life. As a seaman he was apprenticed to a Norwegian merchant ship named Vega, sailing from Havre, France, and he made a trip to the West Indies and back to Liverpool, then came back to Havre, and then, on the "Hermod," sailed to Japan via Cape Horn and back to Astoria, Ore., in 19Q4. There he left the ship and quit the sea. He had always wanted to come to the United States, and when he was twenty-one he decided to ally himself with the American Republic. In 1909, therefore, he took out his first papers, and soon after began to ride the range in Eastern Oregon, obtaining his full papers in Oregon after .five years' service in the national guard. He then went to Portland and entered the employ of Andrews & Son, and afterwards with Johnson & Company, both grain and hay firms. In 1915, he came to Hughson and was put in charge of the feed store of Croley & Company, but after six months he came on to Turlock, and entered the employ of The Grange Company. For two years he was foreman of the warehouse ; and in June, 1918, he was made agent for the company and has had charge of their business ever since. Having had to get his education largely from the school of hard knocks, Mr. Weilberg has applied himself closely to his duties, and has made a success of whatever he has undertaken, both for others as well as for himself. At Portland, in 1908, he was married to Miss Lillian Bowman, a native of Wilmar, Kandiyohi County, Minn., and the daughter of Eric Bowman, a pioneer farmer on the frontier, who saw many perilous and exciting times during the Indian troubles, and afterwards enjoyed more comfortable days in California. He and his wife, who was Betsy Nelson, now reside in .Turlock. Four children blessed this union of Mr. and Mrs. Weilberg: Virginia, Darro, Robert and Arlo. He resides with his family in his attractive bungalow at 800 Mitchell Street. Mr. Weilberg belongs to the Turlock Camp No. 795, Woodmen of the World, and with his wife attends the Baptist Church in Turlock. He is an active member of Turlock Chamber of Commerce. While living in Oregon, Mr. Weilberg became interested in the national guard of that state, serving with the same for five years in Company C, Twelfth Oregon National Guard, after which he was honorably discharged. During the World War, in Turlock, he joined the Forty-seventh Company of California Military Reserve, and his experience, enthusiasm, intrepidity and winning personality having won for him the confidence of his superiors in office and his compatriots, he was commissioned captain. PETER BLADT, JR.— Descended from a sturdy line of Danish ancestry, farmers for many generations, Peter Bladt, Jr., is proving true to family traditions in becoming one of the most successful grain ranchers of Stanislaus County, operating the 1,000-acre ranch which was formerly owned by his father, and where Peter, Jr., was born January 28, 1883. Peter Bladt, Sr., was born in Schleswig, under the Danish flag ,and came to America in the early '70s, locating in Salinas County, where he farmed one year. A short trip through the Middle West confirmed his preference for California, and he located in Stanislaus County, in the Garcias Creek district, where he took up exten sive lands and began to raise grain. In Modesto he married Miss Annie Peterson, who was born in Schleswig. This most estimable woman and devoted wife and 938 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY mother was called above in 1886. Peter Bladt, Sr., became a well-to-do farmer and finally retired, making his home in Gustine until his death in 1917, aged sixty-four. He married a second time, and his widow makes her home in Salinas. By his first union, Peter Bladt had a son and a daughter and by the second marriage there were three daughters, Peter, Jr., being the eldest of all, and it was on these wide acres that he was born and where he spent his boyhood days. When he was twenty he started- out to find his own "fortune," going to San Francisco, where he carpentered for four years from 1904. In 1908 he returned. to Gustine as a con tractor and builder, constructing the Gustine Bank building and many of the best residences. In 1914 Mr. Bladt returned to the home place to raise grain, in which he has been markedly- successful. It is fully equipped with tractors and other machinery, and is under a high state of cultivation. He raises barley and wheat, operating with the Holt seventy-five-horsepower tractor, which is also utilized to pull the Harris combined harvester. He joined San Francisco Lodge No. 3, I. O. O. F., in 1906, but is now a member of Romera Lodge No. 413, I. O. O. F., at Gustine. Mr. Bladt is enterprising, liberal, and progressive, and can invariably be counted upon to aid movements enhancing the comfort and welfare of the people. MARION G. EASTIN. — Doubly interesting as among the very few pioneers remaining on the West Side of Stanislaus County, the Eastin family, well and favor ably known for miles around, and worthily represented by Marion G. Eastin, the grain and dairy, rancher to the southwest of Newman, is deserving of all honor and permanent record on account of their long and enviable association with the develop ment of the Golden State. Mr. Eastin was born at Hill's Ferry, Cal., on November 16, 1884, the son of C. C. and Emma Eastin. The paternal ancestry is Scotch and traceable back to John Eastin, who migrated from the land of Burns to Kentucky and there took up agriculture. Although of British origin, he stood by the colonists in the Revolutionary War and so gave a priceless heritage to his son, James T. Eastin, who was born near Madisonville, Hopkins County, Ky., and later removed to Pike County, Mo., where he farmed extensively. He, too, was a loyal American and did valiant service in the War of 1812. Later, as a Whig he was influential in civic reform, and when he closed his life, at about the time of the outbreak of the Civil War, he had accomplished much in his many years that was well worth while. He joined an old Virginia family of English extraction through his marriage to Theodosia South, a native of Kentucky, whose father was a Kentucky planter and during the War of 1812 held the rank of general. Mrs. Theodosia Eastin lived to see her ninety-sixth year and passed away at the California home of her son, Brutus Eastin. The patriotic, pioneer spirit of her family was amply displayed: the Federal cause in the Civil War was supported by four of her volunteer sons, two of whom eventually fell for the principles they espoused, and four sons came to California during earlier mining days of 1849 and 1850. C. C. Eastin, the father of our subject, was born near Bowling Green, Mo., on Washington's Birthday, 1840, and having finished the local grammar school courses, he was fortunate in studying for four years at Watson Seminary. He studied medi cine in 1858 under Dr. South, and in 1861 was graduated from Pope's Medical Col lege, when he received the degree of M. D. Although he voted against secession, he was driven, by the action of Missouri, into the Southern Army, and during the four years of the War he served in a regiment of artillery, was present at the siege of Vicksburg, and accompanied Gen. Joseph Johnston in the Georgia campaign and through North Carolina. Finally, he served under Gen. John Bell Hood, and when the war was over, settled in Mississippi, where he went in for raising stock and grain. In 1865 he came west to California and established himself as a pioneer in the San Joaquin Valley, purchasing one thousand head of sheep which he pastured on the Orestimba. In 1870, he removed to Tulare Lake, Fresno County, and for four years engaged in the cattle and sheep business, and he then settled near Newman and organized a first-class dairy. He came to have sixty cows or more, and in this ^ f ff. c^e^y^*^^^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 941 responsible, arduous work he was ably assisted by his devoted and accomplished wife, who in maidenhood was Miss Emma Compton, a native of Mississippi. Marion G. Eastin attended both the Canal and the Newman schools, after which he took a course in a business college in Los Angeles; and in 1903 he went to the University at Berkeley to study dairying. Now he has 207 acres of the original Eastin ranch acquired by his father, and of this splendid tract he devotes 160 acres to grain and forty acres to alfalfa, all of which is below the canal. He also has an interest in the dairy on the old home ranch. This farm of our subject used to be known as the Totman Place, and the buildings were put up twenty years ago. On September 24, 1908, Mr. Eastin was married to Miss Mabel Pickard, a native of Indiana where she was born near South Bend, the daughter of Alonzo and Katherine Pickard. Her father was a rancher who settled in Merced County, and she came to California in 1902 with her parents. C. C. Eastin is still living, at the age of eighty-one, but Mrs. Eastin passed away, beloved by all who knew her, in 1909. One of their sons is Lucius O. Eastin, who was born on April 9, 1878, and is living on the old home place. His father acquired 1,600 acres in Hill's Ferry in an early day, and the land is still held by members of the Eastin family. Lucius O. Eastin was educated at the high school at Los Angeles, and spent his early days with his father on the home farm. On September 4, 1918, Mr. Eastin was married to Mrs. Ada (Croop) Eastin, a native of Pennsylvania and the daughter of William Croop, an early settler in the San Joaquin Valley, where he lived for years with his wife, Grace. He is an attorney-at-law and lives and prac tices at Merced. All in all, there are seven children living who have an interest in the old Eastin estate, where there is a dairy with a herd of eighty Holstein cows. Both brothers, Marion G. and Lucius O. Eastin, are independent in politics and both are Knights of Pythias Marion Eastin is also in the Newman Odd Fellows. MRS. EDITH M. LAYMAN. — An enterprising, successful business woman whose operations in the raising of poultry is a credit to the industrial and commercial reputation of her community, is Mrs. Edith M. Layman, who began her business of hatching eggs in the spring of 1914 in a very modest way. She then had only $200 in cash with which to launch the venture and commence with one incubator; since then she has not only increased her output so that sixteen incubators hardly meet the demands of her trade, but she has been able to pay two separate hospital bills such as might have proven with many persons millstones of cumbrous weight for years. She was born at St. Edward, Boone County, Nebr., the daughter of Samuel S. Berry, a native of Illinois, who married in Wisconsin Miss Cynthia Jones, also a native of the Prairie State; Mrs. Layman's father having descended from William Penn, and her mother from New England stock that braved the ocean dangers and crossed the stormy deep in the historic Mayflower. Her parents moved across the plains by ox teams to Nebraska, and there homesteaded land and went through the hard times and other experiences incidental to the settling up of a new country. Mrs. Layman was brought up in St. Edward, and finished her education at the Wesleyan University at Lincoln. In 1904 she came to Los Angeles, and ten years later she selected Turlock as the most desirable place for residence and the poultry business. In the fall, however, she was taken sick and had to go to the hospital, so that the following spring she was compelled to borrow $100 to start again. The third year, on account of her health she was again forced to go to the hospital, and in June, 1915, she bought a place near Turlock and moved her 1500 chicks there. She has made numerous improvements on her choice property, and had two differ ent incubator houses and brooders, with different breeding pens, breeding thorough bred Buff Orpingtons, and also Barred Plymouth Rocks, and taking several prizes for her birds. She also raised Single Comb White Leghorns and Single Comb Rhode Island Reds. Some of the Thompson strain of Rhode Island Reds were scored by Dinwiddie as having a laying capacity of over 200 eggs. She bred the White Crested Black Polish, and all in all had the very best stock procurable. She made the busi ness, which was conveniently located close to Turlock, pay its way, and always had more orders than she could fill. She has done a great deal of commercial hatching 942 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and is the local agent for the Pioneer Incubator, being the only woman agent in Cali fornia. In the spring of 1921, Mrs. Layman sold her place near Turlock and located five miles south of town, at Delhi, on the State Highway, where she has a place of ten acres. Here she expects to build another hatchery, equipped with electric incu bators and brooders, and will call it the "Delhi Hatchery." Popular among her neighbors, Mrs. Layman is especially a favorite in the circles of the L. O. T. M. in Turlock, and belongs to the Sacramento Business Woman's Club. OSCAR H. OLSON. — A young man of high ideals who has built himself up to pronounced success in business, is Oscar H. Olson, the popular manager of the Hilmar branch of the Commercial Bank of Turlock. He came to California about sixteen years ago, and was less than a year determining that Turlock offered him more than all other localities in the favored Golden State. He was born in Sweden in 1880 and when only four years of age came across the ocean to the United States and settled in Grant County, Minn., where they were farmer-folk on the Red River of the North. Mr. Olson's father homesteaded 160 acres, and later bought half of that amount, so that he had 240 acres. The mother died in 1895, while the father now makes his home in Wilmar, Minn. Oscar attended the public schools of his district, and then went to the North western College and Business Institute at Minneapolis, Minn., from which he was graduated in 1900. Then he worked as bookkeeper and clerk at Braham, Minn., continuing there until he came out to San Francisco in 1904. After that he was with the E. J. Bowen Seed Company of San Francisco, Cal., and traveled for them in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma — a trip lasting nearly a year. This established his reputation for business ability and added to his valuable stock of knowledge respecting human nature. In 1905, Mr. Olson located at Turlock as manager of the Turlock-Rochdale Company, a post he filled acceptably for four years, and then he resigned and went with C. C. Morse, successor to E. J. Bowen, and made another trip through the same territory. After that he entered the People's State Bank as assistant cashier, and two j'ears later he became cashier of the bank. At the end of four years, on May 1, 1916, he resigned ; and in August of the same year, when the branch of the Commercial Bank of Turlock was established at Hilmar, he was made its first manager, and he has served in that capacity ever since. He worked the enterprise up from almost nothing until it is today a decidedly successful institution. As a proof of his individual prosperity, it may be mentioned that he ow"ns several ranches which he rents to others, and which are devoted to grain and alfalfa. In February, 1906, he was married to Miss Minnie Julien, a native of Minne sota, and they have one child, Sidney. He built a residence in Turlock, Cal., as early as 1906; but he has now erected a still finer one at the corner of Ninth and Sierra streets, which is a handsome ornament to the artistic Crane Addition to Turlock, and where he now resides with his family. GUST CARLSON. — Among the successful brick contractors and builders in Stanislaus County must be mentioned Gust Carlson, who was born at Norkoping, Sweden, on February 1, 1867, the son of Carl J. Carlson, a farmer there who brought his family across the ocean to the United States in 1882 and settled in Schuyler County, Nebr. Two years later, he removed to Cheyenne County, Nebr., and there homesteaded and farmed until his death. He had married Miss Ida Josephson, and she died in Nebraska, the mother of five children. Gust, the second eldest, was sent to the local schools of his native place, but when he reached Nebraska he went to work on a farm, and after a year he was apprenticed to learn the plasterer's trade. After two j'ears in Schuyler, he went to Sidney, Nebr., and there completed the trade of plasterer and brick mason, after which he later worked in Cheyenne, Wyo. In April, 1903, Mr. Carlson came out to California and located in Turlock, and . here established himself as a contractor and builder; and this line of business he has followed actively ever since, first as a partner of Ed. Johnson, in the firm of Carlson & Johnson. In 1914, they dissolved partnership, and then Mr. Carlson remained in /fylaJis? ^^x£*W« a*cc* HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 945 business alone; at present he has two partners in the business, and they keep busy uhder the firm name of Carlson & Company. Alone, or associated with others, Mr. Carlson has put up some fine buildings in Turlock and vicinity, including the Berg Block, the brick work on the Commercial Bank, the People's State Bank, the Carolyn Hotel, the Joyce Annex, the Chatom Block, the Vincents Block, and the Union Block, and he was interested in building the Enterprise Block, the Turlock Hardware Company building, the brick work on the Turlock Theater building, both of the grammar schools and subsequent additions, the high school at Hilmar, the Scott building, as well as the two Hedman buildings, the Hale Bros, building, the new addition to the Emanuel Hospital and the brick work on the Masonic Temple. Mr. Carlson, like so -many others who have come to Cali fornia for commercial or industrial pursuits, has also become interested in ranching, and has bought and sold no less than five different ranches. On August 5, 1906, Mr. Carlson was married at San Francisco to Miss Ruth Anderson, a native of Hudvigsvald, Norland, Sweden, who came with her parents to Minneapolis, Minn., when she was a child of eight years. Her parents were August and Anna Anderson, who were farmers in Southern Minnesota for six years ; and in 1894 they came to California and bought a ranch one mile south of Turlock, where they farmed until they retired. They now make their home in Turlock. Two children have blessed this union of Mr. and Mrs. Gust Carlson — and they are both girls, bearing the names of Grace and May. MRS. CHARLES HENSHAW. — Among the successful business women who have made an imprint on the commercial life of Newman is Mrs. Charles Henshaw, whose fully-equipped millinery store would be a credit to a much larger city. Her extensive trade reaches from Turlock on the east to the hills on the west and from Dos Palos as far north as Tracy. Mrs. Henshaw, who was Mary Luvena Weddle, was born in Gallatin County, Montana, near Helena, and is the daughter of S. B. and Susanne A. (Savacool) Weddle. Her father, a native of Missouri, came to California when four years old with his parents across the plains in an ox-team train, and was reared in Napa City until he attained the age of nineteen. He then went to the Gallatin Valley, Mont., where he entered the cattle business. Her mother, a native of Pennsylvania, was reared and educated in Iowa. Mary L. Weddle was educated in Gallatin County's schools, and accompanied her father in 1885 when he crossed from Montana to Hill's Ferry, Cal., with his wife and six children in wagons, camping en route. In the Hill's Ferry district the father took up water well boring. He died in Augus't, 1900, and his widow spent her sunset days with Mrs. Henshaw until her demise in March, 1918. Mary Weddle was first married in Modesto August 26, 1886, with Wesley Wilson, a native of Missouri, who came to California shortly before. They had one child, now Mrs. Pearl Koch, who dwells with her mother and has a son, Vincent Henshaw Koch. In Stockton, in 1898, she was united in matrimony with Charles Henshaw, born in Iowa, a business man of Newman. Mr. Henshaw died August 28, 1915. Pearl Henshaw established the millinery store in Newman before her marriage with Mr. Koch in 1908, and Mrs. Henshaw was associated with her from the start, and after her daughter's marriage she took over the business, which she has since conducted so ably. It is located centrally and is the oldest and finest millinery estab lishment on the West Side. Mrs. Henshaw's late husband was affiliated fraternally with the F. & A. M. and the Knights of Pythias. In his political views he was a Republican. Mrs. Henshaw is a strong Republican and since the women of California have gained their suffrage takes pleasure in exercising her ballot privilege. In 1918, Mrs. Henshaw, with friends, toured by automobile over the Lincoln Highway across the Rocky Mountains to Chicago, making the trip in fifteen days. After visiting the Middle States, they motored west via the old Santa Fe trail through Albuquerque, Flagstaff and Needles to Southern California, returning to Newman after a delightful trip contrasting markedly in comforts with the journey she made with her parents in earlier days. 946 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY FREE HANEY. — Among the old residents of Modesto the well-known rancher and horseman, Free Haney, is deserving of special mention. He was born on the Spoon River, near Babylon, Fulton County, 111., November 7, 1865, and is the son of Capt. F. H. M. Haney and Sarah (Foster) Haney, farmers and natives of Illinois. The father was a veteran of the Civil war who served in Company A of the Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteers. He was captain of his company and was wounded at the battle of Shiloh. He came to Petaluma, Calif., in 1875 and engaged in the livery business, which he afterwards sold to his son, Free. Later he went to Oregon, and after a while returned to Cloverdale, Cal., where he passed away. There were three boys and two girls in the paternal family, all of whom grew to maturity and are living. Free was the second child in order of birth and was reared on the Illinois farm, educated in the public schools and studied veterinary surgery with J..M. Cook, V. S. He worked on the farm and pursued the profession of veterinarian until he came to California in 1882, arriving June 1 of that year at Petaluma. He entered "the livery business with his father, practiced his profession and was associated with W. DeFreis, V. S., in the livery and horse business and pur chased his father's livery business before the latter went to Oregon. In 1888 he began training standard-bred horses, and upon his father's return to California sold the livery business to him in 1890 and devoted his attention to training horses. He was driver for Capt. Wm. Beeler of San Francisco, and in 1892 began training in various sections of California, Sacramento, Stockton, Lodi, San Jose. In 1894 he moved to Lodi and in 1899 came to Modesto and took charge of the race track, train ing the horses on a one-mile track and breeding standard bred horses. Later he added draft horses to the category, and about 1902 purchased a thirty-three acre ranch just outside of Modesto on the state highway. The ranch now comprises thirty-five acres. He engaged in breeding horses and mules and was the owner of Prince Nutwood, whose record was 2:12-^.. He owned other fine standard horses and also fine jacks and draft horses, among others the stallion, Baron Primrose, 2nd. He finally turned his attention to the culture of beans and alfalfa on his well- kept ranch. At Petaluma he was united in marriage with Miss Linda Helman, a native of Illinois. They have four children, namely: Dr. William F. Haney, county veterinary surgeon; Ralph E., associated with the Santa Fe Railroad at San Francisco; Luella, a graduate of the University of California, who is now Mrs. Russell and lives in Kansas, and Evelyn, also a graduate of the University of California. In politics Mr. Haney is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party and takes an active part in politics. He is a liberal, kind-hearted, enterprising man, and has many warm friends throughout Stanislaus County and California. GEORGE W. SHANNON. — A far-seeing, progressive leader in a notable field of California industry is George W. Shannon, manager of the G. W. Hume Canning Company, canners of high-grade fruit, who was born, a native son worthy of the Golden State, at Folsom, in Sacramento County, in 1872. His father was John Shannon, a native of Chicago, who came across the plains to California in the early sixties and was a merchant at Folsom until he retired. He died there, survived by his widow, a native of Kentucky and a member of an old Southern family. They had four children, and George was the j'oungest. He was brought up in the village of Folsom until he was twelve or fourteen, but he was educated for the most part in Sacramento. When eighteen, he was employed by a local canning establishment, and he continued in that line and enlarged his experience in the service of the old Sacramento Packing Company, under the direction of R: I. Bentley. Later, this became a part of the California Fruit Canners' Associa tion, with which he continued until he was placed in charge of a department. Later still, he took up work in that company's first asparagus cannery, which he managed for six years, remaining altogether in their service fifteen years. In that period the establishment grew from a small plant to a large,- modern and widely-known factory. In 1905, Mr. Shannon resigned to enter the employ of the Hunt Bros. Company at Hayward, where he assumed charge of the asparagus canning, as well as a branch of the fruit canning; but in 1910 he resigned again, this time to go to the G. W. Hume HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 947 Company, in whose service he came to Turlock in 1910. He had charge of the con struction of the present plant here, and has been manager of the works ever since. The company began here in a small way, and little by little the plant has been enlarged until the output has more than ten times multiplied, and it now reaches from four to five thousand cases a day, being one of the largest plants of the kind in the state. The company packs principally peaches, apricots and tomatoes and spinach, being most active from about the middle of June until the first of November. The plant is equipped with the most modern machinery, and has automatic sealing and closing outfits. The steam boiler has 325 horsepower. Electric power is the force employed. The company commands a switch on the Southern Pacific and Tidewater Railroad. The plant covers an eight-acre site and the business gives employment to from five to six hundred hands. The company has built forty-six modern cottages for the men and their families, and twenty tents with kitchens, and such have been the wise and considerate and generous provisions by the employers for their employed that the state inspector of housing declared the camp colony outfit the best of any such establishment in the state. Nearly all of the products of this cannery go to Eastern markets, and there they command the best patronage and the highest prices. In this outfit just referred to, there is a playground for children, with an experienced woman in attendance, and there are ample shower baths and toilets. At Oakland, Mr. Shannon was married to Miss Bessie J. Ilgenfritz, a native of Iowa, and with this accomplished lady he resides in the Crane Addition. He has two children, Burton and Kathleen, and also a son, Donald — now with the Fort Sutter National Bank in Sacramento — by his first marriage to Miss Maude McLelland of Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Shannon belongs to Merced Lodge No. 1240, B. P. O. E., and was made a Mason in North Butte Lodge No. 230, at Gridley, from which he was later demitted ; he is now a member of Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M. He was exalted in the Truckee-Oroville Chapter No. 20 and knighted in the Oroville Commandery No. 5, K. T., after which he was demitted and became a charter mem ber of the Knights Templar of Modesto. With Mrs. Shannon he belongs to the Wistaria Chapter, O. E. S., and he is also affiliated with Aahmes Temple of A. A. 0. N. M. S. of Oakland. Mr. Shannon naturally takes an interest in farming, and owns a ranch which he has improved as an orchard for the growing of peaches. The firm belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. CHARLES DUNCAN BLAINE.— A representative native son in his commend able participation in all community life, Charles Duncan Blaine was born at Castro- ville, in Monterey County, on November 1, 1879. His father was Allen Blaine, born in Wisconsin, whose father was born in New York State, who had married Miss Anna Tidrow, after coming to Tulare County from Knox County, 111., in 1871, the Tidrows being a family of pioneers that crossed the great plains during the Utah massacres in the late fifties. Allen Blaine was a farmer, and Charles passed his boyhood helping his father on the ranch, while he attended the Salinas Valley district school. When eighteen vears of age, Mr. Blaine worked for wages for a couple of years on a farm in the Salinas Valley, and then for three years he was with the California Powder Works at Santa Cruz. He then went to San Francisco and spent a year with the United Railways, and after that, having removed to San Luis Obispo County, he worked for a few months on the Pacific Coast Railroad. Next he took up the phono graph business in Arroyo Grande and then in San Luis Obispo, and for nine years was the best-known dealer in that field in such musical instruments ; and for three years he was in the insurance business in the old Mission town. In 1916 Mr. Blaine arrived in Modesto and embarked in the automobile busi ness, becoming the manager for Cuvler Lee of San Francisco until he sold his Modesto branch; and then he became identified with J. H. Clark in the agency for the Kissel car. After that, for two and a half years, he was office manager for the i rank Andrews Battery Works at Modesto, and at present he is again in the insurance line, and is Stanislaus County agent for the Missouri State Life Insurance Company, the U. S. Fidelity & Guaranty, and Massachusetts Bonding & Insurance Company. 948 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY At San Francisco, on February 6, 1912, Mr. Blaine was married to Miss Mary Lathrop, a native of Arroyo Grande and a member of a well-known pioneer family, Mrs. Mary Lathrop, Mrs. Blaine's mother, having been the first white child born in the city of Santa Barbara. Mrs. Blaine was reared and educated at Arroyo Grande and attended there both the grammar and the high school. Mr. and Mrs. Blaine live at the corner of Fresno and Sierra streets, where they have built themselves an attrac tive home. Mr. Blaine belongs to the Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. E., having joined the order in San Luis Obispo Lodge No. 322, where he was exalted ruler, when he resigned in 1913 on his removal from that city. He is also a member of the Im proved Order of Red Men of Modesto, and chief of records of Winola Tribe No. 248, and past sachem of the order. FRED L. O'NEAL, D.V.M. — Prominent among the able veterinary surgeons in Stanislaus County who have done so much for the increasingly important industry in dairy stock and horses, is Dr. Fred L. O'Neal, D.V.M., whose name is generally linked with that of his father as representing the last word in veterinary science. He was born in Decatur, Burt County, Nebr., on Washington's birthday, 1895, son of Dr. W. R. O'Neal of Scotch-Irish Covenant or Presbyterian ancestry, who married Miss Jennie Learning, of English and Scotch descent. They were early settlers of Burt County, and in his younger years, W. R. O'Neal was a farmer. Later, he graduated from the Kansas City Veterinary College, and since 1904 he has been a veterinary surgeon — in California since 1910. After two years in Long Beach, he settled in Newman. Dr. Fred L. O'Neal attended the Wayne, Nebr., schools, and in 1910 he accom panied his parents to Long Beach, where his father practiced his profession.. He fol lowed in paternal footsteps by attending the veterinary college in San Francisco. Later, he received his degree of D.V.M. from Kansas City Veterinary College in 1917, his father's alma mater. Since 1912, Dr. W. R. O'Neal has made Newman his home; and in practice has taken western Stanislaus County as a field; and father and son have cooperated with mutual success. The O'Neals have a modern, well- equipped veterinary hospital located on North N Street, with operating tables and advanced appliances. In Bakersfield, on November 22, 1919, Dr. O'Neal married Miss Gladys Roach, a native of Hanford, Cal., daughter of W. R. and Ella (Houston) Roach of Hanford. She is a graduate of Hanford high school and Heald's Business College at Fresno, and was stenographer for the California Peach Growers. Inc., of Fresno. Dr. O'Neal ranks high in popularity among Newman Odd Fellows, and with his wife holds Rebekah membership. In November, 1917, Dr. O'Neal volunteered in the Medical Corps and was ordered to the officers' training school at Camp Greenleaf, Ga., where, after the armis tice, he received his honorable discharge. He did his part, therefore, as a citizen, and can always look back upon this service with patriotic satisfaction. He is a member of the Northern San Joaquin Valley Veterinary Medical Association, being chairman of the committee on resolutions, and of the American Veterinary Medical Association; and the Delta Chapter Alpha Psi Fraternity of Kansas City, Mo., also claims him. ARTHUR P. FERGUSON.— A faithful, efficient public official is A. P. Fer guson, the popular city clerk of Turlock, who was born at Marshalltown, Marshall County, Iowa, on December 23, 1862, the son of S. C. Ferguson, who was born in Beaver County, Pa., and migrated in 1832 to Indiana, after which he came to Iowa in 1856, where he married Miss Madeline E. Seymour, who was born at Union Village, Broome County, N. Y. Mr. Ferguson served in the Civil War as a member of the Thirty-fifth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, was mustered in as sergeant, and rose to be a lieutenant-colonel in the regular army. He had been wounded while with his command, and after his discharge from the hospital, he was detailed to organize and muster in a negro regiment, and was commissioned captain, and rose to be lieu tenant-colonel. After the war, he established himself as an architect, contractor and builder at Marshalltown, and was city and county assessor, and was secretary of the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 951 school board for thirteen j'ears; he was a prominent G. A. R. member, and was adjutant of the local post, and died, duly honored, in June, 1919, aged eighty-seven years. His devoted wife passed away in 1894. They had nine children, among whom our subject was the third in the order of birth. He was brought up in Marshalltown and Albion, Iowa, where he attended the local schools, as well as the Albion Seminary, an auxiliary to Mount Vernon Univer sity, from which he was graduated, and then he matriculated at the University of Iowa at Iowa City. At the end of two years, however, he discontinued his studies there in order to take up teaching in Marshall County, Iowa ; and afterwards for five years, he taught in Cherokee and Ida counties. At Cherokee City, also, on December 18, 1888, Mr. Ferguson was married to Miss Mary A. Leonard, a native of Rochelle, Ogle. County, 111., and the member of an old pioneer family who settled near Pres cott, in Adams County. Mr. Ferguson taught until 1889, and then he located on a farm in Iowa, where he remained until 1893, when he came to California. He brought his family to Bakersfield and bought a farm twenty-one miles to the northwest, near McFarland, where he engaged in raising grain, alfalfa and stock ; and he continued until 1904, when he sold out and spent a year in Los Angeles. In 1905, he came to Turlock in the employ of the Modesto Creamery; and having begun as a helper, he learned the making of butter so thoroughly that at the end of fourteen months he was made manager of the Turlock Creamery, a post of responsibility which he held until 1915. In July of that year, he was appointed city clerk of Turlock to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of A. E. Sutton ; and the following spring he was elected city clerk for two years. In 1918 he was reelected without opposition, and again in 1920 the electors signified their preference for him, this time for a term of four years. In national politics a Republican, Mr. Ferguson treats local movements and measures with as much of a nonpartisan view as is possible, and in 1914 was a candidate for state senator, but defeated by a small majority in a Democratic district. Eight children were granted Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, and seven are still living. William Ward is first assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Turlock, is mar ried to Sarah Coffman and has three children. Dora Valesca Madeline is supervisor of the Turlock Home Telephone & Telegraph office. Mary Elizabeth graduated from the College of the Pacific with the class of '20, is taking post-graduate work in University of California at Berkeley. Violet May is attending the Junior College at Turlock. R. Prentiss, formerly a clerk in the Turlock post office, is now attending the College of the Pacific. Rudolph is attending the Turlock high school ; and Her bert Nathaniel is in the grammar school. Mr. Ferguson is a member of Turlock Lodge No. 402, I. O. O. F., where he is an ex-secretary and a past grand; and Mr. arid Mrs. Ferguson are charter members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Ferguson has been a trustee from its organization. He is the district secretary of the Civilian Relief Association of Turlock, belongs to the Red Cross and has been active in all its good work from the time of the organization of the chapter. HERBERT W. RAMONT.— An enterprising worker in the motor trade who is fast rising to an enviable leadership, is Herbert W. Ramont, who was born at Mar shalltown, Iowa, in January, 1895, the son of William and Augusta Ramont, highly esteemed farmer folks. The father was a pioneer of the Hawkeye State, who came from Michigan and he did much to hasten the development of that section of Iowa. H. W. attended the grammar school at Marshalltown and spent his early days with his parents on the home farm until, with them, he came out to California and Modesto. This was in 1911, and at that time William Ramont retired from active service. The lad attended the Modesto high school, and then went to the University of California, where he specialized in electrical engineering. At the outbreak of the great war between the Central Powers and the United States, Mr. Ramont enlisted, in May, 1917, in the ambulance unit of the University of California and trained at Camp Crane, at Allentown, Pa. This ambulance unit, upon its arrival in France, was subdivided into several smaller bodies, and Mr. Ramont was assigned to and served with Unit No. 45, with the French forces. He had sailed 952 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY for France in June, 1918, and immediately after arriving abroad, he was sent into the lines and participated in the drives at Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel, the Lorraine front, and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. After the armistice, he was located near Toul, France, in a town called Joinville, and was later, sent to Bordeaux, from which port he was returned to the United States in May, 1919, and at Camp Dix in New Jersey he was discharged. He holds membership in the American Legion. In June, 1920, the United Automotive Service of Modesto was organized as a corporation, and Mr. Ramont was chosen as its president ; and in that responsible office he has continued to develop the business ever since, each week showing appreciable gains. They carry a complete line of automobile accessories, and maintain a well- equipped machine shop and a first-class garage — both real boons to the motorist who desires the best that is obtainable. HENRY THEODORE JOHNSON.— A rising young structural engineer of very promising ability, who also is identified with Stanislaus County agriculture as the owner of one of the best farms of eighty acres for miles around, is H. T. Johnson, who lives about three miles north of Modesto, and known as the president of the Paulsen Platform Tractor Company, manufacturers of the Paulsen Platform Tractor, a Modesto invention. He was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., on December 30, 1882, and graduated from the Western University of Pennsylvania, class of 1900, where he had pursued a mechanical and structural engineering course. For ten years he was estab lished in San Francisco, and during that time among the buildings he rebuilt and built we mention the Starr King Church, the first permanent building after the fire ; the Haslett Warehouse, in which were used the largest timbers ever used in San Francisco; the Morris Packing House, the Chinese Hospital, the Potter building, and the down town Realty building. Undoubtedly he inherited much pronounced ability, for his father, who lived and died in Pittsburgh, was engineer for the Pittsburgh Coal Com pany for thirty-five years. H. T. played, too, for three years on the football team of the University of Pennsylvania, and so developed a sound body, and likewise a sound mind, with the result that he is powerful as an athlete and strong intellectually. Mr. Johnson owns a well-situated ranch on Sylvan Avenue, bought by him in 1915, where he resides with his second wife, formerly Miss Ellen M. Jones, of Colo rado and Modesto, whom he married at Oakland, on May 1, 1919, and the two chil dren by his former wife, Helen E., and John H. This ranch, however, he intends to sell in order to remove to Los Angeles and give his entire time to the manufacture of the tractor invented by T. R. Paulsen, the mechanical engineer, while he lived at Modesto, in the sale of which Mr. Johnson believes there are millions for everybody concerned, including the buyers. With others, Mr. Johnson has invested many thou sand dollars in what he regards as one of the greatest mechanical contrivances ever put upon the market ; and this confidence in the form of hard cash is perhaps the best evidence of the real faith that is in the promoters, who certainly deserve, with the investor, all possible success. The officers of the Paulsen Platform Tractor Company. are: H. T. Johnson, president ; T. R. Paulsen, vice-president, and S. S. Latz, secretary and treasurer. The , offices of the company are at 1006 Washington Building, Los Angeles. Mr. Johnson is also vice-president and organizer of the Power Implement and Machine Works of Modesto, manufacturing the Zanon mower attachment for all tractors. Mr. Johnson is a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 260, F. & A. M., of San Francisco. VICTOR V. GOEFFERT. — Prominent among the well-trained pharmacists of Stanislaus County may be mentioned Victor V. Goeffert, a native of this city, where he was born on December 5, 1888, the son of Henry and Mary (Silvey) Goeffert, pioneers. His father was a native of Saxony, and first came to California in 1852; and thirty-three years later he removed from Solano County to Modesto, after a career devoted in part to the development of mining interests. Mrs. Goeffert came to Cali fornia, across the plains in 1849, with her parents. Victor attended the excellent grammar and high schools of his native town, and then was apprenticed to Dr. L. P. Player as a pharmacist and to learn the drug trade. He continued there as an employee for eight years, and then for a couple of years was ¦Mi HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 955 in partnership with Dr. Player; and since 1917 he has been in business for himself. Naturally, he belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, and for a season was one of its board of directors. The high standards set and followed by Mr. Goeffert in the maintenance of one of the best-equipped drug stores in the county have brought him a generous patronage by and the fullest confidence of an appreciative public. On August 26, 1910, Mr. Goeffert was married at San Francisco to Miss Letha Islip, also a native of Stanislaus County, where she was born on February 10, 1890. Her parents were Charles and Anna Islip, who came to California at an early date, and they were doubtless related in an interesting way with the noted family in Amer ican colonial history, after which Islip Grange on Great South Bay, Long Island — purchased, by the way, from the Indians as far back of 1683 and in 1697 confirmed by royal patent — and the present Islip, in Suffolk County, in that state, have been named. One daughter, Dorothy Jane, has blessed this fortunate union. Mr. Goeffert belongs to Modesto Lodge No. 1282 of the B. P. O. Elks ; Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., Modesto; and Parlor No. 49, N. S. G. W. In politics he is independent, and favors selecting a candidate regardless of party. DELL M. SEELY. — A wide-awake expert whose experience and enterprising operations have proven of great benefit to the Modesto motor world, is Dell M. Seely, a native son, proud to have been born in that city on February 21, 1880. His father was Martin V. Seely, the son of Charles R. Seely, who, as an early pioneer, came from Iowa across the plains in 1848 and settled in California. He took up farming on Government land, and was long known for his activity in the San Joaquin Valley, and particularly in the section about Modesto. Martin V. Seely married Miss Emily Mahoney, the daugher of John B. Mahoney, of Schenectady, N. Y., a rancher, who was also a pioneer of Stanislaus County and acquired large tracts of land. A son, a brother of Mrs. Seely, was West B. Mahoney, who recently passed away, honored as one of Modesto's best citizens. Martin V. Seely became a large grain farmer, owning a large tract of land between Oakdale and what is now Waterford, at one time being the largest wheat raiser in the county. Afterwards, he spent some years as a fruit grower in Santa Clara Valley, then returned to the San Joaquin Valley, where he is a farmer and stockman at Ripon, and there he and his estimable wife welcome their old friends of pioneer days. John B. Mahoney died in Modesto about 1906, while his widow is still living in San Jose. On his maternal side, Mr. Seely is a lineal descendant of Stephen Girard of Philadelphia. They are also proud to know that Thomas Edison is of the same family. Having profited by the grammar schools of Santa Clara County, Dell M. Seely attended the San Jose State Normal and also Heald's Technical School in San Fran cisco, after which he served an apprenticeship as a machinist in the Union Iron Works of the bay city. He remained with the latter firm for seven years, and in that time had worked up to the rank of outside installing engineer and covered the entire western country west of the Mississippi. He had charge, among other contracts, of the setting up of the Miami plant of 22,000 horsepower, at Miami, Ariz., the Van Balm Young plant at Honolulu, the North Beach power plant in San Francisco, and other impor tant plants over this territory. While with the Union Iron Works Mr. Seely was in trial trips on the different Government war vessels built at the works for the Pacific fleet while he was with the company. He worked on the first submarine built on the Pacific coast and was on the submarine when it made its trial trip, which was the first underseas trip on this coast. On his return to San Francisco Mr. Seely engaged in the automobile repairing business, and had a shop much patronized. In 1916 he came back to Modesto and bought and operated the Reliable Garage on West Ninth Street until he sold it in 1917 and engaged as an electrical contractor over California until July, 1920. He then purchased the garage at 809 Thirteenth Street, where once more he established a reputation for general automobile repair work. He is not only a machinist and electrical engineer, but is able to do anything in the line of the iron trades. In San Jose, on September 30, 1903, Mr. Seely was married to Miss May Zurcher, a daughter of David and Elizabeth Zurcher, and a native of Kansas. Her father was 956 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY a millwright, and he passed away in 1910. Her mother died at their home in Modesto ih November, 1920. Now Mr. and Mrs. Seely have two daughters and a grandson. Alva has become Mrs. Clifford Gaar and lives at Modesto, with a son, Robert Gaar, while Della Seely lives with her parents, and still attends the grammar school at Modesto. Mr. Seely belongs to the Druids, and is a standpat Republican. He was one of the first members of the California Automobile Trades Association in Modesto. He is a member of the American Technical Society and is consulting engineer for the Master Aeronautical Engineers, both of Washington, D. O, and during the World War was a member of the National War College. JAMES GIBSON. — A worthy descendant of the splendid pioneer blood which carved the foundations of our glorious California statehood, James Gibson, a native of Stanislaus County and one of our most highly respected and influential citizens, has done much to aid the growth of his native county, being especially intimately associated with the development of the irrigation systems which have transformed vast areas into highly improved farms. He now owns the old V. B. Dale ranch of seventeen acres, at the corner of Dale and Oakdale roads, where he is largely engaged in dairy ing and in the breeding of registered Holstein cattle, of which he has developed an specially fine strain. He has a herd of fine young cows and a senior herd sire of note, the celebrated three-year-old bull, Palo Netherland Korndyke, son of Rag Apple Im perial Korndyke. Mr. Gibson has taken many prizes with his stock, including the first prize on a junior heifer at the San Francisco Stock Show, 1917, and second, third and fourth prizes at the Modesto Fair, 1916. He is a member of National Holstein-Friesian Breeders Association, and also of the State and County Holstein- Friesian Breeders Associations and is considered one of the best informed stockmen in the county, capable and practical, and an excellent judge of stock. A native of Stanislaus County, James Gibson was born in Jackson precinct, a few miles west of Salida, September 18, 1875, the son of Samuel and Guadalupe (Ramirez) Gibson. His father was born in Missouri and came to California, cross ing the plains in 1849. He was the hunter and scout for the party, and the old muzzle-loading grizzly bear rifle which he carried is now in the possession of our fellow-citizen, and one of his most treasured possessions. The party was attacked by Indiaris many times and not a few of the hated Redskins lost their lives by this same rifle. The Indians finally succeeded in stealing all the stock of the party in the Carson Valley, and from there on made their way over the mountains to California on foot. Mr. Gibson was a crack shot and champion of this county at one time. The party finally reached Big Bar, north of Sacramento, where they prospected for gold. Mr. Gibson was a friend of Bodie, owner of the Bodie Mine near the California-Nevada state line, and went there to work until Mr. Bodie was killed by the Indians, Mr. Gibson being the one to find the dead body. Meeting with success in his mining ventures, Mr. Gibson presently had accumulated considerable capital, and came into Stanislaus County in 1864 and purchased 800 acres four miles west of what is now Salida. He was married at Knights Ferry in 1872 to Miss Guadalupe Ramirez, a native of Tuolumne County, and settled on his 800-acre ranch. Two children were born of this union, James, the subject of this sketch, and Richard, foreman for the Miller & Lux Company, of Los Banos, Merced County, and superintendent of their cattle department. The mother of these boys passed away in 1882, and Mr. Gibson later married Miss Crecencia McLean, who is still living in Oakland, with her chil dren, of whom there are six, Abraham, Samuel, Clement, Rudolph, Marianna and Hortense, half-brothers and sisters of our subject, the father having passed away in 1896, at the age of sixty- five years. James Gibson remained on the ranch with his father until he was nineteen, when he started out for himself. He attended the public schools, and for a time attended the York Business College in Stockton, but an attack of typhoid fever, interrupted his studies, and he did not return to complete his course, but worked for a time on various ranches, and in 1905 started farming for himself. He was married first in 1896 to Miss Alice Strothers, born in Stanislaus County, and by her had two children, Gladys, now the wife of Dewey McMurray, employed with the Holt Machine Shops in ^fo^LnAs* HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 957 Stockton, and Rollyn, a mechanic in the F. E. Smith Garage at Modesto. Mrs. Gibson passed away in 1906, and in 1917 Mr. Gibson espoused Mrs. Lina Bellocq, nee Wolhuter, a native of Strassburg, Alsace-Lorraine, France, who had come to this country with her sister, Mrs. Defosset, of San Luis Obispo. Mrs. Gibson was educated in Strassburg in both French and English and speaks both fluently. She is a woman of pleasing personality, highly accomplished, and has a wide circle of friends. During his long and active career in Stanislaus County, Mr. Gibson has made many close friends, who appreciate his worth and good judgment. He was associated for seven years with the late J. W. Beasley, contractor and rancher, who constructed most of the irrigation ditches of the Modesto Irrigation District, it being Mr. Gibson who moved the first dirt in this work. He became Mr. Beasley's superintendent and was associated with him in his extensive operations for many years, handling for him as many as fifty and sixty men and a hundred mules, acting as superintendent of ditch construction. Mr. Gibson is entirely a self-made man, to quote his own -words, "Never having received a five-cent piece from any man in his life, unless he had earned it." He has owned extensive property in the county, recently having sold a valuable forty-acre tract on the Carver Road. He has recently remodeled his resi dence on the home place at a great expenditure, making of a handsome, modern coun try home. He is a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers' Union, and of the Milk Producers Association of Central California, his dairy being one of the most valuable in the vicinity. Fraternally Mr. Gibson is a member of the Odd Fellows of Modesto, while Mrs. Gibson is an Eastern Star and the Sylvan Improvement Club. JOHN P. SNYGG. — An experienced, industrious agriculturist whose foresight and hard labor have brought him substantial rewards, is John P. Snygg of Turlock, who was born in Kalmarlan, Sweden, on October 7, 1849, the son of N. P. Snygg, who was born in 1822. He was a soldier in the Swedish army until he was twenty- five years of age, when he was honorably discharged ; and in the fall of 1 869 he came to America bringing with him all of his family except our subject, who came six months later. He located as a farmer at New Windsor, 111., and then he went to Fremont, Iowa, after which he bought a farm at Stanton, in the same state. In 1881, he removed to Oakland, Nebr., where he lived retired until his death in 1884. He had taken for his wife Miss Sarah Elizabeth Pearson, and she died in 1916, aged eighty-seven years. The oldest of four boys, John was brought up on the home farm, while he attended the local public schools; and in 1870 he came to New Windsor, 111., where he attended school in the winter time and worked on farms during the summers. In 1874, he re moved to Fremont, Iowa, and there he remained until 1881, when he went to Burt County, Nebr., and bought eighty acres for $1,000. He went in for farming and bought more land until he had 160 acres; and he also owned, at one time, other farms; which he sold. He raised corn, cattle and hogs, was very successful, and during the best part of twenty-one years rendered good, volunteer service as a school trustee and as modera tor in the Swedish Mission Church. In 1902 Mr. Snygg came to Turlock and bought 160 acres in Hilmar, which he leveled and checked and improved to alfalfa. He had twenty acres in peaches and Thompson seedless grapes, and ran a Holstein dairy which he still owns. While in Nebraska he was married for the first time, his bride being Miss Augusta Peterson, a native of Sweden; but she died at Hilmar, in 1916, the mother of seven children. Sarah Rufina is Mrs. "Erickson of Wright, Cal. Simon Peter resides at Arboga. Lillie M. is Mrs. Erickson of Arboga. Frances Cecilia is Mrs. Richards of Turlock. Edwin is on the home ranch. John Paul is in Hilmar ; and Clinton Linne is in Arboga. Simon Peter was in the World War, serving overseas with the American army, and went over the top and also served on German soil. Mr. Snygg's second marriage took place in Turlock, when he became the husband of Mrs. Hanna (Anderson) Lund- quist, a native of Ovemorla, Koppeborslan, Dalena, Sweden, who came in '88 to Amer ica and Minneapolis when nine months old. In 1891 she was married at Denver, Colo., to Andrew Lundquist, and they resided at Central City, Colo., where Mr. Lundquist followed mining, until the spring of 1902, when they removed to Seattle, Wash., In August of the same year they came to Turlock and bought some farm land at 958 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Hilmar, which they improved to a good ranch, and there on March 8, 1905, Mr. Lundquist died, leaving one child, Philip Lundquist, who was in the medical depart ment of the U. S. army, but now is married and residing at Turlock. Both Mr. and Mrs. Snygg were charter members of the Swedish Mission Church at Hilmar, where Mr. Snygg served as treasurer and moderator. Since coming to Turlock, they have been members of the church here, and Mrs. Snygg is a member of the Dorcas Society. Mr. Snygg was also a school trustee at Hilmar for several years. In 1908, three years after the death of Mr. Lundquist, his widow, with her son, made a trip back to her old home in Sweden, where she visited for about six months, return ing to Turlock better satisfied than ever with her adopted home. JOHN D. CARLSON. — A successful contractor and builder of Turlock who has established an enviable reputation throughout Stanislaus County for having both met and anticipated the wants of the local communities, is John D. Carlson, who was born in Ostergotland, Sweden, on May 20, 1879, the son of C. A. Carlson, now a prosperous farmer in Sweden. His good wife, Charlotte, is also living, the mother of eleven children. The fourth oldest arid the only one now in California, John, was brought up on a farm at the same time that he was sent to the public schools. In 1903, he came out to America and located for a while at Des Moines, Iowa, where he learned the carpenter and cabinetmaker's trades ; and four years later, in the spring, following the great earthquake and fire which called for rebuilding, he came out to San Francisco and for ten months worked at his trade. Late in that year, Mr. Carlson came down to Turlock and bought a forty-acre ranch in the Stevenson Colony — a stretch of the rawest land which he pluckily checked and leveled, so that he soon had the most luxuriant alfalfa growing there. He went in for dairying, but later raised beans instead; and so well did he succeed in bean culture that he leased other iands. At the same time, Mr. Carlson saw the need of a satisfactory bean cleaner, and he therefore invented and duly patented and put on the market the Carlson Bean Cleaner, one of the- best devices of the period, having a capacity of 120 sacks an hour. In 1918 he sold his ranch, having begun the year before to take contracts for building in Turlock, since which time he has put up many of the best residences and bungalows. He also built the Turner Hardware Company Garage, the Macky Garage, the Modesto Packing Company's plant, the Lowell Grammar School, Star Auto Stage Company depot, and many other edifices. At Des Moines, Mr. Carlson was married to Miss Lydia Marie Anderson, a native of Sweden, by whom he had had one child, Edith Anna Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Carlson are members of the Swedish Free Mission Church of Turlock, and Mr. Carl son is a member of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. PROF. G. F. JONES. — A highly esteemed citizen of Modesto whose family may boast of an enviable association with the pioneer history of America is Prof. George F. Jones, proprietor of the Modesto Auditorium. A native son, he was born in San Joaquin County, two miles south of the old Salmon Ranch, on June 26, 1866, the son of Benjamin and Vandalia (Cookson) Jones. They had a son also named Benjamin, who was the first male child born in Modesto. The elder Jones was a native of Maine, a member of an old Colonial family, and came to California in an early day, settling on a ranch in San Joaquin County. He later teamed between Stockton and the mines for a time. Mrs. Jones was a bright, broad-minded woman, a daughter of Rev. Cookson, the first Methodist preacher of Modesto, and a pioneer preacher of Cali fornia. The Jones family moved to Stanislaus County, settled at the town of Empire, when that place was on the opposite side of the river from what it is today, and here Mr. Jones and wife ran a hotel until the railroad came, then moved into Modesto. George F. Jones attended the public schools in Modesto when the old wooden benches were still in use, although the last two years of his schooling were obtained m the new two-story building. He had a natural talent for music and at the age of eight began playing the cornet and at the age of twelve he organized a boys' band m Modesto and led it. As soon as he quit school he went to work in the office of the Farmer's Journal, now extinct, learned the printer's trade and when the Journal went &&j£€£^€ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 959 out of business George went to Merced, where he secured work on the Star. It was about that time that the Merced band was organized, 1883, and young Jones was asked to play the lead. The following year he went to Sacramento, where he had secured an appointment in the state printing office. From there he went to Santa Rosa, organized a band and for the following four years continued as its instructor. His record as a musician in Sacramento again called him back to that city and for nine years he devoted his time to teaching music on stringed instruments and there built up an enviable reputation. He was called to Pacific Grove to organize a band and give concerts on the beach and while there he built a home for his family, intending to remain there. In December, 1909, they moved back to Modesto, where Prof. Jones organized another boys' band that proved to be a prize-cup winner and became well known all over this valley. At the same time, for three years he was leader of the Modesto Concert Band, which gave concerts in the park and in various towns in the vicinity; during all these years Prof. Jones has been a composer of music, having a decided gift in that field. In 1918 he leased the Modesto Auditorium on I Street and has been conducting a skating rink and dancing parlor . It is safe to say that there is no better or widely known man in musical circles in this section of the state than Prof. Jones, though of late years he has given up the profession and devoted his time to the auditorium. On May 5, 1896, Mr. Jones was united in marriage at Santa Rosa with Miss Alta Wood. She was born in Napa County, the daughter of W. A. and Rose Wood, early settlers of that section. This union has been blessed with a daughter, Cozette Jones, born in Sacramento, a talented musician, playing the piano, trombone and saxo phone. She is now attending a musical college at Oakland. Mr. Jones is a Republican in political matters oi national import, but in local affairs he is willing to be non partisan. In fraternal circles he is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose of Modesto. WILLIAM L. LEEK. — Prominent among the intrepid pioneers in California whom a grateful posterity will always be delighted to honor is William L. Leek, the retired rancher living northwest of Hughson, who was born in Wheeler, Va., on January 28, 1835, the son of John and Caroline Leek. His father was a tailor by trade; and when our subject was a mere lad, the family removed to Louisville, Ky., where Mr. Leek opened a shop. He remained there only a couple of years, however, and then he went to St. Louis, where he established himself on a better foundation. William attended the excellent St. Louis schools, and spent his earlier days in that bustling city. Then he started out to make his own way by working on farms in Warren County. In 1859, during the first excitement about gold in Colorado, he joined a train of gold-seekers, and on his wagon was painted, "Pike's Peak, or Bust." They reached Colorado, all right ; but when he returned to Missouri the sign on the wagon read, "Busted." In 1864, he started West again, this time with an emigrant train for California; there were seven wagons, and they traveled by the Salt Lake route. Each night the emigrants would form a corral out of their wagons, placing their stock in the center, and their horses would be tied to the wagons. One night, as they were traveling along the River Platte, the hostile Indians bore down upon the train, created a commotion and scared away the stock ; but after hard work the brave pioneers succeeded in finding and recovering the stampeded animals, after which they resumed. After six months of hard travel, they disbanded at Salt Lake. Mr. Leek spent three years in Utah, and in 1867 he came on to California, set tling in Calaveras County at the Quail Hill mine. There he stayed for a year and a half, and then, after working at odd jobs, he went on to Antioch and settled at Marsh Landing. He took up market gardening and disposed of his produce at Antioch and at the coal mines nearby. In 1870, Mr. Leek came into Stanislaus County and settled in the Cottonwoods district, twelve miles south of Newman, where he rented from 160 to 500 acres and farmed the land to barley. For thirty years he remained there, and during that time he purchased a ranch of 200 acres near the Canal school, and he helped build the schoolhouse in the Cottonwood district. At Warrenton, Mo., in August, 1861, Mr. Leek was married to Miss Sarah Rountree, a native of Warren County, and she came to California with her husband 40 960 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and died about 1890. Then, in the Cottonwood district, in Merced County, on St. Valentine's Day, 1913, Mr. Leek was married to Miss Emma Brannen. He has, as a result of these two marriages, reared a family of four children, and two are now living. Frances is now Mrs. Bradley of Fresno. Melvina died in 1900. Newton E. is a court reporter in Judge Fulkerth's and Judge Rice's court at Modesto. And Jasper is deceased. Newton E. was born in Telegraph City in Calaveras County, and he married Miss Effie Bledsoe, a native daughter, and for thirty years he has been a resident of Modesto, active in his profession. The Bledsoes are also early California pioneers. In 1905, Newton E. purchased a ranch of 200 acres two miles northwest of Hughson, which he developed, so that forty acres are in peaches and grapes and the balance of the 200 acres are in alfalfa and grain. Newton E. Leek's son, Elbert E., is today interested in this tract of 200 acres, and acts as foreman. He was born in Berkeley on June 25, 1898. At Modesto, on May 1, 1919, he married Miss Gladys Maritzen, a native of San Francisco and the daughter of Henry and Dolly Maritzen. When Gladys was four years old, her father removed to Modesto, and so it happened she attended the grammar and high schools there. They have a child, Patricia Ann. LOUIS H. PETERSON. — Among the wide-awake business men and very suc cessful automobile dealers in Stanislaus County is Louis H. Peterson, who was born near Castroville, in Monterey County, on November 6, 1875, the son of John and Elizabeth Peterson, sturdy settler folk. His father, a Danish seafaring man, was a pioneer of the pioneers, and came out to San Francisco on a sailing vessel by way of the Horn in 1852; and when he saw the fast-developing city, he deserted his vessel and went inland to the mines at Sonora. After that, among the pioneers, he took up land near Castroville, where he raised grain and cattle; and in 1876, he removed with his family to San Luis Obispo County and settled on a ranch about nine miles from San Luis Obispo, where he became one of the leading farmers of the county and acquired valuable lands. He died in San Luis Obispo in 1910. Mrs. Peterson was born in New Orleans and in 1852 crossed the great plains with her folks, traveling in a prairie schooner drawn by oxen, and is still living in San Luis Obispo. Ten children were born to this worthy couple, and all are residents of California save a daughter, Edith, who lives in the Philippines. Louis Peterson attended the grammar schools at San Luis Obispo, and made his home on his father's ranch until he took a position with the old Commercial Bank, in whose service he remained for two years. In 1897 he went to Alaska in the gold rush and prospected up and down the Yukon and Klondike districts ; and meeting with fair success he remained in the gold fields for three eventful years. Returning to San Francisco in 1900, Mr. Peterson embarked in the wholesale produce business, where he made a specialty of dairy products ; and he remained in the Bay City until 1906. There, too, on March 6, 1901, he married Miss Stella Huyck, who was a native of San Luis Obispo, and the daughter of James M. and Mary (Moe) Huyck — related to the Moes, a well-known pioneer family of Indiana. Miss Huyck was an instructor in music at San Luis Obispo, and enjoyed great popularity there. It thus happened that Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were living at San Francisco at the time of the earthquake and fire, and they lost all of their belongings. After that, Mr. Peterson took up real estate and made a contract to subdivide some large tracts of land in the San Joaquin Valley, in Fresno and Kings counties. One of these tracts was the Empire Ranch, and consisted of 20,000 acres in Kings County, and the town of Stratford is now located in the center of this tract. He organized the Summit Lake Investment Company for the subdividing and checking of some 15,000 acres in Fresno County with irrigation. The San Joaquin Valley be came known as a fine country for the growing of alfalfa, and there was no trouble to sell the valuable land, especially when it was offered at a lower price than was asked for the acreage of the coast counties. Indeed, the farmers in the coast counties from Ventura to Del Norte were the eager purchasers, for they sought cheaper land. After a successful career of three years in subdividing, Mr. Peterson went into the management of a garage at Pacific Grove, in Monterey County, and while main taining a first-class machine shop, was distributor for the Hudson and Hupmobile cars. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 963 In 1914, however, he sold out and came to Modesto, where he again embarked in the automobile business, in which, with his youngest brother, H. A. Peterson, he has been unusually successful. He and eight brothers and sisters are still interested, as the Peterson Farms Company, in valuable farm lands in Kings and San Luis Obispo counties. He belongs to the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, in which he is a director, and to the Stanislaus County Automobile Association, the California State Automobile Association, and American Automobile Association. He sells the Hudson, Essex and Peerless cars, and also the Republic trucks. On April 6, 1916, at Modesto, Mr. Peterson was married for the second time, his bride being Miss Alice Beverton, a native of the mining country in Nevada County, Cal., and the daughter of Dr. D. W. and Eliza Beverton. By his first marriage he had had one daughter, Thelma E., now eighteen years of age, who has taken a high school course and is a student at the State University at Berkeley; while the second marriage has been blessed with the birth of a daughter, Laurice Constance Peterson. HENRY W. SEARS. — A prominent citizen known as a progressive, thoroughly up-to-date and successful contractor, is Henry W. Sears, who was born near Weaver- ville, Trinity County, Calif., on January 1, 1870, the son of George C. and Martha Sears, the latter a devoted wife and mother, who died when our subject was only six months old. Capt. George Sears was a native of Washington County, Maine, and when thirteen years old, ran away from home and went to sea. He sailed the seven seas, and up to the time of his landing in San Francisco he had been in every port of consequence in the world, having become master of vessels. As captain, in 1850, he came around the Horn in a sailing vessel, and having made fast within the far-famed Golden Gate, he abandoned the life of the mariner, and staj'ed on land. He went into the Downeyville mine region, and became interested in mining ; and later he was active at Fraser River during the mining excitement there. He was gigantic in build, and carried provisions for himself into camp upon his shoulders ; and at one time he carried six sacks of flour weighing 300 pounds into Fraser River mines in relays of three sacks at a time, and sold the flour at a dollar a pound. In 1852, George Sears settled at Weaverville and engaged in mining and stock raising. He served several terms as constable and was also deputy sheriff for a num ber of years. He was a captain in the state militia and served as an officer in the Indian War and was at the battle of the Natural Bridge in Trinity County. Mr- Sears was a large-hearted, broad-minded man, and when the first schools were estab lished by private subscription, he supported the movement liberally, and gave generous contributions in the cause of education. His first home was a log cabin, and with his own hands he made a suit of buckskin for his sons. In Weaverville he became a cattle man, as well as a miner, and was active and successful there until 1875, when he moved to Shasta County and settled at Slate Creek — a place now known as La Moyne, and which has changed its name three times since 1875. It was a stage and draying center, and Mr. Sears embarked in business and became a leading merchant there. He spent the last years of his life at Coles Station, Siskiyou County, as a merchant, and being still the large-hearted man long known to pioneers, he gave such help as he could to those in need. In 1895, however, some of those whom he had befriended planned to rob him; and when the two in the party attacked him, Mr. Sears put up a strong resistance and made a plucky fight, as it proved, for both his property and his life. A neighbor, hearing the noise of the scuffle, came to the rescue ; but the robbers shot and killed him. Then the two villains downed the brave settler, and shot him also, taking his life as part of the -toll. When the knowledge of this tragedy came to the ears of Mr. Sears' neighbors and friends, they hunted vigorously for, and found, the murderers; and taking two other men serving time in the jail for murder, they hanged the four to the limb of a large oak tree in the Yreka court house yard. In 1883, when thirteen years old, Henry Sears started out to make his own living, and he learned the maspnry trade under Mr. Scobey, a contractor who built the rail road masonry work in Northern California and Oregon. He worked on the railroad from Redding, Calif., to Ashland, Ore., and then in 1888 came to Stanislaus County, 964 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY where he worked on a ranch for two years, after which, in 1900, he moved into town. From 1891 to 1901 he was with James Willison, then took up general contracting. Mr. Sears did the masonry work on the Washington School, and then, with Mr. Baker, built the old Masonic Temple. He also put up the Plato Building at the corner of Eleventh and I streets, the News Building, the Fire Engine House, the County Jail, the Turner Block, the Thomas Griffin Garage, and the building now occupied by the Nash Garage. He has also constructed many smaller places, receiving his full share of the building contracts. Of late, he has specialized in cement contracting. A Republican in his preference as to national political affairs, Mr. Sears is non partisan enough when it comes to supporting the best candidates and the best measures for local improvement and development. He is a member of the Foresters of America, and no one could desire a more enviable popularity than he there enjoys. A native son, Mr. Sears is particularly loyal to Stanislaus County, and never neglects an oppor tunity to advance its permanent interests. NAZARETH SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH.— Interesting from several standpoints, the Nazareth Swedish Lutheran Church is of particular appeal to all thoughtful American citizens as one of the effective agencies in Stanislaus County for the upbuilding of society, the improvement along broad and permanent lines of the community. It was organized in 1912 by Rev. M. A. Nordstrom with eighteen charter members, and was incorporated in 1913. In that same latter year the church edifice was built at the corner of South Broad way and D Street with a seating capacity of 250; and such was the wisdom displayed by those having the matter in charge that sufficient funds were raised at the outset to guarantee that the building would be paid for when completed. Rev. Magnus Was the first pastor and continued his ministry until 1916, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. John Billdt, who took hold when there were fifty-four com municants, whereas there are now about 175. A comfortable parsonage has been built at 509 West Main Street, and it is almost paid for. The Sunday School numbers ninety-five members, the Luther League has fifty-five, the Ladies' Aid has fifty mem bers, while the Mission Society numbers thirty. The Berea Lutheran Church at Hilmar was organized as early as 1906 by Dr. Nelander with about twenty members, and it was incorporated in 1910, when the church building was erected. Now it has 105 communicants. The Rev. John Billdt was pastor from when he came to Turlock until 1920, and they have their local pastor. JOHN S. ELLIOTT. — A capable man whose hard work has rewarded him with success is John S. Elliott, the superintendent of the California Cooperatiye Canneries at Modesto, who was born at Millard, in Faulk County, S. D., on June 14, 1888, the son of William H. and Mary Elizabeth Elliott. His father was a native of Markesan, Green Lake County, Wis., and he early removed to South Dakota, where he took up Government land, preempting and homesteading, and for a number of years he farmed. Later he became a commission merchant, dealing in grain, and for a time he was buyer for the Bagley Elevator Company of Minneapolis, Minn. John Elliott commenced in South Dakota to attend the grammar school, but he was compelled to change schools, as his father removed to Berlin, Wis., to become a stock buyer for the Milwaukee- and Chicago yards, and he again removed to Mari nette, where he opened a butcher shop. The lad finished his grammar schooling at the latter place, and took the correspondence course of the Extension University of La Salle Institute at Chicago. Mr. Elliott moved back to Markesan after a year, and there engaged in farming. While working on his -father's farm, John sustained an injury; and not long after his father, whose health began to fail, moved to Marquette, a town on the Fox River, and retired from active life. Recovering from the accident, John Elliott entered the service of the Randolph Canning Company at Randolph, Wis., and for five years he served that busy concern as its foreman. On February 17, 1915, Mr. Elliott was married at Randolph to Miss Nellie Violet Crain, a native of Troy Mills, Iowa, and the daughter of Franklin Crain, a farmer who died when the daughter was a little girl. The happy couple came (j-Ckrzerv-- ^"C^c^T HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 967 to California on their honeymoon, and for a short time they stopped at San Francisco, when Mr. Elliott worked for four months as a checker for the American Can Com pany. Then he removed to Sunnyvale and for two and a half years worked for Libby, McNeill & Libby; and after that he went to San Jose and took a position with the California Packing Corporation, acting for six months as a mechanic at Plant No. 4. His next engagement was with the California Cooperative Canneries at San Jose, as warehouse foreman ; and after being two years there, -he was transferred in August, 1920, to Modesto as superintendent of the canneries here belonging to that company. He owns an interest in the Cooperative Canneries. Two children blessed the fortunate union of Mr. and Mrs. Elliott, and they bear the names of Hope Elliott and Keith. Mr. Elliott is a Republican in matters of national politics, but a nonpartisan, valued "booster" in all local movements; and he is a popular member of the Woodmen of the World, belonging to San Jose lodge. JACOB REITZ. — "Silver Oaks," one of the beautiful country places on the Salida-Oakdale State Highway, in Prescott precinct, so named on account of the numerous silver oak trees that adorn the place, is the home of Jacob Reitz and his family, one of the enterprising dairymen in Stanislaus County. Mr. Reitz is engaged in dairy farming on eighty acres of as fine land as the county offers, and has brought his farm under a high state of cultivation, stocked it with pure-bred milch cows, and equipped it with a full complement of machinery and buildings necessary for modern scientific dairying. His property has increased in value at least an hundred fold since he bought it, due largely to his excellent care and management. Mr. Reitz is a native of Germany, born near the city of Darmstadt, province of Hesse-Darmstadt, November 5, 1882. His father, Johannes Reitz, who was the superintendent of an estate, died when Jacob was but twelve years of age, leaving his widow with eight children, our subject being the third born, but the eldest son. His mother, whose maiden name was Anna Traboldt, came to California with her family, leaving Jacob behind. She is located in San Francisco and was there married to John Gasner, then employed on a dairy farm in Humboldt County, near Ferndale. Here Mr. Reitz came to Califoria early in 1898, and for several years assisted his mother, who had rented a farm and was dairying on a large scale. When he was twenty-one years of age he started in business for himself, renting a ninety-acre dairy farm near Areata, in 1903, which he ran for three years. Selling this at a satisfactory profit, he then went to Ferndale and bought a sixty-cow dairy and leasehold, which he continued to run with great success until 1913, when he come to Stanislaus County and purchased his present property of eighty acres, where he has since resided. He is a member of the Milk Producers Association of Central California. The marriage of Mr. Reitz and Miss Martha Hansen occurred in Ferndale, January 24, 1914. Mrs. Reitz is a native daughter of Ferndale, and the only daughter of one of that thriving little city's prominent business men, Johannes Hansen, now the general manager of the Russ-Aggler- Williams Store, and one of the old-time residents of Humboldt County. She is a woman of culture and a genuine helpmate and home maker. Two children have been born to them, Maria Johanna and Jane Augusta. Mr. Reitz, who takes a hearty interest in all that concerns the business and general welfare of the county, is a Republican politically, but is in no sense "hide hound," being liberal, progressive and public spirited at all times. HENRY J. LUNDELL.— A successful horticulturist and dairyman, who has done much to improve the land in his neighborhood, is Henry J. Lundell, who came to Turlock nearly two decades ago. He was born in Vermland, Sweden, on March 21, 1862, there reared on a farm and sent to school; and on the old home-place he re mained until he was twenty-four years of age. He served for a couple of years in the Swedish army, and at the end of that time received his honorable discharge. In 1886, Mr. Lundell came to the United" States and located in Renville County, Minn., where he worked on a farm for a year while he studied English, and the next year he removed to Marshall County, where he took 160 acres in the eastern part of Red River Valley, which he cleared, broke and improved from raw brush land. He 968 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY raised hay and stock, and bought forty additional acres, so that he had 200 acres within eighteen miles of the Thief River Falls. In 1903, Mr. Lundell came West to Cali fornia, and taking a fancy to Turlock, he bought his present site of forty acres on West Main Street, just west of the corporate limits. He improved this land, and built there a fine residence with the necessary barns and other outbuildings, and in stalled a domestic pump with an electric plant. After a while, he sold twenty acres, but "he still owns the other half. He raises alfalfa, and runs a dairy with eleven cows. While in Minnesota, Mr. Lundell was married to Miss Mary Dalstrom, a native of Sweden, and they have had eight children: Hilma is Mrs. F. L. Vail of Sacra mento ; Albert was in the U. S. Navy, and served in the World War, being stationed at Guam for over three j'ears; Fred was in the U. S. Army, and served overseas; Esther is Mrs. Oscar Bostrom of Turlock; Agnes is employed in Dr. Pearson's office; Malvina, Lydia and Selma are at home. The family attend the Swedish Mission Church, of which Mr. Lundell is a charter member; and they stand for temperance and the enforcement of the Prohibition amendment, first, last and all the time. JAMES K. BARNETT. — An automobile specialist familiar with every detail of this field of enterprise, James K. Barnett is the accommodating manager of the United Automotive Service of Modesto. He was born at Bloomfield, Davis County, Iowa, on July 29, 1893, the son of J. A. and Elizabeth Barnett, and grew up where his father was a farmer, and his grandfather had settled, after migrating from Indiana, and had taken up Government land. He attended the country school near Bloomfield, and later the Southern Iowa Normal school, and he spent his early days on the home farm. In 1913, Mr. Barnett came to California and settled at Modesto. He had already pursued machinist work for three years in Iowa, having -been identified with the mechanical department of the Velie Motor Company at Moline, 111., and it was natural that he should follow the same line of work here. He went into the automo bile business with E. J. Boundey, and in this partnership had a machine shop and garage from 1913 until February, 1916. He then went into business for himself and conducted what was popular as Barnett's Garage, with an excellent machine shop and a supply department as well. In 1920, Mr. Barnett organized the United Automotive Service, a corporation, and at once became its manager. Tbe concern undertakes to furnish all kinds of automobile repair service and to supply everything. needed, and covers the Stanislaus County and adjoining territory, with both wholesale and retail service. The officers of this well-organized and well-maintained company are: Pres ident, Herbert W. Ramont ; vice-president, Robert Dow ; treasurer, Robert C. Smyth ; secretary, C. C. Barnett ; manager, James K. Barnett. At Bloomfield, Iowa, on June 11, 1913, Mr. Barnett was married to Miss Bertha E. Marshall, daughter of James S. and Emily Marshall, a young lady who was also a native of Iowa and had enjoyed a high school education. Three children have blessed their union : James K., Jr., is in the grammar school, and the others are Helen E. and Miriam. Mr. Barnett belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters and Moose of Modesto, the First Presbyterian Church, and marches under the Republican banner. CALVIN H. CONRON. — A well-trained public official who seems to find it easy to please both his fellow-citizens and the Federal authorities under whom he is serving, is Calvin H. Conron, a native of Topeka, Kans., where he was born on May 5, 1869.' On both the paternal and maternal sides of the family, he comes from natives of Penn sylvania, who removed to Kansas in 1859. His father, Peter C. Conron, preempted land and farmed near Topeka until he passed away at the age of seventy-eight. He married Miss Louisa T. Tucker, and she died there in 1920, aged eighty-four. Calvin attended the grammar and the high schools of Wakarusa, a district about twelve miles south of Topeka, and up to his twenty-third year, spent his early manhood on the home farm with his father. In 1892, he removed to Topeka with his brother, John E. Conron, and for six years engaged in the music business. He then took a civil service examination, and having passed with credit, he entered the postal service on September 1, 1898. He received the appointment of substitute letter carrier, and was promoted during his service until he reached the postmastership. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 971 In 1912, he was transferred to California to the Bakersfield office, and made registry clerk; and six years later, he was again transferred to Modesto, when he was appointed assistant postmaster. He served in that responsible capacity until, on January 21, 1920, Mr. Howell was released, and since then he has been acting post master of the city to the satisfaction of everybody. Mr. Conron's father had enlisted for active service in the Civil War as a member of Company I of the Eleventh Kansas Infantry, and while with his regiment was wounded by a huge powder ex plosion; and after recovering from the injuries he then and there received, he served as a paymaster and traveled through the Northwest to pay the troops. Mr. Conron has been twice married. At Topeka, on January 19, 1895, he be came the husband of Miss Beatrice Webber, a native of Topeka, and the daughter of Elwood P. and Elizabeth Webber; her father was a bookbinder by trade, and she was given good educational advantages in the Kansas schools. Four children were born of this union : Helen Louise is at Bakersfield, teaching in the grammar school ; Lois C. is the present Mrs. Percy Johnson of Bakersfield; Calvin H., Jr., is a senior in the Modesto high school, where Harry M. is a sophomore. Mrs. Conron died at Ventura in 1913. Three years later, at Bakersfield, on September 20, Mr. Conron married Mrs. Effie M. Overmyer, who was born near Topeka, the daughter of George Neil, and reared there on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Conron have their own home in Modesto, and are interested in ranch work. Mr. Conron is a Republican. BION V. HARMAN. — An important and growing business in Modesto which owes its remarkable success to the ability and experience of the proprietor and his gifted wife, is that of the poultry and egg business of Mr. and Mrs. Bion V. Harman, who have the McCullough Provision Company of Modesto, with headquarters in San Francisco, the Modesto place of business being located at 715 Eighth Street. Mr. Harman was born at Gettysburg, Darke County, Ohio, on April 14, 1885, the son of Jackson G. Harman, a native of the same state, who came of Pennsylvania parentage and was a farmer. He married Sarah Horner, who was born in Ohio and was also of Pennsylvanian lineage. Both parents are now living, the object of affection of seven of the eight children born to them, the other one having died. Bion was the youngest son and the second youngest child, and was brought up on a farm until he was sixteen years old. He attended the public schools and he also went to the Ohio Northern University at Ada, Ohio, where he completed the com mercial and telegraph courses. Then he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Rail road Company at Gettysburg, and after that saw much service on the Pennsylvania lines, especially at Greenville, Ohio. In April, 1907, Mr. Harman came to California, and for a while stopped at Modesto and then removed to San Francisco, where he was in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad. He asked for a transfer to Modesto, and was fortunate in obtaining it, as there was a vacancy ; and he was operator at Modesto for over a year when he resigned to join the staff of B. Weil & Son, and clerk in their hardware store. Three months later he went to their Turlock store, for six months. At Modesto on December 18, 1907, Mr. Harman was married to Miss Laura Alma Foster who was born at the old Foster ranch home near Turlock, and was the daughter of Samuel E. Foster, whose instructive life-story is given elsewhere in this volume. She attended the public school at Ceres and the Modesto high school, and grew up esteemed and honored as the granddaughter of William Hughes, a genuine '49er who crossed the great plains to California with ox-teams. Her mother, Nancy J. (Hughes) Foster, a native daughter, died in 1915. In 1908, after Mr. Harman and wife had made a trip for three months East, they returned here and he entered the employ of the Enterprise Grocery. Later he was a traveling salesman for the American Tobacco Company, his territory including the whole of California; and six months after that he entered into partnership with Charles Fellows, and they bought out a poultry, egg and feed business, and were also agents for the Roeding Nursery Company of Fresno. The partners continued together from August, 1909, until June, 1910, when Mr. Harman took over the poultry and feed business and the partnership was dissolved. 972 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Having outgrown their quarters, Mr. and Mrs. Harman were planning to enlarge their business. About this time Mr. Harman's ability and success had attracted the officials of the McCullough Provision Company of San Francisco, who made over tures to Mr. Harman, which resulted in his becoming a stockholder and director in the parent company of the McCullough Provision Company in March, 1920, and he was chosen manager of the new branch, which they started at Modesto. With his usual energy, Mr. Harman has built up the plant until it is second to none and is not only the largest of its kind in Stanislaus County but is said to be the largest in the San Joaquin Valley. Besides Modesto, the company also has branch stores at Petaluma and Tulare. Recently the Modesto branch has been divorced from the parent com pany and incorporated as McCullough Provision Company of Modesto, in which Mr. Harman is a director, secretary and manager. Mr. Harman has the distinction of shipping the first car load of eggs from this county to New York City. The first car left February 23, 1921, others followed, and one day they shipped two cars. Mr. Harman gives no small degree of credit for his success in business to his estimable wife who has always been his willing helpmate since they launched into business. Being possessed of a pleasing personality and much native business acumen. Mrs. Harman has been a wonderful encouragement to him in realizing the goal of his ambition. Naturally, Mr. Harman is a member, and a live one, too, of that excellently- conducted organization, the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, and the Progressive Business Club of Modesto. Fraternally, he is a member of Modesto lodge, B. P. O. E., and of the Knights of Pythias, and few enjoy greater popularity in either order. ALBERT J. MAZURETTE. — A young engineer who, although a late comer to Modesto, has demonstrated his ability so that he is favored with a large share of con struction work, is Albert J. Mazurette, who was born in Detroit, Mich., on September 17, 1886, the son of Odlion A. Mazurette, who had married Miss Bella Rodidoux, and had brought his family from Canada to the United States, reaching California even tually in 1900, five years after the mother had died. In Canada, Mr. Mazurette was interested in sawmilling. Albert attended the public schools of Stockton and Oakland until 1904, in which year he completed his studies with a thorough course at the Oakland Polytechnic ; and when eighteen years old, he started out for himself. He identified himself with the Santa Clara Planing Mill, and went through a complete apprenticeship to that line of industry. In 1905, he removed to Stockton and joined the forces of the Enterprise Planing Mill there, working with R. P. Morrell, who was one of the best architects of that section. In 1906, he came back to Oakland, to the Pacific Coast Lumber & Mill Company, and in 1907 he worked with Karl H. Nickel, the "bungalow king" of the Bay district, and remained with him until 1910. In that year Mr. Mazurette opened offices for himself in the Architectural Busi ness Offices at Oakland, and four years later, in January, he organized the Melbourne Construction Company, taking the presidency and establishing offices in Oakland and also in Alameda. This company specialized in warehouses, factories, pumping plants, bridges, office buildings, and all types of first-class structures. Among other notable buildings erected by him and his company may be mentioned the Alameda-Vemce Baths, now known as Neptune Beach. He joined the Transportation Club of San Francisco, and also the American Society of Engineers. Mr. Mazurette remained in Oakland until the Fair opened at San Francisco, and then he went with the Fair Association, and had offices in the fair grounds, becoming one of the architectural staff responsible for and deserving much of the success of the Exposition. When the United States entered the World War, Mr. Mazurette became assistant plant engineer at the Fowler Aeroplane Works, and was in charge of produc tion. From there he was transferred to the U. S. Shipping Board, and in San Fran cisco he was in charge of refrigeration. He was next identified with the Liberty Plant at Alameda under the jurisdiction of the Aberthraw Construction Company, which built the Government shipyards. At the close of the war, Mr. Mazurette came inland to Modesto, and for a year was with Ernest Green in construction work. Then he organized the firm of Wieland- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 973 Mazurette-Wieland, architectural, structural and mechanical engineers, with head quarters at Modesto, and soon found himself and his colleagues in demand and very active all over the San Joaquin Valley. While in Oakland, Mr. Mazurette had also served as assistant treasurer under "Billy" Fitzmorris. At Oakland, in the year 1916, on July 14 — the anniversary of an historical event so dear to the French and their descendants — Mr. Mazurette was married to Miss Barbara Nellie Wampler, a native of Butte, Mont., and the daughter of Fleming and Mary Elizabeth Wampler. Her father was a cattleman of Montana, operating on a large scale, and he was also the oldest settler of Beaverhead County in that state. As a fraternity man, Mr. Mazurette belongs to the Gamma Chapter of the Sigma Omega Psi (an engineers' society), and also the Alpha Chapter of the Delta Kappa Sigma of the Knickerbocker Club of San Francisco. He is, besides, a member of the Alameda Lodge No. 1015, B. P. O. Elks. In national politics he is a Republican. FOSTER A. WILL. — An active dealer in Modesto real estate who is naturally interested in development which makes for a greater city and a greater county, Foster A. Will was born near Newark, Ohio, September 13, 1879, and spent his boyhood days in the Buckeye State. His father, Samuel A. Will, is still living near Newark, where he is well known on account of his business and political activities in the Buckeye State. Foster A. Will served during the Sparnsh-American War, in Company K, Seven teenth U. S. Infantry. He has traveled extensively throughout the world, having cir cled the globe three times, visiting parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, the Philippines, China, Japan and the Hawaiian Islands. In 1901 he came to San Francisco and entered the study of the real estate field. He was a charter member of the State Real Estate Association and he is still a member of that organization. In 1905 Mr. Will opened offices in Oakland, which he maintained until 1915, at which time he retired and bought the Imperial Hotel at Stockton, which he conducted until 1918. Mr. Will then moved to Modesto and opened up a real estate office which is now located at 913 J Street. He has purchased a twenty-five acre ranch on Michigan Avenue, near the Paradise Road, which he is developing and setting out to peaches, apricots and Thompson Seedless grapes. Mr. Will gained fame as a fruit grower in El Dorado County, where he owned a 400-acre fruit orchard not far from Folsom. He sold this orchard in 1912, and later purchased a 960-acre ranch at Montpellier, which was devoted to grain, and in 1917 planted seventy acres to almonds. The above ranch has since been sold. At Oakland,' on New Year's Day, 1914, Mr. Will was married to Miss Lela Helms, a native of Denver, and a daughter of Charles Helms, a miner and a real estate dealer of Denver, in which city she attended school. Mr. Will belongs to Lodge No. 391 of the Moose at Stockton, and Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. Elks, of the same city. He is a member of Commodore Stockton Camp No. 4, of the Spanish War Veterans at Stockton, and is a past commander of that camp. He is a member of Thomas Enright Post No. 97, Veterans of Foreign Wars, at Modesto, having trans ferred from Luneta Post No. 52 of Stockton, which post he organized and was its first commander. He is also a national past deputy chief of staff of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In national politics, Mr. Will is a Republican. EVERETT L. CALLANDER.— An enterprising man of affairs whose activity in the interests of motorists has given him an enviable position, is Everett L. Callander, a native of Hartney, Manitoba, where he was born on December 31, 1892. His father was Robert C. Callander, a merchant and landowner who was interested in farming, and his mother in maidenhood had been Miss Edith Cressard. The Callander family traces its roots back to Scotland, and descendants were early settlers of Canada. They went into Huron when they first came to America, and when Manitoba was opened, some of the Callanders went there. In 1896 Mr. and Mrs. Callander came to Cali fornia and Pomona ; and both the father and mother are still living in Modesto, Mr. Callander farming at the corner of Ohio and California avenues. Prior to coming to Stanislaus County, Mr. Callander had a citrus ranch near San Dimas, in Los Angeles County, forty choice acres in the frostless belt; but in 1910 the lure of Modesto and its environs induced him to migrate hither and take up ranching. 974 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Having finished the courses of both the grammar and the high schools near Pomona- — our subject was a student of the Bonita Union high school — Mr. Callander attended for a couple of years the University of Southern California, taking there a medical course which, however, he did not complete. Instead, he took a commercial course in the Modesto Business College, and then for nine months took a position with the G. P. Schafer Company. He next entered the service of the Tuolumne Lumber Company at Riverbank, and next was transferred to the branch of the main office at Modesto. He was with that company for seven years, and then worked in the main office of A. B. Shoemake, where for eleven months he had complete charge of the com pany's books. Later he was a salesman with the Dalton Adding Machine Company and covered Stanislaus County for that concern. He was with the Modesto Motor Company at the time of its incorporation, in October, 1920, and at present he is the company's secretary and treasurer. For four months, while he was with the Tuolumne Lumber Company, he made his home at Oakdale. Mr. Callander is a Republican. DR. JAMES W. ROBERTS.— A thoroughly-trained and successful veterinary surgeon, Dr. James W. Roberts is interesting also as the worthy representative of a hero of the Modoc Indian War. He is a native son, and was born at Davis Creek, in Modoc County, the son of James Roberts, who was born in Ohio on April 18, 1834, and came to Iowa as a child with his parents. Grandfather Joseph Roberts, a native of Ohio, was an early settler in Iowa, and had a son in the Civil War who lost his life by sickness. James Roberts was reared in Davis County, and first came to California in 1859. He crossed the great plains with ox teams to Placer County, went in for mining, and later worked in a box factory where they made butter firkins. In 1871, he located in Modoc County, and homesteaded a tract of 160 acres on Davis Creek, at which time he served in the Modoc Indian war. He added to his holding until he had 520 acres; and then, as a pioneer horticulturist, he set out an orchard and started the first nursery in that valley. He died on March 16, 1911, aged seventy- seven years. He had married Miss Sarah Fisher, a native of New York, and the daughter of John T. Fisher, who brought his family to California, via Cape Horn, when Sarah was a child. She was reared near Wyandotte, Butte County. Grand father Fisher was a miner, who engaged in stock raising and removed to Modoc County in 1872; and there he died. Mrs. Roberts was a pupil in the Oroville schools, and now resides on the ranch at Davis Creek. She was first married to Jacob Watkins, and bore him two children — C. T. and J. W. Watkins, the stockmen of Modoc; and by her second marriage she also had two children. Mary E. died when she reached her twentieth year; and James W. is the subject of our review. He was born on May 26, 1893, and reared on the home farm, while he attended the local grammar school, and also studied at the high school at Cedarville. From a boy he had been interested in veterinary science, and in 1911 he entered the San Fran cisco Veterinary College, from which he was duly graduated in 1915 with the degree of D. V. M. He went back to the ranch and practiced there until the fall of 1915, when he located at Turlock, and has since been recognized, through his active and growing practice, as one of the leading veterinary surgeons of the County of Stanis laus. His veterinary hospital is located at 140 South Broadway, and is a Mecca to many seeking the best medical aid for animals. He still owns the old homestead of 520 acres on Davis Creek, which he rents out, where the apple orchard set out by his father, for example, although half a century old, is in full bearing. He belongs to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the State Veterinary Medical Association, San Joaquin Valley Veterinary Association, the Turlock Board of Trade, and the Progressive Business Club, being a director in the latter organization. At Oroville, Dr. Roberts was married to Miss Laura E. Darby, a native of Bangor, Cal., and the daughter of Henry Darby, a pioneer there who still resides on his father's estate, the old Darby ranch. Two children have blessed their union, Dorothy and James W., Jr. Doctor Roberts was made a Mason in Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias of Turlock, the Modern Woodmen, and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 977 LOUIS NELSON SPERRY.— An experienced, successful rancher, Louis N. Sperry, who resides two miles north of Denair, enjoj's the esteem of his fellow- citizens, both as a rancher and also as an alert, public-spirited official. He is a native son, and his confidence in and enthusiasm for California is natural. He was born in Stanislaus County on July 10, 1878, while his parents, Charles E. and Clara (Sabin) Sperry were farming on the Whitmore Ranch, north of where Hughson is now located. When he was four years old, his parents located perma nently on a farm of raw land two and three-fourths miles north of Denair, and there, on some 960 acres which he owned, his father engaged for many years as a grain rancher, and our subject spent his boyhood days. Louis attended what was then called the Empire district school, but which was later called Hughson. As a young man, Mr. Sperry spent twenty summers in the harvest field, helping to harvest the grain, for the Sperry ranch was very productive; and he also assisted in the extensive farming of 5,000 acres of wheat and barley, for in those days a very small acreage was devoted to any other crop. He joined his brother, Charles A. Sperry, and up to 1902 they were regarded as among the leading operators on a large scale. In that year, they began to subdivide their property into the Sperry and the Grafton tracts, colonized by a prosperous set of farmers. They supported ener getically the movements for irrigation, and now, where there were once raw grain fields, the district has become a veritable garden spot, and over one hundred pros perous families are living in contentment and prosperity. Since 1902, Mr. Sperry has intensively farmed some forty acres of the original Sperry tract at Denair. At Visalia, in 1904, Mr. Sperry was married to Miss Lois Halbert, a native of Tulare County, and they have had three children — Charles E., Evelyn Lois and Louis Nelson, Jr., who died aged two months. Mr. Sperry is a Mason and belongs to Turlock Lodge No. 395 F. & A. M. Besides serving on the precinct election board, Mr. Sperry has served as a deputy sheriff, and he was a committeeman on the various drives during the World War ; and at present he is fire warden for Denair district. He is a Republican. WILLARD E. SPERRY. — Another native of Stanislaus County who is proving in every way a worthy son of pioneer parents is W. E. Sperry, half owner of the Ceres Garage and its manager since 1918. For the entire span of his life time he has been actively identified with the farming interests of the county. He is descended from one of the splendid old pioneer families of the state, and inherits the sterling characteristics on which the foundations of California have been built. His father was Charles Edward Sperry, of whom a sketch appears on another page of this history. The old Sperry ranch lies near Denair, about fourteen miles from Modesto, and here the subject of this review was born, October 14, 1884. He was reared on the home farm, attended the grammar school in the Empire District, now the Hughson school, and graduated from the Modesto high school in 1900. He was closely asso ciated with his father in his farming industries and at an early age became efficient in all details of farm management. His keenest interests turned toward engineering enterprises and he determined to follow the career of civil engineer. Accordingly, he matriculated at the University of California, at Berkeley, in the engineering depart ment, attending there for two and a half years. He is a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity and took a prominent part in college life and activity. In the winter of 1907 he was called home by the death of his father, and became identified with the management of "the home farm. He had remained with his father practically all of the time until he was twenty-two, at which time he became a deputy county sur veyor, under E. A. Annear, serving for two years. On the home farm Mr. Sperry now found ample scope both for his skill as a farmer and his knowledge as an engineer, and met with success in his management of the ranch at Denair. He remained there until 1918 when he came into Ceres and bought a half interest in the Ceres Garage from L. E. Service, and since then has acted as manager of the business, and it is needless to say that the business has pros pered under his management. Mr. Sperry is owner of a valuable eighty-acre ranch in the Baldwin Precinct, devoted to diversified farming and to fruit raising, which he 978 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY personally manages. He is an active member of the Ceres Board of Trade, and politi cally he is a Republican and a stanch supporter of party principles, but in all local matters he considers only civic betterment. The marriage of Mr. Sperry was solemnized at Berkeley in 1907, uniting him with Miss Lynda Rose Service, the daughter of the late John and Julia Service, of Ceres. Of their union have been born four children : Janet R., Willard E., Jr., Julia Clair and John Service. Fraternally, Mr. Sperry is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and of the Modesto Lodge of Elks. His recreation is principally found in hunting and fishing trips into the High Sierras, which he declares to be Nature's most beautiful spot. JOHN F. DICKINSON. — An entergetic business man of Modesto who has gradually extended his operations throughout the entire county of Stanislaus is John F. Dickinson. He was born at Cedar Rapids, Nebr., on January 14, 1889, the son of F. R. and Emma Dickinson, worthy farmer folk of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where his father was a pioneer and a native. He moved into Nebraska, took up Government land and then went into the grain business; and in 1901 he came out to Santa Clara, California. John F. Dickinson attended the Santa Clara high school and after he had con cluded the course of study there he learned the plumbing and sheet-metal trades; then he came to Modesto in 1908, took up the plumbing trade and worked for a time for L. A. Watson. He was naturally both industrious painstaking and thorough, and what he learned he understood, held on to and applied in a practical way. Thus finely equipped, in 1909 Mr.. Dickinson went into business for himself and for five years had his first shop on Ninth, between G and H streets. He attended carefully to the wants of his patrons and easily built up a patronage of the most desir able kind. Since then he has moved into his present location on Tenth between G and H streets, where he has steam-fitting and steam-heating appliances, and also every facility for doing first-class plumbing. He employs six men on an average the year 'round and his work extends throughout the entire county. Since he started in business for himself he has worked on many of the more important business structures erected in the city and the better class of residences show the results of his handiwork. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson, the parents of our subject, are still living at Santa Clara, proud of their son's well-merited success and of his popularity among the Knights of Pythias, to which organization he belongs; and he is also a member of both the Chamber of Commerce and Merchants Association and to the Progressive Business Club. Mr. Dickinson is a Democrat, but too broad minded to allow selfish partisanship to stand in his way in any needed support of any good measure. DR. K. M. LUNDBORG. — A distinguished member of the dental profession in California, connected on both his father's and his mother's side with historic families, is Dr. M. Lundborg, president of the Central California State Dental Association. He was born in the city of Orebro, Sweden, on October 31, 1869, the son of C. G. Lundborg, a native of Stockholm, where he became a banker. He was a descendant of A. A. Lundborg, a manufacturer of cloth in Norkoping, a member of an old and prominent family in Sweden, whose son, Andres Gustaf, succeeded him in that line of trade. His son, Lars Adolf, was a manufacturer of furs, while Lars' son, Claes Gustaf, the father of our subject, was one of the pioneer bankers in Orebro, and the first cashier of the Orebro National Bank. Later, he was president of the Orebro Savings Bank, and he remained a prominent director in other financial institutions until he died in 1886. He was very prominent in civic and state affairs. He was married in 1865 to Ingeborg Kallstrom, the daughter of Nils Kallstrom, who was a mining superintendent and is descended from a family who came to Sweden from Holland several generations ago. Mrs. Lundborg resides in Orebro, the mother of seven children, five of whom are still living. The eldest son, and the only one in California, K. M. Lundborg, after complet ing the Orebro high school went to South America in 1889, and while at Buenos Ayres enlisted in the Argentine Navy and served under President Celmen during the J-.Z&e* {strt/l&'&lyi. ' HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 981 revolution in 1890. Having an uncle — Dr. John A. W. Lundborg — in San Fran cisco, whither he had migrated in 1864, after which he had risen to be a prominent dentist there, K. M. decided to join him in California, and immediately after the revolution he came to California, and for six years studied dentistry under his uncle. In 1893 he entered the dental department of the University of California, where he was graduated in 1896 with the degree of D. D. S., and then he located in Ukiah, where he practiced for four years. He then removed to San Francisco, and prac ticed there until 1902, and after that he located in Lake County, where he established a home at Lakeport and practiced his profession on the Coast, having offices at Fort Bragg and at Ferndale. During all of this time, he had a ranch at Upper Lake, just north of Lakeport, where he was accustomed to go, from time to time, for rest and recreation ; and there, too, he was school trustee and took part in civic affairs, always working for the uplift as well as the building up of the place. In 1918, Dr. Lundborg established himself in Turlock, and recognized as among the most progressive practitioners in the state, he has always since enjoyed an increas ing dental patronage. He has also always been prominent in the various dental soci eties of the counties in which he has practiced, and he was able to do much in helping to organize the Humboldt County Dental Society. While at Lakeport in 1912, Dr. Lundborg was married to Mrs. Lucy Bella (Allison) Allen, who was born in Dade County, Mo., a daughter of John and Mollie (Gross) Allison, born in Ray and Dade counties, respectively, the father being a prominent educator in Missouri, Mrs. Lundborg being the eldest of their three children. She was married in Missouri to Jesse Allen and afterwards they moved to Lake County, Cal., and engaged in farming and horticulture south of Lakeport, where Mr. Allen passed away in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Lundborg's fortunate marriage has been blessed with the birth of four children — Reseda, June, Conrad and Lydia. Mrs. Lundborg by her first mar riage to Jesse Allen had six children : Eulla, Jettie, Mattie, Orplea, Birma and Wil lard, who have made their home with Dr. Lundborg and their mother. Dr. Lundborg was made a Mason in Hartley Lodge No. 199, F. & A. M., at Lakeport, from which in time he was demitted, and he is now a member of Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., and with his wife is a member of Wistaria Chapter No. 296, O. E. S. at Turlock. The family belong to the First Baptist Church at Turlock. MRS. JUSTINE E. JOHNSON.— A shining example of the woman of rare attainments, who has demonstrated her executive ability as a leader, is afforded in the life and work of Mrs. Justine E. Johnson, R. N., the efficient superintendent of the Emanuel Hospital at Turlock, where she has been since its opening. She was born at Sunne, Vermland, Sweden, the daughter of Nils Nelson, who was a close student of agriculture and was superintendent of a large farm. Later, he followed agriculture for himself. His good wife was Britta Olson, and she survives her hus band and now resides in Stockholm. They had three children. John came out to America and is an insurance man in San Francisco. Maria has become the wife of Jonas Svedlund, of Stockholm, and the second in the order of birth is here reviewed. In 1899 Miss Nelson, who had been carefully educated in the excellent public schools of Sweden, came to Providence, R. I., and there she attended the high school, after which she entered the Rhode Island Hospital, from which she was graduated in 1906 with the degree of R. N. For three years she had charge of the operating room at the Rhode Island Hospital, until she accepted a call from the Swedish Mis sion Society of Chicago, as missionary to China. She was stationed in the Province of Hupeh, and there, on September 3, 1910, she was married to the Rev. Oscar Johnson, who was born in Ostergotland, Sweden, and was a graduate of North Park College, Chicago. He was an ordained minister of the Swedish Mission Church, and had accepted a call from, and been sent out by the same society as missionary to China. Rev. Mr. Johnson was in charge of King Menchow Mission, and she had charge of the dispensary there; and for four years they continued in that field in their noble work. By that time, the health of both had become impaired, and in 1913 they returned to the United States; and then Rev. 982 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Johnson proceeded to Chicago to further fit himself for the missionary field. A few months later, he was suddenly afflicted with acute nephritis, and in a short time he died. After this blow, Mrs. Johnson returned to Sweden, and spent three years in Stockholm recuperating, while she resided with her mother ; and during the last year of her stay there, she took a course in massage and Swedish movement. Inactivity did not suit her, and when she was well enough she returned to the United States and located at Turlock in 1916. The movement for the hospital was on, and she was chosen superintendent, a position she has filled ably and well from the start, and to which she gives all of her time and energy. A woman of high moral convictions, coupled with a pleasing personality and a refining influence, she has been the means of guiding the hospital in "a steady, upward growth, until it is the finest and largest in the county, second to none in equipment and service in the San Joaquin Valley. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Swedish Mission Church and the Dorcas Society, and also of the State Alumni Association for Nurses. WALTER H. WEBB.— A successful cement contractor, Walter H. Webb is a native of Rush Valley, Utah, born August 31, 1873, and the son of Edward Webb, of Missouri, who is still living in his eighty-fourth year. In very early days he trav eled westward to Utah, and from there drove ox teams for the Mormon emigrants, conveying them and their freight. By 1849, that year of golden romance, he had reached California, and after successful seasons with eight and ten big freight teams, he settled in Rush Valley, Utah, and became both a stockman and a landowner. Later he removed to Millard County in the western part of Utah, where he founded the town of Oasis — named by his wife — and built the first store, school and hotel. The Utah Central Railroad built through the place, and the town became prosperous. Mr. Webb, having lost by death his devoted wife, now lives with his children. Grandfather Chauncy Webb was a well-educated man who made five trips to Utah ; his daughter was Ann Eliza, and she became Ann Eliza Young, Brigham Young's nineteenth wife, well known to history, through her leaving him and the Mormon Church and exposing polygamy. When she thus bade adieu to the institutions of Mormonism, Edward Webb, his wife, her father and all the family also left with her. Edward Webb's wife was Elizabeth Home before her marriage ; she was born in a covered wagon on the plains while her parents crossed the great desert. Grandfather Joseph Home was a pioneer builder in Utah. Of Edward Webb's family four children grew up, among whom Walter Webb was the youngest. He was brought up in. Rush Valley until he was three j'ears of age, and then he went to Oasis, where he was educated in the public schools, continuing his studies at the high school at Nephi, Utah, from which in time he was graduated. He then went on the A. C. Cleveland cattle ranch in Nevada, and he also trailed cattle in Arizona, Idaho and Montana. During some of the drives, there were weeks when he spent twenty out of twenty-four hours in the saddle. His wages were forty-five dollars a month and expenses, so he quit the range and went to Alberta, Canada. Then he removed to Nelson, B. C, where he was a general contractor when he was only twenty-four years old. Three or four years later, Mr. Webb came to Idaho where, for a year, he was busy with a railroad job. He next went to Seattle, and in that city he was a general contractor for eleven years, reaching out in his activities to contracts for Victoria, Vancouver and other places. He made a big stake; but in 1907, when the panic came, he lost $38,000. He kept on, however, and was again successful. For five years he was a contractor at Bandon, Coos County, Ore., making a specialty of street work. In 1916 he located at Modesto and engaged in cement contracting. He is noted for his excellent work, enjoys a flourishing trade, and very naturally likes the place. He is an authority on drainage and the laying of concrete pipe lines for irrigation sys tems ; and he is the largest contractor of cement walks, curbs, etc. Mr. Webb is the inventor of Webb's guaranteed pavement, a composition wearing surface. It is deemed remarkable for its hardness, does not crack or break and maintains a smooth surface. This pavement has been subjected to hard usage on the main streets of cities for eight years, showing no perceptible wear. ^^Atj^^ CyUyU- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 985 At Oasis, Utah, March 25, 1897, Mr. Webb was married to Miss Annie M. Maxfield, a native of Murray, near Salt Lake. Mrs. Webb's father, Robert Max- field, was. born in Prince Edward Island of English parents. He came to Illinois when a young man and soon afterwards crossed the plains to Utah, where he made the acquaintance of Miss Mary Jane Cahoon, who was a native daughter of Utah, whose father, Dan'l S. Cahoon, a native of Illinois, lived at Carthage and was a close friend of Joseph Smith, and visited him in the Carthage jail just before he was killed. He was a member of one of the first trains that crossed the plains to Utah, and one of the first settlers of Salt Lake. Being a brick mason he was one of the builders up of Salt Lake City. Was also engaged in manufacturing brick and also a farmer. Robert Maxfield engaged in gerieral contracting, prospecting and mining. He discovered the Maxfield mine which has since become a famous producer. However, he died soon after he located the mine, so his family did not derive the benefit they should have done. He was aged only forty-two j'ears, his wife having died before him. Of their two children, Mrs. Webb is the only one living. When ten years old she moved from Murray to Oasis and there attended the public schools and there, too, she made the acquaintance of her future husband, Mr. Webb. Their union has been blessed with three children: Raymond, Elva and Blanche. Mr. Webb belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Modesto lodge of Moose, and in national politics he is a Republican.- No one could be more thoroughly lojal as an American ; and in local political affairs he knows no partisanship, but works for what seems best. JOHN M. GONDRING.— For a number of years, John M. Gondring has been justice of the peace of Ceres Township and judge of the recorder's court of the City of Ceres. Judge Gondring is one of the most prominent, active and public-spirited citizens of Stanislaus County and ever ready to forward worthy public and benevolent enterprises and a strong believer in and advocate of liberal and progressive principles of popular government, personal liberty, and the diffusion of education throughout the masses of the nation. He is broad in his views, keen of intellect, and endowed with a personality that wins and holds the confidence of his fellowmen. He enjoys an emi nent reputation as an able and reliable lawyer and as a trial judge has established an excellent record for promptness in ruling, accuracy of decision and absolute im partiality in the conduct of court proceedings and the administration of justice. In 1905, Judge Gondring moved from Columbus, Nebr., to California on ac count of the poor health of himself and his wife. He located first at San Jose where he practiced his profession for several years, but office confinement not being conducive to his recovery, he was obliged to discontinue the practice of law and lead an outdoor life and devote time to recover his health. He came to Stanislaus County in 1910 and settled near Ceres, where for several years he followed dairying and farming with marked success. In 1912 he moved to Ceres, where he has since resided and followed his profession and devoted himself to civic duties and interests. Judge Gondring is a native of Illinois, born in Chicago, September 1, 1856. He grew up on his father's farm in Porter County, Ind., attending the public schools, and afterwards graduating from the scientific course in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso. He then engaged in teaching for a time. In 1881 he entered the law department of his Alma Mater, graduated in 1883, and was admitted to the bar the same year. The next year he settled in Platte County, Nebr., and there re sided and practiced law until his removal to California in 1905. In 1886 he was elected to the office of county and prosecuting attorney and served four terms in that responsible position. His conduct of his office and citizenship was such that he was accorded, during those troublesome times, the unanimous nomination of the Demo cratic party for state senator in 1896 and was later endorsed by the Populists and elected by a large majority, representing the Twelfth Senatorial District of his state. The Nebraska legislative year book of 1897 contains the following concerning him: "Senator Gondring is chairman of the committee on accounts and expenditures, and a member of the committees on judiciary, finance, ways and means, municipal affairs, hanks and currency, privileges and elections, and constitutional amendments and federal relations. He is one of the most arduous workers, both on the floor of the 986 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY senate and in the committee room, is recognized as an authority of weight on matters of general discussion, an excellent debater, and is untiring in his labors for the best interests of his constituents and the state." Judge Gondring was married July 31, 1883, to Miss Dillie Mitzner, a native of La Porte County, Ind., whose parents were prominent pioneers of that state and the first white couple to be married in La Porte County. Of their union have been born seven children, one dying in infancy and the others all living and all well and honorably known in Stanislaus County. They are: Nettie, now the wife of C. H. Hansen, a successful contractor and constructing engineer of Modesto, a member of the firm of Hansen- Wood Company ; Mrs. Hansen is a graduate of the State Normal School of San Jose, and is the mother of three children ; Miss Frances C, a graduate of the State Normal School of San Jose and also of Columbia University, New York, is now a teacher of manual arts in the schools of San Jose. In 1919 and 1920 she was engaged in various army and public health hospitals as a reconstruction aide in occupational therapy ; Florence L., also a graduate of the State Normal School at San Jose and of Columbia University, New York, and a teacher of home economics in the Stockton high school; John M., Jr., a rancher near Ceres, married to Miss Margaret W. Palmer, a native of Texas; Augustus C, a rancher and an ex-service man, and Alfred W., also a farmer, an ex-service man, and at present on the active reserve list of the United States Naval Reserves. These latter- two sons are both unmarried and living at home. Judge Gondring has not only given his sons and daughters excellent educations and started them on the way to useful and profitable life service, but has also brought them to manhood and womanhood in a spirit of Christian faith and activity. The family attend the Congregational Church at Ceres, and take an active part in its service and support. Judge Gondring is a member of the Masonic Order. PHILLIP DARR. — A rancher whose advanced methods have been the admira tion of all who have studied his procedure, is Phillip Darr, who farms five or six miles to the northwest of Turlock. He was born in McDonough County, 111., on October 21, 1865, the son of James B. Darr, a native of Ohio, whose parents were originally of German descent. J. B. Darr was reared in Illinois, and with his good wife, Nancy Chittenden, were numbered among the pioneers in both. Illinois and Iowa. Later in life, he engaged in the management of a hotel. The Darr family came from Germany direct and was founded in America by three brothers who located, about 1829, in Ohio, in Illinois and in Arkansas. Phillip Darr as a boy much needed on the home farm had very limited oppor tunities or time for schooling, and when twenty-two years of age he left Warren County, Iowa, where he had grown up, and pushed westward to Baker, Ore. There he homesteaded and proved up on 160 acres of rich land. During his stay in Oregon, his wife — whose maiden name was Sarah Elizabeth Glenn, and whom he had married in Baker County, on December 20, 1891 — died October 30, 1899, leaving him with three children. Neta M. is Mrs. Scott Bonham of Oakland ; Mildred Beatrice mar ried Walter Hiett of Modesto, and they have one child ; Hayward married Miss Elita Amargaust of Modesto. Having had his home thus broken up, Mr. Darr sold out his property and went to Minnesota, whither his parents had moved, and there he remained for one year. In 1900, Mr. Darr removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he lived for seven years, and there on September 28, 1902, he married Mrs. Luetta Page, a native of Nebraska, by whom he has had one child, Arline, who is attending school at Berkeley. By Mrs. Darr's first marriage she had one son, Edgar Page, manager in Des Moines, Iowa, for the Burroughs Adding Machine Company. In 1907, Mr. Darr came to California with his family and settled in Stanislaus County; and for four years he acted as foreman for the Security Land Company. During this period he purchased twenty acres on which he erected his residence, six and one-half miles from Turlock, in the Service precinct. There, for the past ten years, Mr. Darr has engaged in diversified farming, and he has made every acre tell a story of high production. He also owns twenty-one acres adjoining his home ranch, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 987 and next to that land are twenty acres held by his son. He belongs to the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau and energetically supports its excellent programs. Mr. Darr belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows where he does what he can to foster social life such as is worth while ; and in every way within his power he seeks to advance the standard of citizenship, to cultivate a live American patriotism. He served as a committeeman on the War Loan drives in the Service precinct, and saw to it that his home district went "over the top." ABEL CARLSON. — A successful rancher with an enviable record for long years of hard, intelligent labor, justifying him in at present enjoying the quiet and leisure of retirement, is Abel Carlson, who was born on January 17, 1848, near Stockholm, Sweden, the eldest son of John and Jennie (Anderson) Carlson, who were born, respectively, in Central Sweden, west of Stockholm, near the boundary .of Norway and Sweden, in 1820 and 1821. John Carlson was a man of high integrity, and for years, in Sweden, before coming to America, the trusted agent of a large corporation. In 1872 he came to America with his wife and eight children, and they stopped tem porarily in Illinois; but one j'ear later they removed to Boone, Boone County, Iowa, where they engaged in farming on 160 acres, and there Mr. Carlson died, in 1881, leaving a devoted widow, who passed away, in 1892, in the same county. Having done his duty by his parents on the home farm, it was not so difficult for Abel Carlson to succeed in the outside world. In 1879 he was elected to the office of county supervisor, in Boone County, and his reelection in 1882 proved his popularity as a public man, and he served his constituency to the best of his ability, running at that time, it should be noted, on the independent ticket. In 1886, he removed to Western Nebraska, and in 1893 he was elected and later reelected to the county treasurer's office in Deuel County. At the same time, he had homesteaded 160 acres and had also proved up on a tree claim in the county. In addition, too, he was engaged in the raising of sheep on a very extensive scale. In 1903, Mr. Carlson came to Turlock and purchased eighty acres three miles northwest of the town, and became active in farming circles. He was appointed field county assessor, and served in that responsible office for eleven years, capably discharging his duties. In 1882, Mr. Carlson was married in Boone County to Miss Ella C. Johnson, who was born in Sweden in 1854, and came to America with her parents twenty years later, settling in Boone County. Seven children were born of this happy union. Arthur J. is a graduate of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, having been a member of the class of '08, and as city attorney of Modesto he resides with his family. Carl C, who is ex-mayor of Turlock, is a lumber dealer and has one child. Paul W., who saw service in the late war, and was for two years in the United States Army, was recently married and is ranching at Turlock on the old Carlson farm, three miles to the northwest of the town. He is a Mason. Esther C. is a stenographer and lives at home, and Mildred is also a stenographer, employed in a law office at Fresno. Oscar died at the age of five, and David at the age of nine, when the family were residing in Nebraska. Mr. Carlson was granted his American citizenship in 1879 in Boone County, Iowa, and soon after became a devoted Republican. He supports the Swedish Mission Church, ahd delights in works of a philanthropic nature. ANDREW H. ROHDE. — An interesting story of an active and honorable career far beyond the length usually allotted mortals is that of Andrew H. Rohde, who was born at Hemmelof, Slesvig-Holstein, Denmark, on August 9, 1829, the son of Arendt Hansen Rohde, a well-to-do farmer who owned a small but profitable farm. There the lad spent his happy boyhood, attending the district school until he was thirteen years old; and then he served an apprenticeship of four years in a cooper shop. In 1848, when the war broke out between Denmark and Germany, he was drafted for service, but his employer found him So valuable that he paid for a substitute. At Jutland, Denmark, in 1858, Mr. Rohde was married to Miss Elizabeth Cathrina Holm, the daughter of a wagon-maker who worked at his trade all of his life and was very successful, and they had seven children. Christian, the eldest, is a resident of Westport in Stanislaus County. A. H. Rohde is the subject of another 41 988 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY leview in this volume. Jens is deceased, and so is Christina. Nels is a cooper of San Francisco, Hans H. an engineer in Alaska and Peter H. a mechanical artist, Santa Clara. When his sons became old enough for military duty, Mr. Rohde sold out his interests in Slesvig-Holstein and removed to Northern Denmark, as he did not wish to acquiesce in and endorse the militaristic programs of the German government there. In 1891 he came out to America, and in June he reached San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Rohde celebrated the anniversary of their golden wedding, and had Mrs. Rohde lived six months longer in 1918, they could have observed their sixtieth wed ding anniversary also. A careful man in all of his dealings, with pleasant, inspiring memories of the past, Mr. Rohde lives happy and content with his son, A. H. Rohde. He has been a loyal Democrat all of his life, and takes a keen interest in politics. WILLIAM HENRY GARRISON.— Prominent among the large grain ranchers of the San Joaquin Valley and especially of Stanislaus County may be named W. Henry Garrison, a native son of California, born at Modesto, December 22, 1874, and throughout his entire lifetime associated with the grain growing business. His grain fields are among the most extensive in this part of the state, and- his ability as a manager is second to none. Mr. Garrison is the son of Clinton Garrison, a native of Tennessee, born on his father's farm of 160 acres near Nashville. When Clinton Garrison was a lad of four his parents moved to Missouri, where his mother died. His father married again and Clinton left home at the age of fifteen years and started life for himself. He eventually came to California in 1857, stopping for a time in San Joaquin County, but in 1865 became one of the early grain ranchers in Stanislaus County, where he owned and operated 1,600 acres until 1908, when he retired from active business and the property was divided. He is now living at Santa Cruz. This branch of the Garrison family is in the direct line of descent from a fine old English family, their direct ancestor being Lord Garrison. Our subject's mother was Miss Amanda Watts, a native of Pennsylvania and of Scotch descent. She came to Cali fornia in 1856 and died on the ranch in 1893. They had two sons, W. Henry and Walter E., who is now a resident of Lodi, San Joaquin County. His- life was spent in Stanislaus County until he returned from the World War. He saw service in the Spanish-American War, spending sixteen months. in the Philippines. When the United States entered the World War he volunteered and entered an officers' training school at the Presidio in San Francisco, where he won the rank of captain. He then trained at Camp Lewis and when ready for duty overseas he had won the rank of major in the Three Hundred and Sixty-third Regulars, Ninety-first Division, and saw active service in the field in Europe. He was wounded at Scheldt, Belgium, and was in the hospital in England when the armistice was declared. He came home and was discharged from duty and has since been living in Lodi with his wife and children, honored and respected by all who have the honor of his acquaintance. W. Henry Garrison has inherited the splendid traits of both his father and his mother and is an American of the truest type. He spent his boyhood and youth on the old homestead, three miles west of Modesto, and graduated from San Joaquin Valley College at Woodbridge. He remained in business association with his father until 1898, when he purchased 320 acres of land three and one-half miles west of Mqdestp on Maze Road, and commenced grain farming on his own account. Prospering in this enterprise, he was nevertheless awake to new opportunities, and in 1910 he sold off his holdings in a subdivision at a handsome profit. Since that time he has farmed principally on leased land, often operating in the neighborhood of a thousand acres a season. He has always employed the most improved machinery, changing from the best of horse propelled harvesters to the present types at an early date and now owning one of the finest sixty-horsepower tractors in the county, together with auxiliary com bined harvester and other machinery of late type. The marriage of Mr. Garrison and Miss Isabell Kinnear, a native daughter of San Mateo County, was solemnized November 12, 1899, and they are the parents of one child, a daughter, Virginia Augusta, a student in the Ransom grammar school. Although so successful in his business undertakings, Mr. Garrison has not con fined his interests exclusively to them, but has taken an active interest in all public $70?a2UtM HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 991 matters. He was a member of the school board of the Paradise district for eight years, and has done much for the cause of education. He is also a member of the Demo cratic County Central Committee and takes a great interest in the political welfare of the community. One of his principal interests, however, is hunting and fishing, and he is a member of the Owl Rod and Gun Club, and a general all round sportsman. Mr. Garrison is high chief in the organization of the California Indians, made up of amateur sportsmen of the Pacific Coast. FRANKLIN A. PATCHETT.— A native son of California who has been prominent in the automobile field for a number of years and who has been privileged to see this section of the country transformed from a grain country to its present stage of development, is Franklin A. Patchett of Newman. Mr. Patchett was born in San Miguel, San Luis Obispo County, on January 19, 1881, the son of John Armstrong Patchett, a sheep grower, and Mary O. (Carpenter) Patchett, who came to California in the early fifties from Missouri, settling in San Luis Obispo County. When four years of age, Mr. Patchett's parents removed to Sonoma County, where the father continued in sheep raising, and here he lived until he was nineteen years old, receiving his education in the public schools there and also taking a course in civil engineering in the International Correspondence School at Scranton, Pa. He then left home to seek his fortune, coming to Stanislaus County in 1900. His first position was with the Crows Landing Creamery Company, of which he soon became manager, and he remained with that company for fourteen years and twenty-one days, the company changing hands twice during that period. Mr. Patchett's first marriage united him with Miss Fannie Byer, and three children were born of this union: Franklin, Marian and Esther. On February 21, 1910, he was married at Oakland, Cal., to Miss Laura D. Hendy, a native of Worthington, Minn. Her parents were Joseph and Harriet Hendy, well-to-do farmers there, and at the age of six she accompanied them to Stanislaus County, Cal. They settled in Modesto, where she received her education in the grammar school, later going to business college there. Their children are Rhoda and Neta. In 1911, Mr. Patchett, in partnership with his brothers, R. C. and John Patchett, and his brother-in-law, Lloyd Hendy, took the Ford Agency at Crows Landing, which included all the west side of Stanislaus County. They opened a garage where they did general repairs in connection with the Ford agency, his three partners giving their time to the business, while Mr. Patchett continued as manager of the creamery at Crows Landing, until August, 1914, when he resigned from this position and moved to Newman, where he opened a new garage in the Giovannoni building on P Street, continuing the garage at Crows Landing. In 1915 he pur chased his brothers' and Mr. Hendy's interest and took his wife and H. C. Carsten- sen into partnership with him, continuing the business as Patchett and Carstensen. They purchased the large garage in Patterson from the Patterson Ranch Company, which they operated as a Ford service garage until December 31, 1919, when they sold the business and rented the garage in order to give their entire time to the rapidly growing business at Newman. Having plans for a large, modern garage, they purchased the corner of N and Kern streets and in July, 1919, began the erection of a large, fireproof building, which was completed December 1, 1919. The garage is 150x150 feet, having a floor space of 22,500 square feet, and is one of the largest and best-equipped Ford garages in the state. It is a large and sightly building of reinforced concrete with an H. W. Johns-Manville asbestos roof, making it thoroughly fireproof, thus carry ing a low rate of insurance. It has large show windows on each street, with large, well-lighted offices. The repair department has a fully equipped machine shop for doing all special work for Ford cars and a complete line of Ford parts is carried, so that they are able to accommodate the public with the best and most complete service. An accomplished, cultured woman, Mrs. Patchett is also possessed of much business acumen and is ably assisting her husband, entering actively into the business, in which she is a partner, and aiding him in every way, so that it is no wonder that they have built up one of the leading firms in this line in the county. Mr. Patchett 992 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY is endowed by nature with a pleasing personality, having those qualities of persever ance and industry that always insure success. An inveterate worker, he is always at the helm, guiding the business, and the substantial success he has made is well worthy of emulation. Mr. Patchett was elected to the board of trustees of Newman in 1919 by a four-fifths majority; he is light and water commissioner, an office which he is filling to the satisfaction and credit of his constituents. In 1905 he joined the Newman Lodge of Odd Fellows, in which he is a popular member, and Mrs. Patchett is a member of the local lodge of Rebekahs. He is also a member of the Stanislaus County Auto Trades Association, the American Automobile Association and the Newman Chamber of Commerce, in which he is an active member of the board of directors. In his religious affiliation he is of the Presbyterian Church. CLARENCE T. HAYNES.— As foreman of the L. H. Whitmore ranch north east of Ceres, C. T. Haynes occupies a position of importance in the farming life of Stanislaus County. He has been a farmer all his life, and early in his youth learned to shoulder heavy responsibilities, having assumed the support of one younger brother and two sisters when he was but seventeen, and he, therefore, soon learned to be prac tical and economical. Mr. Haynes is a native of Daviess County, Ky., born November 23, 1875. His parents were Wallace and Ada Priscilla (Ellis) Haynes, both natives of Kentucky, of Welsh extraction, with American ancestry dating back to the pre- Revolutionary period. The father was a farmer and tobacco raiser of Kentucky, and the family was well known and highly esteemed. Both parents passed away when the subject of this sketch was seventeen years of age, and it was then that he undertook the care and education of the three younger children, and for five years successfully operated the farm of 125 acres. It was in 1896 that Mr. Haynes first found himself free to follow his own in clination, and that inclination led him to come into the West for opportunity and adventure. He went first to Idaho, where for a period of years he engaged in office and clerical work. In 1904 he came to California and soon located at Ceres, where he soon found work on the C. N. Whitmore ranch and continued there until 1920, when he accepted employment with L. H. Whitmore and he was made foreman of Mr. Whitmore's ranch, where he has been successful in its management. He is also interested in horticulture and is an expert in all matters pertaining to orcharding, and has been instrumental in the development of several large orchards near Ceres. Soon after coming to Ceres, Mr. Haynes was married, on July 8, 1905, to Miss Caroline Baldridge, a native daughter of Ventura County. She was well known in Ceres, where she made her home with her father, C. F. Baldridge, the foreman of the C. N. Whitmore ranch. Three children have been born to them, Wallace, Eva- line and Marguerite, all students in the Ceres grammar school. Always keenly alive to the welfare of his fellowmen, Mr. Haynes is serving as one of the city trustees of Ceres, in which capacity he stands for clean government and business-like administration of the city's affairs. He is a member of the Ceres Board of Trade, and of the United Artisans, and for five years has been the master of the local lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Haynes own their home, where they dispense a gen erous hospitality, and Mrs. Haynes is prominent in many social and civic movements. .HANS N. PETERSEN. — An industrious and far-seeing ranchman who believes that he gets better results by doing his own farm work, is Hans N. Petersen, a native of Schleswig, Germany, where he was born on April 24, 1882, the son of Paul and Anna Petersen. His father was a German farmer, who believed in bringing the lad up on the home farm, at the same time that he sent him to the local schools; and when, at the age of twenty-one, our subject was ready to set out for America, he brought with him a practical knowledge certain to assist him in the New World. Coming directly to California, Mr. Petersen spent a few years as a farm laborer working for wages, three years alone being given to the Howard Ranch ; and then, in 1910, he started dairying for himself. He bought forty-seven acres next to the Canal, west of where he now is located ; and his dairy herd, carefully selected, grew to thirty- five head. He installed the best of everything for the work, kept his cows well fed HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 995 and under the most sanitary conditions, and succeeded beyond what he himself had hoped for. On January 1, 1919, Mr. Petersen sold his ranch, and then he purchased twenty acres of alfalfa about two and a half miles to the northeast of Newman. And there he has about fifteen head of good dairy stock. At Newman, on November 15, 1910, Mr. Petersen was married to Miss Anna Hansen, who was born, reared and schooled in the same vicinity as was he. She came to America in 1907. A child died in infancy, but they still have two daughters and a little son — Paul Christine, Anita Margaretha and Howard Hans. Mr. Petersen and his wife have many friends, and nowhere more than in the circles of the Woodmen of the World ; to the Newman Camp of which he belongs. PERCY F. JONES. — A man of much ability who thoroughly understands the many intricate details of his professional work and is popular as a broad-minded, liberal-hearted fellow, is Percy F. Jones, the chief engineer and superintendent of the Modesto Irrigation District. He was born at Presque Isle, Aroostook County, Maine, on September 2, 1875, the son of Albert and Julia Jones, natives of Massa chusetts and Maine respectively. The father enlisted in a Massachusetts regiment of infantry during the Civil War and, being captured, was imprisoned in Libby Prison until he was exchanged. He then served in a Massachusetts cavalry regiment until the close of the war. Thereupon he returned to Presque Isle, after which he engaged in the hardware business. In 1888 Albert Jones came to Gilroy, where he was a hardware merchant until he retired. He died in Fresno, mourned by many. Of five children born of this union, only our subject and a younger sister are still living. Percy Jones was edu cated, therefore, in the public schools of Presque Isle until he was twelve, when he came to Gilroy, Cal., and in 1888 he commenced his schooling at Gilroy. He then attended the Hollister high school, after which he followed mining in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. In 1900 he made a trip to the northern mines at Nome; but the following fall he returned to Seattle and volunteered his services to help put down the Philippine insurrection. In August, 1900, he enlisted in Company C of the Twelfth U. S. Infantry, and was sent to the Philippine Islands. He served for about two years at Luzon and Samar, and having returned to San Francisco, was honorably discharged there as a sergeant, in the fall of 1902. After that, Mr. Jones began his work as a civil engineer and for a while was employed on the Western Pacific as a surveyor, helping to make the survey of that road, through the Feather River Canyon. This work required about a year. Then he was on the railroad survey from Weed, Cal., to Klamath Falls, Ore., and he began on the actual construction of the road. When he had conluded two years in that company's service, he quit to go to the Imperial Valley with the California Development Company and was assistant engineer for them. He commenced in the spring of 1907, at the closing of the big break in the Colorado River, and continued until May, 1910, when he resigned to accept the position of assistant and resident engineer for the Spring Valley Water Company of San Francisco. He continued there for four years, during which they made the investigating survey and started construction of the Calaveras dam. In 1914 he resigned to return to Imperial as assistant engineer in charge of the dredging on the West Side Main Canal. In May, 1915, Mr. Jones came to Modesto as hydrographic engineer for the Modesto Irrigation District; and one year later he was made assistant engineer. He threw himself enthusiastically into the problems of the hour ; and his peculiar ability and fitness were so well recognized that in May, 1917, he was made chief engineer and superintendent of the district. Some idea of the import of his work may be gathered from the fact that in conjunction with the Turlock district, the Modesto district is now building a massive concrete dam across the Tuolumne River, six miles east of La Grange, in a natural gorge. The dam will be 280 feet high above the stream bed, and built on an arch. At the bottom it will be fifty feet, and at the top 900 feet long. It will thus be a gravity-type arch dam. When completed, this will impound 260,000 acre feet of water, which will insure a sufficient supply of water the year around for both districts and, as the highest dam above stream bed 996 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and one of the finest in the world, will take two years to complete. The initial power production will yield an output of 16,000 horsepower, while the ultimate production will be 45,000 horsepower. Mr. Jones very naturally belongs to ihe American Society of Civil Engineers. At Redwood City, Mr. Jones and Miss Alice Bradley, a native of San Jose, were married, and two children blessed the union. Bradley is the name of the son, and Patricia, of the daughter. Mr. Jones was made a Mason in Calexico Lodge, F. & A. M., and he is now a member of Friendship Lodge No. 210, at San Jose. W. ROSCOE SERVICE. — There is no place in the wide world where true worth is recognized more quickly, nor appreciated more sincerely, than in California, and when a man proves himself to be a worthy son of a worthy sire, he is doubly honored. Such is the standing of W. Roscoe Service, a native son of Stanislaus County, president of the Bank of Ceres, extensive landowner, farmer, and friend to half the men and women of the county, where he has spent his lifetime in worthy toil and achievement. He is descended from one of the most esteemed of the early pioneer families, and is himself "carrying on" in the truest sense of the word, building solidly on the firm foundation which his splendid father helped to lay. W. Roscoe Service was born October 22, 1874, in Stanislaus County, Cal., the son of John and Julia Hall (Warner) Service, and a sketch of their lives will be found elsewhere in this volume. W. Roscoe Service spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and under the training of that able man, early learned the art of farm ing and the value of industry. He attended the grammar schools of Ceres and Auburn, and has become well informed, and a wide reader along practical lines. He chose as his life companion in 1900 a native daughter of Stanislaus County, Miss Estella Updike, of Modesto, the daughter of I. W. Updike, who was born near Tur lock, August 7, 1879. She attended the Ceres grammar school and later the Curtner Seminary, now Anderson's Ac'ademy, at Irvington. Of their union have been born three children, Newell T. and Vivian, students in the Turlock high school, and Evelyn, still of grammar school age. In 1899, when the sons of the Service family took over the family ranch, W. Roscoe and Hubert E. Service engaged in farming on an extensive scale. They bought the farm machinery and implements from the home farm and after a few j'ears this partnership was dissolved. When W. Roscoe Service was married, he and his wife moved to the present ranch of 130 acres, which has since been their home, the land having come under the Turlock Irrigation District canals. In addition to his farming interests, Mr. Service is active along many lines. He became president of the Ceres Bank in 1914, succeeding L. A. McDonald, and has greatly developed the business of the bank. From 1908 to 1912 he served as super visor of the second supervisorial district of the county, rendering service for which his supporters are duly grateful. He is a member of the board of trustees for the Turlock Union high school and a stanch supporter of progress in education. Frater nally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and both he and Mrs. Service are members of the local parlors of the Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West. He is also a veteran of the Spanish-American War, having served in the Sixth Cali fornia Infantry. Mrs. Service is active in all lines of women's organizations and undertakings, and is a member of the Delphian Society, Turlock Chapter. HUBERT E. SERVICE.— Another native son of California who is bearing out the splendid traditions of the state, is Hubert E. Service, son of John Service of early pioneer fame, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. A pioheer farmer of note, a director of the Bank of Ceres, and one of its heavy stockholders, he is a pro gressive and energetic citizen of recognized ability and worth. He was born on the old John Service home ranch, two and a quarter miles southeast of Ceres, on the Service Road, May 15, 1873, and has passed most of his lifetime in this county. Hubert E. Service, better known as "Bert," spent most of his boyhood days on the old farm southeast of Ceres, attending the district school and assisting with the tarm work. Later he went with his family to Auburn, where he completed his educa- I4h<*n&)1//?* HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 999 tion. He was always a great admirer of stock, especially of horses, and it was his delight to spend long days on the range with his father, looking after the horses and cattle. At the age of twenty-one years he started out for himself, after the manner of the farm boys of his day, working for wages for four years. In March, 1900, together with his brother, W. Roscoe Service, he took over the farming interests of his father and has been engaged in farming enterprises since that time. In 1907 he branched out into the fruit raising industry, planting a part of his own splendid 240- acre ranch to grapes and peaches. His efforts were not rewarded at first, for the price of grapes and peaches went to bedrock, but Mr. Service did not lose faith, and in the end his perseverance won through, and today his fruit farm is one of the most beauti ful and profitable in the entire county. The balance of this farm is given over to the growing of melons and sweet potatoes, and is leased to farmers who do the work on shares. This valuable acreage is under the Turlock Irrigation District. Mr. Service has made many improvements to his property, including the erection of a substantial and beautiful modern residence in 1915, on the site where stood the original farmhouse of his father. Here he resides with his wife, formerly Miss Flora Ward, a native of California, to whom he was married in 1899, and their two sons, Elwin and Ward. Of these the former is now a student in the University of Cali fornia at Berkeley, and the latter attending the Ceres high school. Mr. Service has avoided all public office, although he is ever ready to do his full duty as a citizen in supporting all worthy causes for the advancement of public welfare, but he is a home-loving man, and the quiet pleasure of his own fireside, with the companionship of his family and a few chosen friends, constitute his greatest joy. Those who knew his father best say that this son is following worthily in his footsteps and is keeping alive the traditions of the Service blood. FRANCIS M. WASHBURN.— A leading resident of Turlock, Francis M. Washburn has been a decided asset to the community since he located here in 1912, both for his worth as an agriculturist and for the contribution he has made to the building up of this city, by the erection of a number of attractive residences, and thus aiding in the development of a new residence section and adding greatly to the mate rial beauty of the place. A native of the Sunflower State, Mr. Washburn was born near Wheaton, Pottawatomie County, Kans., December 27, 1880. His father, George Van Rensslaer Washburn, was born in Wisconsin, but came to St. Joseph, Mo., in his young days with his father, Samuel Mills Washburn, who during the Civil War was engaged in breaking horses for the Union Army. The Washburns later removed to a ranch near King City, Gentry County, Mo., and here George Van Rensslaer Washburn met and married Elizabeth Carson. She was born in Tennessee of an old Southern family, but later removed with her parents to King City, Mo. Although a Southerner by birth, her father, William Carson, served for nearly five years in the Union Army. From Missouri, Mr. and Mrs. George Washburn removed to Kansas, settling on a 160-acre farm near Wheaton, where they remained until 1888, when they located at Prairie Grove, Washington County, Ark., and after sixteen years there, they went to Perkins, Okla., in 1904, where they continued to farm, and there Mr. Washburn still makes his home, his wife having passed away in March, 1920. Of their eight children, six are living, and Francis M. Washburn, the subject of our review, is the eldest. Removing to Arkansas with his parents at the age of eight, he grew up on the farm there and attended the Prairie Grove schools. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years old, and on starting out to make his own way he engaged in farming principally, but with a decided inclination toward car penter work, he spent considerable time in house building at odd times. On April 23, 1903, Mr. Washburn was married to Miss Monia Frances Wil- hite at Fayetteville, Ark. She is the next to the youngest in a family of four boys and one girl born to Quinn and Margaret. Ann (Stuart) Wilhite. Her father who was born in Nashville, Tenn., came to Arkansas in the early days and settled at Siloam Springs, in Benton County. Grandfather Wilhite was driven out of his home by the Ku Klux Klan and as he was a stanch anti-slavery man he made his 1000 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY way to the Union lines and served with them for nearly five years. Mrs. Wash burn's mother, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, was also born in Nashville, Tenn., and attended the same school as her husband. They homesteaded in Arkansas when conditions were most primitive, taking up land near Siloam Springs, but they now reside in Oklahoma. One son, Manson N., has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Washburn. After his marriage, Mr. Washburn remained for a year at Siloam Springs, then went on to Oklahoma, where he was busy at contracting and building at Talala, and also engaged in teaming while there. In 1912 the family decided to remove to the Coast, and on reaching California, settled at Turlock, where Mr. Washburn took up his former occupation of farming again, raising grain and alfalfa and prospering in this great grain section. Purchasing land on Almond Avenue, he built the first house there, meanwhile engaging in contracting and building for others. Later he bought two acres at the corner of Almond Avenue and Geer Road, and here he erected two fine residences. Since that time, in the past two years, a dozen fine residences have been erected here and it is fast becoming a beautifully built-up street. Mr. Washburn is extremely capable in his work as a contractor and builder, and the fine workmanship and finish displayed in the houses he has built have made them a pattern for many others, thus keeping the neighborhood up to a high standard. In his political convictions Mr. Washburn has ever been loyal to the principles of the Republican Party. Since their coming here both he and his wife have been an active, helpful force in the business, social and religious life of the town. FELIX SIGNOROTTI. — A Californian by adoption, of Italian-Swiss origin, is Felix Signorotti, who was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, on April 23, 1879, the fifth son of a family of nine children of Joseph Signorotti, a native of Switzerland, who had married Miss Veronica Borodore, also a native of that country. Mr. Signorotti died in 1902, but his esteemed widow still lives in Switzerland. They owned several farms and plenty of cattle and other stock, and so Felix had the best of opportunities, while growing up at home, to learn the ins and outs of agricultural pursuits as the experienced Swiss are accustomed to follow. While attending school until he was fourteen, Felix was also able to earn, and being even then of a thrifty nature, he saved his money. At eight years of age he was worth a good deal as a helper in the dairy, and at nine he went up into the moun tains and became an expert in the making of cheese. At ten he helped care for the cattle in the Alps during the summer, and at fifteen, a year after he had cast aside his books, he was helping in the dairy. After a while he entered upon the military serv ice expected of him, and in 1899, at the age of twenty, when he had been honorably discharged after forty days under the colors of his fatherland, he bade good-bye to home and friends and crossed the ocean to America. He was fifteen days on the journey, and in November, 1899, arrived in California, and at Salinas, in Monterey County, he went to work for wages in a dairy. In Febru ary, 1906, he came to Modesto, and having formed a partnership, he managed a dairy with from eighty to ninety cows on 160 acres of choice land, taking for his share one- half of the profits and assuming one-half of the responsibilities. This dairy ranch was on Maze Road, about three miles from Modesto; and so well did he progress there, that he remained a co-partner dairyman for- seven years. He sold milk to the Modesto Creamery, and ice cream to the stores in town. In 1911 Mr. Signorotti, again acting with some one else on shares, purchased 140 acres on Grayson Road, in the Westport district, having already increased his dairy herd to 130 head of stock and milking from 60 to 100 cows. The land was merely a series of barley fields, but he worked hard to improve it, and went in for general farming, raising beans, corn and feed. He raised the standard of his cattle, little by little, and in time had the satisfaction of walking among over 100 grade Holsteins. He engaged in the stock business, in fact, both buying and selling. Until the past year, Mr. Signorotti has rented 3,600 acres of range-land on the West Side, near Westley, and used the same for raising young stock for dairy pur poses, assisted by his brother, and he owned 375 head of high-grade Holstein cattle on the West Side, which he sold in 1919. He is also a third partner in 574 acres of HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1001 land near the Patterson Colony, subdivided into small farms. He received his natural ization papers on June 22, 1915, and ever since has been particularly active in helping his fellow-countrymen arriving here to get settled and speedily to fall into line with the rest of Americans. He served on the committee to plan the Swiss picnic which was held at Modesto in 1920 for Swiss- Americans in Stanislaus County, a great success. At Modesto, on July 5, 1908, Mr. Signorotti was married to Miss Fannie Brea- getta, a native of Switzerland, by whom he has had six children — Hazel, Alma, Alfred, Herbert, Rose, and Laura; in 1919 he purchased a town residence, where he and his family resided until again moving to the ranch in December, 1920. CHARLES JOHN CARLSON. — A prominent citizen of Patterson and a repre sentative of the progressive spirit of the town, is Charles John Carlson, who was born in Cokato, Wright County, Minn., on August 23, 1870, the son of John and Christina Carlson, both natives of Sweden. John Carlson came from the northern part of that northern country in 1869, bringing his wife with him; and from New York they jour neyed to St. Louis, then up the Mississippi River by boat to La Crosse, Wis., and from La Crosse they rode overland by horse and wagon to Wright County, Minn., where they settled. They used their homestead rights and each proved up on a quarter- section of land. After farming there for a number of years, Mr. Carlson went into the general merchandise business ; for a time he was head buyer for the Minneapolis Millers' Association, but he soon gave that up and became an independent buyer, dealing in grain, handling merchandise, and owned and'operated a farm. . Charles John Carlson attended the district schools in Wright County for a couple of years, and then he took a special course at the Minneapolis Academy, finishing his schooling at the Caton Business College in that city. On June 24, 1894, he was mar ried to Miss Anna M. Larson, a native of Wright County, Minn., and soon afterward he was appointed postmaster at Cokato, in which fourth-class office he served 5,000 people from 1894 to 1898. In 1897, he purchased the Cokato Enterprise, a local weekly, and by undertaking the duties of editor, he raised the standard and efficiency of the newspaper. This editorial work extended from 1897 to 1900, and it was during part of this period that .he was also in charge of the post office. In 1902, Mr. Carlson organized and became the cashier of the Farmers & Merchants State Bank of Cokato, and he continued in that capacity until April, 1912, not actively and personally performing the duties toward the end, for he came to California in 1911 and accepted the position of cashier of the Bank of Patterson. While in Cokato, Mr. Carlson participated in public life; he was on the town council for many years, he served for years as mayor, and he was also treasurer of Cokato Town ship. He was treasurer, too, of the Stockholm Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Cokato, from 1902 to 1908, an excellent local company having $2,000,000 worth of insurance in force, mostly in Wright and adjoining counties. In 1898, directly after resigning from the postal service, Mr. Carlson went to the state legislature, as the representative of the Forty-sixth Minnesota District on the Progressive Republican ticket; and during his one term there he fought for the high principles of his party. In 1911, as has been stated, Mr. Carlson came out to Patterson and was appointed postmaster of the town for one year. He also became cashier of the Bank of Patterson, and held that post until January, 1920, when he succeeded Chas. A. Jeglun as presi dent. He purchased a home, and has made this town his place of residence ever since coming to California. He also purchased land in this county, and owns twenty acres of land in Tulare County. Six children have blessed the home life of Mr. and Mrs. Carlson: Anne E. lives at Berkeley as the wife of R. D. Lindquist, principal of the Columbus grammar school of that city. Edna A. is a junior-class student at the State University at Berkeley, and Reynold C. E. is a freshman in the same institution. Wallin C. is at the Patterson high school, as is also Linton A. ; and Vivian E. Carlson is in the grammar school. Mr. Carlson is a member of the Patterson Swedish Mission Church, and has served as trustee and as superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Carlson was also honored as the first mayor of Patterson elected by the will of his fellow-citizens, and he filled that position of delicate responsibility until the heginning of a new term, in January, 1920; and he was a member of the Patterson. 1002 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY town council since its organization. He was a member of the Patterson school board for four years, and served as clerk of that organization. He was helpful to the work of the Y. M. C. A. in Stanislaus County as vice-president of the county board for one year during the late war, and was chairman of the Liberty Loan committee, handling all the "drives," with the result that Patterson decidedly "went over the top" — once over its quota with the first loan, double over its quota with the second, four times its quota with the third, and three times its quota with the fourth loan. Mr. Carlson also worked hard for the Red Cross drives. He is vice-president of the Patter son water works and has just been appointed a member of the California Bankers Association agricultural commission. A Progressive Republican in matters of national political moment, Mr. Carlson belongs to the non-secret organization, the "North Star," in which, as always, he works for the highest standard of citizenship. EDGAR L. PITTS. — A fruit-rancher of experience and ability, well-known for his enterprise, is Edgar L. Pitts, manager of the famous ranch owned and operated by Metzger, Pitts & Son, some eight miles north of Modesto on the McHenry Road, where he is assisted by his son, H. J. Pitts. He was born on May 27, 1862, at Free- burg, St. Clair County, 111., the grandson of Kinchon Pitts, a native of Tennessee, who was married in that state to Elizabeth Eldredge, with whom he came to Central Illinois in pioneer days. One of their three children was James Pitts, the father of our subject, who came to own 100 acres of land and died in 1865; he was married in St. Clair County to Miss Mary'J. Varner, a native of Illinois and the daughter of Abraham and Edna (Million) Varner, born in Illinois and Kentucky, respectively, also pioneers in Illinois. Two children blessed the union — Edgar L. Pitts, the elder and the subject of our review, and James Pitts, who is still a resident of St. Clair County. Mrs. Pitts married a second time, choosing as her husband L. D. Stuntz, but he died in that county, leaving one child, Lucius D. Stuntz. Edgar Pitts attended the local country schools and, growing up, took up agricul ture and became an extensive grain farmer at Freeburg. He was married in St. Clair County, 111., on May 27, 1884, to Miss Annie D. Sawyer, a native of England, who came to Illinois when she was eight years old and settled with her parents in Perry County, later removing to Freeburg. Her father was James Sawyer, an operator in the coal mines. She had a lovable disposition, and was highly esteemed for her woman ly qualities; and when she passed away, on November 4, 1918, she was mourned by a wide circle of friends. She was the mother of seven children. Bessie E. lives at home. Herschel J. is married and maintains his own home on the same ranch. Ethel resides in San Francisco ; Leon lives at Escalon ; Arthur and Harry are assisting their father; Edna is Mrs. Green of Modesto. Mr. Pitts was married a second time in February, 1921, being united with Mrs. Jennie (Pledger) Hughson, who was born in Franklin County, Ark., a daughter of Marshall and Eliza Pledger. Marshall Pledger served in the Confederate Army in the Civil War, after which he moved to Arkansas, where he died and later his widow brought the children to Los Angeles and she now makes her home in Manteca. Mrs. Pitts was reared and educated in Los Angeles. Her first marriage was to Ora M. Hughson, a son of the late Hiram Hughson. The family attend the Baptist Church, and are standpat Republicans and hearty supporters of President Harding. Mr. Pitts and son, H. J. Pitts, and J. E. Metzger own an excellent ranch of ninety acres planted to wine grapes, peaches, apricots and almonds, and they operate under the firm name of Metzger, Pitts & Son. Mr. Metzger lives in Sonoma County, where he is an extensive ranch owner ; and Mr. Pitts, aided by his son, gives personal attention to the Stanislaus County project. Mr. Metzger is the husband of Wilmos Varner, a sister of Mr. Pitts' mother, that is, an uncle by marriage, and he was the means of inducing Mr. Pitts to come to the Golden State in 1910. They bought the ranch in 1911, and moved on the place. When they first acquired the land, all but three acres was planted to grapes, peaches, apricots and almonds; and since then Mr. Pitts has set out the remaining three acres to apricots, so that the entire ranch is now in full bearing. Mr. Metzger and the Messrs. Pitts also weire organizers and build ers of the California Cooperative Canneries, which was organized at Modesto in Q&fo&^ 4j?x.*ukj& HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1005 1920, and which has already given fame to its brands of peaches, apricots and other kinds of fruit. This cannery was built in 1920 and Mr. Pitts has been a director since its organization. He is a member of the California Peach Growers, Inc., and the California Almond Growers Association. Mr. Pitts served as school trustee in Illinois. and was trustee of Stoddard school district in Stanislaus County for one term, serving as clerk of the board and now his son, H. J., is clerk of the same board. IRVING BOYD THOMPSON, M. D.— Medical and surgical science find skill ful expression in the career of Dr. I. B. Thompson, a native son of California. Besides being a general practitioner, he is interested in and the manager of a private sana torium of which his brother, J. G Thompson, was the founder. He was born at Oakdale, February 6, 1878, the eighth of ten children of Mr. and Mrs. James Thompson, early and honored pioneers of that place. Irving Boj'd grew up on the home ranch, Lanark Park, taking an active part in the hard and difficult farm work for seven and a half seasons. Though but a boy, he could manage the thirty-two horses on the harvester as well as an older man. His education was secured first in the district schools, then a course in the Oak dale high school, followed by two years in the San Jose Normal. At this period of his life he was taken very ill with typhoid fever, which left him in an enfeebled condition, his recovery being slow. During his convalescence, in his desire to regain health, his thoughts turned toward medicine and as soon as. he was able he entered Cooper Medical College of San Francisco. After his graduation in 1907, he successfully passed the state board examination, located in his home town and took over the sana torium of his brother, J. G. Thompson, at Oakdale. Success has followed. The sanatorium, which has nine beds, is equipped with all necessary appliances for surgery and a general practice, as well as the first X-ray used in Oakdale. There are two or three trained nurses in constant attendance. In 1913, while on a six months' tour of Scotland, England, France and Ger many, Dr. Thompson took a three months' post-graduate course in Berlin Hospital, Berlin, and also attended clinics in other leading hospitals in London and Edinburgh. He is a member of the county and state medical societies, and was head of the examin ing board at Oakdale during the late war, for which service he refused remuneration. In 1917, Dr. Thompson was made a member of the city board of trustees of Oakdale, and in 1920 was chosen the chairman of this board, which is tantamount to mayor. Fraternally he is an Elk and a member of the N. S. G. W., Oakdale Parlor. The many sturdy qualities which distinguish the life of Dr. Thompson in this neighborhood have called forth the esteem and respect of his fellow-townsmen and he has attained an enviable position as a citizen of Oakdale. JOHN EDWARDS.— A man who has for years so applied the Golden Rule that, although three-score, ten and one, he might easily be taken as having only the snows of sixty or less winters upon his head, is John Edwards of Keyes, who was born near Albia, Monroe County, Iowa, on December 22, 1849, the third son in a family of fourteen children, eleven of whom have survived. His father was Thomas Edwards, a hative of Indiana who came to Iowa in 1847 and settled on Government land which he purchased at one dollar and a quarter an acre. The father was always industrious, and spent the prime of his life in the hardships and toil of the Iowa frontier where he broke the virgin soil. He also was there during the great snow storm of 1847 which started on November 3 and continued unceasingly for three days and three nights. John owed much also to his mother, who was Nancy Kinser in her maiden hood, a noble woman of excellent German ancestry, who was born in Virginia. John spent his boyhood on his father's farm, attending the public school for only three months of the year, when he studied his lessons in the evening by means of a lard- burning lamp. Later on his mother dipped candles and also spun the thread and cloth from the wool that was shorn from the backs of the sheep upon their farm. When twenty-eight years old, Mr. Edwards came out to Carroll County, Iowa, and there purchased a farm which he soon sold at a good profit,— his first real business transaction on his own account. In 1883, having located in Guthrie County, Iowa, he 1006 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY purchased a farm of eighty acres when he had to go into debt to make the first pay ment. He progressed so well there that he spent twenty-six years in that locality, about fifty miles from Des Moines, and he served for years as township trustee. He was called upon, in fact, to take higher office, but he was so interested in the problems of his farming and stock raising that he never aspired to public honors. When he sold out there he owned 245 acres. In 1908 Mr. Edwards made a trip to California, and before returning to Iowa he purchased two farms in Stanislaus County — one of 160 acres near Keyes, on which he at present resides, and one of thirty-seven acres, two and a half miles west of Turlock. He returned to Iowa, but the following season came out to California for good, selling his farm of 245 acres and his personal property in Iowa. Mr. Edwards is a member of the Fresno Peach and Raisin Growers associations, but he has not been active in farm work since 1915. In 1920, however, from ten acres of nine-year-old Malaga grapes, he derived a gross return of $8,295. On November 5, 1876, Mr. Edwards was married to Miss Emily Taylor, a native daughter of Ohio ; and three children have blessed their union. Ada Verda is deceased ; Jessie Frances is the wife of W. A. Oberkamper of Keyes, and they have five children, and Isis E. has become Mrs. Lewis F. White, living near Keyes. Lewis F. White was born in Ford County, Illinois, and attended the grammar and high school at Hoopeston, and later was graduated with honors from Hoopeston College. When twenty years of age he started farming on 140 acres of land in Guthrie County, and in November, 1904, he was married to Miss Edwards. Five years later he came to California and settled at Keyes, where he is the owner of forty very desirable acres. He also controls a farm in Missouri. Five children give joy to the lives of Mr. and Mrs. White — Roy, Fay, Wayne, Edna and Edith. Nonpartisan in politics, Mr. White belongs to the Yeomen and the Modern Woodmen of America. PERCY MERWIN SMITH.— Well-known among the prominent and successful young farmers of Stanislaus County, may be mentioned Percy Merwin Smith, who has been a resident of the county since he was a lad of twelve years, completing his education in the public schools of McHenry precinct. He is associated with his father, D. C. Smith, in the operation of the latter's fruit ranch, numbering fifty acres of the finest land in McHenry precinct, and is making a great success of his under taking, the ranch being operated on a profit-sharing basis. It is principally set to fruit and vineyard, there being fourteen acres of peaches, eighteen acres of Zinfandel wine grapes, eight of Thompson Seedless grapes, five of Malagas, and an acre in Navel oranges. The remaining four acres constitute the residence portion, including the barns and dairy yards, and the place is one of the most highly improved in the precinct. Mr. Smith is a native of Rapid City, S. D., born August 19, 1891, the son of D. C. and Alice (Underhill) Smith, and the youngest of the children. His father was a prospector and miner, and a native of Niles, Mich. For a time he was engaged in mining in the Black Hills, S. D., where he met and married the mother of his children. Later he became engaged in cattle raising and ranged 3,000 head of beef cattle near Leeds. He came to California with his family in 1905, and located on his present place, where he has since made his home. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born five children, only three of whom are living, a daughter and two sons: Edith M., now the wife of Cato Holden, and residing at San Diego, where Mr. Holden is employed as a machinist in the Government Navy Yards; Clarence L., an electrician living in Modesto, and married to Miss Beryl Torst, a native of this county; and Percy Merwin, the subject of this sketch, residing on the home farm with his father. The mother, who was a woman of splendid character and attain ments, a good wife and a tender mother, passed away February 21, 1920, at the age of sixty-four. She was a member of the Methodist Church, and an active worker. Mr. Smith is a Republican in his politics, and a strong believer in clean govern ment and the election of high-principled men to public office. Fraternally he is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and of Modesto Lodge of Elks. /P ) -M-^J /yyj S'^iMr HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1009 ALONZO W. GANT. — A man of recognized sterling worth in the community where he resides is Alonzo W. Gant, an esteemed citizen of Stanislaus County and Modesto, and the owner of a thriving ranch of six acres, located on the Paradise Road at the southwest limits of the city of Modesto, and of residential property in that city. He was born near Gallatin, Sumner County, Tenn., on October 2, 1872, the son of William Henry Gant, born in North Carolina in 1843, and when a child of three years he was taken to Sumner County, Tenn., where he was reared. He was a farmer of note in his section of Sumner County and served as a justice of the peace near Gallatin for eight consecutive years, his opinion often being sought on many cases by attorneys and individuals involved. He married Malinda Frances Cline, a native of Tennessee and she is still living in Nashville. Mr. Gant died at the old home in Sumner County. They had four children: Anna Laura, Mrs. Denning lives on the old home farm near Gallatin; Alonzo W., of this review; Herman F., and Mamie, Mrs. William Bryan, both reside in Nashville. Alonzo W. was reared on the farm of 160 acres owned by his father near Gal latin, attending the public schools in pursuit of an education. For five years after finishing his studies he taught school, and in 1903, with his family, came to California and Stanislaus County, where Mrs. Gant's brother, Shruder Young, was living. After locating in this county Mr. Gant was employed on the Baker ranch near Paradise, then for three years was employed on the construction of the Modesto Irrigation District canals. In 1908 he bought his present place of six acres and has since improved it into one of the model small ranches of the county by erecting a comfortable home and bringing the soil to a high state of productiveness. The marriage of Alonzo W. Gant with Miss Clara Young was solemnized in Sumner County, Tenn., on April 23, 1895, and this union has been one of mutual satisfaction. Mrs. Gant was a daughter of Wright and Narcissa (Brackin) Young, both born in Tennessee, whither their parents had migrated at an early day from North Carolina. She is one of a family of eleven children, nine of whom are living: Charles, Joseph F., Jordan H., William, Shruder, all residents of California and Narcissa; Mrs. Rippy, Louisa McGlothlin, Polly Barber, residents of Tennessee, and Mrs. Gant. The two sisters who died were Mrs. Fannie Young, who died in Mo desto, and Mrs. Sallie Young, who passed away in Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Gant have had six children, viz. : Vernon Franklin, who enlisted at the entrance of the United States in the World War and saw active service in the Navy and rose to the rank of ensign. He was discharged from the service in San Francisco on April 7, 1919, returned to Modesto and is studying law in the office of T. B. Scott. Almeda Ruth and Winnie both graduated from the Modesto high school and are now employed as stenographers in Modesto. Alonzo LeRoy Paul, Hoyt Raymond and Denver Russell are still attending school. Mr. Gant is a mem ber of the Woodmen of the World. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gant has been a true partnership in the joys and responsibilities of life and Mr. Gant attributes much of his success to her self-sacrificing efforts. DENVER M. WOOTTEN. — A worthy representative of an interesting Cali fornia pioneer family is Denver M. Wootten, the dairyman, who of late years has been engaged in ranching with both his father and his brother. He was born near Modesto on April 13, 1885, the son of Jacob Simpson and Fannie (Ritchie) Wootten, and all his workaday life has been busy advancing American agriculture. His father came to California in the early fifties and took up grain farming just outside the city of Modesto, both acquiring and leasing land, sometimes farming 5,000 acres. Denver attended the common schools near Modesto and later a business college in that town, and at the age of twenty started out for himself. He formed a partner ship with his brother, W. I. Wootten, for the sale of cigars, and up to the spring of 1919, when they sold their business, they enjoyed a brisk and profitable trade. Then, embarking in farming, he cultivated 2,400 acres on which he raised grain for three years, using a full tractor equipment for operating on a large scale. For six years, also, he worked the Morton Ranch near Modesto. 1010 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY On November 27, 1912, Mr. Wootten was married to Miss Lila Wright, a native of Idaho and the daughter of James and Alice Wright, early settlers in Idaho, vyho removed to California when she was one year old and settled for four years at Modesto. Then they went back to Missouri, but came again to California in later years. Mrs. Wootten was sent to school in Henry County, Mo., and there she enjoyed a high school course. For two years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wootten made their home in Modesto, but the last six years they have lived near that city. The father and sons have 200 acres in alfalfa ori the Coffee Road, and forty acres in a vineyard ; and of this amount they own 120 acres jointly, the whole always presenting the appearance of land controlled by those who know how to use and master the products of the earth. Two children have gladdened the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wootten, James Simpson and Robert. Mr. Wootten is an Elk and belongs to Lodge No. 1282 of Modesto. CLARENCE W. GANDY. — A worthy representative of one of the important pioneer families of America, Clarence W. Gandy, the President of the Stanislaus Nursery Company, at Eighth and K streets, and also president of the Gandy Motor Company, agents for the Paige and Dorris automobiles, is himself a pioneer in various important California enterprises. He was born in York, York County, Nebraska, on September 11 of the Centennial year, 1876, and his father was Samuel E. Gandy, a native of Illinois, but was reared in Iowa, from which state he enlisted in Company E of the Third Iowa Cavalry, serving through the Civil War, having been wounded, and was mustered out as a corporal. After the war he removed to York County, Neb., and later to Custer County, where, with two brothers, he founded the town of Broken Bow, now a busy, thriving town. They named it Broken Bow from the fact that they had found both a broken Indian bow and also a broken bow of an old ox yoke. Samuel E. Gandy was the first postmaster of Broken Bow. Next he moved to Logan County, and helped to lay out and develop the town of Gandy, which was named after him ; and moving on to Wichita County, Kan., he gave Leoti, then being founded, the best "boost" he could and served as county treasurer and was a successful business man. Arriving in California in 1893, he did not fail of recognition, and was elected judge of the justice court of Sacramento township. He married Sarah S. St. Clair, also of Illinois, and of their four children our subject is second eldest. In 1889 Clarence Gandy came to Placer County with his parents, and there he attended school. In 1891 he went back to Kansas, but in 1893 returned to Sacra mento, Cal., where he attended the high school, and for a term a private college, finishing his studies at the Atkinson Business College of Sacramento. Then a young man, he struck out for himself, and took a clerical position with Ferris & Spinks. Soon afterward he entered the service of the Spreckels Sugar Company at Spreckels, Cal., and for four years he had charge of the handling of all real estate and rented property of the company. He then went to Oakland and established a real estate office in the Bacon building ; and having built up there a successful business, he sold it. He next organized the South Berkeley Realty Company of Berkeley, and doing busi ness under that name he remained in that city until 1913, when he came to Stanislaus County and purchased several ranches. In 1915 Mr. Gandy started in the nursery business, which grew until he finally organized the Stanislaus Nursery Company, Inc., in July, 1918; and this company, whose activities reach throughout the county, raises and sells deciduous fruit trees. It also plants certain acreage, and in time offers the improved land for sale. Mr- Gandv is president of this company, M. C. Richter is the secretary, Nils Hansen is the treasurer, and C. A. Snow is field superintendent. Mr. Gandy is a member of the California Association of Nurserj-men. In 1920 he organized the Modesto Motor Company, Inc., but later sold his interest in. the same. He was secretary and business manager of the Lambert Stock Remedies from its organization, and, as has been stated, he is president of the Gandy Motor Company, for whose use he erected the present building on the corner of Tenth and L streets, considered one of the finest display and show rooms in the valley. He also owns a subdivision tract, a part of the Cold- well-Olivewood tract, on Sycamore street. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1013 At Sacramento on July 14, 1897, Mr. Gandy was married to Miss Beula God dard, the daughter of L. L. and Jennie Goddard, and a native daughter of California, her folks having been early settlers of Sacramento. Her father came from Iowa, farmed here a number of years, and then retired from strenuous work. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gandy. Bruce is with the Stanislaus Nursery Company, Inc., and Dorothy is a student at the Modesto high school. The family attend the Christian Science Church. Mr. Gandy is a Republican and also a member of the Modesto lodge of Odd Fellows, and has held all the offices in the lodge, as well as a delegate and member of the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the Encampment and is past chief patriarch, and is a member of the Grand Encampment and is district deputy grand patriarch. He is a member of the Canton and with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs. He is an active member in the Progressive Busi ness Club, the Modesto Chamber of Commerce and the Automobile Trades Association. JOHN HENRY EVANS. — Patterson has among its citizens many men of more than the average ability and intelligence who are doing a great work for its advance ment and John Henry Evans, owner of the Patterson telephone exchange and mayor, may with justice be classed among that number. He was born at Lebanon, Boone County, Ind., on May 14, 1875, the son of William Henry Harrison and May Jane Evans, farmers of that vicinity, the mother passing away in 1906, and the father sur viving her twelve years. John Henry Evans grew up on the home farm until he was sixteen years old, receiving his education in the grammar school of Lebanon, and then started out to make his own way. For the first two years he worked by the month on farms, and then took up electrical work with the Bell Telephone Company in Boone County, remaining with that company until 1908, when he migrated to California, being employed for the ensuing j'ear by the Burlingame Telegraph Typewriter Com pany. He then accepted a position as manager of the Bell Telephone Company of Stanislaus County, having supervision of the lines from Tracy to Los Banos and at that time made his home in Newman. Coming to Patterson in 1912, Mr. Evans built the telephone lines of the Patterson Colony and established connections with all long distance lines. Through the aid and encouragement of Mrs. Evans, as well as using good judgment and wise forethought, Mr. Evans has made a splendid success of the telephone company. Aside from his personal affairs, he takes a keen interest in local matters and has been elected president of the board of trustees for a term of four years, as well as having been president of the Chamber of Commerce of Patterson. In Knightstown, Ind., on October 11, 1904, Mr. Evans was united in marriage with Miss Estella C. Collins, a native of Rushville, Ind., and the daughter of Frank and Virginia Collins, early settlers of that state. Mrs. Evans was reared in her home town and received her education in the grammar and high schools there. She is the mother of two children : Mary Virginia and John Henry, Jr. In his political affilia tions Mr. Evans is a Republican, and fraternally is associated with the Knights of Pythias of Newman and the I. D. E. S. of Patterson. ARENDT H. ROHDE. — Among the residents of Stanislaus County whose artistic tastes and professional work have enabled him to exert an important and happy influence upon art and aesthetic standards in California, mention should be made of Arendt H. Rohde, who was born in Jutland, Denmark, on May 20, 1862, the second son of Andrew H. Rohde, a retired tradesman now living at our subject's home in Keyes at the age of ninety-two. His sketch also appears in this history. In 1874 Andrew H. Rohde moved with his family into Northern Denmark, as a protest to the military programs of the Germans in that part of the country, and inasmuch as the son, Arendt H., evinced an aptness for art, both pictorial and plastic, and spent his spare time in studying the masters, he was permitted to serve an appren ticeship of four years in a fine arts and decorating shop, at the end of which time he established his own business of commercial art and decoration, which engrossed him until he was thirty years old, when he started for America. After a stay of two months at Salt Lake City, he reached the Pacific Coast in 1891. While in San Fran cisco, Judge Graham granted him American citizenship. 1014 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY During these first years in the United States, the land of his adoption, business and industrial conditions were unfavorable for the ordinary workman; but Mr. Rohde's superior training and equipment in skilled art work enabled him almost from the beginning to get employment and at good pay. He had become particularly expert in imitation graining and marble painting, and as a consequence was compelled to work for wages for only two years. Then he started to contract for work on his own account; and having made a reputation for ability, he was kept busy from morning till night. For eighteen years, in fact, he was known in San Francisco as one of the most successful contractors in interior decoration. On October 25, 1886, Mr. Rohde was married to Miss' Ellen Maria Yaquet, a native of Denmark, and four children were born to them: Caria Elizabeth, now deceased, having passed away in 1912, became the wife of George Armstrong of San Francisco; William H., a rancher living at home, served in Company 338, Camp Fremont, from July 25, 1918, to January 25, 1919, and was transferred to six differ ent camps in the United States Army. On the day when the armistice was signed, he was on board off Camp Mills, but he was released before being sent across the ocean, and on January 25 he received his honorable discharge at the San Francisco Presidio ; Albin is a contracting painter at San Francisco, and Mildred remains at home with her parents. In 1906 Mrs. Rohde died at San Francisco, and two years later Mr. Rohde was married to Mrs. Christina Anderson, a native of Denmark. Having retired from business in 1912, Mr. Rohde settled in Stanislaus County, first on account of the change of climate, and secondly, to afford his sons the finest agricultural opportunities known to him anywhere. Another attraction has proven to be some forty acres which he owns — bounded on the south by Keyes, and on the west by the State Highway and the Southern Pacific tracks. Here Mr. Rohde and his family dwell in enviable comfort. In 1912 Mr. and Mrs. Rohde and their daughter, Mildred, voyaged to Europe and made a tour of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, England, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Switzerland, traveling also widely through the United States, and during the fourteen months in which they were away from home, they stopped on an average of two weeks at each of the great centers of art, including Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Paris, Nuremberg, Florence, Rome, Venice and Pisa. They also gave due attention to such famous resorts as Monte Carlo, and, last but not least, New York City. Mr. Rohde is a member of the Helga of Dania, and he also belongs to the Danish Ladies Relief Society. Although never having submitted his work for competition, he owns priceless specimens of his own design, and goes miles to see other artists' work. JOSEPH JOHNSON LONG.— Coming from a distinguished old Virginia fam ily, Joseph Johnson Long is counted as one of the prominent men of Stanislaus County. He was born in Sonoma County, Cal., January 18, 1866, at Bodega Corners, the son of Joseph Johnson and Elizabeth (Stump) Long, both natives of West Virginia, the mother having been born in Wheeling. His paternal grandmother was Barbara John son, a sister of the Confederate general, Joseph E. Johnston. They were the parents of six children: James was born in West Virginia; Ellen, the wife of Jerry Mc Donald, has six children and resides at San Jose, Cal. ; John passed away, leaving a wife and five children ; Franklin J. resides at Salinas, Cal. ; Joseph Johnson is the subject of this sketch ; Elizabeth Virginia, Mrs. Branstetter, resides in Oakland and has three children. In 1862 the Long family decided to locate in California, and sailing around the Horn they settled at Bodega Corners, where Joseph J. was born. In 1871 they moved back to West Virginia, but remained there only six months. A brother of Mr. John son, Enoch Johnson, lived in Texas, and he persuaded them to come 'there, but they did not like that state either, so came back to California and settled in Salinas Valley. A j'ear later they located on the Gonzales ranch, where they built the first house in the town of Gonzales. The father died in King City and the mother in San Jose. Joseph J. Long was married in San Benito County in 1892 to Miss Hattie Mylar, born in San Juan, Cal., a daughter of Enoch and Lucretia (Hames) Mylar. Her grandfather, Israel Mylar, came from Kentucky to Missouri and crossed the u£h<&<>^>&?^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1017 plains to California in 1849. He mined gold at Hangtown and Sonora and discovered the first gold mine at Jamestown. Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Mylar now reside at Hollis ter, aged eighty and seventy years, respectively. Of their ten children, six are living, and Mrs. Long is the eldest of the family. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Long lived for ten years in King City, Monterey County, farming there, and in 1902 they moved to Hickman, Stanislaus County, buying a place of twenty-six acres one mile east of town. Here they raised alfalfa and engaged in dairying, and also had a vine yard of Thompson Seedless grapes. They suffered a severe loss when their home was burned to the ground, without insurance, but they immediately built a new home in which they are pleasantly located. Mr. and Mrs. Long are the parents of two chil dren: Zelma, who is preparing for her junior year at the University of California, and Phyllis. Zelma is actively boosting for the Modesto Herald, getting subscriptions in the hope that she may win the prize and thus help out her college course at Berkeley. She is also teaching piano and has a class at La Grange. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church at Hickman, and Mrs. Long is active in the Sunday school. Mr. Long is a member of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau and also a member of the Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., at Modesto, having been made a Mason in Santa Lucia Lodge No. 302, F. & A. M., at King City. Mr. Long's father was sixty-two years old at the time of his death, his mother sur viving her husband until January 18, 1918, when she passed away at the age of eighty. TRAVIS B. TOWNSEND. — A thoroughly representative man who has attained to his present enviable position as a highly-esteemed, influential official of Stanislaus County through his own hard work and unaided efforts, is Travis B. Townsend, a native of Hanford, Tulare County — now Kings County — where he was born on July 30, 1884, the son of William W. and Alice (Pendergrass) Townsend. His father was a merchant who came from Springfield, Mo., to California and settled in Snelling, Merced County, where, about 1880, he embarked in ranching. After two years he moved to San Jose, and there he continued ranching. When once more he shifted his tent, it was to make the vicinity of Hanford his home, and there he estab lished a dairy. These removals gave his family a varied valuable experience. Travis began his schooling at Visalia, continued his courses at Hanford, and finished his studies at the San Jose Normal School, and then for three years he taught school in the Philippines, first at one place and then at another. On his return to the United States, he accepted a position with the Utah Fuel Company in Castle Gate, Utah, and for a j'ear was their weigh boss, discharging his responsibilities to the satis faction of everyone. After that, for a year, he was principal of the Castle Gate grammar school. When Mr. Townsend took up his residence in Stanislaus County in 1909, he settled at Ceres and for a year was identified with the Turlock Irrigation District; and then he spent a year and a half with Collins & Warner, the well-known merchants of that town. He then took up surveying, and for some years followed construction, inspection and engineering as a private practice ; and having made an enviable reputa tion for both ability and fidelity, it was natural that he should be requisitioned by the county as field man on inspection and construction. In 1915, then, he entered the county's service on construction and inspection, and the following year he had charge of a layout or surveying crew, and in that field he continued until March, 1917. Then, until March, 1918, he inspected work on the highways for the county, and in the spring of the latter year he assumed the office of deputy county surveyor. On Christmas Day, 1907, Mr. Townsend was married at Castle Gate, Utah, to Miss Elizabeth Jones, a native of Scofield, Carbon County, Utah, and the daughter of Edward and Mary Jones. The father was a successful mining man, and he is still living, in the enjoyment of the rewards of his years of labor, at Castle Gate. Three children have blessed this union: Lolita May and Travis P. are in the grammar school; and Edward W. Townsend is at home. In national political affairs a stand- Pat Republican, Mr. Townsend can nevertheless be the best of nonpartisan "boosters." He is a member of the Modesto Masons and Sciots. Mrs. Townsend is an Eastern Star. 42 1018 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY EMANUEL EDWARD ENOS.— In various ways, Emanuel Edward Enos has been identified with the progress and development of Stanislaus County. He was born near Clayton, Contra Costa County, Cal., December 2, 1892, a son of Joseph- and Mary Ann (Nunes) Enos, both natives of the Azores Islands, the father born on the island of St. George and the mother on the island of Corvo. Joseph Enos left his native land when only fifteen years of age, arriving in California during the j'ear of 1876, engaging in farming for a number of years. Until 1904 he was extensively engaged in cattle raising, but is now living a retired life, at Livermore, Cal. Mrs. Enos left home when she was eighteen years old and came to California and while residing in Pleasanton met Mr. Enos and there they were married. Ten children were born to them, all of whom are living, Emanuel Edward, the subject of this biography, being the second oldest of the family. Mrs. Enos passed away in 1910. Emanuel Edward Enos attended the public schools of Contra Costa County, later taking a business course at Heald's Business College. After finishing business col lege, he assisted his father on the farm, and was thus engaged until he entered busi ness life. He began as clerk in the Farmers and Merchants Bank and by his patience and perseverance was advanced to the position of cashier. After leaving the employ of the bank he engaged in the real estate business, mainly in country property. The marriage of Mr. Enos occurred in Oakland, Cal., December 17, 1917, and united him with Miss Jennie Adaline Jesseman, born in Meldin on the Hudson, a daughter of Charles and Mary E. (Minard) Jesseman, natives of New Hampshire and Nova Scotia, respectively. In 1906 the family removed to Modesto where the father was engaged at his trade of carpentry, and continue to reside in Modesto. Mr. and Mrs. Jesseman are the parents of three daughters, all residing in Modesto. Mr. Enos is identified with the U. P. E. C. of Modesto, and is a Republican. EMIL H. TIENKEN.— The cashier of the Patterson Commercial Bank, Emil H. Tienken, who has occupied this important position since August, 1920, is a business and financial man of long experience and is recognized in banking circles of the state as one who has a splendid grasp on financial and commercial conditions generally. Mr. Tienken was born in San Francisco, April 6, 1876, where his father, Henry Tieriken, was a prominent merchant, being engaged in the provision business. He was one of the early pioneers of San Francisco, having reached that city in 1860, after a perilous journey across the Isthmus of Panama. His mother was Katherine Thomas, a native of Germany. The family moved to Stockton when the future banker was but eight years of age, and he passed his boyhood in that thriving city, attending the grammar school and completing one year in the high school. But the lure of the business world proved stronger than the inducements of the class room, and when young Mr. Tienken was seventeen years of age he laid his academic books aside and went in for practical commercial pursuits. He soon became proficient as a book keeper and stenographer and was with the Standard Oil Company in that capacity for three years, located in their Stockton office. An opening then presented itself with the Eastman Kodak Company, in the San Francisco branch, and he occupied a similar position with them for a time, going from there to the Spool Cotton Com pany, in the San Francisco branch, where he was head bookkeeper for three j'ears. The marriage of Mr. Tienken was solemnized at Stockton, June 22, 1902, and united him with Miss Alice Burt Long, a native of that city, and descended from one of the early pioneer families of the state. Her father, Elias O. Long, came to Cali fornia from Pennsylvania, with his wife, in the early '60s. He was by trade a mechanic, but he was principally engaged in farming, and was engaged on an exten sive scale in the San Joaquin Valley, raising grain and cattle. He passed away at the age of seventy-six. Following his marriage, new and broader opportunities opened to Mr. Tienken, and he soon became cashier of the Anglo-American Crockery and Glass Company of San Francisco, a position he was holding at the time of the earthquake and fire in 1906. Following this he went with the Mission Bank in San Francisco, as note and exchange teller, remaining with this institution a year, and then going to the First National Bank of Berkeley, as paying teller, remaining for three years. ^$^ £ufc^*^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1021 Stanislaus County then called for the enterprising young banker, and he came to Crows Landing, where for three years he served as manager of the Bank of Newman branch at that place. The opportunities offered by the mercantile business were such that Mr. Tienken now went to Lindsay, Tulare County, and for several j-ears engaged in the general merchandise business there, meeting with good success. During his residence in Lindsay he was also vice-president of the First National Bank of Lindsay, and occupied an important position in financial circles in Tulare County. The wide commercial and financial experience of Mr. Tienken peculiarly fits him for the important position of cashier of the Commercial Bank of Patterson. Already he has taken hold of local matters with a vigor that promises the fulfillment of this expectation, having identified himself with the best interests of the Patterson district. Politically he is a Republican, and keenly alive to governmental affairs, local, state and national. He is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the B. P. O. E., Visalia Lodge No. 1298, a member of the F. & A. M., Patterson Lodge No. 488, and of Scottish Rite Consistory at Fresno. WALTER A. STEVENS. — A thorough, excellent workman who enjoys the dis tinction of being one of the oldest contractors and builders still in business in Mo desto, is Walter A. Stevens, who was born in Bedford, Lawrence County, Ind., on December 20, 1860. His father was T. N. Stevens, a native of Old Virginia who settled in Indiana and was a contractor and builder. In 1881, in the prosecution of his work, he was accidentally killed. He had married Amanda Allen, a native of Salem, Ind., and one of the line of Ethan Allen, New England stock, and she sur vived him until 1895. The worthy couple had thirteen children, twelve of whom are still living, and among these Walter, the fourth oldest, is the only one in California. Having attended the grammar and the high schools of Bedford, the young man learned the carpenter trade under his father, and when nineteen he went to Ohio, returning home in six months. He then made a trip to Florida, but later he came back home and again worked at his trade. When his father died, Mr. Stevens engaged in contracting and building, and after a year he went to Pierre, Dakota Territory, where he continued operations in the same field. He also located a homestead of 160 acres, and was in South Dakota when it was made a state. He then operated in the Black Hills and Huron, but finding his health broken, he sought the salubrious climate of the Coast. He first came to Roseburg, Ore., but in six months he removed to San Francisco, working for a while at his trade. In the fall of 1905, he bought a ranch at Modesto, three miles to the north on the Carver road, and he put into alfalfa twenty-five acres, sowing also grain. Then he bought a ranch of ten acres nearer town, which he improved and sold. All this time he engaged "in contracting and building, so that he came to erect many residences and such notable public buildings as the Presbyterian Church, the old Masonic Hall and the City Hall, as well as the Berthold, Weeks, Ward and Daunt buildings, and the Steel residence and the new grammar school. In 1917 he took into partnership with him his son L. W. and since then they have been contracting together. At Pierre, S. D., on May 3, 1885, Mr. Stevens was married to Miss Linnie M. Monroe, a native of Berlin, Wis., and the daughter of Elias and Persis (Day) Mon roe, who had been born in Ohio and settled in Berlin, Wis. The father, who was a saddler and a harness-maker, moved to Osceola, Iowa, but he spent his last days in California. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe had three children, two of whom are living, a son, James L., residing in Texas. Mrs. Stevens was educated at Osceola, and is the mother of two children. Newton T., a graduate of the Los Angeles Medical Col lege, is a Doctor of Medicine, and during the recent war served as a sergeant in the U. S. service. Louis learned the carpenter's trade and is associated with his father. Mr. Stevens was made a Mason in Modesto lodge, No. 206, F. & A. M., and both his sons, having taken up Masonry, belong to the same lodge. He and his wife are members of Electa Chapter No. 72 of the O. E. S., and both belong to and are active in the First Presbyterian Church. 1022 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY JOHN C. SCANLON. — A successful rancher operating extensively and enjoying a wide and enviable repute as an aggressive, decidedly progressive American citizen,' is John C. Scanlon, who was born in New York City on March 22, 1872, the son of Thomas and Margaret (Halpin) Scanlon. His father was in railroad work and drove one of the early street cars; and after coming West to Colorado, he became a leading contractor, establishing his headquarters in 1879 at Denver. John C. Scanlon attended the public schools there, and early entered the greater school of practical experience in the world. He worked with his father until he was eighteen years of age, and then, leaving home, he came out to California in 1892. He settled in Stanis laus, and for eleven years he worked on the Jones ranch, west of Newman. Then he ran the Julius Cain ranch, known as the Ostrom Ranch, of 1,600 acres, devoted to grain, for four years, and after that rented the Jasper Stuhr ranch of New man, consisting of 800 acres, which he has since been operating. In connection with this enterprise, he has also farmed the Stonesifer ranch of 320 acres. He works a tractor equipment of the first-class, owning both Holt and International tractors, and he also uses a fair number of mules of stock of his own raising. In September, 1911, Mr. Scanlon was married to Mrs. Julia Totman, the daughter of Archibald Diederich Elfers, a native of Hanover, Germany, where he was educated and grew to maturity. As a young man, he determined to come to a newer country to seek his fortune, and sailing around Cape Horn in 1849, he was one of the real Argonauts to reach the gold fields, and for a couple of decades thereafter was employed in mining, first at Downieville and then at Comptonville. In 1864 he began a residence of several years in San Francisco, and in 1869 he located on the West Side of the San Joaquin Valley, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. ' At first he had a ranch of 320 acres, but afterward he bought a large tract of land near Crows Landing, and he kept on buying until he had 1,500 acres. In 1900, after having made agriculture a real success, he turned his large ranch over to his son, Louis, and removed to Alameda. His wife, by whom he had eight children who grew to maturity, was Catherine Elfers, who was also a native of Hanover. Children born to Mrs. Scanlon's first marriage were Frank, Howard, Dorothy Totman. Mr. and Mrs. Scanlon make their home on a half section of the old Elfers ranch, directly south of Patterson — a farm with thirty acres devoted to alfalfa, while the balance is used for the raising of grain. They have also 280 acres of pasture land adjoining the old Zacharias farm. WILLIAM ADOLPH OBERKAMPER.— An enterprising rancher who is doing his part to bring California agriculture to the highest state of development, is William Adolph Oberkamper, who was born at Buff Creek, Franklin County, Mo., on February 10, 1882, the third son and next to the youngest child in a family of four sons and six daughters. His father, William M. Oberkamper, was born in Germany, and when two years old was brought to America by his father who was a farmer of Alsace-Lorraine, and sought for his children the advantages of the New World. When William M. Oberkamper grew up, he married Miss Sophia Stube, a native of Missouri, whose parents, also of old German stock, were among the first pioneers in Missouri to clear the forests and to break the virgin soil. Both of the parents of our subject are still living, and reside at Jefferson, Iowa, where they are enjoying retirement in near proximity to all of their children save the one son in California. William Adolph attended the grammar school in Missouri and then for a couple of terms went to the high school in Iowa, to which state his father had removed from Missouri, locating at Jefferson ; and as a young man he hired out for farm labor at twenty-six dollars per month — good wages for those times — and continued at that for five years. Then he farmed for John Edwards, near Bagley, Iowa, for four years, who, for a quarter of a century, lived in Guthrie County, not far from Des Moines, where he was a township trustee, and while acquiring wealth made also an enviable reputation for fair and square dealing. On December 18, 1906, Mr. Oberkamper married at Bagley Miss Jessie J. Edwards, the eldest daughter of the pioneer, and soon took full charge of his father-in- law's farm, enabling Mr. Edwards, in 1907, to come out to California on an extended { *&. /£d4**70'*l'rt^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1025 visit. In 1910 Mr. Oberkamper disposed of his personal property at Bagley and came to California, and for one and a half years he was farming near Turlock. Today he is the owner of three twenty-acre farms in Stanislaus County, one of which he devotes to the growing of alfalfa and the running of a dairy, the other — the home place— he uses to grow peaches and for a vineyard, and the third, of twenty acres, which he intends to develop as a vineyard. He is a member of the California Asso ciated Raisin Company, and has been a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers Union since its organization. He is also interested in horticulture, and in all the movements in that field to benefit California husbandry. He holds considerable stock in the Co-operative Garage of Modesto, being also a director on the board, and he has an interest in the Union Warehouse. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers Press Association, which publishes the Farmers Daily Journal at Turlock, published solely in the interests of the farmers, and is the only paper of its kind in the entire West. As a keen business man he has great faith in the Co-operative Farmers Protective Association. He has been a hard worker in his time, and has always made a success because of his fidelity to the tasks in hand. Five children have been granted Mr. and Mrs. Oberkamper: Ivan, Orvis, Elden, Verdella and Leona. Mr. Oberkamper is president of the board of direc tors of the Keyes district school, and he helps to support the Christian Church. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows. During the war he was a member of the Loans Committees, and there also demonstrated his capacity and willingness for hard labor. F. D. VOLKMAN. — Still hale and hearty among the early pioneers of Stanislaus County, F. D. Volkman enjoys the distinction of being the oldest living inhabitant, as he was the second settler at Valley Home, formerly called Thalheim. He is the owner and proprietor of the Pioneer hotel, delightfully and conveniently situated on the State Highway; and there, with the aid of his gifted and tactful wife, while attending closely to business and the wants and wishes of his many patrons, he proves the popular host and the large-hearted, generous and loyal citizen. He was born in Hanover, Ger many, on September 1, 1853, and, while attending the schools of that country, was brought up in the Lutheran Church. He early went to Hamburg, and for five years was employed in that city. Later, he was a couple of years in the German postal service, and while in his native land married Miss Katrina Wolf, with whom, and their one child, he came to America in 1883. He settled for a while at Lincoln, Neb., and indeed lived twenty years in that state. He worked as a clerk in a store at Lincoln, and while there joined the A. O. U. W., the same lodge of which Hon. William J. Bryan was also a member. Afterwards he was engaged in the mercantile business in Lincoln and became an enter prising and progressive citizen of the capital city. Mrs. Volkman died in Lincoln, the mother of two children. The elder child, Fred, is an upholsterer and an expert maker of mattresses ; and Freda, the daughter, has become the wife of Anton Schultz, the farmer, at Valley Home. During his residence in Lincoln, Mr. Volkman was mar ried a second time, choosing for his wife Miss Clara Lagner, of Waverly, Kans. He is a prominent Lutheran and also influential as a standpat Republican. With the exception of one person, Mr. Volkman was the first settler at this place, to which he came in 1903, when he bought twenty acres. As soon as he had improved his property to alfalfa, an orchard and vineyard, he began to boost for a station and a town. The railroad company took its time to build the depot, and he actually erected the hotel before the company had built its station. Through Judge J. C. Needham, then a member of congress, the postoffice of Thalheim was established, 1903, and Mr. Volkman was appointed postmaster. He also opened a store in a part of the Pioneer Hotel building, in which he established the postoffice. After ten years he closed out the store and three years later, although reappointed, wishing to be relieved from the care of the postoffice, he did not qualify as postmaster. After his retirement, he received some very flattering letters from the Postoffice department at Washington, commending his long years of honest and faith ful service. Mr. Volkman is entitled, therefore, to much credit for his public-spirited- 1026 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ness, especially as he was called upon to bear a heavy burden, which he met with heroic enterprise. In 1916, fire destroyed his comfortable and attractive hotel, and as he then had only $1,000 worth of insurance, he lost about $6,000. On rebuilding, he provided for eight handsome, well-furnished guest-rooms, with an adequate kitchen and dining-room, both equipped with every modern convenience, of which Mr. Volkman is a genial host, and this he calls the Pioneer Hotel. He has also built for himself a comfortable residence. When he first settled here, Mr. Volkman, a patriotic Ameri can, but with pleasant recollections of boyhood scenes, chose as the name of the place the German Thalheim — an appellation long popular, not only in Germany, but with both Americans and English who had German associations; but owing to the feeling engendered by the World War, this poetic title was translated literally — Valley Home. OLE TORVEND. — The part which a local bank plays in the life of a rapidly growing agricultural community cannot be overestimated in its importance, and in Ole Torvend the Bank of Patterson has found a man well fitted to administer the affairs of the important office of cashier. Although not yet thirty years of age, he has proven himself to be thoroughly capable of handling the many duties and responsibili ties which are a portion of his daily round. Mr. Torvend has been a resident of Stanislaus County since 1912, and has taken an active part in the business affairs of Patterson since that time, and today holds the confidence and esteem of the leading business men of the county. He is a native of Polk County, Minn., born near Crookston, January 25, 1891, the son of Severt and Bertina (Markunsen) Torvend. His father at an early date homesteaded and pre empted extensive lands in Polk County, Minn., where our subject was reared and educated. After graduating from the grammar school and high school of Crookston, he took the agricultural course at the Agricultural College at Crookston, and during his vacation times he helped with the farm work. It was in 1911 that Mr. Torvend's parents came to California, accompanied by five of their seven sons, the eldest of whom is superintendent of schools in North Dakota, and Ole remaining to complete his college course. He followed his family the next year, and went into the grocery business at Patterson in partnership with a j'ounger brother, Henry Torvend, and for three years they successfully conducted this enterprise in connection with a cream depot, buying for the Oakland, Cal., Creamery. In 1916 a party of young men of Stanislaus County went into Lassen County and homesteaded lands on the Madaline Plains, and Mr. Torvend sold his business interests and joined this party. Within the year, however, they had determined that the lands were not of sufficient value to justify their further development, and the party returned to Stanislaus County. In January, 1917, Mr. Torvend accepted a position with the Kerr Hardware Company as bookkeeper and clerk, remaining with this firm for a year. On January 1, 1918, he was- offered a position as bookkeeper with the Bank of Patterson, which he accepted, and at the end of six months was pro moted to assistant cashier. Here he filled his position with such satisfaction and ability that on January 1, 1920, he was made cashier, which position he now holds. Mr. Torvend's marriage was solemnized in Patterson, September 19, 1917, his bride being Miss Emma Mickelson, the daughter of John and Tilda (Blomgren) Mickelson, and a native of Minnesota. When she was eight years of age, her father moved with his family to Norway, Mich., where he engaged in farming. Here Mrs. Torvend passed her girlhood, receiving her education in the local grammar and high schools, and after completing her education jhe engaged in business. In 1913, she came to California with her parents, locating at Patterson, where her father pursued his vocation of farmer, and here she accepted a position with the Martin Berlin Dry- goods Store, which she successfully filled until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Torvend have one child, Esmeralda Ovidia. They are both prominent members of the Lutheran Church of Patterson, and generously support its activities. Mr. Torvend is considered one of the rising young men of this part of the state and promises to be a power in his locality. Broad minded and progressive, he adheres strictly to high principles in busi ness matters as well as in personal conduct. . HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1029 GEORGE H. HUGHSON. — An enterprising auto-dealer, whose success and prosperity are evidenced in a modern and very attractive garage with every desirable equipment, is George H. Hughson, a native of Buffalo, N. Y., where he was born on December 20, 1893. His father, also a native of New York, was of the same name; and he married Miss Juliet Smith. She was a good mother and a good wife; and George was in luck with parents who bestowed upon him such advantages as they could. He attended boarding school, and later studied at Ridley College, in St. Catherine, Ontario, across the Niagara from Buffalo. In 1911, when George was eighteen years of age, he came out to California and settled at San Francisco; and for four years he worked with his brother, William L. Hughson, the Ford agent for San Francisco, in the sales department. In 1917 he moved inland to Hughson, Stanislaus County, took the Ford agency for the place, bought a garage and opened a shop, garage and salesroom for business, and from the first met with success. In 1920 Mr. Hughson started a new garage building in Hughson, in size 70x150 feet, and built the same of hollow tile at a cost, approximately, of $25,000. The building has just been completed, and has a salesroom, a storeroom, and a complete repair shop. Mr. Hughson employs on the average three mechanics, and he carries such a complete stock of parts that, if necessary, he could assemble a complete car from his stock, and not every garage can boast of that. He also has the agency for the Fordson tractors, with implements, as well as all necessary parts. Since the late ruling that Ford dealers can sell anj'where in the country it has very materially increased Mr. Hughson's sales. People no longer are required to buy where they live, a ruling he finds greatly to his advantage. On July 19, 1916, at Buffalo, N. Y., Mr. Hughson was married to Magdaline Krauss, the daughter of Dr. W. C. and Clara Krauss. Dr. Krauss was a brain spe cialist, and was well known throughout Northern New York. In politics, Mr. Hughson is a Republican, but as a rule he is a good nonpartisan "booster." WILLIAM M. REED. — A worthy representative of one of Stanislaus County's sturdy pioneer families, and himself a native son .of California,' William Reed is living on the old home place, where he is engaged in ranching. He was born in the Napa Valley, near Yountville, February 13, 1864, his parents being William Martin and Nancy Emeline (Spriggs) Reed. The father was born in Kentucky, and spent the early days of his manhood there, being a breeder of fine horses and cattle. On coming to California he continued stock raising and shipped the first herd of Ayrshire cattle into the state. He was also extensively interested in grain farming and sheep raising, having from 3,000 to 5,000 head, the sparsely settled country giving him ample graz ing room. Stanislaus County was indeed a wild country when William Martin Reed came there, antelope, coyotes and wildcats abounding in the valley. Settling near Crows Landing, he erected the 'old homestead, and it was for many years the finest dwelling in the vicinity. William Reed grew up in the Crows Landing district, and received his early education in the old Orestimba school, but like many of the boys of that time, his school days were not of long duration and a large part of his education has been gained through his own efforts. For seven years after his marriage he made his home on the old home place, and then removed to San Francisco, where he spent the ten succeeding years with the United Railways Company. Returning at this time to Stanislaus County, he took up the supervision of the ranch, which had become known as the Spriggs place, the mother having married J. M. Spriggs after the passing away of her husband in 1866. Mr. Spriggs was a native of South Carolina, born there in Greenville County in 1826. Removing to Georgia, he was married there to Miss S. A. Carroll, and engaged in the mercantile business there until 1850, when with his family he set out for California with a party of gold seekers. Traveling with a twelve- mule wagon train, cholera became prevalent, and half of their party succumbed to this disease. With one companion, Mr. Spriggs left the party and made their way on foot, with only a pack pony, and as their provisions ran short, they were compelled to subsist on prairie dog flesh and the seed pods of the wild rose, finally reaching the 1030 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY American River, where Mr. Spriggs engaged in mining. For a time the Spriggs family lived in Yolo County, and later in Napa County, where Mr. Spriggs had charge of a hotel. In the meantime, Mrs. Spriggs passed away and in 1867 he was married to Mrs. William M. Reed, locating then in Stanislaus County, where for many years he engaged in grain farming on a large scale, cultivating 2,500 acres. Mrs. Nancy Spriggs died in 1903, her husband passing away at a later date. Mr. Reed's marriage, which occurred on September 1, 1895, united him with Miss Agnes S. Beaagoe, like himself a native of California. She was born in San Francisco and educated in Modesto, and is the daughter of Christian and Sophie (Gardemeier) Beaagoe, her father for years being proprietor of the Modesto Soda Works. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have three children: Wiletta teaches school at Oakland; Zeila teaches at Patterson, and Clayton is at home. A sterling, upright citizen, Mr. Reed casts his vote for the man best fitted for the office, regardless of party lines. Proud of his native state, he is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West. MRS. HENRIETTA DUCOT.— Interesting as one of the oldest continuous residents in the La Grange region, Mrs. Henrietta Ducot, widow of the late Peter Lucien Ducot, is the oldest daughter of one of the best-known pioneer families at La Grange. She was born in Germany in 1849, and her father was William Dominici, a native of Luechow, Hanover, Germany, the son of Henry and Dorathea Dominici. At the age of fourteen William entered a mill as an apprentice, and he completed the trade when nineteen. He then took an extended trip through Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France. In 1846, he was married to Miss Henrietta Nadtler, a native of Osterwaldt, Hanover. Mr. Dominici carried on his trade in a mill he owned at Locum. On December 10, 1852, he took passage for New York in a sailing vessel; and while at sea severe storms were encountered for seventeen days successively, and the vessel narrowly escaped being wrecked upon the coasts of England and Holland ; but they at length arrived in New York City on the ship Herschel, which had lost her bulwark to the starboard side. While in New York, Mr. Dominici met with a great misfortune, as he paid $400 for tickets for his family to San Francisco on the steamer Uncle Sam, and there being no such vessel in existence, he lost his money. This occurred during the ticket swindle of 1853. However, the family left New York on the fifth of April, and took passage on the steamship Panama; they crossed the Isthmus, and arrived at San Francisco on May 5. Mr. Dominici went to French Bar, near La Grange, then in Tuolumne County, where he settled; and he mined at French Hill until '56, meeting with success. Later, he came to have a valuable farm of 280 acres, well improved, with a large vineyard and orchard near the house. It was situated on the Tuolumne River, one and a half miles from La Grange, thirty-three miles east of Modesto. William Dominici supplied the valley and mountain towns with fruit and wine from his orchard and vineyard for many years, for his was a good agricultural section, arid excellent prices were obtained in the mountains for all the produce that was raised. At the time of his coming to America in 1852-53, the family of Mr. Dominici consisted of his wife and two little girls, Henrietta and Mary, who died in 1888. A boy was born in Germany and died there ; and five children — Charlotte, Milton, Her man, Ernest and Rosa — were born at La Grange. In addition to mining and then engaged in truck-gardening, Mr. Dominici was the owner of a stock ranch of 280 acres. He lived to be eighty-two years of age and died in 1904, survived for only a year by his wife, who passed away in her eighty-first year. Of the five children born to the parents at La Grange, two died in California. Ernest passed away in childhood; and Charlotte died in 1916 at La Grange. She married John Burt, and became the mother of three children. The three still living are: Milton, who resides in San Francisco; Herman, who lives at Modesto; and Rosa, who is the wife of John Stockel, and resides at Hayward. Henrietta Dominici attended the public schools, going for three months in the year, and in 1863, when she was fourteen years of age, she was married to Peter Lucien Ducot. He mined for a while at La Grange, and then gardened below La Grange; and in 1871 he proved up on a homestead of 160 acres, and in 1883 proved HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1031 up on a preemption of 160 acres; and he then built the Ducot home on the homestead of 160 acres, where Mrs. Ducot now lives. This land has never been out of the Ducot family's hands. The two sons, Ernest and Henry L. Ducot, have since bought 280 acres, which they own jointly, making 600 acres in all owned by the mother and sons. Mr. Ducot, who died on October 9, 1914, in his seventy-eighth year, was born in France, and was one of the early settlers at French Bar who gave most of his time to farming and gardening. Peter Ducot was a good and very able man; and it is related that during the great flood of 1862, at the risk of his own life, he rowed a boat out to a tree in the bottom-land of the Tuolumne River, then a raging flood, and rescued a man, a boy and a dog — Dr. Booth, Dr. Booth's son and their pet, who were perched in a tree where they had taken refuge from the mad torrent. He made two attempts before he succeeded in the rescue ; in the first attempt, the strong current swept his boat past the tree ; but he exerted all his strength and brought the boat up a second time to the tree, where men and beast had been two and a half days. Within a half hour after the rescue, the tree sank, its roots washed out. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ducot. Henry L. died in his four teenth year. Marietta is the wife of Robert L. Bright, and they reside with their eight children in Modesto. Ernest A. was born near La Grange on May 26, 1869. Charlotte is the wife of J. C. Hall of Redding, Cal., a machinist at the cement works at Cowell. Lilly and Rosa were twins ; Lilly married Frank Morton, the rancher near La Grange, and they have one child living ; and Rosa is the wife of Lou Spenker, who is employed by the Southern Pacific at Modesto. Adelcia is the widow of Harry Handy of Merced County, where he used to ranch ; she now lives in Modesto and has two children. Henry L. Ducot was born on this family ranch, on September 27, 1877, and at Stockton, on May 10, 1920, he was married to Miss Hazel Palmer of Tuolumne County. They now reside on the ranch with our subject. Melvina is the wife of Lou Ferretti, garage owner at Groveland, and they have one child. The Ducot farm is a typical California ranch, nestling among the undulating hills. The Ducot brothers, who rent 500 acres in addition, run the place, and they raise grain and hay. They own and operate a large barley-crushing machine and a threshing outfit. They thresh not only their own grain and crush their own barley, but they thresh or clean for neighboring ranchers as well, and they threshed 10,000 sacks in 1920. They have two large machine sheds and a blacksmith shop, and so expert are they that they build wagons, and good ones, too. The Ducot brothers pump the water needed for domestic stock and garden pur- poses~from an open or dug well, bricked up to the top, 170 feet deep, and they put that wanted for stock and irrigation into a roofed circular tank of brick and concrete holding 28,000 gallons, excavated out of the hillside, while the water needed for the house is pumped into a smaller cement tank near the dwelling. MRS. KATHERINE McCABE HIGH.— A distinguished representative of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, whose influence for good, emanating from her comfortable home, is much appreciated by all who have the best interests of _ California at heart, is Mrs. Katherine McCabe High, who was born on the historic Edward McCabe Ranch about nine miles from Modesto, on August 3, 1878. Her father, Ed ward McCabe, was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, and when a lad migrated to America and settled for a while in Massachusetts. Later, he came out to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and landed at San Francisco; and from there he went to Columbia, in Tuolumne County, and worked in the mines, near Sonora Town. Striking some luck, he settled in Stanislaus County in 1868. Katherine McCabe was sent first to the Adamsville school in the Adams dis trict, and later to the Jones school, after which she settled in the Adamsville district and took up home duties, her parents having died. Her father met accidental death, while driving a team, and her mother passed away in 1885, and was buried in Mo desto. She was Catherine Mullins in maidenhood, and came of Irish descent, having been born in County Clare, Ireland. The sons carried on the work of the farm, and Annie McCabe presided over the household. 1032 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY On October 6, 1900 Katherine McCabe was married to Isaac High, a native of Tennessee, the ceremony taking place at Modesto and the wedding proving one of the pleasant social events of the day. Mr. High came to California a young man of eighteen, worked on ranches until his marriage, when they bought eighty acres in the Hart district eight miles west of Modesto, which they improved and farmed until his death. He was highly esteemed as a man, a citizen, a neighbor and a friend, and his demise on April 11, 1917, was widely regretted. They had a daugh ter, Veda, who died at the age of eleven years, on September 8, 1914. Mrs. High still owns the ranch but now lives at her home on Fourth Street, Modesto, where she dispenses a cheering hospitality, and maintains her work as treasurer of Morada Parlor No. 199 Native Daughters of the Golden West. OLIVER JOSEPH MUSCIO. — A broad-minded, progressive and representative dairy farmer is Oliver Joseph Muscio, of the Langworth precinct, who operates exten sively where he resides, about three miles west of Oakdale. A native son, he was born at Olema, Marin County, on August 24, 1877, the son of Joseph Muscio, a pioneer dairyman who came to Marin County from Santa Cruz County in 1866, a native of the Canton Ticino, Switzerland. When sixteen years old, he came to California, locating in Santa Cruz County. There he learned dairying, cheese and butter making, and, becoming expert in this work, he had no trouble in disposing of all of his wares during the Civil War period, when there was a general shortage of food supplies. He was married at Olema, in Marin County, to Mariana Albertoli, also a native of the Canton Ticino, who became our subject's mother; and she died when the lad was ten years old, leaving eight children, all now living. Dante is a merchant at Pt. Reyes, in Marin County. Eda is the wife of James Bulletti, a retired dairyman, and resides at Modesto. Oliver Joseph was the third in the order of birth. Lillian resides at Modesto with Mrs. Bulletti, and Romaine, who is a dairyman and a poultryman in the suburb of Modesto. Henry is the proprietor of the M. & F. Garage on Seventh Street, in Modesto. Lena is Mrs. Thompson and resides at San Francisco, and Camillo lives in Modesto. Joseph Muscio is still living, aged 79 years, at Pt. Reyes. Oliver J. Muscio grew up in Marin County on his father's dairy farm, where he had plenty of hard work, but labor through which he learned the valuable arts of cheese and butter making, and was well initiated into every other branch of dairying. During these years he attended Olema public schools. His father shipped many tons of butter to the San Francisco market, selling the same through San Francisco com mission men. In those days the dairymen did not have separators nor present-day conveniences. The milk had to be panned and skimmed by hand, the pans after wards carefully washed and scalded, so as to be absolutely sanitary, and the churning was done by hand, until they began using horsepower, which was a great labor-saving improvement. In 1900 Oliver J. rented a dairy farm for himself on the extreme point of Pt. Reyes, maintained there 160 milch cows, and made butter which he, too, shipped to the San Francisco market, and this place he operated for ten years. In time, too, Mr. Muscio was married to Miss Addie Pedrotti, born in Olema, Marin County, by whom he had two children. Genevieve died at sixteen years in February, 1919, and Oliver J. died when a babe. In 1907, Mrs. Muscio also passed away. Mr. Muscio afterward married Miss Gilda Pedranti, who was also born in Olema, Marin County, the daughter of Angelo Pedranti, who is still living, a retired dairyman, at Olema. Four children were born of this union. Oliver Joseph and Owen Francis, twins ; Lilly Gida and lone E. Mr. Muscio came to Modesto seven years ago and engaged in dairying. He rented eighty acres of alfalfa land and kept sixty cows. Five years ago he moved up to the Patterson farm at Oakdale, taking a five-year lease of the land, comprising 100 acres of the Patterson ranch; he had 100 milch cows and he kept fifty head of young stock. In 1920, he bought about sixty-four acres of the old Crawford Ranch from J. M. Murtha, and only recently he has taken possession and moved onto the land, and is checking it and putting in alfalfa. He keeps graded Holsteins and a full- blooded Holstein bull, about 100 head all told, and such is the quality of his stock that HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1035 when he sold out on the Patterson ranch, before moving, he received on the average, at the auction sale, not less than $115 per head for his cows. Mr. Muscio's wife has been an able helpmate, and much of their success is due to her. She ably assists her husband and takes an initiative in their various undertakings. Mr. Muscio paid '$400 per acre for the ranch recently purchased by him, and he has already refused $500 per acre for the same, much of the choice land lying in the Stanislaus River bottom. Not only did Mr. Muscio early join the Milk Producers' Association of Central Cali fornia, thereby becoming a charter member, but realizing that cooperation is the sal vation of the dairy industry in the San Joaquin Valley, he got all his neighbors to join with him, and is a member of its board of directors. He was brought up in the Roman Catholic Church, but in recent years he has broadened in his views; he seeks to apply the Golden Rule in his dealings with others, and he thus endeavors to live the Chris tian life. OSCAR HOGIN. — As the genial host of the Hotel Modesto for the period from November, 1917, to February, 1920, Oscar Hogin counts among his friends and acquaintances the leading traveling men of the coast, business and professional men of California who have chanced to be guests at Modesto's leading hostelry during the past three j'ears, and a score of the leading politicians of the state, for, together with his capable wife, he made the traveling public welcome to the metropolis of Stanislaus County. Since early in 1920 he has been residing on his sixty-acre ranch on Water ford Road, four miles east of Modesto, where he has been proving that he has not forgotten his skill as a farmer, nor lost his ability for good hard work. He is thor oughly enjoying the country life, and boosts the "back-to-the-farm" movement. Mr. Hogin was born near Modesto, August 13, 1873, and was reared and educated in this county, where he has passed almost his entire life. He is the son of Bailey Peyton Hogin, who came to Stanislaus County from Gordonsville, Smith County, Tenn., where he had been born and reared. He practiced law in both Ten nessee and Arkansas until the time of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the Con federate Army, from the latter state, and served during the entire period of the con flict. After the war he was married in Tennessee to Miss Margaret Ellen Maddux, of that state. Her ancestors, like those of Mr. Hogin, had come from Virginia to Tennessee, her grandfather having originally come across from Ireland, where his family was an old and honored one. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey Peyton Hogin came to California in 1870, with their eldest son, Edgar, now a rancher in Merced County. Six children were born to them in California, all natives of Stanislaus County: Ava, now Mrs. Frank Thornton, residing on a ranch six miles from Modesto ; Oscar, the subject of this review; G. M., a partner of Oscar in the farming industry, and resid ing in Modesto ; Ora, the wife of J. W. Coffee, residing five miles east of Modesto ; Stella, married to S. O. Wooten, a rancher near Modesto, and deceased since 1905; and Corinne Margaret, now Mrs. A. Griffin, of Brooks, Alberta, Canada. Our Mr. Hogin was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools of the county, including the Modesto high school, and completed a course at the Ramsey Business College at Stockton. His marriage occurred in Modesto, in September, 1896, uniting him with Miss Minnie McKimmon, a daughter of R. J. McKimmon, a native of Memphis, Tenn., and a California pioneer and a farmer near Salida. Mrs. Hogin was born near Salida, where she was reared. Her mother was Celia Dye, a native of Ohio, who was married to R. J. McKimmon at Stockton, Cal., in 1853. Mr. McKimmon himself had come around Cape Horn to San Fran cisco in 1851. For three or four years he mined and prospected, and then came to Stanislaus County and engaged in farming near the present site of Salida. Mrs. Hogin is one of ten children, all born at Salida, and all well and favorably known in this county. Her father passed away at Modesto several years ago, at the age of seventy- five, and the mother in January, 1919, at the age of eighty-two. Mrs. Hogin possesses the generous hospitality for which her Southern ancestors are so justly famous, and her home is always a center of social activities. Mr. Hogin was for some years in partnership with Henry T. Crow, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Together they erected the Modesto Hotel in 1036 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1913-14, opening it June 1, 1914. In February, 1920, the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Crow taking over the hotel, which he now conducts, and Mr. Hogin taking the sixty-acre ranch, where he now resides, as a portion of his share in the partnership. Mr. Hogin also is in partnership in several undertakings with his brother, Gratton M. Hogin, including 385 acres of land on an island above Crows Landing bridge, which they are planting to alfalfa and prunes, and anticipate that it will be come of great value. Mrs. Hogin also owns valuable business property in Modesto, on Eleventh Street. Mr. and Mrs. Hogin take an active part in all civic and social affairs in Modesto. They are the parents of one child, a daughter, Beatrice, now the wife of W. H. Conner, associated with Mr. Hogin in the home farm management. JOHN E. BURK. — A successful rancher with a previous varied and valuable experience is John E. Burk, who was born in the northern part of Sweden on No vember 28, 1857, the eldest son of Eric and Mary (Johnson) Burkmann. He at tended the elementary schools for three months of each year, during the winter time, until he was thirteen years of age, and enjoyed the comfortable home life of a family belonging to a line of prosperous farmers, and after serving for a year in the Swedish National Guard, came to America when he was twenty-two years of age, and settled at Chicago. He entered a large iron foundry and for twelve years worked at the foundryman's trade; but on account of broken health, he moved out to Western Nebraska and homesteaded 160 acres in Cheyenne County. In time he proved up on this land, and although compelled to climb numerous hills, so to speak, he made steady progress in acquiring something for himself. Selling out in 1902, he came to the Pacific Coast the following year, and settled in Stanislaus County. Since then, through his own unaided efforts, Mr. Burk has developed his farm of forty acres into a fine and very productive fruit and grain ranch. He is a con scientious student, profits by what others have learned and given out, works hard and intelligently, and operates in the most practical manner, and while affording the best example to others, attains certain and definite results for himself. At Turlock, in 1916, Mr. Burk was married to Miss Christina Hall, a native of Sweden who came to America in the late nineties and settled here with a brother and sister. Her engaging personality soon made her many friends, and with Mr. Burk she enjoys a large circle of pleasant acquaintances. Mr. Burk was granted American citizenship at Chicago in November, 1884, and he has since performed his duties with the suffrage according to the leadership of the Democratic party. JOSEPH M. VINCENT. — Locating at Ceres, where he has since made his home, in the fall of 1904, Joseph M. Vincent, prominent implement merchant, service sta tion proprietor and owner of the Ceres waterworks, came to Stanislaus County from Sonora Town, Tuolumne County. He bought the blacksmithing business of Averill Brothers & Hall, the oldest and best established shop of its kind in this part of the county, and greatly developed and extended the business. In 1905 he became engaged in the implement business, being the pioneer in Ceres in this line. However, the growing town offered other outlets for the constructive ability of Mr. Vincent. In 1919 he disposed of his blacksmith business to Kraft & Fletcher. The development of the Ceres waterworks has been as follows: He started with power furnished by windmills, but has since installed an electric power plant with a gas auxiliary. He has two wells with a capacity of 100,000 gallons per day, and his customers have increased from fifteen to more than one hundred. His enterprise is rated as a public utility and is under the control of the State Railroad Commission. The city of Ceres is greatly indebted to the enterprise and foresight of Mr. Vincent, and to his energy and self-sacrificing spirit, for, although the increased cost of con struction has minimized his profits, and he has realized only about three per cent on his investment, the city of Ceres has water, which means fully as much to this loyal citizen as higher rates of interest. Mr. Vincent is a native of California, and descended from one of the early pioneer families. His father was Antone Vincent, a native of Flores, Azores Islands, who ran away from home and came to California as a navigator in the days of the gold HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1039 excitement. He was active in the mining industry during the turbulent days of the fifties and sixties of the last century, and later brought his wife on from the Azores, finally locating at Tuttletown, where seven children were born to them, Joseph M., born on October 10, 1875, being the oldest of the surviving members of the family. His boyhood days were passed on his father's farm at Tuttletown, where he attended the public school, and at thirteen went to work on the ranch, doing a man's part. In 1896 Mr. Vincent engaged in his first independent venture, which was freight ing from Oakdale to Sonora. He was an expert in handling horses and followed this line until 1903, when he engaged in the blacksmithing and wagon-making business in Sonora Town, where he remained for two years, and only sold his business when he determined to come to Stanislaus County, which he did in the fall of 1904. Since residing at Ceres, Mr. Vincent has not confined himself to his various commercial enterprises, but has also engaged in ranching. He bought a farm of 100 acres at Turlock, which he improved and later sold to his brother. The marriage of Mr. Vincent and Miss Mary Prairo took place in Sonora Town in September, 1902. Mrs. Vincent is a native of Contra Costa County, her parents having died there when she was a young girl. Later she moved to Sonora Town, where she met and married Mr. Vincent. Of their union have been born two children, a son, Anthony S., who is his father's partner in the service station, and a daughter, Gladys, a high school student, popular in the young set. Mr. Vincent goes steadily ahead, accomplishing one improvement after another in a quiet and steady manner, but with very noticeable results. He is deeply inter ested in the welfare of his adopted city, and takes an active part in any movement which goes toward the upbuilding and development of Ceres, such as the bond drive for the sewer construction plans, and in all the Red Cross and war loan drives. Politically he is a Republican, but in all local matters he stands for constructive and progressive measures, regardless of party lines. Hunting and fishing are his hobbies. FRANK J. GOMES. — One of the pioneer dairymen and farmers of Stanislaus County is F. J. Gomes, who came first to California in 1877, and soon thereafter came into Stanislaus County, where for a time he was engaged in the cattle and sheep busi ness; it was in 1899, however, that he established a permanent residence here. He is now one of the independently wealthy men of the county, and occupies a position high in the confidence of the leading business men and farmers of this part of the state. His home place is a valuable seventy-acre ranch three miles east of Hughson. Mr. Gomes is a native of the island of Flores, Azores Islands, born October 23, 1855, under the flag of Portugal. He has, however, been a loyal and patriotic citizen of the United States for many years, having received his citizenship papers in Modesto in 1881. His father was Frank Gomes, a substantial farmer, owner of valuable lands and a prominent citizen of beautiful Flores, of which he, too, was a native. Our Mr. Gomes bade good-bye tb home and family when he was but eighteen years of age, and shipped on a whaling schooner for a trip through the Arctic Zone. After a cruise covering two years, the ship touched port at San Francisco, but none of the crew was allowed to go ashore, the captain and his wife alone visiting San Fran cisco. Mr. Gomes tells an interesting and sorrowful tale of the weary months spent aboard this vessel. The food was poor, consisting only of stale and mostly salt foods with no green vegetables at all, and they were kept closely on board for fear of desertions. Following the Arctic trip, they went to the coast of Mexico, where for two years they were variously occupied, principally in the waters of Lower California, although Mr. Gomes spent some time in the sugar camps of Santa Susana. When he 'finally quit the ship he was given $100 in silver, then a large amount of cash to possess. It was *t this time that Mr. Gomes came to California, landing at San Francisco and from there going to San Jose, where he worked for a time as a laborer. At an early date he settled at Knights Ferry, where he clerked for Mr. Clifford in his gen eral merchandise store for a year, coming then to Modesto, where he worked for the following two years as a clerk in various stores. He then engaged in the hotel busi ness in Modesto and also became extensively interested in the cattle and sheep busi ness. In this enterprise he prospered until the free trade administration of Grover 1040 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Cleveland brought general ruin to sheep men, and in the reverses which followed hard Mr. Gomes found himself left with his splendid health as his only asset. From Modesto, Mr. Gomes went directly to Golconda, Nev., where for six years he was engaged with John Selbers in the stock business. But he always desired to return to Stanislaus County, and as soon as he was financially able, he returned to Modesto, and in 1899 bought a tract of thirty acres of C. N. Whitmore, at Ceres, paying for it thirty dollars an acre. It was a stubble field and there were no fences or roads in this section of the county. He at once engaged in the dairy business and in raising alfalfa, and after many reverses, won success. In 1884 Mr. Gomes made a trip back to his native island, spending a year there, and during that time he was united in marriage with Mary Rosa Gonsalves, a native of Flores. Of this union have been born eight children, namely: Mary is the wife of J. N. Martins of Ceres and the mother of seven children ; Lawrence is the father of a son and lives in Hughson ; Clara married Knute Jorgensen and lives in Berkeley and has one child ; Minnie and Louise are twins and live at home ; Tony is attending the Polytechnic high school in Oakland, and Emily and Joe are both at home. The chil dren are all natives of Stanislaus County and well-known here. Mr. and Mrs. Gomes take an active part in the welfare of their own community and are especially active among the Portuguese-Americans of the county. Mr. Gomes is an active member of the I. D. E. S. and also of the U. P. E. C, while Mrs. Gomes is a member of the S. P. R. S. I. Since the Cleveland administration, Mr. Gomes has been an ardent Republican, supporting the principles of that party faithfully and now owns his place at Ceres and seventy acres in Baldwin precinct. LEWIS A. LOVE. — So many men of marked ability and unquestionable fidelity live, work and in the end lay aside their labors, unrewarded and unsung, that it is pleasant to record the appreciation meted out to Lewis A. Love, the efficient city clerk of Modesto, by his fellow- townsmen and taxpayers, while he can still enjoy and be stimulated by the recognition. He took office on October 15, 1920, and has more and more given satisfaction in the discharge of his varied and responsible public duties. A native son, Mr. Love was born at Jackson, in Amador County, on October 31, 1890, the son of Lincoln Love, who was also born in that county, of parents who hailed from Ohio, who were pioneers of California. He was a farmer and a stockman, and he engaged successfully in teaming. He married Miss Lillian Dawson, whose family came from Alabama. Lewis attended the grammar school at Jackson, and then finished his schooling with a thorough business course at Heald's Business College in Stockton, where he was graduated in 1907. He had, however, started out for himself (in fact from the time he was fourteen had made his own way in the world), and after his graduation took up accounting and stenography. His first engagement was with the Southern Pacific Railroad Com pany in the Flood Building in San Francisco, where he was filing clerk and later stenographer in the head offices of the dining car, hotel and restaurant department, remaining with the company from 1907 until 1910. Mr. Love then moved to Tuolumne, and identified himself with the West Side Lumber Company, this branch being run as the Tuolumne Lumber Company. After spending three years at the manufacturing plant he was transferred to Modesto as accountant and office manager of their retail yards, until the company sold their hold ings to the Ward Lumber Company. He was, however, retained by the old company to liquidate their affairs and was thus engaged until he was appointed city clerk of Modesto. In addition to this post, he also holds the offices of city auditor, city assessor, city treasurer and city tax collector, all appointive offices, and, as can well be seen, takes up all his time. Non-partisan and a man above the narrow limitations of party fealty, Mr. Love works for the best man or measure, regardless of politics. In Stockton on November 19, 1913, Mr. Love was married to Miss Edna Leavitt, a native daughter, and the granddaughter of Judge Foster, an early jurist of Calaveras County, a charming and gifted lady, who shares her husband's popularity. Mr. Love has filled all chairs in Modesto Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1043 RALPH E. WATSON. — A successful agriculturist who has an enviable reputa tion as a stockman and a dairy expert, and who was one of the organizers of the Sacra mento-Yolo Dairy competition in the Sacramento Valley in conjunction with the Sacra mento-Yolo Farm Bureau, one of the noted livestock shows, is R. E. Watson, who came to Stanislaus County in the spring of 1909. He was born in Roanoke County, Va., on June 2, 1886, the son of John Allen Watson, a native of Virginia, whose paternal ancestors settled in the Shenandoah Valley. As a well-known pedagogue, he was a teacher of higher mathematics for thirty-five years and for many years was head of the department of mathematics in the Normal School of Lincoln, Nebr. He also served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature. He married Miss Fannie. Phelps, of Virginia, whose family tree reached back to some of the early and eminent families of Scotland. John Allen Watson owned twenty acres near Norwalk, Cal., and there our subject was reared. The Watsons marketed the first milk to be shipped to Los Angeles from that district, and for four years they furnished the total supply of fresh milk needed at the Good Samaritan Hospital. When his father died, on March 1, 1903, Mr. Watson continued to manage the farm, giving up his chance for a college education in order that his sister, who has since attained to distinction in the California educational field, might pursue her studies undisturbed and without disappointment. Reverses, however, broke up his work as a business venture, and he was obliged to quit, only to come back with new spirit. Soon after that, Mr. Watson came to Stanislaus County, and for eight years he conducted the Dos. Rios dairy farm, enjoying a marked degree of success, and in 1915 he was made president of the California State Association of Jersey Breeders, elected by a unanimous vote. He sold out his interests in the Dos Rios rancho in December, 1917, and took up his duties as manager for the Hendersons on their five ranches in the Sacramento Valley, continuing in that position for two years. In 1920, Mr. Watson purchased eighty acres at the southeast corner of the Gray son highway and the Saunders road, in the Westport district, in which he had first located in February, 1909. He had full charge of a herd of 125 registered Jersey cows, and marketed to the Modesto Creamery. This herd was begun with a number of cattle from the famous herd on the Mailliard estate of Marin County, which were brought. into California in 1867 around the Horn from the old Hood Stock Farm in New York state. Since then Mr. Watson has always taken a great interest in breed ing and in raising the standard of registered stock, and is regarded by those in author ity as one who thoroughly understands his business, and has done his part in advancing California husbandry. He served for four years as deputy sheriff under George Davis. One son was granted Mr. and Mrs. Watson, John Allen Watson, who died in youth. The sister already referred to is Dr. Edna Bailey, of Oakland, the widow of Captain Bailey of the Marine Corps, who died, leaving her with two little children. She finished her studies with honor at the University of California, and since 1915 has been in the service of the city of Oakland, and is now superintendent of all science work in the Oakland schools. Mr. Watson enjoys, as does his good wife, a wide circle of friends, and is particularly popular in Modesto Elk circles. GEORGE D. MEAD.— A vigorous supporter of the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is George D. Mead, long enjoj'ing the esteem of many because of his enviable status among Stanislaus County agriculturists as a successful rancher. He was born in Warren County, Pa., on May 3, 1857, and grew up near Oil City, the eldest son of Hiram Mead, a native also of that county, where he was born in 1832, and became a farmer and lumberman. He married Miss Sarah McRay, who came from the same vicinity, and was born about 1838. The Meads trace their ancestry back to the Whites, who came to America in the ship Lyon in 1632, when the record of John White begins. He was one of the selectmen of Cambridge in 1633. The McRays, on the other hand, are able to trace back to 1760, when some plucky Scotsmen came from the land of Burns to Warren County. They were merchants and lumbermen, and as such had a very honorable Part in the building up and developing of early Pennsylvania. What will be of espe cial interest to many readers not so familiar with the distant past is that the great- 1044 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY grandfather of George D. Mead founded Meadville, Pa., in 1799 — a splendid illus tration of the triumph of the pioneer American who overcame the many obstacles of those trying days. George Gordon Meade, the distinguished general of the Civil War, although he spelled his name differently, could also claim descent from this original Mayflower stem. George D. Mead attended the local public school, while he was reared on the farm and got an all-around knowledge of farm work. He also worked at saw milling and well remembers the day when the first oil well was brought in in that section. It was called the Drake well, and was sunk near Titusville. On November 9, 1892, Mr. Mead was married in Warren County to Miss Caro line M. Osborn, who was born, the day before Christmas, in 1871, the daughter of Frank C. and Jane (Smith) Osborn. Her mother was a distant relative of the Mead family, and her paternal ancestors were lumbermen and came from the Susquehanna Valley to Meadville, Pa. Her great-grandmother was a Boone, an own cousin of Daniel Boone, and her husband was killed by the Indians. Miss Osborn was care fully brought up at home, and enjoyed the best of Warren County schooling. Six children have been granted Mr. and Mrs. Mead. Hazel E. is a graduate nurse. Homer A. enlisted for service in the World War, trained at Camp Lewis, went over seas with the Three Hundred and Sixty-third Regiment, Ninety-first Division, and saw active service until his discharge. He is a mechanical genius and has been work ing on various useful inventions. He is a rancher and lives at home. George Dewey is also a rancher, as is Frank Hiram, while Lawrence C. attends the high school at Turlock, and Sarah Louise is a pupil of the grammar school. The family attend the First Methodist Church. Mr. Mead is a Republican, but one who voted for prohibi tion. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, in Grand Valley, Pa., lodge. On November 11, 1914, Mr. Mead "pulled up stakes" in Warren County and came out to California and Turlock, and two weeks later he was located on his farm a mile and a quarter south of the town. He is a charter member and a stockholder of the T. M. & G., incorporated in 1915, and of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. CHRISTIAN H. HANSEN.— A successful building contractor widely known for his extensive operations, is Christian H. Hansen, of the firm of Hansen & Woods. He was born in Minneapolis on February 1, 1881, the son of Hans and Lena Hansen, and there attended both the grammar and the high school. His father was a building contractor as well as a farmer, and became a settler in 1856. He came to the States from Schleswig, and, having pitched his tent in Minnesota, did his part in building up the country round about Minneapolis. Christian H., being one of a large family of children, did all he could to aid his parents until eighteen years of age, when he was thrown on his own resources. He worked his own way through school and the University of Minnesota, where he took an engineering course, graduating in 1901. Upon completing his studies he went into the contract building field, and the year of his graduation he settled in San Francisco. For the next fifteen years Mr. Hansen, as construction engineer, was in constant demand in the great work of erecting new office buildings, and also in important enter prises for both the national and the state governments, having charge, for example, of the Physicians' Building on Sutter and Powell streets, the Government warehouse at Fort Mason, as well, for three years, of the Agnew Insane Asylum. This was directly after the earthquake. During his last years of residence in San Francisco, as superintendent he had charge of the erection of various large public buildings in different parts of the state, among them being the historical Donner monument at Donner Lake, near Truckee. In May, 1920, with a most enviable record for experience and ability earned in one of the cities of highest record for modern building, Mr. Hansen came to Modesto, taking charge of the new high school building, then being constructed by Messrs. McLeran and Peterson, San Francisco contractors. His experience in the attractive inland town was so agreeable and satisfactory that he decided to make Modesto his home and scene of future labors, for he was also impressed by the business and the educational advantages. On August 1, with J. H. Woods, he opened an office, and then formed the Hansen- Woods Company, which contracts for all kinds of buildings, f ^1 Hk<""*"^^H " Bhi ?** H ^^m^k ^m^' Jm\ A " mmm\ ¦ ¦' ''¦¦yjjmmm L'V^H ' J I'll 1 fmW-J/ ^^ J WW .ai 1 * i | H^**W'M\:tH™ C^u^^^^/U^vk HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1047 and makes a specialty of the larger and more difficult. During the late war he was sent to the East and the Middle West in the service of the U. S. Government, which needed the most expert co-operation, and in Utah he superintended the construction of terminal depots and roundhouses. On June 27, 1909, Mr. Hansen was married to Miss Nettie Gondring, a native of Columbus, Nebr., and the daughter of Judge John M. Gondring, a highly esteemed jurist, and his cultured wife, Delia. Three children have blessed this union. Kenneth G. and Harold Lee Hansen are pupils of the grammar schools at Modesto, and the j'oungest is Christian H., Jr. HARRY LESLIE BROWN.— As the owner and proprietor of the leading hatchery in Stanislaus County, the Jubilee Hatchery at Ceres, H. L. Brown is recog nized as one of the leading poultrymen of the county, and also as an authority on the question of poultry breeding in all its details and ramifications. He has made a care ful study of his subject, and the fact that he has thoroughly mastered it is best attested by the large measure of his success. He came to Stanislaus County from Santa Cruz, in 1906 and bought ten acres at Ceres, where he now operates his hatchery. Starting in on a small scale, he has constructed all his own buildings, poultry runs and other improvements, and now has a hatchery of the latest improved design, with fifty-three Jubilee incubators with a capacity of 28,000 eggs, a brooding house of 15,000 capacity, and poultry yards capable of caring for some 2,000 fowls. He ships his baby chicks over the entire county, and receives many orders from greater distances, but as yet has not been able to supply his market. In fact, he often has the entire capacity of his hatchery under contract before the opening of the season, and with continued suc cess expects, in time, to double his capacity. As a general idea of the growth of his business it is interesting to note that in the spring of 1915 Mr. Brown sold some 25,000 chicks, and in 1920 over 70,000 were day-shipped throughout the county. Mr. Brown's birds have taken many prizes throughout the county and state, in cluding the poultry fairs at Modesto and Fresno, and the State Fair at Sacramento. He confines himself strictly to thoroughbred White Leghorns, breeding only the D. W. Young strain. His birds are noted for their size and beauty, as well as for their record as egg producers. His baby chicks are very carefully handled and shipped and are unusually strong and hardy. He has given up the brooding end of the industry, which has been taken over by his brother-in-law, H. Goertz, who has a modern brooder house of 3,000 capacity. Mr. Brown gives every detail of the business his personal attention, and is constantly endeavoring to improve the strains which he breeds. He is a member of the Central California Poultry Association, and markets all his products through this organization. His hatchery and his poultry yards are models of their kind, and his place is well worthy of a visit. Mr. Brown is a native of Wisconsin, born at Milwaukee on November 29, 1864. He was reared in Nebraska, where his father, Silas S. Brown, a native of New York State, moved with his family when the subject of this review was a lad. Here he bought land, paying four dollars per acre for lands that are now selling for three hundred to six hundred dollars per acre, and owning 480 acres in all. The mother, whose maiden name was Miss Elizabeth Tuttle, died when our Mr. Brown was a lad of eight years, and his father married a second time, Ella Keel becoming his wife. There were five children born of these two marriages, three sons of the first wife and one son and one daughter by the second. The father and step-mother still reside at Lyons, Burt County, Nebr., where H. L. Brown passed his boyhood days, engaged in the farm duties and attending the district school during brief terms each year. At the age of twelve years he worked as a man in the field, and his educational opportunities were limited, but he has always been ambitious and is today exceptionally well-informed and a truly well-educated man in the broadest sense of the word. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Brown started farming, running the home farm for his father on the shares. This he continued for some two years, and in 1888 he determined to come to California in search of wider opportunities. He located first at Fortuna, Humboldt County, and later in Santa Cruz County, where he was engaged in the saw mills at Laurel, being a grader for the Hihn Lumber Companj'. While in 43 1048 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Santa Cruz he became widely interested in the lumber industry, and was injured financially by a fire, which destroyed valuable property. He came to Stanislaus County in 1906, and for five years he worked in the lumber business at Ceres. In the meantime he had bought his ten-acre ranch, and was gradually developing his poultry industry, which has now grown to such splendid proportions. Mr. Brown has always taken a keen interest in agricultural and horticultural pursuits, and has attested to his faith in Stanislaus County by putting his available surplus funds into farm and orchard lands. Five of the ten acres constituting his home place he has planted to fig trees, which are just coming into bearing. Adjoining this place he owns another five acres which is planted to figs of a high-grade variety, and he has recently added a twenty-acre alfalfa tract, in the Waterford District. In 1904 Mr. Brown was married to Miss Hilda Goertz, at Santa Cruz. She is the daughter of Charles and Minnie Goertz, and a native of San Mateo County, where her parents are well-known pioneers. Her brother is H. Goertz, of Ceres. She has borne her husband three sturdy sons, of whom Walter and Earl are students in the Ceres grammar school, while the younger boy, Charles, is not yet of school age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brown take an active part in the social life of Ceres and are well known for their pleasant hospitality. Mr. Brown is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the United Artisans. He is espe cially alive to anything that will benefit the community and is a strong advocate of co-operation among farmers and horticulturists. He is a member of the Fresno Peach and Fig Growers Association, _and of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. JOSEPH C. SPENKER. — A retired farmer whose life story must always appeal to those interested in the pioneers of California, is Joseph C. Spenker, of 1004 Four teenth Street, Modesto, who first came to Stanislaus County in 1866, two years after he came from Defiance County, Ohio, to California. He sailed from New York for Panama, then crossed the Isthmus, and proceeded from Aspinwall to San Francisco by steamer, landing in the Bay City on November 20, 1864. A bit of diversion on the steamer still recalled was the balloting for president, the candidates being Lincoln and McClellan; and it is needless to say that the former received the majority of votes. Mr. Spenker was born at Mecklenburg, Germany, on December 12, 1846, and when seventeen years of age he came out to America, accompanied by his uncle, Fred Spenker. He stopped for only a day in San Francisco and then went on to Stockton, traveling inland by boat. He worked for his uncle for a while, and he soon learned to operate some of the first headers in San Joaquin and in Stanislaus counties. The first winter was very wet, and work and money were scarce; and wheat was $120 per ton ; but the second spring he went to work for Thomas Yolland, whose son, Charles Yolland, was once county clerk of San Joaquin County, and now lives at Oakland. Becoming acquainted with the late Albert L. Cressey, he engaged with him, or with Cressey Bros., on their wheat farm as a farmhand, and established then and there a life-long friendship. Through them, in 1866, he came to Stanislaus County, where the Cresseys had 2,500 acres in grain, on the four-section ranch due north of Modesto, or what was then the site of the future famous town ; and in the spring of 1867 he herded Cressey's mules and horses on the land where Modesto now stands, then given to the growth of fillerie and bunch-grass. At the end of fourteen months' service with the Cresseys, Calvin Cressey advised Mr. Spenker to take up 160 acres of land, one and a half miles east, and this he ac quired as homestead land, at the same time taking a preemption. In addition to that, he bought 444 acres on the Stanislaus River, making his total possessions now 604 acres. All in all, he has bought and sold several farms. This acreage along the Stanislaus River is sub-irrigated bottom-land, tip-top for the raising of alfalfa. The other property, on the Waterford Road, likewise devoted to alfalfa, is well irrigated, and is rented for a dairy ranch. On May 19, 1872, Mr. Spenker was married to Miss Julia Sterling, a native of Schleswig-Holstein, who settled in Stockton on coming out to America; and they have had nine children. Ida is the wife of Ben Rinehart, the rancher, and resides eight miles northeast of Modesto, toward Riverbank. Charles F. is a farmer; he married HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1049 Frieda Cook, and they reside in the Wood Colony. Amelia married Robert H. Davi son, the rancher, and they reside near Empire City. Joseph J. Spenker is employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, and lives at Burlingame with his wife. Nellie is the wife of Frank Goodwin. Harry was accidentally shot on the ranch when he was seventeen years old. Leonard R., who married Selma Rose of Modesto, was a sharpshooter in the American Army in France, and has only recently returned home, to work as bookkeeper for the Associated Oil Company at Modesto. Julia died in infancy. Donald S. saw valiant service for his country abroad, and gave his life in support of principles he believed worth fighting for. He was assigned to duty in the quartermaster's department, and went to France in 1918; and while there was seized with pneumonia and died from that disease. In 1913, after having decided to retire in Modesto, Mr. Spenker bought Judge Minor's attractive home in Modesto, and there he and his family reside, esteemed as hard-working, honorable pioneers. When Mr. Spenker was admitted to American citizenship, he was ripe to appre ciate its advantages, and he has made a splendid record as a citizen. In national poli tics a Democrat, Mr. Spenker is too broad-minded for any narrow partisanship in local affairs. He is a member of Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., of Modesto. In his extensive farming operations, Mr. Spenker has been ably assisted by his sons, and in particular by Charles F. Spenker ; and the firm was Joseph Spenker & Sons. They farmed not only Mr. Spenker's wide acreage, but they also leased the Leach place, and they cultivated as many as 3,500 acres, and for many years were among the largest and most successful grain farmers in Stanislaus County. LOUIS C. JACOBSEN. — A well-known citizen, influential through his success in business, is L. C. Jacobsen, whose good wife, endowed with much native ability and* much business acumen, has proven an able helpmate. He came to California in the late nineties, and when only about a year here showed his foresight in sizing up the future prospects of Stanislaus County, and casting here his lot. Mr. Jacobsen was born in Bornholm, Denmark, on December 16, 1870, the son of Jens P. Jacobsen, a coal miner who was accidentally killed when our subject was six months old. His mother, Karen Christene Ibsen before her marriage, died when the lad had reached his sixth year, leaving four children, only one of whom is now living. Brought up at Bornholm, he made his own way from his seventh year, work ing out on a farm while he attended school. A brother had come to America and Solano County, Calif., three years before, and when L. C. Jacobsen was eighteen, he concluded to follow him. In April, 1889, therefore, he arrived in the Golden State and was soon busy ranching for Louis Lambrecht near Rio Vista. In October of the next year he came to Modesto, then a small town, and went to work again on a farm, the ranch of Oramil McHenry, where he remained for nine years. He was later in the employ of the city, and drove the first team ever owned by Modesto. After that, he was appointed city superintendent of streets, a position he held for three years, and then he entered the service of the Modesto Soda Works on Eighth Street, on the railroad reservation, leaving there in 1913 to go to Turlock and buy the Turlock Soda Works. He became one of two partners in the firm of Sollars & Jacobsen, which conducted the business for eighteen months, when he sold out to Mr. Sollars, who continued there. On April 17, 1916, Mr. Jacobsen bought from Mr. Randall the Modesto Soda Works; and there, with the latest of modern equipment, he engaged in the manufac ture of root beer, syrups and sodas of all kinds. His building, 75x131 feet in size, is equipped with complete laboratories, the most sanitary devices, in short, a complex and extensive plant, and has therefore a large capacity. He has a large territory and ships his bottled wares even to remote and to many near-by points. Mr. Jacobsen is also engaged in the retail sale of coal and wood, and with a snecial siding connecting his yards with the railroad, he has the best of facilities. His building is at 1302 Seventh Street, on the State Highway, where he has installed a large scales for his coal trade. He uses two auto-trucks for delivery, fie belongs to the Merchants As sociation of Modesto. 1050 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY At Modesto, on July 14, 1904, Mr. Jacobsen was married to Miss Annie Givens, a native of Pacheco, Contra Costa County, and the daughter of W. J. Givens who was born in Boston, Mass., and early settled as a miner in California.' Then he be came a painter in Contra Costa County, and removing to Modesto, was the first con tract painter here. He died in 1916. He had married Miss Margaret Harrington, of Boston, who now resides in Modesto, the mother of four children, among whom Mrs. Jacobsen was the youngest. One child blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobsen — Minola Margaret. Mr. Jacobsen is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Moose, and resides at 517 Thirteenth Street, Modesto . CLAYTON K. GRIDER. — A citizen long rated as one of the substantial busi ness men of the community, and one now enjoying the fruits of hard work and wise foresight and investment, is Clayton K. Grider, who was born at Columbia, Lan caster County, Pa., on April 17, 1878, the son of Henry and Elizabeth Grider. His father was a farmer; and while he spent his early days on the home farm, making himself generally useful and enjoying the comfortable life of a well-situated Penn- sylvanian agriculturist, he attended the local district school. When twenty-one years of age, Mr. Grider enlisted in Company M of the Twenty-eighth U. S. Volunteers, and served in the Philippines; and in May, 1901, at the Presidio at San Francisco, he was mustered out. That same spring he settled in California, and soon after coming to Modesto he secured work on the Bald Eagle Ranch on the McHenry Road. The Bald Eagle furnished most of the meat for Modesto ; and during the two years of his engagement, he drove the wholesale meat wagon for a year or more. Then he opened his own shop on Tenth Street, and having established a reputation for experience and fair and generous dealing, he built up a trade such as anyone might wish to enjoy. In 1917 he sold out his business to Anker & Gotte; but with W. R. Van Vlear he continued to raise cattle. On his retirement from the meat and cattle fields, he took up realty and the exchanging of Modesto property; being widely known for his thorough knowledge of land and improvement values, he has succeeded even more in his new enterprise. On April 8, 1918, Mr. Grider married Mrs. Fannie Cousins, a native of Toledo, Ohio, where she was popular as Miss Fannie Fenton. Her father had come to Los Angeles when she was a girl and had engaged in the retail grocery trade; and in the City of the Angels she went to school. After marrying Mr. Cousins, she lived with him in San Francisco for eighteen years ; and on contracting her second marriage, she came to reside in Modesto. Mr. Grider belongs to Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. E., of Modesto, and votes as a Republican. ALBERT J. KNORR.— A Californian of such caliber and personality that Mo desto may well be proud to number him among her foremost citizens of enterprise and progress is Albert J. Knorr, who was born in Sheboygan, Wis., on February 28, 1863. His father was Adolph Knorr, a native son of Wisconsin and now a resident, hale and hearty, of Chilton, Wis. He married Miss Mary Goebel, who was like- ¦ wise a native of Wisconsin and still resides at Chilton. Albert attended the district school of Centralville, then went to school in She boygan, and later went to work with the grain elevators at Random Lake, where he continued for five years. At that place, too, on March 25, 1885, he was married to Miss Alma Bastain, a native of the town. He then moved to Sherburn, Minn., and remained there and at St. James three years. In 1888, Mr. Knorr removed to a new settlement in Wisconsin called Granton and there opened a hardware store; and he was not long in making it the leading hardware and implement emporium of the place. He was an organizer of the first bank there, named the Farmers State Bank of Granton, and is at present a stockholder and a past director. He also worked hard for the incorporation of Granton, and he served as a councilman of the village, and lived there twenty-seven years. In later j'ears, as business became more pressing, Mr. Knorr took in a partner, Mr. Rausch, and eight years later he sold out*" his share, in order to engage in the automobile busi ness. He then moved to Neillsville, and established the automobile warerooms and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1053 garage in that city. In 1919, Mr. and Mrs. Knorr came to California, and the fol lowing six months were spent between Santa Cruz and Ocean Park. In October, 1920, he invested in the Modesto Motor Company, and he has since become president and manager of that institution. Myrtle, the second eldest of Mr. and Mrs. Knorr's three children, is a graduate of the American Conservatory of Music at Chicago, and Shirley, the next in the order of birth, is a graduate of the Milwaukee State Normal. Both daughters are most accomplished young women. Lynn, the first born, is deceased. He graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin, where he had also been prominent in college athletics, and he also graduated as a certified public accountant and served as assistant comptroller of the university at Champaign, 111., and afterward he engaged as a 'public accountant in Milwaukee. He lined up cheerfully and bravely for duty in the World War, and just one month before he would have received a commission, he passed away at Camp Grant in October, 1918. Mr. Knorr is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and Mrs. Knorr and her two daughters are prominent in the Eastern Star. MELVIN HAMMETT.— One of the proprietors of the Tynan bar and cigar . store, the Moose headquarters in Modesto, who has been an active business man and builder up of the county for the past twenty years as a leading contractor in plain and ornamental plastering, is Melvin Hammett of Modesto, who has become prominent and holds an influential place in the life and activity of the county, having completed contracts for the principal buildings, both business, civic and residential, which have been erected in Modesto and vicinity within the last several j'ears. His work was of the highest type, and in all his dealings with his fellowmen he is honest, sincere and just, rendering in full for value received, and expecting others to do likewise. He employed a force of thirty-three plasterers, fifteen lathers, and eighteen hod carriers under ordinary building conditions. In charge of his art work was the famous artist, Charles S. Porta, who did much of the art work and moulding on the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco in 1915, this being one of the few buildings to be retained as permanent structures. He is a finished artist in his line, and Mr. Hammett is especially fortunate to have his services. Mr. Hammett is a native of Nebraska, born in Antelope County, May 30, 1886. His father was F. R. Hammett and his mother Lillie May Walrath, a native of Polk County, Iowa. They now make their home at Lockford, Cal. Lillie May Walrath was the daughter of James Walrath, who came from Germany with his wife and located in Iowa in the pioneer days of that state. The Hammetts came originally from old English stock, and figured prominently for several generations in Pennsyl vania and Ohio, being engaged in the building and contracting business." Melvin Hammett spent his boyhood in close association with the plasterer's trade, this being his father's occupation. When he was a lad of but fourteen he went regularly to work with his father during vacations. In 1902 Mr. Hammett first came to California, locating at Ceres, where he engaged in the plastering trade, soon becoming a journeyman plasterer. Following the earthquake and fire in San Francisco, he went to that city and engaged in con tracting there. In 1915 he went into Old Mexico for about a year and in the fall of that year returned East. He has worked in practically every large city in the United States, and is, therefore, especially well informed regarding building conditions throughout the "country. For a time he was in Chicago, and has been employed in El Paso and Dallas, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Newport, Ky. ; Des Moines, Iowa and other leading cities. In Des Moines he became associated with Charles Weitz & Sons, the leading general contrattors of the city, and was soon promoted to the position of foreman, having charge of extensive contract work. While in Des Moines Mr. Hammett was married, June 30, 1917, to Miss Ida Hazel Green, the daughter of Chas. W. and Susie (Smith) Green. The following J'ear, in March, 1918, he returned with his bride to Modesto, where he has since made his home. ' He built an attractive residence on Waterford Road and Santa Rita Avenue, where he maintained his offices, while his studio and casting shop were at 711 1054 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Eleventh Street. Mr. Hammett planned his own residence in every detail and intro duced many beautiful modern features which added to its comfort and attractiveness. In February, 1921, he sold his residence for $12,000 and purchased a thirty-acre ranch on Woodland Avenue, which he improved to a Thompson Seedless vineyard, and July 22, 1921, he sold the ranch for $30,000, each deal yielding him a large profit, showing what can be done by a man who is not afraid to spend money and time im proving and building up a place in a good location like Modesto. While living on Woodland Avenue their little son, Melvin, Jr., was born, an added blessing. Mrs. Hammett is prominent in club circles and has a wide circle of friends. As the leading contractor in his line, Mr. Hammett enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the leading business men of the county, and held the contracts for his line of work on such buildings as the Modesto high school, the depot at Modesto, the Silva garage, considered one of the finest in the San Joaquin Valley, the new Winter Garden, the Merced Theater at Merced, the new American National Bank Building, the new Thompson Building, and residences recently erected by such leading men as Judge Hawkins, A. B. Shoemake, Roy Morris, W. F. Ramont and Mayor Ulrich. In August, 1921, Mr. Hammett, with his brother, Earl J. Hammett, purchased the Tynan bar, to which they both now give all their time and attention, necessitating his retiring from the field of contracting in which he had been so successful. The Tynan bar is a very popular club room, having the patronage of the very best element in the city and particularly so as headquarters for the Moose. Fraternally, Mr. Hammett is a member of the Moose, while politically he is a staunch Republican. MILTON A. GROSS. — A successful farmer and dairyman of Ceres is Milton A. Gross, who brought his family there in 1904, and has since made it his permanent home. During these years he has been closely identified with the ranching interests of this section and has contributed largely to the development of the cooperative idea among the farmers. He is a charter member of the Milk Producers Association of Central California and a well-posted member of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. It was in 1891 that Mr. Gross first came to California, from Abilene, Dickinson County, Kans., and located near Los Angeles on the Christy ranch. Two years later he returned to Kansas, but his experience was that of many another man, who, after a year or two in California, finds on returning to his former home that it fails to meet his expectations. Accordingly, Mr. Gross returned to California in 1895, and locat ing on the Christy ranch, formed a partnership with Joe Lakey, continuing two years, until his marriage, when he embarked in business for himself. Leasing land from the Christy, McDonald and Dominguez ranches, he began to branch out in ranching and was extensively engaged in dry farming, operating at one time as much as 1,800 acres. For eight years he followed this line of endeavor very successfully, making his home at Gardena ; at this time, however, a change of climate was deemed necessary and he came to Stanislaus County in 1902. He at once purchased forty acres of the C. N. Whitmore lands at Ceres and added to it until he owned 110 acres in the Turlock Irrigation District. In 1904 he brought his family to their new home. One of the pioneers under the Turlock Irrigation system, Mr. Gross planted his home ranch to alfalfa and engaged in the dairy business, combined with stock and hog raising, and also raised grain and beans, being one of the first men to raise white beans in this locality. He met with splendid success in his undertakings, but disposed of his live stock a few years ago and now markets his hay to the neighboring dairy men. He has greatly increased the value of his property by planting vines and trees, and in 1912, disposed of part of his acreage. A native of Pennsylvania, Milton A. Gross was bom at York, York County, October 24, 1870, the son of Andrew and Jane (Lauer) Gross, both representing old families of Pennsylvania and pioneers of Kansas, where they now reside. Four of their seven children are living. Mr. Gross was married in 1897 in Los Angeles to Miss Cora Troxel, a native of Decatur, 111., who was reared in Kansas and came to California in 1897. Her parents, Jacob and Clara (Fenton) Troxel, natives of Ohio, came to California in 1901, and now live in Modesto. e^3&££ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1057 Mr. and Mrs. Gross are the parents of five children, all of whom are making good records for themselves in school and college work. The eldest son, Lloyd C, enjoys a splendid record for service in the World War. He enlisted in the aviation service, trained at March Field, and there received his commission as second lieutenant. He was honorably discharged at March Field, May 8, 1919. Prior to his enlistment he had been in attendance for two terms at the College of the Pacific, at San Jose. Of the younger members of the family, Gladys is a student of the University of California; Orvil Lauer and Merle are attending the Hughson high school, the former a member of the class of '21, while Iva is still of grammar school age. Mr. Gross takes an active interest in all local affairs of importance and is ever ready to lend his support to all projects for the betterment of the welfare of the community. He is a veteran member of the Independent Order of Foresters, since 1895. CHAS. F. HOLT. — A builder who is making a success of his business in Tur lock is Chas. F. Holt, who is a native of Ohio, born at Toledo, February 21, 1878. His father, Fred Holt, was born on the Rhine in Germany. Grandfather Louis Holt was born in England, but removed to the Rhine region in Germany where he was a manufacturing cooper and a distiller. Fred Holt, when a young man, came to Toledo, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming until he retired, continuing to reside at his home, 349 Dorr Street, until he died at the age of ninety-four years and six months. Mr. Holt's mother, Sophie Brown, also born in Germany, died in Toledo. Of the fourteen children, C. F. is the seventh child and the only one of the family living in California. His childhood was spent on the farm, receiving a good education in the public schools in Toledo. When sixteen years of age he was apprenticed at the carpenter trade, working for two years, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked at his trade until he went to Walworth County, Wis. When twenty j'ears of age he began working as a horseshoer, continuing for a couple of vears, and then again went back to the carpenter trade in Harvard, 111., and later in Woodstock, 111. Then he was a millwright at the Oliver typewriter factory from the starting of their factory at Woodstock until they had an output of 375 machines a day. Next he sient four years with Jno. J. Murphy as foreman of his ranches, and then for Mr. Cun ningham for two j'ears. In June, 1906, .Mr. Holt came to Hollister, Cal., where he worked on the Masonic Temple, and then on the Alpine Creamery at Gonzales, and then located at San Jose, where he spent eight years. In that city he was married, in 1908, to Miss Hazel Brown, born in Santa Rosa, the daughter of Garrett and Elizabeth (Milliman) Brown, natives of Georgetown and Madison County, N. Y., respectively, who came out to California after their marriage. For some years Mr. Brown was a flour miller. Later he was a contractor mason and plasterer in Santa Paula until 1900, when he located in Eldorado County, where he ranched for two years. Next he moved to Auburn, where he followed contracting until he died. His widow still makes her home in Auburn. Of their family of six girls, Hazel was the fourth oldest, receiving her education in the grammar and high schools in Auburn. After his marriage Mr. Holt was foreman for building contractors until 1915, when he moved to Fresno, where he was with the Wingate Construction Company and superintended the building of the Fresno State Normal ; then he was with the Daily Construction Company and for them was in charge of the building of the addi tion to the high school, the Edison school, the Chevrolet garage, the Enslen garage, Liberty market, Warner's jewelry store, and the natatorium. He was then with the California Raisin Association, reconstructing and rebuilding machinery for a period of one year, until he engaged in farming at Flagstaff, Ariz. However, he did not like the climate there so he returned to California and located in Turlock. Here he was foreman on the building of the sweet potato plant. Since the spring of 1921 he has been engaged in contracting and building on his own account. He thoroughly under stands the building business and has a good record as a builder, so he already enjoys a large patronage. Mr. and Mrs. Holt have been blessed with four children : Adah, Carl, Clarence and Garrett. Politically he espouses the principles of the Socialist party. 1058 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY GEORGE H. STARR. — A man of wide experience in the wholesale growing of small plants and bedding stock, who has been unusually successful in his efforts to specialize in the furnishing of vegetable plants and cut flowers for the market, is George H. Starr, of Turlock, who was born in Greensboro, N. O, on September 11, 1880, the son of George J. Starr, a native of Natal, South Africa, and the son of Stephen Starr, who was born in England. The latter immigrated to South Africa, where he established himself as an agriculturist on a grant of 21,000 acres he had received from the Queen of England. Later, he came to the United States ahd located at Winston-Salem, N. C, where he resided until his death. George J. Starr was educated in North Carolina, and there learned to be a florist, following that line of work all of his life. He still owns a flourishing business in his native state, and also his portion of the old Starr estate in South Africa. He married Miss Clara Williams, a native of Virginia, who is still living, the mother of three children. George H. Starr, the eldest in the family, was brought up in North Carolina, sent to the public schools and then entered at Trinity College, at Durham, where he studied until he resolved to abandon his printed books for the book of Nature. He took up the work of a florist in Gainesville, and the continued at it in Birming ham, Ala. In 1908, he moved to the Pacific Coast, and spent one year in Wash ington ; and then he came to California. Soon after his arrival, he was employed by M. J. Shaw, the florist at Stockton, and later he purchased an interest in his business. Together they became growers as well as retail florists in Stockton, and the extent of their operations may be judged from the fact that in their flower gar dens they had 10,000 square- feet of glass. When his health became impaired, how ever, Mr. Starr in 1915 sold his interest and came to Turlock. Here he entered into partnership with J. A. Lind, which he continued for a year; and then, buying out his interest he purchased his present place of three and a half acres on Wayside Drive, which he devotes entirely to floriculture. He raises many varieties of flowers in large quantities, and ships out flowers to different cities. He is also engaged in growing hardy nursery stock, as well as ornamental trees, and he raises millions of vegetable plants. As a landscape gardener, also, he has done some excellent work for others. To equip his own property for the extensive opera tions involved, Mr. Starr sunk a well and installed a first-class pumping plant. At Stockton, Mr. Starr was married to Miss Jennie V. Shaw, a native of that city and the daughter of Moses J. Shaw, who was born in Maine, and in 1850 came out to California, sailing around the Horn. Here he followed mining and later engaged in the poultry business in Stockton ; he became an extensive buyer, and was known as "Chicken" Shaw, and he sent his wagons all over the state. At one time, he was a partner of Mr. Johnson, who was known as "Turkey" Johnson. Mrs. Starr is a graduate of the Stockton high school, and as a well-read, wide-awake woman, she is the most helpful of companions to her husband in his various ventures and responsibilities, so that part of his success is undoubtedly due to her ability and cooperation. Mr. Starr's attainments in his chosen field have brought him increasing reputation and an enviable regard gladly shown him by his competitors, as well as patrons ; and it is not surprising that he is the chief district horticultural inspector. CHARLES L. MORSE. — One of the handsome modern residences erected in Modesto was that of C. L. Morse, prosperous farmer and successful business man of Stanislaus County since 1910, who leased his farm lands in 1917 and moved to Mo desto in order to give his family the advantage of the excellent schools, churches and other social conditions, and where he, himself, could be more conveniently located for. the transaction of his extensive business interests. It is the type of home which speaks volumes for the well being of the farmers of this county and for the productivity of the surrounding lands. At present Mr. Morse is residing on his ranch, having moved back in January, 1921. Mr. Morse's present financial status is the direct result of his farming enterprises in. this vicinity, where he owns sixty acres of very valuable land in the Carmichael Precinct, forty of which he purchased on coming to Stanislaus County in 1910, and twenty in 1920, located in the Rossmore Park tract. He is a scientific farmer in the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1059 best sense of the word, and has greatly improved his land and has developed it to a high degree. Starting with a small herd of pure-bred Holstein heifers, he gradually worked up his dairying business until in 1919 he owned ninety-five head of Holstein stock, some of which were registered, this number having been reduced to fifty head in 1920, there being a great demand for stock from his herd. He is now engaged in breeding registered Holstein stock, having two herd sires of note, one from the Stevens herd, of Liverpool, N. Y., and one from the Fields herd, Monticello, Mass. In 1921, he bought from the Bridgeford and Cornwell herds, Holstein heifers, to further im prove his stock. The equipment of his dairy is of the finest in every detail, and he uses two Perfection milking machines. Mr. Morse transformed his ranch from a stubble field to its present high state of improvement and productivity by careful, conscientious, energetic business applica tion, of which he is a thorough master. The property is well improved with ranch house and outbuildings that do credit to its owner and tend to lend stability to the locality. Soon after starting his dairy farm, he established a retail route for the deliv ery of milk directly to the consumer from the ranch. He was one of the original organizers and a large stockholder in the Modesto Milk Company until selling out in 1919, since which time his milk has been delivered through the Olivewood Dairy, a large dairy, selling direct to the consumer in Modesto. A native of South Dakota, Mr. Morse was born in Hanson County, July 30, 1883, and was reared on the farm, which was devoted to the raising of corn, wheat and fine Shorthorn cattle. When he was twenty years of age he took over the management of this farm of 320 acres for his father, receiving a wage of thirty dollars per month. In June, 1909, C. L. Morse was married to Miss Frieda Hoffman, a native of Iowa, but reared in South. Dakota, where her parents, Fred C. and Flora Hoffman, were engaged in farming and where they now own 1000 acres of land. The j'ear following his marriage, Mr. Morse and his wife came to California and located in Stanislaus. They are the parents of Flora Isabel, Charles Albert, and Howard Frederick Morse. Both Mr. and Mrs. Morse are keenly alive to civic responsibilities, and do their full share toward the upbuilding of their community. He is a strong advocate of cooperative marketing for farmers, believing that the ultimate and continued success of the farmer will be assured only by such methods. He is a firm believer in breeding and keeping high-grade stock and producing the best of dairy products. He is a mem ber of the National Holstein-Friesian Association. JOHN M. BOMBERGER.— A tactful, far-seeing and able man with such strik ing originality that he has succeeded in building up a successful business to the satis faction of many, is John M. Bomberger, the head of the Bomberger Seed Company, one of the best-known of Modesto's many thriving concerns. Although he came to California as late as the early part of this century, he quickly partook of the Cali fornia spirit, and is today one of the most loyal adherents of the Golden State. He was born at Palmyra, Pa., on July 30, 1877, the son of John S. Bomberger, who is a merchant and farmer there, and was educated at the usual public schools. When old enough to be of service, he learned the mercantile business under the favoring direction of his father, and might have continued an Eastern merchant had it not been for his early interest in California and the West. In 1903, therefore, he came out to Stanislaus County and commenced farming. He bought sixty-three acres in Wood Colony, leveled and checked the land, and planted alfalfa; and then he started dairying. In April, 1919, however, he sold his ranch and dairy. In 1916 Mr. Bomberger organized the Bomberger Seed Company, a copartner ship and he embarked in the wholesale and retail seed business, growing much of their own farm and garden seeds. So extensive has this enterprise become that they now send to the East not only cases but car loads of alfalfa seed and Sudan grass. Ihe Bomberger Seed Company is the only exclusively seed house in this county, and the only one between Fresno and Stockton, and each year the business increases materially. Their warehouses are located at C and Tenth streets with a cleaning establish ment at the same place, and ample storage and shipping facilities^ with a special siding provided by the railroad company; while their seed stores and offices are at 725 1 enth 1060 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Street, Modesto, and 834 Van Ness Avenue, Fresno. They deliver to retail establish ments throughout California, Oregon and Washington, and wholesale all over the United States, and across the Pacific to the Orient and Old Mexico. Mr. Bomberger is a member of the Merchants Association of Modesto and of the Farm Bureau. At Palmyra, on December 25, 1899, Mr. Bomberger was married to Miss Sadie Kurtz, a native of the Keystone State, and the daughter of Mays G. and Sadie ( Bach man) Kurtz, natives of Pennsylvania. Six girls and a boy have blessed their union, and their names are : Irma, Esther, Sadie, Mary, Dorothy, Ora, Carl. REV. W. J. QUIRKE.— The rector of the Church of the Sacred Heart at Turlock, Rev. W. J. Quirke was born in County Limerick, Ireland, January 5, 1886. He was brought up on the farm, the outdoor life giving him the foundation for his present health and strength of body. Attending the local schools until thirteen, he entered Sacred Heart College in Limerick, a Jesuit College, where he was graduated in classics and then entered St. Patrick's Seminary at Thurles, Ireland, and there studied philosophy and theology. On completing his studies, he was ordained June 19, 1910, by Archbishop Fennelley for the San Francisco diocese, coming immediately to San Francisco, where he arrived in December, 1910. He was assistant pastor of Our Lady of Mercy in Richmond and afterwards was assistant in different churches in San Francisco and environs. On 1916, he came to Modesto as assistant at St. Stanislaus Catholic church, where he continued until 1918, when he became assistant to Father John Casin at Santa Rosa, and then assistant at St. Paul's, San Francisco. In November, 1920, he started for a trip back to his old home in Ireland, visiting his parents, who are still living. After a pleasant stay, he returned to San Francisco in April, 1921, and July 20, 1921, he was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart church at Turlock, where he immediately assumed charge. The Church of the Sacred Heart was established as a mission by Father Giles of Modesto and was attended from St. Stanislaus parish until about 1910, and a small church was built on the West Side. In 1910, Rev. Dennis Bailey was appointed rector and was the first resident pastor. He was a man of business acumen and foresight, purchasing the present beauti ful site in the eastern portion of Turlock and built the large, substantial brick church, as well as the parsonage ; he also laid out and beautified the large, spacious grounds. The property comprises a half of a city block, so there is ample room for the building of a school. In October, 1915, he was succeeded by Rev. Patrick E. Heslin, who was very active and zealous in his work, his pastorate being very satisfactory and the means of building up the congregation, and the church debt was materially reduced. In July, 1921, Rev. Heslin was succeeded by Father Quirke, who is continuing the work in the same satisfactory manner. The congregation of the Church of the Sacred Heart is large and flourishing, and has the different sodalities of the church, which are well attended. The grounds are well kept and attractive and a pleasing sight to the visitors in Turlock. Father Quirke is a man of pleasing personality and his education and years of experience qualify him admirably to preside over the destinies of the congregation. He is an enthusiastic worker in the Knights of Columbus, his membership being in Modesto. CLARY W. COLE. — An energetic, level-headed man who has become very active in the local automobile world, and has attained success such as speaks for itself, is Clary W. Cole, the genial proprietor of the Midway Auto and Sheet Metal Works, now one of Modesto's busiest spots on Ninth Street. He was born at Chicago, Octo ber 3, 1890, the son of A. W. and Harriett Cole, and his father was a commercial traveler. Clary was given a good grammar school education, and for two years he was a student of the high school at St. Paul, Minn. In 1909 he struck out for himself; and going to Omaha, he took up mechanics and was identified with the Baysdoffer-Yeager Company, and under that firm of expert electricians had a valuable experience. From Omaha he went to Chicago and worked for the Chicago Great Western Railroad in the freight train depart ment; but after six months he returned to Omaha and took a position with the Apperson Auto Company. In the fall of 1910, he came to Pasadena for a short visit, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1061 when he returned East and at St. Paul was with the Shotwell-Harris Company, automobile sheet metal works. Then he accepted a position with the Todd Manu facturing Company of Minneapolis, where he continued for about a year. In 1914 he again came to California and for more than a year was with the Western Mechanical Works, Pasadena; he next spent a year at Santa Monica with the Miller Automobile Company. In April, 1916, Mr. Cole went to Bakersfield and worked for ten months in the Ford Garage. There he started in business for himself and had an auto sheet- metal shop at 2317 Chester Avenue; and from Bakersfield he removed to Oakland and there opened up another business of the same kind. On July 7, 1919, he came to Modesto and established the well-known concern at present so closely identified with automobile interests in Stanislaus County; and now he has the best-equipped place for sheet-metal work in this section of California. On June 18, 1914, Mr. Cole was married at St. Paul, Minn., to Miss Mata Karger, a native of St. Paul and the daughter of J. C. Karger and his devoted wife, Mata Carolina, her father being a merchant in that place. Mr. and Mrs. Cole attend the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Cole marches under Republican banners. EL1C L. ROUTH. — Since 1876, when he was a youth of twenty years, Elie L. Routh has been a Western pioneer in the truest sense of the word, intimately asso ciated with the early history of various sections, and during the ten years he has been a resident of Stanislaus County he has given much time and strength toward its up building. Born in Fayetteville, Washington County, Ark., June 15, 1856, he was one of seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom two are living, Mrs. A. E. Morris, the oldest child, and Elie L., the youngest. His father was Benjamin Murrel Routh, a native of the Sweetwater Valley of the Cumberland Mountains, his parents owning a plantation of 700 acres in Arkansas. The family were of Scotch-Irish ancestry on the paternal side, and faithful Presbyterians. Our Mr. Routh was sent to private school, but had a dull time, being full of imagination and romance, and finding little satisfaction in the pages of books, while the wide world called without. It was not until he had gone out into the world for himself that he realized his mistake in not applying himself seriously to his education. Always fond of horses, he was given his first pony when he was five years old and raised it from a colt, breaking it himself with great gentleness. When he was nine years of age he accompanied his father on a round-up in Texas and rode his horse over the range, driving the cattle through the Indian Territory into Arkansas and Missouri, where they were sold. The beginning of 1876 found young Routh in Texas, where he was employed as a cowboy riding the range on the frontier. He was also identi fied with the early settlers who defended the plains of Wyoming against the^ uprisings of the Indians and it was while he was a cowboy riding the range about sixty miles north of Fort Fetterman that the attacks against the whites were made by Sitting Bull. While in Nevada and Wyoming he became well acquainted with Buffalo Bill Cody, the most prominent character of his day on the frontier ; the nearest post office was sixty miles away, and the nearest white neighbor perhaps thirty miles. In 1884 Mr. Routh moved farther West, locating in Asotin County, Wash. (then a territory), where he was appointed by President Cleveland clerk of the superior court, which office he filled until 1889. He owned a 1,000-acre stock farm near Asotin, the county seat, which he operated with great success until 1909. At that time he disposed of this ranch and moved to Freewater, Ore., where he engaged in the gen eral merchandise business for a year, coming from there to Stanislaus County m 1910. He immediately purchased fifty acres in Wood Colony, and for five years engaged in dairying. Since 1915 he has followed general farming, raising principally hay and beans. His property on Shoemake Road, six miles west of Modesto, is valuable. Mr. Routh, since coming to Modesto, has identified himself very closely with Progressive public interests, and served as deputy sheriff for two years, making an envi able record. In 1914 he aided with the reorganization of the Stanislaus County Farmers Union, and was elected its president. He is a member of the Prohibition Party, serving as a member and the chairman of the Prohibition County Central Com- 1062 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY mittee and giving of his time and means towards the cause. Mr. Routh served as a member of the governmental committee, of which George T. McCabe was the secre tary, when the canvass was made of Stanislaus County to find the available supply of stock and farm products that might be needed for use of the Government dur ing the World War, and he was chairman of the Committee for Relief in the Near East. He was president of the United Telephone Association, serving until 1918, and was one of the committee who carried the fight through the supreme court against the Telegraph and Telephone Company, which won the suit to have a public utility district organized here. In May, 1920, he was elected a director of the Modesto Irrigation District in a recall election, proving a very powerful candidate as a representative of the people, and in February, 1921, was elected to that position for a four-year term by a handsome majority. The marriage of Mr. Routh to Miss Jennie Fine occurred at Cloverland, Asotin County, Wash., in 1885. Mrs. Routh is the daughter of Spencer and Jane Fine, both natives of Tennessee, of German and Welsh ancestry, respectively. Two sons have been born to them, Lewis C, a member of the U. S. Marines with the rank of ser geant, and Lawrence D., a mechanician at Modesto. JOHN F. KNAPP. — A leading contractor and builder of Turlock who has been sought for important commissions by other communities as well as in Stanislaus County, is J. F. Knapp, who was born in Minonk, Woodford County, 111., graduated from the Bloomington Business College, and was then agent in his birthplace for the American Express Company. In 1911 he came west to California and at Los Angeles engaged in the building trade. His skill and experience were soon recognized. In August, 1914, with business credentials such as many would regard as capital in themselves, Mr. Knapp located at Turlock, and he has been here ever since, active in the field of general contracting. He has built the branch of the Commercial Bank at Hilmar, and also the edifice of the California Peach Growers here. He put up the California Theater owned by the Turlock Theater Company, the Fernandez Building and the Varners Garage ; and he erected the Carnegie Library and numerous fine residences, not to speak of important warehouses, the two Geer buildings, and the postoffice building. He belongs to the Board of Trade and, besides owning city prop erty, also has interests in ranch property. In Illinois, Mr. Knapp was married to Miss Edna Steinbach, also a native of Illinois, and they have two children, Eugene and Rachel. Mr. Knapp was made a Mason in Robert Morris lodge of A. F. & A. M., at Minonk, 111., and having been demitted, is now a member of Turlock Lodge, No. 395, F. & A. M. He belongs to the R. A. M. at Rutland, III, and is a charter member of Modesto Commandery No. 57, K. T., and he is also affiliated with the Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Los Angeles. HOWARD H. HULS. — Cooperative grower of a variety of fruits, an organizer and executive of more than ordinary ability and force, Howard H. Huls is one of the men of this section who is doing much to develop forward-looking policies for the betterment of both fruit rancher and ultimate consumer. Mr. Huls is a director and vice-president of the Cooperative Canneries Association of California at Modesto, a member of the California Peach Growers Association, and also of Prune and- Apricot Growers Association. He has made a careful study of growing and marketing con ditions and is one of the most successful growers in the county. He owns sixty-four acres of fine land in the Wood Colony precinct, three miles northwest of Modesto, - which he purchased in the fall of 1908, and on which are now some of the finest orchards in the state, including peaches, apricots, prunes and walnuts. In addition to this, Mr. Huls double-crops twenty-five acres to barley and beans. Mr. Huls is a native of Jasper County, Iowa, born October 17, 1881. His father was Henry Huls, a native of Indiana and of German ancestry, and his mother was Miss Rena Burr, a native of Indiana, but who pioneered into Iowa with her parents when she was a child. Her maternal ancestors were distinguished professional and business men, while her paternal ancestors were descended from the Aaron Burr line f* HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1065 of the famous old English family of Burr, which was at one time one of the great landed families of the British Isles. Henry Huls was one of the early grain farmers of the plains of Iowa, and here Howard Huls, who was one of a family of four sons, received his education, attending the public schools at Monroe, Iowa, and assisting with the work of the farm. When he was a lad of twelve years the family came West, locating in Madera County, Cal., in 1893, where the father engaged in farming. Later they removed to San Benito County and still later to Stanislaus County, where the father died. Mrs. Huls is now the wife of Dr. A. A. Woods. For a time Mr. Huls worked on harvesters and at other farm work in Madera County, being paid the wage of thirty dollars per month. He was married on March 20, 1907, at Hollister, San Benito County, to Miss Ella B. Hubbard, a native of that place, born November 18, 1885. Her father was Thomas Benton Hubbard, a native of Missouri, who came west at an early date, settling in Nevada, where he engaged in the stock business until coming to California about 1881. Her mother was Miss Sarah Rebecca Purdin, also a native of Missouri, where she married Mr. Hubbard and immediately started back to Nevada where Mr. Hubbard was a pioneer stockman. They had six children, three born in Nevada and three in California, all living but one son, who died aged twenty-seven. Virgil P. is in Hollister ; Mrs. Ernest Huls of Modesto; Mrs. Grover Stone, of Wood Colony; Mrs. H. H. Huls, and Mrs. Charles Thomas of San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Huls are the parents of two children, Ralph Everett and Ardis Rosalie. Mr. Huls is wide awake to all matters of public interest and is always ready wherever energy and hard work promise real results. ROY SUNDERLAND. — A representative business man who, in "making good" himself, has also helped along his fellows, is Roy Sunderland, the plumbing contractor at Turlock, who was born in Kansas City, Mo., on July 5, 1889, the son of Al E. Sunderland, of Fresno, the secretary and treasurer of the California Peach Growers, Inc., and his good wife, who was Miss Lillian Gilliam before her marriage. A. E. Sunderland was a' New Yorker by birth, the son of E. R. and Mercy (Cronkhite) Sunderland, the former of old New York, and the latter of early Massachusetts and Mayflower stock. -At the age of fourteen he came West to Kansas City, worked for a while as clerk for the Armour Packing Company, and then became manager of the Kansas City Towel Supply Company, during which period he met his future wife. Her father and mother were Robert and Elizabeth Gilliam, the former a farmer, a Civil War veteran and a. marshal of Kansas City, and they have resided at Fresno since the middle eighties. On coming to Fresno County in 1889, Al Sunderland engaged in viticulture in the Kutner Colony; moved to Clovis, when that town started, and for three years ran the big planes for the Fresno Flume and Irrigation Company. An accident, causing the loss of an eye, brought him to Fresno, and after filling several positions of responsibility, he took a prominent part in the organization of the California Peach Growers, Inc., and became secretary. He also became the head banker of the Woodmen of the World in the Pacific jurisdiction. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sunderland. Roy was the oldest ; then came Hazel, now Mrs. La Moyne of Dinuba; the third in order was Netta, the popular actress with the Walter Hampden Company, in New York, one of the greatest Shakespearean actors since Edwin Booth's time, where she is now playing second lead. At the Fresno Raisin Day parade she has played the role of Goddess of Liberty and Miss America. The youngest of the family is Pearl. In 1891 Roy was brought to California by his parents, and lived first m the Kutner Colony and then at Clovis, where he went to school, continuing his studies after his twelfth year in Fresno. When he was seventeen years old, he apprenticed to a plumbing firm, Barrett & Hicks, and having completed his trade in four years,_he worked for the firm for a year as journeyman, and on April 10, 1912, established him self at Turlock as a plumber. He bought the land at. 227 South Laurel and there built a residence, a plumbing shop and a warehouse; and while doing general jobbing and contract work, he installed the plumbing in the new Southern Pacific passenger station, the new Carnegie Library, the Sweet Potato plant, the California Peach Growers plant the Hume Company cottages, the Mackay building, the Masonic 1066 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Temple, and the residences of Siem, Crane, Pierson, Knapp and Berlin. Mr. Sun derland has been a director of the Turlock Chamber of Commerce for the past four years, a member of the Turlock Progressive Business Club and president of the Tur lock Master Plumbers Association. On May 31, 1913, Mr. Sunderland was married at Sacramento to Mrs. Alice Jackson, nee Zeek, who was born in Kansas City, Mo., and there reared and edu cated, coming to California in 1907. By her former marriage, she has a son, Lauren, and another son by her second marriage named Al. Mr. Sunderland is past consul commander of the Woodmen of the World, is a member of Turlock Lodge No. 98, K. P., and was made a Mason in Los Palmas Lodge No. 366 at Fresno, demitted in 1913 and joined Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., where he was senior deacon. He was elected secretary in 1916, and has been re-elected each year since. He is also a member of Merced Pyramid of Sciots, No. 14, at Merced. With his wife he belongs to Wistaria Chapter No. 296, O. E. S., and the Royal Order of Amaranth at Modesto, while Mrs. Sunderland is a member of the Neighbors of Woodcraft. HARVEY W. REBMAN. — A representative citizen of Modesto, who has made a name and place for himself by his practical experience as a contractor and builder of fine homes, is Harvey W. Rebman, already rated as one of the successful builders in Stanislaus County. He has been very active since becoming a citizen of this rapidly growing city, and his services are in great demand where conscientious and scientific workmanship is desired. A native of Ohio, Harvey W. Rebman was born in Canton on August 9, 1884, the son of William and Mary (Fisher) Rebman, farmer folk of the Buckeye State. The lad grew up with a good common school education obtained in the district school of their locality, and when he was sixteen he started to learn the trade of carpenter and for four years served an apprenticeship in Dayton. He next spent two years with the Reckworth Lumber Company, general contractors of that city, and further devel oped his knowledge of building. In the fall of 1909 Mr. Rebman came West and settled in Modesto, where he soon secured employment at his trade and worked for various contractors until 1914. He concluded that there was no better field for the building business than Modesto, and, as he had mastered the western methods of the business, embarked as a general contractor and from the very first he met with gratify ing success and specialized in first-class homes and bungalows. Among some of the more important homes erected by him may be mentioned the residence of Dr. E. V. Falk, a $30,000 home ; one for W. F. Flowers ; three fine bungalows for Mr. McCann, now of Los Angeles, and four for J. B. Palmer. In 1918 he built his own home at 912 Sixth street, a model of its kind and size. In the prosecution of his contracts he employs from sixteen to forty-five men, as the occasion demands, and is always busy. At Modesto, on October 19, 1910, Mr. Rebman and Miss Mary Robinson, also a native of Ohio, born at Lima, were united in marriage, and they have become the parents of four interesting children, Lucile, Robert, Bernice and Dorothy. Mr. Rebman is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose of Modesto, belongs to the Cham ber of Commerce and to the Modesto Ad Club, and in every way favors all lines of progress. Stanislaus County has been fortunate in the past in drawing to its circle just such men as Mr. Rebman. WILLIAM D. TOOMES. — Among Modesto's citizens of prominence and influ ence W. D. Toomes must be mentioned, for to the distinction of being a native son he has the further honor of being a son of one of the pioneers of the memorable year of '49. He was born at Visalia, Cal., in 1867, and is the son of John Toomes, who was born in Cole County, Mo. At the time of the Mexican War the elder Toomes joined the colors before he was of age and attained his majority while in the service of his country. Immediately after the war with Mexico he was married in Missouri to Elvina Walser, a native of that state. In 1849 John Toomes crossed the plains to California and engaged in mining at Placerville. He returned to his eastern home via Panama, and in 1852 again took the toilsome journey to California over the plains, this time accompanied by his wife and brother-in-law, Dan W. CUM HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1067 Walser. They settled at Walker's Basin, Kern County, and engaged in the cattle business. Later, Mr. Toomes sold his interest and located two and one-half miles west of Visalia, where he engaged in raising hogs. In 1876 he added sheep to the enterprise, and in 1877, the notable dry year, failed financially because of the drought. He then went to Sonoma County and remained a year. In 1878 he located near Stockton and engaged in the occupation of farming, and in 1884 came to Stanislaus County where he continued the occupation of tilling the soil until his death, which occurred in 1911, aged eighty-six years, his wife having passed away in 1882. Of their family of four children all are living. William D. Toomes, the second child, was schooled in Tulare and San Joaquin, and from a youth had experience in farming, particularly in raising grain. When he was seventeen years of age the family moved to Stanislaus County, and he remained with his father in the new home until he attained his majority. He then hired out to grain ranchers and drove big teams for five years. After this he bought an outfit, "leased land near Salida and engaged in raising wheat and barley on a 1, 500-acre ranch. When the canal was completed and water brought for irrigation he began improving 160 acres of land he had purchased previously. He leveled and checked it, planted alfalfa, and an orchard of Muir and Lovell peaches and a vineyard. He brought the place to a high state of cultivation, sold it and bought sixty acres of land which he also improved and planted to alfalfa. He disposed of this property and entered the general real estate business in Modesto with Mr. Fredericks, under the firm name of Toomes and Fredericks, and has been very successful in this business venture. He is unusually well informed in land values and makes a specialty of ranch property. Mr. Toomes has seen Modesto build from a small hamlet to a large and prosperous city, and the county emerge from a dry-crop country to one of intensive farming, with beautiful orchards, vineyards and alfalfa and vegetable fields. He and Mr. Fredericks own several ranches of orchard and farm property. Mr. Toomes' marriage, which occurred near Salida, united him with Miss Emma Hining, one of Stanislaus County's native daughters, and the result of their union has been three children. Hazel, who was Mrs. Noones, died at the age of twenty-five, leaving a daughter, Wilma, who resides with her grandparents. Ray mond, who was in the United States service, is now in business in Modesto, and William, who resides at home. Fraternally Mr. Toomes' affiliates with the Modesto Lodge of B. P. O. E., and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. ARMOUR B. SMITH. — During the eighteen j'ears that they have been resi dents of Stanislaus County, Armour B. Smith and his capable wife have placed the stamp of their public-spirited personalities indelibly upon the pages of its history. Their valuable farm of 100 acres in McHenry precinct is known as Hollywood Park, and is one of the beautiful home places of the county. Adjoining it, and from which it originally took its name, is a tract of about an acre and a half, which Mrs. Smith bought with her own money and has herself set out to a park, which her splendid generosity and hospitality makes the center of social activity for the community. _ This little park lies across Lateral No. 6, one of the large canals of the local irrigation system. This has been artistically bridged, and rowboats and bathing facilities in stalled. A Japanese tea house has been erected, and picnic tables installed. The land scape gardening and the selection of the trees and shrubbery for this delightful garden spot are all the personal work of Mrs. Smith, and there are many rare and valuable trees to be found among the great variety, including the holly, from which the park takes its name. The public spirit evinced by Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the matter of this park is an index to their splendid characters, and Mrs. Smith has been favorably mentioned for a place on the State Park Commission. Mr. Smith is a native of Mexico, Audrain County, Mo., where he was born March 20, 1871, and where his parents were well and favorably known. His father, James Marion Smith, was a dealer in livestock, raising stock on a great ranch of 1,100 acres and buying and selling mules and cattle in the general markets. He was a native of Missouri, where he was reared and educated and where he was married to Miss Nancy Harrison, also a native of Audrain County. Nancy Harrison was de- 1068 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY scended from the same branch of the old Harrison family that gave the world William Henry Harrison, once president of the United States, and in direct line of descent from one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. She is still living, hale and hearty, at the age of ninety years, her home being still in Mexico, Mo., where her husband passed away at the age of seventy-seven. They were the parents of nine children, of whom our Mr. Smith was the seventh born, and the youngest now living. He received a common school education and was associated with his father in the livestock business until he was thirty years of, age. The marriage of Mr. Smith, which united him with Miss Tina Myers, was solemnized at Mexico, Mo., March 14, 1895. Mrs. Smith is the daughter of William and Fannie (Scott) Myers of Audrain County, Mo., where they were engaged in farming 120 acres of land. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Smith continued to make their home in Missouri until 1902, when they came to California, locating first in San Luis Obispo, where they remained for about a year. Mr. Smith then bought a team and drove through the state until he came to Stanislaus County and located his present property, which he bought. This property then contained 160 acres, sixty of which have since been sold off. The remaining 100 acres is now operated by Mr. Smith, twenty acres of which is being set out to grapes by his son, James William. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have a family of five splendid sons, all of whom are well and favorably known in Stanislaus County. They are: Emmett, a rancher here; James William, who now is engaged in grape growing; Paul H., a student of Armstrong's Business College in Berkeley; Sydney M., attending the Modesto high school, and Mainard Clayton. Of these sons, James W. was a pilot in the air service during the recent war, and was stationed at Redlands, Cal. Another public interest of Mrs. Smith is the Sylvan Club, of which she has served acceptably as president, and has always been one of the active and influential members. She has also served as delegate of the San Joaquin Federation of Clubs. A woman of marked executive ability, Mrs. Smith finds time for much public service, and yet never neglects her husband or her sons, but, on the contrary, is a devoted wife and mother, and a rare home builder. She and her husband are in true sympathy in their many interests, and their greatest pride is in their sons, who will so ably "carry on' when they themselves are ready to lay down some of the responsibilities of life. WILLIAM FRANKLIN YOUNG.— An expert mechanic of eminent respect ability who has many friends in Central California, is William Franklin Young, the carpenter at Montpellier, who was born May 11, 1859, at Montezuma, in Tuolumne County, where he was also reared and schooled. His father was William Maloney Young, and he married Miss Sarah Bryant. They were both natives of Benton County, Mo., and migrated westward to California together, arriving in Stanislaus County in 1857, when the Turpins and the Hudelsons' came. Mr. Young was a hard-working man, who tried his luck at mining, and both made and lost a fortune in that perilous venture ; and Tuolumne County was the place where he later engaged in stock raising. After his death, in 1877, his widow married again, and now as Mrs. Harder, once more a widow, she resides in Montpellier. In 1880 our subject was married to Miss Julia Lebright, who was also born in Tuolumne County, the daughter of Fred and Martha Lebright, who came to Cali fornia as one of the glorious company of '49ers; and six children have come to bless the Young homestead, or to honor the family name in the outside world. Ernest resides with his wife and child in San Francisco. Effie is the wife of Ralph Davidson of Hughson, and the mother of three children. William L. married and resides with his wife and child at Tudor in Sutter County. Mattie is a stenographer. Maude is the wife of Arthur Perkins of Montpellier, and they have two children. And Leslie is in San Francisco. He saw twenty-four months of overseas service as a member of the signal corps. In 1899 William F. Young established himself as a liquor dealer and later as a blacksmith at Montpellier, continuing the latter business until 1918. He is well known in the community as a well-read, thinking citizen of independent action in political matters. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1071 HANS L. ALBERTSON. — A well-known rancher, at one time a successful breeder of high-grade mules and now an equally successful grain rancher, is Hans L. Albertson, who enjoys the esteem of all who know him — one of the most satisfactory of all rewards of good citizenship. He was born on Alsen Island, Schleswig, Denmark, on February 9, 1881, the son of Albert and Mary (Lorensen) Albertson, who, having heard of the wonderful land across the Atlantic, came to the United States in June, 1881, bringing with them their family of two children. On June 25 they settled in the place where a part of Newman now stands, but at that time a town center on the San Joaquin River called Hill's Ferry. Hans Albertson was well grounded in the Old World in the science of agriculture, and it is not surprising that he became an extensive grain raiser, leasing about 2,000 acres. He finally purchased 320 acres southeast of Newman, where he engaged in farming until he retired, when he pur chased a small farm just north of Newman, living there until his death in October, 1914, aged fifty-seven years, a most excellent man who was highly esteemed by every one. His widow survived him until 1917. His maternal grandfather, Hans Lorensen, had made a trip to the United States, remaining six years and resolved to have his family join him ; but he was taken ill and returned to Denmark and it was not until 1882 that he came to America again, bringing his family. He came immediately to Newman, where he purchased a small farm and here he resided until his death. His widow, Mrs. Mary Lorensen, still lives in her "ninetieth year in Newman. Hans attended the Canal school northwest of the present location of Newman and aided his father until the latter quit large-scale farming. Then, in 1906, with his brother, Alfred, he farmed the Santinella grain ranch of 1,320 acres, owned by Miller & Lux; but in 1911 he removed to where he now makes his home, six miles southwest of Newman. When his father died in 1914, he owned 480 acres, and when, three years later, his mother passed away, our subject inherited one-third of the estate, or 160. acres. Mr. Albertson, however, now farms about 320 acres, all in grain, with tractors and tractor machinery. He aims to heed the last word of science and to em ploy only the most up-to-date apparatus, and as a consequence, yields handsome returns. On September 15, 1916, Mr. Albertson was married at San Francisco to Miss Catherine Maag, a native of Apenrade, Schleswig, Denmark, where she was reared and attended school. Her parents were Yes Maag and his good wife, whose maiden name was Anna Catherine Damm, and both are still living. Mrs. Albertson came to California in 1913, and since then she has been steadily identifying herself with the land of her adoption. Three children, Anna Marie, Harold J., and Blanche Margaret, blessed this union. Mr. Albertson is a member of Mountain Brow Lodge No. 82, Odd Fellows, of Los Banos, in which he is past grand, and also of the I. O. O. F. Encampment at Newman. EMMETT LEE ELMORE. — A faithful and efficient public official with a valuable, varied experience, is Emmett Lee Elmore, the popular deputy sheriff, who is a native of the county, having been born at Salida on November 28, 1880. His father was Benjamin T. Elmore, a member of the family well known in Virginia, and also as pioneers in Missouri, where they took up Government land. He was born in Ashley, then in Pike County, and when a young man of nineteen left for California with his brother, J. G. Elmore, who was two years his senior. They set out with the train commanded by Brad Crow, and arrived in Stanislaus County in 1865. Mr. Elmore married Miss Cordelia Dale, one of a family who hailed from Carroll County, Ga., and settled near Salida in 1869. There her father, V. B. Dale, a one-armed veteran, highly esteemed by all who knew him, has lived and farmed at one place from 1869 until the present day, and he is now eighty-five years old. His devoted wife, Susan M., passed away at their home on January 6, 1920, at the age of eighty, also respected and beloved throughout the entire San Joaquin Vallej. Emmett Elmore attended onlv the grammar school at Salida, continuing his studies in the "school of hard knocks" in the world, and when twenty-one, he started out to do for himself, working for wages. He superintended grain ranches, and about 1910 went in for farming on his own account. He cultivated, at different times, from 200 to 500 acres, and he also bought and sold stock, and did contracting. 44 1072 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY In 1916 he sold off his stock and gradually discontinued all buying and selling, and at the time of the war, he endeavored to dispose of his ranch interests. Mr. Elmore, who is very public-spirited, also tried to enlist, but he was turned down twice. He then came under the second draft, but, although ready for the affray, he was never called to the colors. On January 6, 1919, he was appointed deputy sheriff under Robert Dallas, a commission generally endorsed by public sentiment, and he has continued to fill that important post ever since. M. C. TALBOTT. — A man of integrity who before coming to California had made for himself a career as an agriculturist and educator, is M. C. Talbott, who was born near Carrollton, Carroll County, Ohio, on April 20, 1853, the son of Thomas F. and Henrietta (Allen) Talbott. The Talbott family is traced back to Lord John Talbott of England. Grandfather Joseph Talbott was born in Mary land, but came to Jefferson County, Ohio, in the early days and was one of the pioneer farmers of that county. Here Thomas F. Talbott was born and reared, and when a young man learned the trade of a millwright. He later became exten sively interested in the grist and sawmill business and was the owner of several grist and sawmills in the vicinity of Carrollton. The mother, Henrietta Allen before her marriage, was a native of Maryland,. coming from a line of distinguished old New England families. On her mother's side she was descended from Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island, while her Grandfather Allen was a brother of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame. Both Mr. and Mrs. Talbott passed away at their Ohio home, the father at the age of sixty-six, the mother forty-nine. Of their four teen children, twelve grew to maturity, but only four are now living: Mrs. Ruth A. Cogsil of Ohio; Micajah C. Talbott of this sketch; Mrs. Belle Patterson and Mrs. Hannah E. Telfer, both of Carrollton, Ohio. M. C. Talbott spent his childhood at Elkhorn, Ohio, where one of his father's gristmills and sawmills was located, and here he attended the country school, sup plementing this with a course of study at Harlem Springs College. He then started teaching school, but as his father died when he was twenty years old, with his brother he kept up the business, operating their grist and sawmills, a work with which he was familiar, since from a boy he had assisted his father around the mills, dressing the burr stones for the flour mills, sharpening saws for the lumber mills and other details connected with mill work. He continued with his brother untii he was twenty-four years old, then began teaching again, both in his home county and in Putnam County. It was during these days that Mr. Talbott's marriage occurred, when he chose for his bride Laura A. Ruse, a native of Kilgore, Ohio, the ceremony being per formed at Harlem Springs on August 21, 1879. Her parents were George William and Susannah (Stenger) Ruse, the latter's father, George Stenger, being one of Carroll County's pioneer farmers and cabinet makers, coming there from his birth place, Boone, Pa., in the early days. George W. Ruse, who came of an old West Virginia family, came from that state when a boy, and settling in Ohio, engaged in farming there until his death, which occurred in 1902, his wife having passed away in 1895. They were the parents of four children: Mrs. Sarah J. Chase of Ohio; Mrs. Laura A. Talbott; John died a youth of twelve; Mrs. Lillian M. Albaugh of Ohio. Mrs. Talbott was reared at Kilgore, Ohio, and was educated at Harlem Springs College, which her husband also attended, and she was engaged in teaching school until her marriage. Seven children were born to them: Purl R. is a rancher near Modesto; Lillian Belle is Mrs. Stearns of Stockton; Ernest O., a graduate of the College of the Pacific, is vice-principal of the Glenn County high school at Wil lows ; Glenn C. is a farmer at Madeline, Lassen County; Zina A. is Mrs. Sheaffer of Fowler ; Chester Allen is on the home ranch ; Winona is Mrs. Titus of Madeline. In 1893 Mr. Talbott went to Oklahoma, and located at Alva, Woods County, being among the first homesteaders there. At the time of the opening of the Chero kee Strip by the Government, Mr. Talbott, with a brother and two nephews, made a cart, and with two Hambletonian horses three of them joined the rush when HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1073 the land in the strip was thrown open, making three and a half miles in twelve min utes. In the mad excitement that followed, Mr. Talbott was the only one of the three to land a prize, but he was fortunate in staking out a good claim of 160 acres. Going back to Ohio, he settled up his affairs there and returned to Oklahoma with his family. He located on his claim and improved it, going in for grain farming and stock raising. Naturally conditions were very primitive there, with no schools or churches, so Mr. Talbott filled in the breach by teaching the first school in that section, which was held in a little dugout. Here, too, he organized the first Sunday school in the vicinity, this dugout then being their only meeting place. The next year a frame schoolhouse was built, where he taught two more terms. Well quali fied for leadership, Mr. Talbott was justly prominent in the community, serving as school trustee and for three terms as justice of the peace. He was very successful in his farming operations and continued in Oklahoma until 1905, when he sold out and came to California. Locating in Stanislaus County, he bought 100 acres near Keyes, paying sixty-five dollars an acre. Forty acres of this was already in alfalfa, so Mr. Talbott went into the dairy business, continuing with good success until 1917, when he sold off his stock and now leases the ranch. He has set twenty-nine acres of it to grapes, the balance being in beans and barley. After being free from the responsibility of his ranch, Mr. Talbott with his wife made a trip back to his old home in Ohio, and on returning to the land of sunshine, located in Turlock and in 1920 built the residence at 550 Geer Road, where the family now dwell. Mr. Talbott served several years as a trustee of the Turlock Union high school, being on the board at the time of the organization and during the erection of the building. Both he and Mrs. Talbott have been devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church since childhood. They helped organize the first church and Sun day school in Driftwood Township, Woods County, Okla., then at Ceres, where Mr. Talbott was a trustee and Sunday school superintendent, and later at Keyes. They are now prominent in the Methodist Episcopal church at Turlock, where Mr. Tal bott is a trustee. This worthy couple have always been stanch advocates of tem perance, and their Christian. lives radiate a beneficent influence. BENJAMIN T. ELMORE. — An early settler in California, arriving here in 1865, in an emigrant train commanded by Brad Crow, Benjamin T. Elmore has had much to do with the development of agricultural resources of the San Joaquin Val ley since he first settled in the .state. He was born in Pike County, Mo., September 24, 1845, the son of Anderson P. and Sarah Jane Elmore, pioneers of Missouri, where the father took up Government land and was engaged in farming when that country was then virgin soil. The family formerly hailed from Virginia, going thence into North Carolina and from there into Missouri. When Benjamin Elmore was about nineteen years of age he left his home and with a brother, J. G. Elmore, set out for the Golden State, and the emigrant train, of which they were members, arrived after a long and tiresome journey across the plains. Mr. Elmore came to Stanislaus County via Murphy's Ferry, and he at once sought some kind of employment. Having been accustomed to farm work in Missouri, it was but natural that he should seek something along the same line and he was employed for two years near Salida. Longing to once more see his native state, he went back to Missouri by way of the Panama route and remained there for three years. The lure of California called again and, accompanied by his father, A. P. Elmore, once more arrived in this state, traveling via stage by way of South Platte and Salt Lake City. Benjamin settled near Salida, where he was united in marriage in 1880, with Miss Cordelia Dale. Miss Dale was a member of a family that hailed from Georgia and had settled near Salida, Cal. Her father was V. B. Dale, a highly esteemed rancher of the Salida district where he has lived and ranched ever since 1869, and was known as "One- Armed Dale." Her mother, Susan M., died at the age of eighty, on January 6, 1920. Mr. Elmore ranched in Fresno County for six years and then went north into Sonoma County and near Fulton had a ten-acre vineyard. In 1914 he purchased ten acres on the Dale Road near the town of Salida, where he raised alfalfa until he sold 1074 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY his ranch and in March, 1920, moved into Modesto and is now living retired. There were three children born into the Elmore home : Emmett Lee, deputy sheriff of Stanis laus County; Oren, and Estella, who married Alfred Hendricks and died on Decem ber 6, 1920. In Fresno County Mr. Elmore first had 160 acres of land and after cultivating it three years sold it and bought a half-section near the old town of Center ville. In all, he spent about twenty-six years in Fresno County and became an active participant in its early development. For that many years Mr. Elmore has been a member of the Masonic Lodge at Modesto and is always welcomed in its circles. He is a Democrat in political matters when it concerns national issues, but holds to the men and measures in matters of local moment. He is a self-made and self-educated man, as his early schooling was obtained in the log cabin schoolhouse of the early days in Missouri, and the finishing touches have been secured by contact with the men of the world, which gives him a sympathetic view of life. WILLIAM AUGUST DINKELMAN.— A rancher who has always worked for the forward movement of the community in which he lives is William August Dinkel- man, a native of Germany, where he was born near Brockum on April 27, 1871, the second son of Frederick Dinkelman, who had married Miss Charlotte Voight, like himself a native of that section. She passed away in the spring of 1889, and in that same year William crossed the ocean to America, in company with a brother and his father. They arrived at Modesto on September 24, and repaired to the home of an uncle, Mr. Voight, who lived at the corner of Sixteenth and J streets ; and soon after, in 1889, our subject became a laborer on his ranch near Montpellier, and worked for him three years ; four years were then spent in the employ of Henry Long, and the next year he worked again for his uncle. After getting on his feet, financially, he formed a partnership with F. H. Dinkel man, his brother; and they farmed together two years, in Merced County; then Mr. Dinkelman farmed independently in that county for three years. In 1902 he came to Stanislaus County and for eleven years farmed what was known as the Swan Ranch. In the fall of 1913 Mr. Dinkelman bought 812 acres of the Ross Ranch in partnership with his brother ; 468 acres of this is owned by him, and the balance by the brother, who is now a resident of Stockton. His ranch is a model with its various improvements, including a Matthews electric light plant, and he is a stockholder in the California Farm Bureau Elevator Corporation. Mr. Dinkelman was married at Modesto on January 16, 1898, to Miss Anna Cleven, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Cleven, natives of Norway. There, too, she was born; and in 1890 she migrated from Europe to America. Five children were born to their union. Ervin A. is a rancher ; Clarence O. follows agricultural pur suits ; Blanche M. and Florence C. attend Turlock high school, and Aldon the Mont pellier grammar school. Mr. Dinkelman was made a citizen of the United States at Modesto on June 5, 1903, and soon afterward joined the Republican party. He also served as trustee of the Montpellier school. EARL F. HASLAM. — An experienced mechanic thoroughly posted as to auto mobile conditions in California, and well known for his association with the building up of the largest garage in Oakdale, with the best of repair facilities in this part of Stanislaus County, is Earl F. Haslam, the city trustee and half-owner of the Highway Garage. He was born at Knights Ferry on March 10, 1896, one of the two children of West and Sadie Haslam, well-known pioneers of Knights Ferry, but residents of Oakdale since 1899, where West Haslam is at present engaged in trucking. He was formerly an expert teamster, and drove twelve, fourteen and sixteen head of mules and horses at one time, and hauled all the heavy machinery and freight to the Alto gold mine, twelve miles above Knights Ferry, but he now uses an auto truck. Earl Haslam grew up in Oakdale, where he finished the grammar courses, and in 1915 was graduated from the Oakdale high school. Shortly before Christmas, 1915, he and his father bought the Laughlin Garage; and under Earl's management the business was successfully developed and built up. When he enlisted in the great war, his brother, W. W. Haslam, left his school work and undertook the management, also HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1077 with success; but on Earl's return, the latter immediately assumed his former position of manager. Born two years later than Earl, William Wesley Flaslam first saw the light at Knights Ferry on September 14, 1898. He grew up in Oakdale, finished there the grammar school work, and studied for a year in the Oakdale high school, and then, entering upon his trade work, began specializing in the electrical field, par ticularly with batteries, and bought out the half-interest of his father, who was long proprietor of the Haslam Livery and Feed Barn, for a quarter of a century located on the site of the Highway Garage, on the route to the Yosemite. William W. Has lam was married on January 1, 1920, to Miss Emelie Violet Brooks of Sonora, the daughter of Mrs. Anna Brooks of that place. His fraternity is the Oakdale Moose. The Haslam Bros, make an excellent working team, and well deserve their suc cess. Their shop is fitted with lathes, power drills, forge, etc., so that they are able to do first-class repair work on all kinds of cars, and they are favored with such a volume of trade that they employ from three to four first-class mechanics. They are the Oakdale agents for the Chevrolet car, and keep a full line of auto accessories, in cluding the United States and Goodrich tires and Philadelphia batteries. Earl Haslam was married on June 9, 1920, to Miss Helen Kimball, who taught school at Riverbank for a couple of years, and is a daughter of Harry Kimball, for the past nine years the Santa Fe yardmaster at that place. Mr. Haslam was elected a trustee of Oakdale in the spring of 1920, and is a valued member of the city auditing commission, and is well-deserving of some of the credit for the excellent municipal administration with which Oakdale is favored. Besides being, naturally, a live mem ber of the American Legion, he belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West, and was president of the Oakdale parlor at the time of his enlistment with the U. S. Marines, in April, 1918. He served as private in the First Regiment in Philadelphia and Cuba, and was honorably discharged at Philadelphia on August 15, 1919, where upon he returned home with the satisfaction of having faithfully performed one of the highest duties, even at personal inconvenience and financial loss. JOHN W. McCABE. — A very alert and progressive citizen, John W. McCabe was born in the Fairview district, seven miles southwest of Modesto, on what was known in the early seventies as the James McCabe ranch, on April 10, 1874, the youngest son of James McCabe, a native of Ireland who came out to the United States when he was thirteen years of age and in Boston was apprenticed to the trade of a cabinet maker. In 1858 he crossed the Isthmus of Panama, sailed north to Southern California, and then came overland up to San Francisco on mule back. He arrived in Columbia, Tuolumne County, and went into the mines; and having been fairly successful, he invested what he had thus acquired in farming. In Tuolumne County, too, in 1862, he married Miss Catherine Mullin, a native of County Clare, Ireland, by whom he had six children, among whom John W. is the youngest boy. After sur viving the turbulence of the rough-and-ready days as a miner in Sonora Town, the elder McCabe came to Stanislaus County and settled on a farm in the Westport dis trict; and it was there that our subject first saw the light of day. There, too, he was reared, attending the Adamsville school; but in 1881, when his father died, as the result of a runaway accident, he and his brothers carried on the farm work. This they continued to do even when the mother also died ; the oldest in the home having been designated as "boss," and the other elder children agreeing to look out for the younger. Much credit, therefore, should be given all of the boys and girls for the manly, woman ly and helpful spirit they developed as they grew up in a home without their parents. John W. McCabe, the subject of this sketch, engaged in farming in copartnership with his brothers, E. P., Thomas F. and James S. McCabe, and with them ran the home place of 280 acres, also farming for grain on rented land in Madera County, and together they worked 3,000 acres devoted to wheat and barley. They first ventured into Madera County in 1892, but at that time the country was known as a part of Fresno County. Later on, the brothers purchased 1,700 acres at Minturn, Madera County, which yielded handsomely. They sold out their interests in 1912, and E. P. McCabe served as a director of the Turlock Irrigation District until his death. At the time when the brothers thus farmed in Madera County, the McCabe home ranch 1078 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY supplied the mules and horses for the Madera ranch, as many as fifty head of mules being used there to do the work and run the machinery. John W. McCabe has had, therefore, wide and valuable experience in general farming, first harvesting with the old reapers, then with the combined harvesters. For years the home ranch yielded chiefly alfalfa ; but since the 280 acres were plowed under, corn, grain and beans have made up the crops. Mr. McCabe is a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers Union, the Farm Bureau and the Farm Bureau Ex change, and is a strong exponent of the cooperative marketing system, and is a member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. Elks. On October 16, 1915, Mr. McCabe was married to Miss Helen Chapman, a daughter of F. C. Chapman, well known in Stanislaus County as fruit grower and shipper, and she has shared both the work and the honors of all that pertains to what the world calls the McCabe luck and success. WILLIAM FLOYD WHEELER.— Prominent among those who have mate rially advanced the science of husbandry in California, William Floyd Wheeler has, during the thirty years of his residence in this favored locality, built up an excellent nursery, large and varied in its assortment, and his choice nursery stock is sent far and wide, even .beyond the confines of the state. He was born at Marion, Smyth County, Va., on March 13, 1862, the son of Capt. W. C. Wheeler, who was a farmer and also a U. S. revenue collector before the war and afterwards held the same position with the Confederacy, and was captured by the Union forces a couple of times during the Civil War. Grandfather John Wheeler lived to be ninety-nine years of age, and his wife lived to be ninety-seven. The family is of English origin, and Capt. W. C. Wheeler was married in Virginia to Miss Harriet Porter, a lady of an old line of Virginians of English extraction. They came of Colonial stock and enjoj'ed Revolutionary fame, no less than seven of our subject's uncles having fought throughout the entire Civil War, and returned home safe and sound to tell the tale of many battles. There were nine children in Captain Wheeler's family, and five are still living; our subject was the fifth in the order of birth, and is the only one in California. He grew up on the large farm of his father in Virginia, and attended the public grammar school at Marion, and he continued at home until he was twenty. Then, in 1882, he went to Nebraska, but after one summer's work there, he returned to Vir ginia and remained until he was twenty-three. Then, in 1886, he came to California, landing at Stockton on the thirteenth of March ; and the second day of his experience here he went out to Linden and commenced working in a nursery at that place, and he has been a nurseryman ever since, never losing a day save when he was sick. In 1896, however, he took pleuro-pneumonia, which settled in his right knee and ankle; necrosis of the bone set in, and an amputation was performed in the German Hospital in San Francisco on July 29, 1896, and the right leg was taken off above the knee. Handicapped, and his means all used up, but not discouraged, Mr. Wheeler set himself resolutely toward the future, and he has become one of the substantial nur serymen of Central California, a man of affairs of whom Oakdale and Stanislaus County are justly proud, for he has made a valuable scientific and industrial contribu tion toward the permanent development of this part of the state. At Stockton, on June 20, 1895, Mr. Wheeler was married to Miss Mary Thorn ton, a native of San Francisco and then hailing from that town; and with her encour agement and assistance' he went forward faster than ever. He continued to work in the nursery at Linden for two years, and then he went to Acampo, in San Joaquin County, and worked in a nursery there for another two years. In 1890 he came to Oakdale and entered the service of A. V. Stuart, the proprietor of the Oakdale Nursery, where he remained for three years, and in 1893, he bought out Mr. Stuart and became the proprietor of the nursery. Now he also owns two farms near Oak- ilale, mostly river-bottom land and aggregating eighty acres, rich soil and very valu able, under the Oakdale Irrigation District. He and his wife live in their attrac tive residence on Railroad Avenue, which Mr. Wheeler built. He bought ten lots in HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1081 this section of the town, and on a part of this land he has built another fine stucco residence, which he rents. He conducts a general nursery, and grows all the leading varieties of nut and fruit trees, and berry trees and bushes, and he has built up a large retail business. He also ships, by retail and wholesale, nursery stock 'from his own nursery to all parts of California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona, and even ships his nursery stock to such foreign countries as Japan and South Africa. He is always on the alert for new varieties, imports a good deal from France, and is in close connection with such great horticulturists as Luther Burbank and Albert Etter, and does a consider able business with the great nursery at Shenandoah, Iowa. One child, a son named Floyd, now a partner with our subject in the nursery enterprise, was granted Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler. He married Miss Mae Prows of Oakdale, in which town they now reside with their one child, Virginia. Mr. Wheeler is a Democrat and was elected a member of the first board of trustees of Oakdale, hav ing been elected and reelected each succeeding term, serving several times as president of the board. Each time he was returned to that responsible office with a larger ma jority than at the previous election, but found it consistent to resign in 1918, when his private business affairs demanded his personal attention. He belongs to the Woodmen of the World. CHARLES J. KING. — A progressive and thoroughly wide-awake leader in the building world, who has made an enviable reputation as a brick contractor able to meet any emergency in the delivery of first-class goods, is Charles J. King, one of the oldest contractors in Modesto, who was born in Bristol, England, the famous seaport city on the channel from which Cabot sailed for America on May 1, 1880. His father was Isaac King, a millwright and one of a family of shipbuilders, and he carried on his business in one establishment in Bristol for forty-two years. He married Miss Mary Webb, and both parents are still living, seventy or more j'ears of age. Charles King attended both the grammar and the high schools of Bristol, and then served an apprenticeship of seven years under the well-known contractor, W. Woods, of Bristol, where he studied drawing and architecture and also attended night school at the Mechanics Institute at Bristol, where he specialized in architecture and building construction. In 1904 he came out to America, traveling to Los Angeles by way of New York and New Orleans, and for four months he worked at his trade in Los Angeles and then he went to San Francisco, and was there at the time of the earthquake and fire. He had charge of the construction of the terra cotta of the California Theater building and also the Centenary Methodist Church on Bush Street, and was foreman for the Gladding & McBean Company, building contractors in terra cotta construction, and traveled to various sections in California in charge of construction work for this company. He also had charge of the erection of the new Elks Hall at San Luis Obispo, and well merited the praise given for the excellent manner in which that structure, one of the best in San Luis Obispo County, was carried to completion. In 1918, too, he had charge of the construction of the Deseret National Bank building at Salt Lake City, Utah, for his company. On removing to Modesto, Mr. King embarked in business for himself, and now he is well known as a manufacturer of cement brick, some of his finest product being displayed in his two beautiful residences at the corner of Eighteenth and G streets, put up after his own design. In 1909 he had purchased forty acres near Sanger, in Fresno County, where he set out twenty acres to peaches and twenty acres to Muscat grapes. This ranch he sold in 1914 for $10,000, and three years later it sold for $65,000. Mr. King came to Modesto first in 1915, when he purchased a ranch of eighty-five acres on the Oakdale Road devoted to grain and figs. This ranch he sold when his wife's health failed, and he moved back to San Francisco. Since coming to Modesto he has been very successful as a general contractor, the excellency of his work bringing him more and more into notice so that his business has grown rapidly and very satisfac torily. He also specializes in the manufacture of brick from cement, the yards being located at 1501 Ninth Street. At the same place he is also manufacturing ornamental garden furniture from cement. 1082 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY At Bristol, England, on April 23, 1904, Mr. King was married to Miss Rose Bryant, who was born in the same locality in which Mr. King had grown up, the daughter of William and Sophie Bryant, and three days after their marriage the happy couple sailed for America. Mr. and- Mrs. King are Methodists. In national politics Mr. King is a Republican. The recent World War brought sorrow to Mr. and Mrs. King's home circle. Three brothers of Mrs. King were in the conflict ; one left San Francisco and was killed in France, and the other two saw service in that country. Mr. King had four brothers in the service ; all were wounded and all were gassed, but each recovered. One was honored with the Military Cross. MILTON L. ST. CLAIR. — A live-wire newcomer to Salida who, as merchant, banker and operator of a portable alfalfa mill, has become closely allied with the com munity, intensely interested in its progress and prosperity, is Milton L. St. Clair, one of the partners of C. E. Capps & Company and vice-president of the First National Bank of Salida. He was born at Salesville, Guernsey County, Ohio, on January 9, 1866, the son of George M. St. Clair, a justice of the peace and flour-mill owner at Salesville, who was born at St. Clairsville, Ohio, named after William St. Clair, who died in March, 1871, in the ninety-second year of his age. He was one of the earliest pioneer settlers of Eastern Ohio, and was born in Virginia of Quaker parents, in 1779. In 1803, with his wife, child and furniture, all stowed away in a four-horse wagon, he crossed the mountains and settled in Belmont County, Ohio, and located on some land his father had previously taken near Lloydsville. About 1807, he put up a large stone house, still standing, and there resided until 1825, when he removed to within a mile of Salesville, Guernsey County, where he lived for forty-six years. About 1810, he put up a grist mill, with an overshot wheel, probably the first water- mill erected in the county of Belmont, and when a dry summer threatened, he con joined to the water-mill a horse-mill. In 1836, he erected a huge grist-mill, pro pelled by a Parker wheel, which contributed largely to the settlement and prosperity of the country around. The St. Clair Mill was kept in good repair and running by the father of our subject until 1885, when Theodore Taylor, the incendiary and notorious outlaw, set fire to and destroyed it, entailing a large loss. William St. Clair voted at every presidential election up to the time of his death, in the history of the United States, except at those when Washington was chosen ; he served six full terms as justice of the peace, was once elected to the legislature, and during the War of 1812 he started out as captain of a company of volunteers to strike terror to the hearts of the intruding Britishers. At the end of four or five days' march, however, the com pany was so decimated by desertion that Mr. St. Clair began to think he would be left to himself, but orders were received to go home, as there was no need of men at the front. The St. Clair family each year hold a reunion in the northern part of Ohio. The. genealogy of the family thus worthily represented in Stanislaus County by Milton L. St. Clair may be proven up from 912 A. D., tracing through twenty-six generations a direct descent from Rolf or Rollo, Prince of Norway, to whom was given for his bravery and devotion the entire province of Normandy. The last, and seventeenth earl, recently invested with Scottish titles, was an American citizen resid ing, in the nineties, in Lakota, Nelson County, N. D. George M. St. Clair was mar ried in Ohio to Miss Mary J. Linn, and both parents are now deceased. Milton St. Clair, who has four brothers and three sisters still living, was the sixth child in the order of birth. He. attended the common schools of the locality, helped his father run the grist-mill, later was interested in a sawmill, and still later in a hardware store. He was married in Ohio the day before Christmas, 1890, to Miss Amy L. Williams, of Salesville, who was born in Noble County in that state, the daughter of Joel and Catherine (Kritzwiser) Williams, Quakers from New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair came to California in 1907 and to Salida three years later. With his brother, Dr. J. A. St. Clair of Modesto, and J. H. Kaufman, Mr. St. Clair in 1910 bought the Joe Miller ranch of 490 acres, and the ranch, having been divided into three parts, in 1912 Mr. St. Clair disposed of his holdings at a handsome profit. He next bought out the large stock of general merchandise of H. S. Capps, in the spring of 1916, and the next month the establishment was burned out. He then >^. UtGicu^ ZyU-C/a^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1087 sold the salvage stock to C. E. Capps, who has run the general merchandise store in Salida ever since. A year and a half ago he also bought a forty-nine per cent interest in that mercantile establishment, which is the largest store in Salida, and is doing a live business that is constantly on the increase. He owns a half section of rice land in Colusa County, purchased in 1913. Mr. St. Clair has also become interested in a portable alfalfa mill capable of grinding twenty tons of alfalfa meal a day ; and this mill he operates for four months a year, using a sixty-horsepower engine and employing eight men. He was the prime mover in organizing the First National Bank of Salida, and is the vice-president ; and he owns a comfortable residence upon an acre of land in the north part of Salida. A Republican in political affairs of a national character, Mr. St. Clair never thinks of permitting party allegiance to interfere with his hearty support of whatever may seem to be the best for the community. He is a Mason and belongs to the Blue Lodge at Quaker City, Ohio, and the chapter at Cambridge, Ohio, and he is affiliated with the Knights Templar of Modesto. He also belongs to the Scottish Rite Masons of Sacramento, and to Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., in San Francisco. In addi tion, he is a member of Wildey Lodge, I. O. O. F. Mrs. St. Clair is a member of the Woman's Improvement Club of Salida. J. AUDLEY YOUNG, M. D.— The pioneer physician of Oakdale and recog nized as one of the leading practitioners of this vicinity, J. Audley Young, M.D., is highly esteemed both for his worth as a sterling citizen and for his self-sacrificing work in the alleviation of human suffering. Doubtless many of the qualities that have been potent factors in his success were inherited from his father, who also was a prominent physician, and, fortunate in this heritage, he ministered to his patients with a kindliness and skill that has given him the good-will and high esteem of the people in his community. He is the son of Dr. John Philip and Sarah Ann (Murtha) Young, born in Armstrong County, Pa., and Michigan, respectively. Dr. John P. Voung was a graduate of the Keokuk, Iowa, Medical College, and also studied in the University of Michigan. He was married in Crystal, Mich., where he first prac ticed, and of this union there were four children, of which only two are living, J. Audley, born at Crystal, Mich., August 4, 1876, being the eldest, and Ethel Murtha, now the wife of D. C. Stoddard, state statistician for the Standard Oil Company for the state of California. Dr. J. P. Young came to California from Michigan in 1882. settling with his family at Turlock, which was then the bonanza grain growing dis trict in California. He was considered one of the best diagnosticians of his time ; his judgment was said to have been well-nigh unerring. The progenitor of the Young family came to America from Germany, settling in Penn's Woodland, and was a contemporary of William Penn. Murtha, Mrs. Young's maiden name, was orig inally spelled Murtaugh ; she was of English-Irish blood, having descended maternally from Lord Pendleton of England. J. Audley Young lived in Turlock until 1889, when, with his parents, he moved to Alameda County for the purpose of schooling. He attended Washington College at Irvington and graduated with the class of 1894, with the ri^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1101 JACOB WITMER. — Now living in comfortable, enviable retirement at Denair, in Stanislaus County, Cal., Jacob Witmer was born near Fort Wayne, in Allen County, Ind., on December 29, 1846. He was reared in Allen County, and there attended the local grammar schools in the days when high schools were unknown ; and his father was Peter Witmer, a native of Alsace-Lorraine, at that time a part of France, who migrated to America in 1842. He located in Allen County, then went to Wayne County, Ohio, to marry, and moved back to Allen County, Ind., where he farmed 160 acres of Government land. He met an accidental death, when Jacob was four years of age, and left a widow and six children, among whom Jacob was the third in the order of birth. Mrs. Witmer was Miss Anna Souder before her mar riage, and she was born in Holmes County, Ohio- Jacob grew up in the county in which he was born, and on April 3, 1870, he was married to Miss Catherine Yaggy, a native of Stark County, Ohio, where she was born on August 4, 1847. Her father was John Yaggy, a native of France, who had married Miss Anna Schlunger, a native of French Switzerland. She lived in Ohio until her seventh year, and then her parents removed to Allen County, Ind. Thir teen children were born to this union. Noah J. is married, and has three daughters ; he was formerly a director of the Turlock Irrigation District. Anna died at the age of six. William J. had three children by his first wife. Matilda is Mrs. W. H. Herr, the mother of two children and resides at Denair. Adam is the father of five children and lives at Watsonville. Jacob, Jr., died in his fifth year. John resides at Denair and has three children. Aaron is married and lives with his wife at Wat sonville. Simon, who is married and has two children, is manager of the Ward Lumber Company's yard at Ripon. Frederick, a lumber man, dwells with his wife and four children at Modesto. Samuel Witmer, with his wife and child, lives at Turlock. Ida died in infancy. And Katherine, a graduate registered nurse, lives at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Witmer have twenty-three grandchildren, and they celebrated their fiftieth or golden anniversary on Anril 4, 1920. In the fall of 1884 Mr. Witmer emigrated to Reno County, Kans., where he farmed until 1904; and in the fall of that year he came out to Stanislaus County, Cal., and settled about three miles north of Denair, where he purchased eighty acres of the Gratton Tract. Half of this area he improved, and the other half he sold again. Here he built a fine ranch house and made numerous improvements. After a strenu- pus life Mr. and Mrs. Witmer have been able to retire to the comfortable home-place at Denair. For thirty years Mr. Witmer has been a deacon of the Missionary Church Association, and ever since he was sixteen years old he has been a professing Christian. Public-spirited, he has always been willing to serve his fellow-citizens ; and when they wished him to be a road supervisor and a school director, he qualified and served. ANGELO GIOVANETTI.— One of the old California pioneer families is that of Angelo Giovanetti, who came to this state in 1861 from his native canton in Swit zerland, and through hard work, honesty and integrity, has amassed a fortune, acquired one of the largest grain ranches in Stanislaus County, and leaves to his sons and daughter as a rich legacy a reputation for fair dealing, justice, kindliness and good-will which they are doing much to maintain. Mr. Giovanetti, now retired from active business at the -age of seventy-six years, resides on the old home place with his son, Albert H., whose sketch appears in this volume, and who, together with his brother Frank, operates the home place, numbering 900 acres of the finest land in the county. Angelo Giovanetti was born on March 19, 1845, in the village of Auriagno, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, the son of Giacomo and Maria (Grocici) Giovanetti, both natives of Switzerland, the father being a farmer and stonemason by trade. Angelo attended the village school and worked with his father on the farm until he was sixteen, when he answered the call of the New World and sailed for America, in 1861, crossing from Havre, France, to New York, and thence to California by way of Panama, arriving in San Francisco in June of that year. For several years he was employed in Tuolumne County, working in the mines and on the farms. Later he engaged as a mechanic in a machine shop, where he remained for several years, going from there to a dairy farm in Tuolumne County, where he remained for two 45 1102 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY years. Frugal and industrious, Angelo had saved his money and now bought a stock of goods and for eight j'ears engaged in peddling throughout the rich farmlands of that district. But the urge of the soil was in his blood, and he saved his money and bought land which he planted to orchard and vineyard, and eventually gave up other enterprises and gave his attention exclusively to farming, becoming one of the most extensive grain farmers of Stanislaus County. The home place, which originally numbered but 350 acres, but now contains some 900 acres, was purchased in 1884, and here Mr. Giovanetti engaged in dairying, starting with a herd of sixty cows and increasing that until he had at one time 200 head of high-grade cows. Most of his land was devoted to grain, with a small orchard and ten acres in vineyard. This prop erty lies six miles northeast of Modesto, in Prescott precinct, and it is here that Mr. Giovanetti is passing the sunset of his life. In 1901 he built the Giovanetti Block, on H and Tenth streets, Modesto, once occupied by the Farmers & Merchants Bank. The marriage of Mr. Giovanetti occurred in Tuolumne County, Cal., July 4, 1881, uniting him with Miss Fidelia Prescott, a native of Boston, Mass., and the daughter of Henry and Margaret (Callaghan) Prescott, the Prescott family being one of the oldest in New Hampshire. Her parents pioneered into California in 1857, rounding Cape Horn in a sailing vessel, and her father became a farmer in Tuolumne County, near Gold Spring. Following this he engaged in the hotel business until the mines began to fail, when, leaving his family in San Francisco, he joined a whaling expedition, and was drowned at Magdalena Bay, on his way to the whaling grounds. Mrs. Giovanetti bore her husband four children, three sons and one daughter, all residents of Stanislaus County, where they are known as valuable and progressive citizens. Of these, Frank William is married, and together with Albert H. operates the old home place; John resides in Modesto; Albert Henry, living on the old home place with his father; and May, a graduate of the Modesto high school and the busi ness college, presides gracefully over her father's home. Mrs. Giovanetti passed away May 15, 1905, in Stockton, whither she had been taken during her illness for special medical treatment. Mr. Giovanetti has always been interested in public affairs until his failing health of recent years. He is a stanch Republican and has been a loyal party man, but in local matters he has stood for civic progress and betterment, and the election of clean, upright men. HANS JONS. — A highly respected early Californian who, as the result of hard, intelligent labor, has become one of the most successful grain ranchers of Stanislaus* County, is Hans Jons, who was born in Schleswig, Germany, on September 14, 1868, the son of Detlef and Margaret Jons, farmer-folk who were comfortably established and who enjoyed the esteem and good will of their neighbors. Hans went to the grammar school and later studied for a couple of years in what would correspond to the American high school ; and until he was eighteen years of age, he lived at home on his parents' farm, where he thoroughly learned the first principles of agriculture. Mr. Jons then came out to America, and after getting a glimpse of the East, settled at Ogden, Boone County, Iowa. For ten months he worked for fourteen dollars a month, and by that time he had progressed sufficiently that he was able to push on to the Pacific Coast and to settle in Stanislaus County, where he secured employment for two and a half years on the Dick Richards Ranch at Westley. He then returned to Iowa, and there he was married to Miss Helen Schwatzkopf, a native of Holstein, Germany, daughter of Theodore and Margaretha Catharina Schwatzkopf. After their marriage the happy couple remained in Iowa, and Mr. Jons leased a farm of 200 acres, and ran it for a year. When his lease expired, he came out to Spokane County, Wash., and there rented a farm of 200 acres. He endeavored to raise wheat, but the times were "hard," mighty hard, in fact, and he soon went "broke. At that point of crisis in his affairs, Mr. Jons thought again of Stanislaus County, and hardly had he begun to think of the advantages offered by the Golden State and he was back again. For a second time, and while working for wages, he started out in life ; and just how hard he and his wife did work, at harvesting for Harry Fish, may be seen from the fact that together they received only twenty-five dollars a month. Next he went to Crows Landing and worked for a harvest season for George Thorn- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1105 ing. After that he rented a half-section of land at Tracy and farmed it to grain for a year. His next move was to Willamette Valley, Ore., where he stayed for three months at Albany, but he returned to California, and during fifteen months of work in Monterey County, he helped build the Salinas Sugar Factory. Then he farmed for three years at San Lucas in the same county. On his return to Stanislaus County, Mr. Jons rented a farm near Grayson and on 800 acres raised hay and grain. It was the old Smith and Droge farm, and he did sufficiently well there to be willing to remain for two years. Then he removed to Tracy and farmed 640 acres for a year, raising barlej'. Coming back once more to where he is at present located, three and a half miles northwest of Patterson, Mr. Jons, in the fall of 1909, resumed agriculture again, and with increasing prosperity, he has since farmed as much as 2,900 acres in a season. In 1919, his sons took over the farm by renting the land, now brought to a high state of cultivation; and Mr. Jons retired from all active labor. Besides this land mentioned, Mr. Jons has forty-five acres in Tracy, surveyed out in town lots. Four children Mr. and Mrs. Jons have reared : Hannah is the wife of C. Krohn ; Otto H. took care of the farm during the World War; Walter D., the third in the order of birth, served in the late World War; William J. is the youngest.. In national political affairs Mr. Jons is a Republican ; but in local affairs he seeks to favor alwaj's the best men and the best measures. CHARLES H. SIKES. — It has been almost forty years since Charles H. Sikes first came to California, and during these years he has taken an active interest in the welfare of his adopted state. He is a man of ability and wide experience along many lines, although he calls himself a farmer, and has, indeed, been engaged in farming industries since, at the age of twelve years, he took charge of his plow and team of horses, and began to follow the turning furrow around the Ohio field. He is now one of the most prominent and influential business men of Ceres, where he owns eighteen acres of valuable land, improved with a handsome modern residence. He is actively engaged in the real estate business, is a director of the Ceres branch of the Oakland Building and Loan Company, president of the Ceres Telephone Company, and one of the city trustees, in which capacity he has served for two terms. The son of James and Lucina (Parks) Sikes, natives of Massachusetts and Vir ginia, respectively, Charles H. Sikes was born in Ohio, at Columbus, where his father, a well-known educator, was engaged in teaching school. The father also owned farm lands, and for many years the family resided in the country, where the j'oung son spent his early youth, attending the Tickridge school near Columbus, and assisting with the care of the farm. He always liked the outdoor life and at an early age became proficient in the care of the farm stock and in the discharge of farm duties, plowing as well as a man. After he reached the age of maturity he came West to Kansas, locating in Rice County, where he engaged in farming. The marriage of Mr. Sikes occurred in Rice County, Kans., November 15, 1882, uniting him with Miss Julia Elizabeth Ratledge, a native of North Carolina, who came to Kansas with her parents in 1876. That same year the j'oung couple deter mined to cast in their fortune with the pioneers of California, and bade farewell to family and friends and came West, locating in Shasta County. Here Mr. Sikes pre empted land near Redding, owning in all 480 acres, where he engaged in general farming and stock raising. He met with much success and was for more than twenty- five years one of the best known cattlemen and farmers of the northern part of the state, and contributed much toward the development and upbuilding of these industries in that part of California. It was in 1908 that Mr. Sikes came to Stanislaus County, where he has since resided. He leased the Carter ranch at Esmar from the Vilas brothers and farmed there for two years, meeting with merited success. In 1910 he purchased his present home place of eighteen acres at Ceres, which he has vastly improved and brought under a high state of cultivation and development. Mr. and Mrs. Sikes are both very popular personally with a wide circle of friends, as is also their daughter, Miss Alta, the youngest of a family of four, and the only one 1106 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY still remaining under the parental roof. Of the others, Clarence W. is married to Miss Annie Carlson and resides in Modesto ; Glen, married to Miss Jessie Boyd, is a merchant in Modesto; and James W., married to Miss Julia Mall, is a rancher at Keyes. These three sons are all prosperous and highly esteemed citizens of their respective communities, all native sons of California and enthusiastic boosters. Since coming to Ceres, Mr. Sikes has done much toward furthering the develop ment of all industries in this section of the county, and has been active in many waj's for the improvement and upbuilding of Ceres. His association with such projects as the Ceres Telephone Company has served to give Ceres an excellent telephone service, while in all his activities as a realtor he has kept the best interests of the community ever in the foreground. Politically he is a Republican, standing firmly for party principles in national issues, but eliminating party and factional lines in local affairs. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sikes are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ceres and are prominent in church and social circles, and community activity. GEORGE J. ULRICH. — An expert mechanic who has risen to become one of the leading contractors in Stanislaus County, and a patriotic Californian of French and American extraction who has been honored with the highest office at the dispo sition of the citizens of Modesto, is George J. Ulrich, the popular mayor of Modesto. He has lived here since 1910, and now occupies a beautiful modern home at 1425 Stoddard Avenue. Mr. Ulrich was born at Covington, Ky., January 8, 1867, the son of Charles Ulrich, who was a Union soldier, enlisting from Kentucky and serv ing throughout the Civil War. He was born in Alsace, and was a French army officer serving in Algeria before coming to the United States. His father was Carl Ulrich, a textile manufacturer in France. Charles Ulrich was well educated and became a prominent builder in Cincinnati. His wife was Miss Amelia Snell before her marriage, and she died in Kentucky when George was only five years old. She was the mother of five children, among whom our subject was the third. Edward Oscar Ulrich, the oldest, is distinguished as a paleontologist, and is in the United States service at Washington as a geologist ; for ten years he was associate editor of the American Geologist, and he is also connected with the Smithsonian Institution at the capital ; Charles K. was formerly a well-known newspaper and magazine writer and is now editor of press books for the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation in New York ; Albert is a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Apple River, 111., and Kate, the only daughter, is the wife of T. B. Taulbee of Oakland, Cal. Charles Ulrich married a second time, choosing a French lady, and they had three children. George J. Ulrich grew up in Kentucky and there attended the public schools. In 1887 he left that state and came to San Francisco, accompanied by his brother, Albert, and soon engaged in building in Berkeley. He studied at night, and took the I. C. S. course in architectural drawing. He had previously worked with his brother and father at Cincinnati, and attended the School of Mechanical Arts, also taking the architectural course at the night school in Cincinnati. He thus learned the practical end of the building business as a boy. While in San Francisco, on September 12, 1888, George J. Ulrich was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Mersfelder, born in Stockton, Cal., the daughter of Charles and Minnie (Haupt) Mersfelder, pioneers of Stockton, where they con ducted the old Magnolia Hotel, of which they were the owners. Her brother, Jules Mersfelder, is a distinguished California artist of national reputation. This happy union has been blessed by the birth of four children. Lillian C. is the wife of Arthur A. Worthen, a C. S. practitioner ; Edna is the wife of Ray Bradbury, who is a part ner with Mr. Ulrich in the Blue Seal Cleaning and Dye Works, the largest establish ment of its kind in the county and among the very best in the San Joaquin Valley. The building they occupy was erected by Mr. Ulrich for that purpose and is under a long term lease; George J., Jr., married Gladys Ding and they have two children, Jack and Alice. George is a foreman for his father, and Carl is a student in the Modesto grammar school. All of the children are living in Modesto. After his marriage Mr. Ulrich continued for several years as a builder in Oak land. Then he took up soliciting for the International Correspondence School and < &,. c&usiu HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1109 met with well-deserved success. It was while traveling for that well-known institu tion that he took a fancy to Modesto; and in 1910 he located here and at once engaged in the general contracting business. Since then he has erected the majority of the most important residences and business structures in Modesto and vicinity. He employs from twenty to sixty men- — masons, carpenters, brick masons, plasterers, roof ers and other workmen — securing only the best, most efficient help and often paying a wage in advance of the regular union scale to command the skill he requires. When necessary he draws his own plans and as his own architect is able to secure in designs the very thing that is wanted. Mr. Ulrich was one of the first to buy property and build in the Rose Addition of Modesto ; and this venture is indicative of the active part he has taken in all movements for the common welfare, especially in moral uplift and the improvement of living conditions, and in civic affairs. In 1919 Mr. Ulrich entered the race for mayor of Modesto and after a hard- fought campaign he was elected, and entering upon the duties of that important office he has injected common sense business ideas and methods that mean much to the citizens. He believes in a square deal, and all of his acts have been character ized by practical ideas and economy. He plays no favorites and insists on the great est good to the greatest number. A person in his position naturally has those who do not agree with him, but yet those same persons respect his sound judgment and business acumen. Mr. Ulrich is a member of Wildey Lodge No. 149, I. O. O. F. of Modesto, in which he is a past grand, and he is a past district deputy of the order; he also belongs to the Encampment of the I. O. O. F. ; he is a member of the Rotary Club of Modesto and a director of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Ulrich is a member of the Woman's Improvement Club, that has done so much to beautify the city of Modesto and to improve its parks and playgrounds, and with her husband shares in the esteem and good will of all who know them. LEONARD ANTON RICHINA.— An example of well-directed industry con ducing to success is found in the career of Leonard Anton Richina, an enterprising and progressive rancher at Oakdale, Stanislaus County, who settled there in the old pioneer days and has never missed an opportunity to aid in the upbuilding and improvement of not only his home community, but in the larger interests of the commonwealth as well. He was born in Bellinzona, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, July 4, 1857, the son of Peter and Catherine (Albertoni) Richina, both of whom were born in Robasaco, married there and were counted among the most prosperous farmers and stock raisers, where they were the owners of a 100-acre farm which, the parents having died some time ago, is now owned by the various heirs. They were the parents of eight children : Margaret, who was married in Switzerland to Albertoni Domingues, died and left five children ; Berthold went to South America to the Argentine Republic when only fifteen years old, was held up in a train robbery at Lima, Peru, and not only robbed of his money, but also lost his life ; Teressa is Mrs. Bunn, whose husband is a railway agent in Switzerland ; Peter lives on the home farm and is the father of Mrs. Rossini, whose biography appears on another page of this work; Barbara is Mrs. Borsatt, farmers in Switzerland; a little girl died in childhood; Leonard Anton, our subject, and John Richina, who was born in 1860 in Switzerland, and following his brother to America, landed in San Francisco in 1884. In 1894, in San Luis Obispo County, he chose for a helpmate Miss Catherine Stanuseich, who was born in Guadalupe, Cal. Her father, Anton Stanuseich, now ninety years old, is one of the oldest farmers in San Luis Obispo County, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. John Richina became the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are living : Henry is a foreman machinist for the Holt Manufacturing Company at Stockton ; John served in the recent war for six months, training for the artillery at San Diego ; Albert helps operate the farm ; Ida Ernestina ; Marguerita Lucile ; Steve C. ; Leonard A., Jr. ; Clement ; Viola ; Nellie ; Willie died when four months old. Leonard A. Richina, the subject of this sketch, came to America in 1878, sailing from Havre, France, via London, crossed England and reembarked at Liverpool and then took the steamship "Julian" of the White Star Line and landed at Philadelphia in March, 1878, crossed the continent and reached San Francisco March 31, 1878. 1110 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY His first work was as a milker at San Rafael, in Marin County, and then later he went to Santa Clara County. Then growing tired of this work, he with four others took a contract to build two miles of road in the hills in San Mateo County, close to Santa Clara County. When this was finished, he came over to Modesto in 1880 and loaded a grain header wagon and helped to thresh. The season being over, he wended his way back to San Francisco and engaged in the grocery business until 1888, having been joined by his brother, John Richina, who is now his partner, in 1884. In 1889 he kept a cigar store on Market Street in San Francisco. Selling out, he was manager of a coffee, tea and spice store on Front Street in San Francisco for three years. He was then employed by Attorney T. I. Bergen, a prominent San Francisco lawyer of that day, as a butler, and remained in this work for the next four years. Again going to San Mateo County, Mr. Richina ran a butcher shop at San Gregorio, and it was here that he displayed his ability as a first-class sausage maker and his services are now in constant demand among the big Swiss and Italian dairy farmers in the San Joaquin Valley. He is an expert in making Salami sausage of such excellent quality that it is quite the equal of the imported article. After two j'ears in the butcher business, he sold out and went into the cattle and dairy business and has been engaged in his line of business ever since. In 1899 his brother, John, joined him in the dairy business at Guadalupe, Santa Barbara County, and here the brothers rented a 2,000-acre stock and dairy farm until 1905, when they moved to San Jose and rented a place containing 2,000 acres, bringing with them 300 head of cattle, but in the acclimatization 200 of them died. They lived here for five years and in 1911 moved again, this time to Modesto, and there ran the old Davis place in Westpoint precinct, living there until January, 1919, when they bought the place where they now live. They are now the owners of the old Carmichael place of ninety- six acres, where they have one of the most complete and modern equipped dairy and stock farms in this section. Both he and his brother are counted among the oldest and most highly esteemed settlers and now are enjoying the fruits of their industry, foresight and thrift. They are always ready to aid in any movement for the good of the community and are stanch adherents of the Republican party. MANSFIELD W. BRADY.— Forty miles distant from the historic field of the Battle of Gettysburg, on his father's fifty-acre hillside farm on the slopes of the Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania, Mansfield W. Brady first saw the light of this world. He was born during the throes of the country's great Civil War, June 5, 1863, and his father, George Washington Brady, was lieutenant in the Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers. He enlisted in 1861, was wounded in the battle of Fair Oaks, and upon recovery went back to the ranks, but was discharged on account of physical disability. Continuing the vocation of a farmer, he became secretary for the local Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company at Ambrose, Indiana County, Pa., and died at the age of eighty-four ; his wife having preceded him to the Great Beyond two years previous, in'1915, aged seventy-five. Mansfield W. was educated in his home district schools, was a student at Marion Summer Institute for one term, attended the Kelleysburg Institute one summer, and studied another summer at Glade Run Academy. When eighteen j'ears of age he passed examination for a teacher, and taught two terms of school in Pennsylvania. He then went to Johnson County, Kans., and continued teaching for two terms. He afterward entered the commercial school at Lawrence, Kans., and graduated from that institution in 1887. He then went to Abilene, Kans., and became stenographer and bookkeeper in connection with the real estate business, afterward becoming a partner in the business with his cousin, James H. Brady, who was afterward governor of Idaho, and later senator from that state, being a colleague of Senator Borah. The panic of the nineties rendering the real estate business very dull, Mr. Brady entered the employ of the Santa Fe in their offices at Abilene. He learned telegraphy and remained in the company's employ at Abilene eight years. Afterward they appointed him station agent at Mitchell, Kans., and later stationed him at Navarre, in that state, and finally appointed him agent at Solomon City, where he remained eight years, altogether making sixteen j'ears of service in the railway business. While agent at HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY . 1111 Navarre he procured data from various chambers of commerce of the leading cities of Central and Southern California, and in 1905, during a sixty days' leave of absence, visited Modesto, Cal., and purchased twenty acres of land where his home now stands. In 1906 he made a trip to his old Pennsylvania home with his family, and in 1907 brought them to California to make a permanent home. His home place now com prises forty acres of land, which was virgin soil and a stubble field when he pur chased the property. A man of indefatigable energy, he has made all the improve ments on the place himself. He first lived in a tent, then built a barn 80x52 feet in dimensions with his own hands, in which he lived until he could build his first house. He learned carpentry with his fatber, who was a carpenter, and has built two sets of buildings, and rents the old buildings out. In 1919 he built a fine modern up-to- date bungalow in which he and his interesting family are comfortably domiciled. He first engaged in dairy farming, disposing of the herd to devote his acreage to horti cultural purposes, and now has the greater part of his place planted to the best varieties of grapes and peaches. The extension of Virginia Avenue was due to his energetic efforts in that direction, and on the east side of this thoroughfare he has recently platted twenty acres, called North Central Tract, for city lots in Modesto. Mr. Brady's marriage occurred in Johnson County, Kans., and united him with Miss Carrie Ouderkirk, a native of Indiana. The six children born of their union are: Ralph, a student in the College of Arizona; Mabel, the wife of Attorney Walter Johnson of Stockton, who became a captain in the late World War ; Howard, who was in the U. S. Navy at Gibraltar in the hardest kind of service against the sub marines ; Albert and Alberta, twins ; and Ronald. Mr. Brady registers voters for High Precinct voting district, and has served as clerk of the election board in that precinct. He is a member of the Raisin Growers Association and of the Dairj'men's Association of Central California, and is also a member of the Cooperative Creamery. Mr. and Mrs. Brady are members of the Christian Church at Modesto, and fra ternally Mr. Brady is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. CARL F. SALBER. — An experienced, wide-awake business man whose pleasing personality may have had a good deal to do with his wonderful success, is Carl F. Salber, a native of Salem, Henry County, Iowa, where he was born in 1877, the eldest of four children in the family of John and Mary (Hill) Salber. He was reared in Henry County until his sixteenth j'ear, when he accompanied his folks to Page County, in the same state. There he completed his schooling, after which he opened a res taurant in Clarinda; and in 1912 made for the Pacific Coast, and selecting Stanislaus as the most inviting county for the future, he located at Modesto, and on the corner of J and Tenth streets opened a first-class grocery. It was also the first business house at that corner, now. such an important center. Two years later, Mr. Salber sold out and removed to Oakdale; and there, for four years, he conducted another restaurant, to which he also added a confectionery store. Some friends from his old home in Iowa came along, however, and induced him again to part with his undertaking; whereupon, in 1918, he returned to Modesto. In the spring of that year, he opened Salber's Cafeteria, on J Street, near Tenth ; and since then he has enlarged and remodeled the place, doubling its capacity, until today he has one of the finest cafeterias in the county. Meantime, in 1920, he also started a grocery store in Modesto ; but he sold it the same year and then opened a cafeteria in Turlock, where he built up a lively and profitable trade. This he also disposed of by sale, in February, 1920. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce in Modesto, and as might be expected of one whose habit seems to be to make a success of all that he undertakes for himself, Mr. Salber is active in civic and business affairs of all kinds. In January, 1892, af St. Louis, Mo., Mr. Salber was married to Miss Mane Lilja, a native of Iowa, and two children have been born to them, Mary and Margaret. Mr. Salber was made a Mason in Oakdale Lodge No. 75, F. & A. M., and he is now a member of the Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M., and the Oakland Consistory of the Scottish Rite, where he has been raised to the thirty-second degree. And he is also a member of the Ancient and Egyptian Order of Sciots, in Modesto, and of the Knights of Pythias there. 1112 . HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY THEODORE J. GOTTE. — Among the energetic and far-sighted young busi ness men of Modesto, is T. J. Gotte of the firm of Anker and Gotte, wholesale and retail butchers and the proprietors of the City Market. He was born at Hinsdale, a suburb of Chicago, 111., November 21, 1881, and is the son of J. B. Gotte and Susanna (Dunn) Gotte, who came from Alabama to Chicago and now reside at 110 Olive Avenue, Modesto, Cal. When he was a child Teddy, as Mr. Gotte is familiarly called by his friends, removed with his parents to Piano, 111., where he grew up, receiving a good education in the grammar and high school, after which he began clerking and learned the butcher's trade. In 1908 Mr. Gotte came to California, settling at Modesto, where he began working for Grider and Van Vlear, his predecessors and the former proprietors of the City Market. His partner, Mr. Anker, also worked for the firm during the time he was with them, from 1908 until February 1, 1917, the date the young men purchased the business. They have grown up in the business and are thoroughly con versant with every detail in connection with it. They do a large, important and growing business which amounts to about $100,000 a year. Mr. Anker attends to the outside work, including the buying and the slaughter house, while Mr. Gotte gives his attention to the retail part of the business. Lately they have built a new abattoir on their twenty-acre ranch on the Crows Landing Road about one and a half miles west of Modesto, where they have installed a pumping plant. The abattoir is equipped with an ice machine with two large boxes for cooling all of the meat. The equipment of the City Market is most modern. A five and a half-ton ice machine is used for refrigerating. The manufacturing department is in the rear. His affable manners and the courteous, accommodating treatment accorded his patrons have made many friends, who in addition to the proprietor's popularity, are attracted by the cleanliness and sanitation of the market and the quality of the meat. Teddy Gotte was married in Oakland, March 29, 1920, being united with Miss Sylvia Daniels, who was born in Missouri, the daughter of O. B. and Lillie Florence (Craft) Daniels, born in Illinois and Missouri, respectively, who migrated to Stanis laus County, but now make their home at Aetna Springs, Napa County. Mrs. Gotte is a graduate of the Modesto Business College, a charming and refined woman. They reside in their new bungalow at 106 Olive avenue, where they enjoy dispensing hospi tality and good cheer. Mr. Gotte is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and takes a just pride in Modesto's civic affairs and is ever willing to assist in all things that pertain to the common good. ROBERT R. FOWLER.— The bar of California acknowledges in R. R. Fowler one of the influential members, whose untiring devotion to the advancement of the communities in which he has lived places him in the forefront of legalists of Stanislaus County. A native of Pawnee City, Nebr., he was born August 15, 1870, a son of William F. Fowler, a native of Indiana, but who migrated to Nebraska and became a pioneer merchant of Pawnee City. His partner in the mercantile business was David Butler, the first governor of Nebraska. During the year of 1875, he migrated with his family to California, settling at Tehachapi, going into business there and so continued for the eighteen months residence there; then he removed his family to Lemoore, engaging in farming at Mussel Slough, and was one of the families who suffered the loss of five years' work on account of the railroads claiming the land which they owned and operated. The family then removed to Fresno County, purchasing farming land near Selma ; later the family moved into Selma and Wm. Fowler engaged in the real estate business, successfully operating this business for about eight years. The next move was to settle in Madera, then to Turlock, where he passed away in February, 1913. Mr. Fowler's mother was Elizabeth Anderson, born and reared in Kentucky. Her grandfather and great-grandfather were pioneers of Kentucky and were celebrated Indian fighters, using the old flint lock gun, and maintaining forts for their families during the Indian raids. Mrs. Fowler passed away in December, 1912. The seventh child of a family of ten children and the only surviving member of the large family, Robert R. Fowler obtained his education in the public schools J^xA^^ &.J&Z& HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1115 of Madera; after completing his course, he entered the law office of R. L. Hargrove and was admitted to the bar June, 1895, and began the practice of law at Madera. He was the fourth district attorney in the county, serving from January, 1899, to January, 1907. Soon after the expiration of his term, he removed to Turlock and was the first city attorney of that thriving town, serving from the incorporation for five years, thereafter serving as legal adviser for the city. The marriage of Mr. Fowler occurred in Oakland and united him with Miss Blanche Butler, a native of Nebraska, a daughter of A. B. Butler, a prominent physician and surgeon of Hanford. She is a niece of ex-governor David Butler. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler are the parents of one son, Robert B. Fraternally he is a charter member of Fresno Lodge No. 439 B. P. O. E. and Knights of Pythias of Turlock. ANDREW LARSON. — A widely experienced, unusually expert cement con tractor of Turlock, Andrew Larson was born in Helsingland, Sweden, on January 11, 1876, and was there brought up on his father's farm, at the same time that his parents safeguarded his education iri the excellent Swedish public schools. These parents are both still living, honored and beloved by their five children. Andrew, when he was twenty-one years of age, entered the military service of Sweden and did his duty by his native land; and having been honorably discharged, he came to the United States in 1901, and spent four months in Carthage, S. D. He then removed to Minneapolis and there learned the cement worker's trade. On November 30, 1905, Mr. Larson was joined in matrimony with Miss Gerda Josephine Peterson, a native of Westergotland, who crossed the ocean as a young lady and came all the way to Minneapolis. Two children have come to gladden the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Larson — Lillian Evelyn and Harold Andrew — and with their parents they attend the Swedish Mission Church. In May, 1911, Mr. and Mrs. Larson moved west to California and located at Turlock, and with his brother Louis he started the firm of Larson Bros., and engaged in contracting for cement and concrete work. At the end of three years, the brothers dissolved partnership, and since then Mr. Larson has continued alone in business, becoming one of the leading cement contractors in the county. Among the work thus undertaken and successfully carried through by Mr. Larson may be mentioned the cement work for the Turlock Theater, the Broadway Garage, the Warner Garage, the Turlock Implement Company, the Simon Garage and various residences and sidewalks and curbs; and he is at present doing work for the state at Delhi. He also does plaster and stucco work, and with two power mixers makes short work of big jobs. TOBIA LESNINI.— Few Stanislaus County agriculturists have shown more industry, thrift and progress than Tobia Lesnini, who was born in Locarno, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, on December 9, 1862, the son of Pasquale and Mary (Gagetta) Lesnini, who were born, lived and died in Switzerland. Of the eleven children, four are living, and among them our subject was the third. Martina is the widow of Frank Cantelli, who died in Switzerland ; she is now living at San Jose. Ange lina is the wife of Pete Gervazoni, and resides at Santa Cruz. Tobia Lesnini is the subject of this review; Marco Lesnini resides at Stockton. Reared in his native land of mountains and valleys, Tobia attended the local schools and when very young learned the ins and outs of dairying. He came to America in 1880, and locating at Stockton took up work as a gardener Later ^ne started a market garden of his own, and he continued to keep busy in that held— two years at Stockton, two at Modesto. He next undertook to raise grain and tor seven years he was a grain farmer, cultivating as many as 1,200 acres near Oakdale, and in 1897, the year he went back to Switzerland, he farmed 1,200 acres Selling out, he returned to Switzerland, and once again among his friends, he became a merchant and bought an orchard and a vineyard. The lure of California, however still attracted him, and in 1903 he came back to America and California, and bough fifty acres in the Stanislaus River bottoms, six mi es west of Oakdale. He- sold it again, and bought another tract of 167 acres, which he sold eleven years ago and soon after that sale, he bought the 923 acres later identified with h.m. Two hun- 11-16 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY dred acres are given to alfalfa, and the balance to grain and pasture. He and Joe Codoni, his son-in-law, own the land together, and rent it out for dairy purposes. In Stockton, Cal., September 27, 1885, Mr. Lesnini was married to Miss Louise Verzasconi, by whom he has had six children. Adeline is the wife of Joe Codoni, and resides at Oakdale. Mary is Mrs. John Scerpella of Oakdale. Erminia is at home. Pearl is the wife of Herman Marcetti of Modesto. Lena is in the grammar school, and Pasquale died at the age of six. About 1910 Mr. Lesnini bought the handsome home place on Second Avenue, Oakdale, where he has since resided. In September, 1918, Mrs. Lesnini suffered a stroke of paralysis, and she passed away February 9, 1921, mourned by her family and many friends. Mr. Lesnini and fam ily are devout and faithful members of the Roman Catholic Church. He was natur alized in 1886, and since then has voted the Republican ticket. COLONEL CY N. CLARK. — A hustling, successful rancher who is a popular live-stock auctioneer, a good "booster" for Modesto and vicinity, and very naturally a highly respected citizen, is Colonel Cy N. Clark, of Algaroba Vineyard, McHenry Road and Bangs Avenue, who was born in Cedar County, Mo., on August 26, 1870. His father was C. W. Clark, a pioneer farmer and stockman of Southwest Missouri, who married Catherine McManis, a good woman and a devoted wife and mother. They had four children, all boys, to whom they gave such educational opportunities as the local schools of Barton and Jasper counties afforded. Later Cy Clark studied by himself, mathematics and the other branches required of the surveyor and civil engineer; and at the age of twenty-five he was elected county engineer of Jasper County, Mo., an office that he filled for four years. He then engaged in stock rais ing and farming, for the stock business appealed stronger to him than civil engineering. While at Opolis, Kans., in 1894, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Nannie A. Goad; and in 1905, on account of his wife's health, he came out to California and settled in this county. They first came to Southern California, and only in 1906 arrived in Modesto. Since then his faith in the city and in Stanislaus County has steadily increased, and with entire confidence and satisfaction he has invested every dollar he possessed in Modesto. He has a twenty-acre ranch of alfalfa and stock, all grown and raised by him, on Floyd Avenue, and he owns a fine residence and ten-acre vineyard on McHenry Road. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Clark, and three share the parental home. Everett Earl, the eldest, mar ried Miss Elsie Hughes, and is a pharmacist at Modesto; Carvel N. is a graduate of the Modesto high school and married Lenora Holtzer and is associated with his father; and there are Travis E. and Nita M. Clark. The family attend the First Methodist Episcopal Church ; and the Colonel is among the most welcome members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. After he was well established here, his good mother came to California, intending to make her home with his family; but within three weeks after her arrival, she was taken ill and died at his residence in Wood Colony. For a while Colonel Clark was interested with Col. Benjamin A. Rhoades of Los Angeles in conducting sales of registered Holsteins and Jerseys, and he has him self managed many such registered sales. He is buying and selling cattle all the time, and in 1919 and 1920 he conducted 120 and 142 sales respectively in the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys, to the. entire satisfaction of his patrons. A notable auction conducted by him was that on the Kelly ranch west of Lodi when he dis posed of over $26,000 worth of personal property in one day, one of the record sales of the state, and a newspaper item tells of the sale of dairy cows, by Colonel Clark, belonging to Tony Amaranti, when record prices were easily obtained by the elo quence, good judgment and fair dealing of the auctioneer. One grade Holstein sold for $255, perhaps the highest price ever paid for a grade cow in Stanislaus County; and two of her sisters brought $200 each. In the light of the public-spirited character and attractive geniality of this rep resentative citizen, it is particularly sad to narrate an accident that befell him some time ago, distressing in nature and through which he might easily have lost his life; the one satisfaction being that, thanks to able surgery, that life so valuable to the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY . 1117 community, was saved. While cleaning his clothes with gasoline at Bakersfield, the Colonel was terribly burned when his suit caught fire, the shock rendering him uncon scious. He was removed to the Modesto Sanitarium, and there Dr. J. C. Robertson transferred over 250 square inches of skin from the bodies of the Colonel's friends, and so well succeeded in the wonderful grafting that today the unfortunate man is again as well as ever. A facetious newspaper scribe could not let the occasion pass without perpetrating the following in reference to the event, under the caption, "Skinning and Grafting": "Who's the grafter— Colonel Cy N. Clark or Dr. J. C. Robertson? Regard less of location of guilt, Colonel Clark is wearing this afternoon 250 square inches of skin taken from the legs of several of his friends this morning at the Modesto Sani tarium. Forgiveness for 'skinning' his friends may be granted to the Colonel on the ground of dire necessity for the act, since by such grafting alone could he hope to recover fully from the severe burns about his back and legs, received at Bakersfield two months ago while cleaning oil spots from his clothing with gasoline. With this grafting the Colonel will now rapidly recover." REV. JAMES W. GALVIN.— On December 6, 1919, Rev. Father Galvin was appointed administrator of St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church at Modesto, and since then he has been giving all his time, and the benefit of his experience and j'ears of arduous pioneer work, to his new charge. During the period of his incumbency, a mis sion church at Hughson has been started, and Father Galvin has also established a center of religious instruction at Westport, Paradise Road and Salida, in which places, together with Modesto, nearly 400 children receive the benefit of religious instruction. Under Father Galvin's leadership, St. Mary's Hospital has also been established in Modesto as a branch of St. Mary's Hospital in San Francisco, and so well has this Modesto institution been patronized as a most needed agency, that plans have been perfected to build, at an early date, a large establishment, modern in every respect, and calculated to meet not merely present needs, but the demands of the rapidly growing city for years to come. St. Stanislaus parish, already one of the most thriving along the Coast, has also purchased the property necessary for a new school to be located at Sixteenth and I streets, and since this parish has grown 1,000 per cent in eight years, this school, as well as a church high school, are sure to be realizations of the near future. In the department of rural instruction, arrangements are being made to care for 1,000 children. As an evidence of its growth, St. Stanislaus parish has a lodge of the Knights of Columbus, with 235 members ; a Catholic Ladies' Aid with seventy members, and the Children's Sodalities. Modesto is proud of St. Stanislaus parish and what it bids fair to become in future years, congratulating Father Galvin on the work he has thus far planned and carried out to consummation. CLARENCE J. WALTHER.— A popular, young man who is a worthy repre sentative of an esteemed Oakdale family is C. J. Walther, the proprietor of the Oakdale Garage. He was born at Oakdale on November 11, 1893, the son of Philip Christian and Alice (Bishop) Walther, the former a native of Germany, the latter of Stockton. Grandfather Bishop came from Ohio to California in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Philip C. Walther both live in Oakdale, and they are the parents of seven children — five boys and two girls. C J. Walther grew up in Oakdale and attended the public schools in Stanis laus County. His father followed dry farming, and raised from 500 to 1,000 acres of grain, and the lad drove the horses and otherwise helped about the farm. He attended the Oakdale high school, but he did not graduate. Instead, he went to work at the automobile trade as a machinist in San Francisco and became a first-class mechanic, although starting at sixteen. He was employed in San Francisco and Oakdale and for three years in Susanville, Lassen County, and Jamestown, Tuolumne County. While there, Mr. Walther enlisted in Battery D, Second Fie d Artillery in the regular army, on June 17, 1917, and spent nine months in the Philippines after which he came back to the United States. He trained for four months at Camp 1118 . HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Fremont and for four months at Fort Sill, Okla., before going overseas. He landed in Brest, on November 9, 1918, and was in the interior of France when the armis tice was signed. He left France on January 4, 1919, and landed at New York fourteen days later. He was mustered out at Camp Taylor, in Kentucky, and hon orably discharged on March 14, 1919. During the period of this sea-service, Mr. Walther visited Japan, Guam and the Hawaiian Islands twice, going and coming, and was with the Motorized Field Artillery. He is a member of the American Legion. The Oakdale Garage, of which Mr. Walther is the wide-awake, accommodating proprietor, was started by J. W. Ball and Mr. Walther in 1911, and after a year Mr. Walther disposed of his interest to Mr. Ball. In 1919, however, Mr. Walther bought the equity back again, and became the sole owner. It has always been known as the Oakdale Garage, and since the war, Mr. Walther has handled the Dodge Brothers cars and motor service trucks. His repair shop contains every necessary modern appliance for doing up-to-date, high-grade vulcanizing and acetylene welding. INGEVALL JOHNSON. — A very enterprising threshing contractor who, having taken long ago a keen interest in all movements for the progress and the prosperity of the community in which he lives and thrives, has become a first-class "booster" for the entire Stanislaus County, is Ingevall Johnson. He was born near Ridgeway, Winneshiek County, Iowa, on January 27, 1872, the son of John O. Johnson, who was born in Carlstad, Sweden, and married Miss Inger Anderson, a native of Bergen, Norway. They immigrated to America in 1865, when they became pioneers of Ridgeway, Iowa. John Johnson had been a moulder in the iron foundries at home, but after coming to America he engaged exclusively in general farming in Iowa. Ingevall Johnson attended the public school of his district until he was sixteen years of age, and when twenty he went away from home in search of a warmer climate. He reached Louisiana and worked in the saw mills at Jennings for six months; and in 1892 he made a trip to California, by way of the Southern route, and located at Turlock, where he took up work in the harvest fields. During the following ten years, he spent four years at farm labor, and six years in extensive grain farming, leasing the Judge Waymire ranch of 740 acres, and renting in addition 260 acres adjoining, three miles south of Turlock. He farmed altogether 1,000 acres, rye being his chief grain crop ; and he sold his product at the best market price, sometimes realizing fifty-five cents per cwt., and at times one dollar. He farmed successfully, although it must be said that the results were not at all gratifying to him. In 1902, he disposed of his stock and personal property, and moved to San Jose, where he invested his savings in a small fruit ranch and also engaged for two years in the grocery business; but selling out again, he moved to Elk Grove, Sacra mento County, where for six years he engaged extensively in dairying. He next went to Manteca, San Joaquin County, for a couple of years, and resumed dairying; but in 1914 he came back to Stanislaus County, and located three miles west of Modesto on a farm, where he again continued dairying with usually one hundred head of cattle in his herd. Now he owns forty acres on which stands the home place, and he also has eleven acres, recently purchased, lying across the County Road from his home ranch, seven miles from Turlock, nine miles from Modesto. Mr. Johnson makes a specialty of contracting for thresher harvester work, and he and his sons, working together, have a monopoly in the county on extensive con tracts. For the past seven years they have engaged in the largest fields in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, running one J. I. Case separator, two Rumely separators, and one Russell separator, two oil pull Rumely and one Holt caterpillar tractors. At Turlock, on September 6, 1896, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Daisy Ronk, a daughter of David William Ronk, who was born in Green County, Ind., and who married Miss Susan Tiller of Iowa. Her parents came to Turlock in 1888, and were extensive grain farmers, cultivating 5,000 acres in wheat and rye in the early daj's when prices were poor, which kept the ranchers from becoming wealthy. Mr. Johnson was confirmed in the Norwegian Lutheran Church, and is now a member of the Brethren Church at Turlock, and serves as treasurer of the conference board, as he has also served as a delegate to the state conference. He is a Republican in mat- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1121 ters of national political moment, and has served as a trustee of the Rustic school dis trict, and of the Pala school in Santa Clara County. Twelve children blessed the union of this fortunate couple: Clarence R. is a graduate of the National Auto School in Los Angeles, and engages in threshing in Stanislaus County. He also farms at Keyes. He married Miss Viola McBride, who was born in Texas. Willard Carl is also a graduate of the same auto school, is a thresher contractor and rancher at Kej'es. He married Miss Anna Zimmerman, the daughter of F. H. Zimmerman of Keyes, and they have one child. Lee, who lives at home, enlisted in the Aviation Ground Service, and served as a non-commissioned officer at Kelly Field, Texas. Percy is a graduate of the Turlock High School, class of '20, and is taking the academic course in the Junior College at Turlock. Ray, a farmer and an engineer with the thresher outfit, lives at home. Winona and Wayne, twins, attend the Turlock High School, and the younger members of the family are Archie, Daisy, Susie, Stanley I. and Leslie. WILLIAM C. KOEHN. — An excellent example of what a man, able and suc cessful in one field, may accomplish by investing his savings where they can yield the greatest additional revenue, is afforded in the life of William C. Koehn, who, after acquiring a handsome competence through his skill as a machinist, secured title to an excellent grain, alfalfa and stock farm of 320 acres not far north of Oakdale. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on November 20, 1875, and grew up in the Buckeye State, where he attended the public schools. His father was Charles Koehn, a native of Germany, a sturdy farmer who came to America, and in Ohio was mar ried to Miss Dora Schrader, also a native of Germany. Mr. Koehn died in 1881, at the age of forty-four, when our subject was little more than five years old ; and his widow died in 1920, at the ripe age of eighty, at her son's California. home. They had two children, and the only daughter is Lizzie, now the widow of George Lin- denstruth, who resides in Ohio. When old enough to do so, William Koehn learned the machinist's trade, and then worked in leading machine and automobile shops in his native state. In 1904, he concluded to leave the East and come to the Coast; and at San Jose he began to work out on farms. Then he came from Santa Clara to Fresno County, and accepted employment at Sanger; after which he returned to San Jose and once more went into Fresno County. On removing to San Joaquin County, he purchased his first lot of land in California, and for the past twelve years he has been farming for himself. He has owned, in fact, various farms in California, and now he has seventy-five acres in wheat and fifty acres in barley, as his 1921 crop. The balance of his acre age is in pasture land, which he rents out to others, who run cattle and livestock upon it. From Farmington, Cal., Mr. Koehn came to his present location where, in November, 1918, he bought two quarter-sections, or 320 acres, well adapted to the raising of barley and wheat, and also stock. HARRY EDGAR MILLS.— The late foreman of one of the largest ranches in Stanislaus County and the present fire warden of the country north of Newman, is Harry E. Mills, who was born near what is now Gustine, on March 6, 1873, the son of Gilbert E. and Jennie (Babcock) Mills, born in Maine and Indiana, respectively. His father, a blacksmith, came to the San Joaquin Valley in the '60s, where he farmed and raised stock, and here he remained until he passed away in 1908 His widow resides in Hollister. Of the eight children born, six of whom are living, Harry E. is the oldest. Edgar Mills, as he is familiarly called, was reared in his birthplace, received his education in an old 10x20-foot schoolhouse in the Canal district, and helped his father on the home place raising horses, mules and cattle. Then they leased a part of the San Luis ranch, where they engaged in grain raising. After his father's demise, he continued to farm the San Luis ranch for another year, when he sold his equipment and stock and took a position with the Simon Newman Company, "ne of the largest and best known ranch owners in Stanislaus County, as foreman of Linora ranch of 8,000 acres devoted to alfalfa and stock. In 1915 Mr. Mills was transferred to Noxen ranch as foreman. This ranch comprised 2,000 acres, all in 1122 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY alfalfa and devoted to dairying and raising pure-bred Herefords and Holsteins and as a feeding and finishing place for ranch cattle. About 1911 Mr. Mills had pur chased fourteen acres just south of Gustine, which grows splendid crops of alfalfa. On September 2, 1903, in Gilroy, Mr. Mills was married to Miss Josephine Clavere, daughter of Jean and Marie Clavere. Her father is a native of Bordeaux, France, who left the country of his birth soon after the gold rush in California, crossed the continent and located in San Francisco, where Mrs. Mills was born on Sacramento street. In her girlhood days her parents removed to Gilroy, where she attended the high school and later finished in a French school on Powell street, San Francisco. In 1920 Mr. Mills resigned from the Simon Newman Company and moved to his ranch to devote his time to his own interests. Mr. Mills is a Republican and Knight of Pythias. While farming the San Luis ranch Mr. Mills served as deputy sheriff under John Swan. S. WAKEFIELD. — A successful contractor who has been a leader in directing the building of Turlock and vicinity on broad and permanent lines, is S. Wakefield, who was born in Klippan, Skane, Sweden, on February 9, 1867, and there reared on a farm until he was fifteen, during which time he completed the work required in the excellent public schools of that country. Then he was apprenticed to learn the cabi net maker's trade ; and having learned it with a thoroughness characteristic of the Old World, he followed it until he came to the United States in 1889. Mr. Wakefield settled first at Campello, Mass., and for three years followed the carpenter's trade there, and then he went to New York City, where he secured employment with Gildermeister & Kroeger, piano makers, for whom he did much fine work. In 1893 hard times caused the piano factory to shut down, and so he came West to Minnesota and stopped at Hallock, where he kept busy at carpentering and building. In 1901 he removed to Red Wing and there continued in the same line ; but two years later, convinced of the opportunities in California, he came here. He bought twenty acres of land now adjoining Turlock on the north of East Main Street, and set it out to fruit and alfalfa. He also hung out his shingle as a contractor and builder. After a while, he laid out his twenty acres into lots, and now over half of the subdivision, in which he has his home, is built upon. He. has bought and sold other ranches, and has erected a large number of the good residences in the town, together with all the public schools, the First National Bank building, the Geer Building and the Carolyn Hotel. He belongs to the Board of Trade and very properly makes his influence felt there for the greatest good. While in Minnesota, Mr. Wakefield was married to Miss Ada Manda Moen, a native of Minnesota, by whom he has had eight children. Weva and Edna are in the high school, and the others are Milton, Stella, Ada, Willard, Frances and Aneighta. The family attend the Swedish Mission Church and find their highest pleasure in actively participating in every good work for moral upbuilding and development. LOUIS F. BRICHETTO.— Prominent among the far-sighted, unusually active and eminently successful and prosperous ranchers of California may well be num bered the widely known firm of Brichetto Bros., the proprietors of the large and famous Brichetto Ranch, with which Louis F. Brichetto arid his brother, George, are now associated. Paul Brichetto, the father of these enterprising agriculturists, bought the Fairbanks ranch, having seen the possibilities of the place; and when he died, in 1912, at the age of seventy-seven, he left a widow in very comfortable circum stances. Her maiden name was Luigia Nasano, and she was born in Orero, in the province of Genoa, while her husband had first seen the light on an Italian farm near the village of Orero. Paul Brichetto was reared in the province of Genoa, and when a young man came to America and for three years steadily worked for an old bachelor* farmer in Massachusetts. He heard of California gold, and started to come here to get some of the shining metal. He took a sailing ship around Cape Horn, was six months on the voyage, and landed in San Francisco in the spring of 1859, from which place he took the boat to Stockton. He found every seat taken in the stage running to HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1125 Angels Camp, his destination, and he and a companion were therefore compelled to walk. He stayed there for only a few days, however, for he found too much gambling and wide-open life to give any attractive assurance for the future ; and in consequence he got back to Stockton as fast as he was able. There for a while he worked for wages at market-gardening, and then, having rented some ground, he started market-gardening for himself. The rewards of industry soon enabled him to buy a small farm at Stockton, and then he came up to Oakdale and made the investment so important to himself and his family, and of such significance to all Californians interested in the development of the agricultural resources of the Golden State. He loaned much money, but never foreclosed on anyone. While at Stockton, being so well pleased with the country and its oppor tunities, he sent for his brother, the late Joseph Brichetto, who became a pioneer merchant and the postmaster at Banta, in San Joaquin County, and the owner of 10,000 choice acres on the west side of the San Joaquin River. Just what Paul Brichetto was doing, both for himself and near of kin and for California husbandry, so that thousands have already shared in the blessings flowing from his arduous life-work, is sketched in an article, "Lessons from Our Alien Farmers," contributed by Forest Crissey some years ago to the Saturday Evening Post. The well-informed writer characterized the Brichetto Gardens in Oakdale as among the best in the country, and dwells upon the shrewdness and keen fore sight of Paul Brichetto in purchasing some of the rich river-bottom land along the Stanislaus River. According to this gifted writer, probably, the most attractive com bination fruit and truck garden in California is this one of the Brichetto estate breathing the spirit and romance of the Italian occupation of the Pacific Coast. This garden, some three miles northwest of Oakdale, occupies ninety acres of the Stanis laus bottoms, just outside of the gateway to the mining region in which were laid the scenes of Harte's best-known stories. When the whole country between Stockton and Oakdale was almost a continu ous wheat field — save for the cattle ranches — and held by the ranch kings of "Octo pus" fame, Paul Brichetto, then operating a little garden of leased land on the out skirts of Stockton, decided he would do a little prospecting, but not with a pick, shovel and mining' pan. As he approached Oakdale, he paused upon the edge of the bench and looked at the almost level expanse of bottoms on each side of the river. Though his eye did not miss the great stilted flume that reached high in air from the river to the bench, he saw the rank vegetation of the bottoms, especially under neath the flume. Later, in Oakdale, he learned the geography of the country with reference to the mining camps and the towns that served as their feeders and supply centers, and he well knew that a miner was always hungry for fresh green stuff, and that money was free in mining camps, and he at once bought his pick of the bottom land. He immediately sent to Italy for a shipment of Italian chestnuts for planting, and today that double line of chestnuts, gratuitously watered by the flume, yields an average yearly income of twenty dollars to the tree. Paul Brichetto, however, made vegetables the backbone of his young industrj'. His wagon began to call at farmhouses, and soon he had many wagons, and they pushed their way far up the mountains, and returned from Grayson's, Sonora, Angels and other famous camps with gold dust and nuggets that represented a rich profit. Many of the ranch kings, who sold their land at what they considered a big price and thus practically threw their money at the lucky purchaser, have disappeared by the bankruptcy trail, and the clever Italian, who knew an opportunity when he saw it, owned one ranch of 1700 acres, another of 640 acres in the Modesto district,, and a home place of 300 acres. Mrs. Brichetto is still living, honored of her two sons as she is esteemed by all who know her, and she makes her home with Louis Frank Brichetto, the younger, who was born at Stockton thirty-seven years ago, while his brother, George, the other partner in the firm, was also born at Stockton, forty-three years ago. The boys attended the public schools of their district, and then took hold of the gardening with their father. Now they own two tractors— a seventy-five horsepower Holt and a C. L. Best caterpillar of sixty horsepower. They also own the home place 1126 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY of 300 acres in the Oakdale Irrigation District, and 2,000 acres in the foothills devoted to stock raising, and they have 1,750 acres four miles south of Oakdale, in the Oakdale Irrigation District, where they carry on dry farming, and raise wheat and barley. They are the largest taxpayers in the Oakdale Irrigation District. Both brothers are stockholders in the First National Bank of Oakdale, and Louis is the bank's vice-president. Louis Brichetto was married on November 3, 1912, to Miss Anna Arata, a native of San Francisco and the daughter of the late G. Arata, the wholesale vege table dealer, who was born in sunny Italy, but became a leading merchant of San Francisco. Three children have blessed this fortunate union, Paul, Lois Ann and Beatrice. The Brichetto brothers, since the death of their father, have built for themselves a magnificent country mansion, at a cost of $15,000, which adds greatly to the attractiveness of the ranch. MRS. GENEVA MARIA GIOVANNONI.— Situated four miles south of New man is the finely equipped dairy ranch of Mrs. Geneva Maria Giovannoni, a native of Avegno, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, widow of Tranquil B. Giovannoni, who passed away August 8, 1907. He was born in Orselena, Ticino, in 1864. On hear ing of the larger opportunities on the Pacific Coast, he left his family at the old home and came to California alone to investigate the situation in 1870. After a year at San Jose, he came to Crows Landing in .1871 and worked for Cash Crow. Then with his two brothers he purchased 160 acres of the John Hill ranch at Ingomar, near the old cottonwoods. They were the first Swiss family to locate in these parts and among the very first to make a success of intensive farming. When eighteen years of age, at the old home town, Mr. Giovannoni had, in 1882, married Miss Geneva Maria Bizzini, who joined her husband in California in 1893, since which time she has given her best efforts and energy in improving their lands. Mr. and Mrs. Giovannoni later pur chased forty acres four miles south of Newman, to which place they moved, built residence and farm buildings and sowed alfalfa, thus developing an excellent dairy ranch. They, however, retained their interest in the Giovannoni ranch. Through their industry and thrift they were soon able to make many improvements and today the Giovannoni ranch is one of the most up-to-date dairy farms near Newman, with thirty cattle and much younger stock. Mr. Giovannoni left six mourning children, as follows: Alfred, who died December 2, 1908; Delphina M., now Mrs. Carry of Gustine ; Cash Ernest, bookkeeper for Gas & Electric Company of Newman ; Emil W., in business in Newman; Tranquil F., who resides with his mother, and Elsie I., now Mrs. Lopez of Newman. On June 8, 1917, Emil W. enlisted in the U. S. Army, arrived in St. Nazaire, France, on August 13 and went to the front in October, 1917. He saw two years in France and was made corporal in Headquarters Company, Fifth Field Artillery, First Division, being in all the major American engagements. The whole division received a citation for Croix de Guerre medal. Mrs. Giovannoni is a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood, and a Republican. Since her husband's death, she manages the ranch and dairy, having become proficient in her many years' experience and she is making a splendid success. HENRY WEISS.— A resident of Stanislaus County, California, since 1887, Henry Weiss came with his parents, Fred and Catherine (Klempp) Weiss to North precinct, arriving here May 4, 1887, when he was twelve years old. His uncle, Jacob Klempp, was a very early settler in this county, coming via Panama in the fifties. He purchased Government land and engaged in raising livestock. Fred Weiss and his wife assisted Mr. Klempp on the ranch till they died.. There were three girls and two boys in the Weiss family. Growing up in the livestock business, Henry and his brother, Fred, assisted their uncle, Jacob Klempp, until he retired and moved to Stockton, when they rented the ranch and continued stockraising. For seven years they followed sheep growing, when they sold and started raising cattle. Later on a brother-in-law, W. R. Jones, purchased the interest of Fred Weiss, and in 1908 they bought the Klempp ranch of 150 acres and since then have added to it OLL^z q. o^4ul^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1129 until they have 2,800 acres in a body, all fenced. It is an historic old ranch, miles of substantial stone fence enclosing the acreage. When Mr. Klempp had this fence constructed, he was ridiculed, but it has proved to be the most substantial and ever lasting type of fence. The Klempp ranch lies immediately south of old Telegraph City and is improved with substantial buildings, located at the foot of Hawk Hill, a landmark used as an observation point, and commands an unparalleled view of the valley. The ranch is well watered by Shelby Gulch and Telegraph Creek, as well as by numerous springs, and is an ideal cattle ranch, their brand being the S Bar O, and they are raising both Durham and Hereford cattle. They also own 1,440 acres at Wheat Meadows in the Forest Reserve, as well as 160 acres on the way, which is used for a camp on their drives to their summer range. They also own 600 acres at the Woodward Reservoir, north of Oakdale, which they use as winter range. Mr. Weiss is a member of the California Cattle Association and the Calaveras and Alpine Live Stock Association. DICK H. ARAKELIAN. — An enterprising Californian whose success had made him a man of large affairs is Dick H. Arakelian, who came to California in the early nineties and has more and more since that time found it a "Golden State." He was born in Marsovan, Armenia, on August 28, 1872, the son of Hagop Arakelian, a dry goods merchant there, and attended first the local public school and then Anatolia Col lege at Marsovan. On completing his studies he came to America and arrived in California in January, 1892. He had spent three months in Chicago, where he ar rived in September, 1891, but having an uncle, John Arakelian, in Fresno, a very suc cessful raisin grower, he came out there and for three or four months was employed as a viticulturist. Then he leased ten acres for himself and engaged in raising melons, having as partners his cousins, K. and Harry Arakelian, and under the firm name of Arakelian Bros. & Company they did business for fifteen years. Their business grew rapidly and later they raised cantaloupes and tobacco. They made their headquarters in Fresno, but branched out into Merced and Stanislaus coun ties, and into the Imperial Valley. In 1917, they were the largest cantaloupe growers in the world, having had over 3,000 acres devoted to that variety of melon. Since 1919, however, they have been engaged in growing and buying and shipping grapes. They still have their headquarters in Fresno, with a packing house on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe property, and an office in the Edgerly Building. Mr. Arakelian owns a large ranch near Escalon, devoted to the culture of Tokay and Malaga grapes, and has packing sheds in Escalon, operated as the Arakelian Vineyard Company. After an absence of nine years from his native land, Mr. Arakelian returned to his old home on a visit, and on February 15, 1900, he was married to Miss Rebecca Shekergian, and they have had four children: Lillian R., who was educated in the Turlock high school and who is now the wife of Fred E. Michaelian, and Violet, Hagop and Grace. On June 20, 1914, Mr. Arakelian moved to Turlock, where he built his residence on North Broadway, and he also built the Arakelian Apartments in 1917, at the corner of North Broadway and Flower Street. In 1920 he put-up, too, the Turlock Theater at the corner of North Broadway and Olive Street, one of the largest and finest theaters in the Valley, with three stores adjoining. He is also a stockholder in the Yosemite Hotel Company. In politics Mr. Arakelian is a Republican. JAMES L. CROSSMORE.— A resident of California for more than forty-six years, James L. Crossmore was born five miles from Elkton in Cecil County, Md., September 23, 1851, a son of John and Virginia (Wills) Crossman, farmer folk, and James was the youngest of their three children. When twenty years of age he came to Pennsylvania where he remained for three years and then spent a year in Kentucky, after which he returned to Pennsylvania. In 1875 he came to Stockton, Cal., where his uncle, Geo. Crossmore, resided. The latter had come to California around Cape Horn in 1849, was a banker in Stockton. Soon after his arrival, James L. entered the employ of C. C. Baker and later leased land from him and engaged in farming until 1893, when he quit to engage in the furniture business in Stockton, but not meeting with the success he anticipated, 46 1130 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY he sold out and for seven years was engaged in mining on Rose Creek, Tuolumne County. On returning to Modesto he purchased the old Tuolumne City ferry, which he operated until the bridge was completed in the fall of 1905, and then had charge of the bridge until 1909, when he resigned. After spending a j'ear in Santa Maria he' returned to Modesto, and since then has been in the employ of J. Walker Baker, the son of C. C. iBaker, his first employer in California. He is a member of Wildey Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Modesto, and also of the Encampment, as well as the Knights of Pythias. He is now among the oldest settlers in these parts, is well posted on the early history and interested in presenting its annals and landmarks. EDWARD WORTHINGTON DORSEY.— Enviably prominent and influen tial because of their extensive and successful operations advancing steadily agriculture in the West, Dorsey Bros, enjoy a wide repute as grain farmers and wheat growers. The firm consists of Edward W. Dorsey, who farms their 1,200 acres in Oashman precinct, north of Oakdale, and E. Sydnor Dorsey, who cultivates the 3,000 acres owned by them near Rocky Ford, Alberta, Canada. This firm, however, must be distinguished from the earlier Dorsey Bros., the pioneer bonanza grain growers in Stanislaus County, which included Thomas B. Dorsey, the father of the gentlemen mentioned, and his two brothers, John W. and Colonel Caleb Dorsey — all promi nent in agricultural, financial and political circles of former times. Edward W. Dorsey was born at Joplin, Mo., on February 20, 1878,. and came out to California with his parents, Thomas B. Dorsey, a native of Marj'land, who married Miss Emaline Fanny Sydnor at Troy, Mo., in 1872. When a young man, he came from Marj'land to Missouri ; and then, lured by the discovery of gold, he started from Missouri for California across the great plains, with ox teams, and reached California in 1850. On this first trip, he was accompanied by his brother, John W. Dorsey. He returned to Missouri, and on his second trip he brought out 400 head of cattle, and in this enterprise he was assisted by the same brother. He again made a trip back to Missouri, and for the third time he crossed the plains to California, again driving before him a large herd of cattle. The Dorsey brothers first settled in Stanislaus County in 1865; and later, in this county, they were joined by Caleb, known as the Colonel, because he had fought in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Both the Dorsey and the Sydnor families descended from proud English Cavalier stock ; the former settled even before the. Colonial period in Marj'land, while the Sydnors settled in Virginia. They became planters and were among the largest operators of their day. After his mar riage, though possessed of a large acreage in Stanislaus County, he operated the plantation of his father, Edward W. Dorsey, who was known as the "Southern Planter." He owed 3,000 acres in Missouri, and a great many slaves. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Dorsey continued to live in Missouri for fifteen years, and three children — two boys and a girl — were born to them there. Ella W. has become the wife of Horace P. Badgley, retired, and resides in San Francisco. Edward W. is the subject of this review; and E. Sydnor has become a partner with Mr. Dorsey, his brother. The maternal grandfather, Sydnor, also owned a very large plantation, known as the Sydnor Plantation, in Missouri, and was also an extensive slave-holder, and like the Dorseys, they sympathized with the South and the Confederacy. About 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Dorsey and their family returned to California, and settled for a while at San Jose, where Mr. Dorsey built a handsome residence and lived there for the education of their children. The father retained his acreage owned jointly by the aforementioned three brothers, Grandfather Dorsey having died in 1865 and left it to his sons. Thomas Dorsey outlived his two broth ers, John W. and Col. Caleb Dorsey, attaining the age of seventy-nine. He was a Knights Templar Mason and was laid to rest with Masonic honors at Oakdale. Mrs. Dorsey also outlived her husband; she died in San Francisco, in her seventy- fifth year, but was buried at Oakdale. Col. Caleb Dorsey outlived John Dorsey, and died about 1900. The estate was thus divided into three parts; the two boys, Edward W. and E. Sydnor, had then just finished school at San Jose ; and the father turned over his share in the lands north of Oakdale to them. They farmed their "t 'l HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1131 father's portion of the original three Dorsey brothers' land north of Oakdale, and other lands, which they leased, and they carried on their operations so extensively that they had as high as .4,000 acres planted to wheat and barley ; and they soon took rank with the bonanza grain farmers of California. Coming to California in 1850, Thomas B. Dorsey had just seventy-five cents left of his capital, and arriving at Sacramento, he worked by the day; then took a job digging a well. He then engaged in gold mining; dammed up a stream; found an* abundance of gold, but soon after the dam was completed, a great rain fell, the dam and landmarks, with all prospects for placer mining there, were swept away. Then, broken in purse but not in spirit, he went to farming, with the results we have seen. An enormous crop rewarded E. Sydnor Dorsey's operations at Alberta in 1920, yielding as high as fifty-five bushels to the acre of hard, Northern wheat which brought two dollars and a half per bushel. Edward W.- Dorsey was married in 1908 to Miss Nina Thomasine Woon, a native of Nevada City, Cal., and the daughter of Thomas K. Woon. He was born in England, was an early California gold miner and pioneer, and twenty-five years ago returned to England, where he is still living in affluence, a member of a well- known family of English manufacturers and tradesmen. They have one child, Edwa Elizabeth Woon Dorsey, in the Oakdale Union Grammar School. The uncle of the Dorsey brothers, Col. Caleb Dorsey, was well known both as a doughty Confederate soldier and as a member of the assembly in the California Legislature. He became president of the Modesto Bank in the early '80s, when Thomas Dorsey was president of the Oakdale Bank, and ranked high as a financier. WILLIAM McLAUGHLIN.— An able, efficient business man and public official, who in both civic, private life and by hard military service has proven an exemplary and influential citizen, is William McLaughlin, the enterprising hardware merchant and postmaster at Valley Home, formerly Thalheim. He was born in Independence, Mo., on February 28, 1869, the son of Enos McLaughlin, a native of Greenville, Pa., who had married Miss Mary Jane Bush of Buffalo, N. Y. The ceremony took place at Clinton, DeWitt County, Iowa, where the elder McLaughlin was a merchant and Miss Bush was a music teacher. Enos McLaughlin was a gold miner of wide expe rience, and mined in Australia, South America, and California. He was a pioneer of Denver, and his wife, the mother of our subject, was the first white woman there. He was also a pioneer of the Black Liills, and went there from Kansas as early as 1876. During the Civil War, he enlisted in the Second Colorado Cavalry, and served in Missouri and Kansas against Quantrell and the James brothers, and their bushwackers. After the Civil War, he found himself beaten out of his Denver property through having trusted a friend to whom he had hastily given a writing, really fraudulently obtained, which proved to be a power of attorney ; and when he came back to Denver he found his twenty-seven lots, including two lots belonging to his wife, situated in the heart of Denver, sold and the money embezzled. He also lost in the same way 160 acres on the Platte River, so he had to begin life anew. Settling at Independence, Mo., therefore, he took up farming, at which he was engaged when our subject was born, and afterward he again sought his fortune in mining. He died at Deadwood, S. D., in March, 1914, aged eighty-six years, leaving a widow and three children. Eugene died at the age of forty-five, at Benton Marbor, Mich., where he was engaged in farming, leaving a widow with one child, Esther. Eva S. is the wife of James Soutar, and resides at Deadwood. Frank is an attorney in Denver. William, the fourth youngest, is the subject of our story. The McLaughlins were of Scotch-Irish blood and pre-Revolutionary stock, and settled in Penn's Woodland, and eminent as exponents of the Protestant faith, they have been prominent as professional men, in mining, as merchants, and as farmers. They have also been identified with every American war. William McLaughlin was taken to Kansas when he was a mere baby, and there passed his earliest years on his father's farm of 160 acres in Montgomery County. When eight years old, he accompanied his parents to Deadwood, S. D., which they reached on May 7, 1877, in the early days of the Black Hills, and only a year after the Custer Massacre. Later, as he grew up, he studied at the Ohio Normal 1132 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY University at Ada, from which he was graduated in 1891, with the Bachelor of Science degree. When the United States needed men in the war with Spain, William McLaughlin enlisted in Company L, First South Dakota Volunteer Infantry, and went to Sioux Falls as second lieutenant, and was made captain of Company L and was mustered into service on May 17, 1898. He sailed from San Francisco on July 23, and reached Cavite on August 24, 1898. From that time on he campaigned against the Filipinos, and guarded the Spanish prisoners. He served in the islands just one year, and participated in fourteen engagements. The South Dakota regiment covered itself with glory, and while on the firing line they slept over 100 nights without blankets. In the beginning the regiment had 1,040 men; and after their last battle at San Fernando, when they captured Aguinaldo's second capital, the able-bodied men remaining numbered only 276. Mr. McLaughlin fought at Manila, Malolos, Caloo- can, Meycauayan and other battles and all through the jungles and swamps, where there was plenty of malaria; and the conditions were very unhealthful. They cap tured the two Filipino capitals, Malolos and San Fernando. Returning to the United States, he landed, at San Francisco on August 28, 1899, and was mustered out at San Francisco on October 5, 1899. On the twenty-first of the following November, Mr. McLaughlin was married at Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Mabel Elliott, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Elliott. She was a native of Castle Rock, Minn., who was brought up in that state and attended the Minnesota State Normal school. Her mother died when she was a little girl ; her father was a Civil War veteran, who enlisted in the Union Army and served in the First Minnesota Regiment of Infantry. Two children have blessed this union of Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin : Everett Elliott, who married Miss Lucile Dunn of Valley Home, and runs a trucks, served as a mechanic in the Aviation Corps, and was trained at Kelley Field, Texas. He was sent to St. Louis to the Government mechanical school, and in time was honorably discharged. Merritt, the younger son, is still single. After the Spanish-American War, Mr. McLaughlin came back to Deadwood, S. D., and worked at mining, assaying and prospecting; and then he was elected auditor of Lawrence County, and served two terms of two years each, being elected in 1904 and reelected in 1906. In 1908 he came West with his family to California and Turlock, where he purchased and improved a forty-acre ranch three and a half miles southwest of town, until six years later he moved to what was then Thalheim. He established a store, but in the general fire of 1916 he was burned out. He at once rebuilt and now he owns his own store building, which contains the Valley Home postoffice. He deals in hardware and general merchandise ; he also carries a full line of auto supplies. He was appointed postmaster under the civil service on April L 1915, and no choice could have suited the community better. He was an active mem ber of the original board of trustees of Irwin Union high school while residing in that district. He still owns his ranch at Turlock, which he rents to others. He also owns a five-acre ranch at Valley Home, where he resides with his family. Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin belong to the Christian Church, and. Mr. McLaughlin is one of the Sons of Veterans and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Spearfish, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, having his membership in the Deadwood lodge. JOHN D. JENSEN. — To the goodly list of men who have succeeded in Cali fornia another name is added when mention is made of John D. Jensen, rancher and dairyman of Newman. . He was born on August 27, 1874, in Schleswig, on the Isle of Fohr, the son of William and Caroline (Paulsen) Jensen, and was educated in his native country. The ambition of youth filled him with a desire to come to the new world and branch out on his own account, so at fifteen he migrated to America, com ing directly to California and settled in Monterey County, near Salinas. He spent two years there working on various ranches and then went to Petaluma, where he worked for one year, removing to Crows Landing in 1893, where for two years he was employed by W. F. Fink. In 1895 he returned to his home in Fohr, spending two 3 ears there, returning in 1897 to California to resume ranch work. In 1898 he pur chased a three and one-half acre tract near Newman and a hav baler, farming for °/ , /?iaA. ffisiAy • 6^aAe£*&~^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1135 himself and baling hay for various farmers. At the expiration of one year he was made foreman of the Howard ranch, 374 acres devoted to alfalfa, and in 1900 be came foreman of the Hunt ranch. On March 21, 1901, in San Francisco, he was married to Miss Inge Margaretha Boyen, the culmination of a romance which had started in the days when they were schoolmates in Fohr, an acquaintance which was renewed on his visit to the old home in 1895-97. Mrs. Jensen was born and reared in the vicinity of Mr. Jensen's birth place, remaining at home as had been arranged until 1901, when she came to Cali fornia with the blessings of her parents and wedded Mr. Jensen at the Lutheran parsonage in San Francisco. Soon after Mr. Jensen leased a forty-acre dairy ranch near Gustine, which he later purchased, and erected a fine house which since has been his home. Besides the home place he also owns a half section west of Newman devoted to grain, purchased in 1917. Until a year ago he was extensively interested in dairy ing, having thirty cows, but in 1919 he sold most of his stock. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jensen: William H., who is a graduate of the Gustine high school, class of 1921, after having spent one j'ear last season at the California Concordia College at Oakland ; Boyd J. was a student at the California Concordia College at Oakland, but now of Gustine Union high school and will graduate with the class of 1922 ; Anna C, who attends the Gustine Union high school and will graduate in 1923; Tina F. and John D., Jr. Politically Mr. Jensen is a Republican and the family are members of the Lutheran Church of New man. In 1911 Mr. and Mrs. Jensen and family went abroad to visit their old home and relatives, returning to the ranch at Gustine with many recollections renewed. HARRY ARAKELIAN. — A man of affairs, able to grasp and carry out large enterprises, is Harry Arakelian, who was born in Marsovan, Armenia, on February 16 (Turkish Calendar February 29), 1868. His father, John Arakelian, was a dry goods merchant and a farm-owner, as well as a mill-owner and operator; but in 1883 he sold all of his holdings and came to America and Fresno with his wife and six children. Here he engaged in farming, buying a ranch on California Avenue. Mr. Arakelian came with the family and remained until May 5, 1891, when he returned to Armenia. On July 1 of that year he was married in Constantinople to Miss Lucy Yeramian, a native of Constantinople, who was educated at the American Home School, afterwards called the American Girls' College, where she remained until her marriage. Her father was the Rev. George Yeramian, a minister of the Gospel who died when she was six months old; he had married Takouhi, or Queen Samuelian, who was born near Constantinople. She went through the first Turkish massacre at Cantu but is now, thanks to her devoted daughter and son-in-law, the subject of our story, comfortably protected and tenderly cared for in their home, to which he came across the seas in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Arakelian came 'to Fresno the same fall of their marriage, and in 1892 he began raising watermelons in partnership with his brother on ten acres of land. When his brother, K. Arakelian, returned to Armenia to attend college, he continued in a partnership with his brother Joe, raising watermelons and grain hay. In 1895, he entered into partnership with his cousin, D. H. Arakelian, and a cousir of his wife, Jacob Light, and they continued to raise melons and hay, while he went to Oakland to handle their product, shipping to that point and selling to the stores. In 1895, his brother, K, was arrested by the Turks and locked up six weeks al Marsovan, and when the report of his incarceration was received, and it was learned that he might be executed, Harry and his father retained an attorney, who telegraphed President Cleveland; and the U. S. Administration demanded his brother's release The result was that the Turks sent him back to the United States where he was a citizen. In 1896 this brother K. became one of the partners in the firm of Arakelian Bros. & Company, which was then composed of our subject, his brother K. and the brother-in-law J." Light, a cousin, Dick Arakelian, and a Mr. Simoman. They went in for raising melons, especially cantaloupes, and not only near Fresno, but on land lying here and there from the Imperial Valley to Lodi; and in time they had 4,000 acres of cantaloupes and watermelons, and 1,000 acres of sweet potatoes, and were the 1136 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY largest growers of melons and sweet potatoes in the world. They also grew raisins, tobacco and cotton. In 1920 Mr. Arakelian retired from the extensive business of growing melons, and since then he has devoted his time to his lands and real estate. He owns a ranch of 300 acres at Livingston, and it is devoted to the raising of Thompson seedless grapes. He believes in building up the communities and owns valuable business prop erty in Fresno, and is now building the Roosevelt Hotel on Van Ness Avenue — a concrete, fireproof building that will cost a quarter of a million dollars. He also owns valuable business property in Livingston and plans a big business house there. In 1916 Mr. Arakelian moved to Turlock where he resides with his family. One of the two children is a daughter, Theresa, who has become Mrs. Kullijian; they have a son, Harry, and reside in Turlock. A son is John, the husband of Louise Atamian, who is assisting his father in business and owns a vineyard of ninety-six acres at Living ston. He also resides in Turlock and has two children — Geo. and Albert. John Arakelian is a member of Turlock lodge of Masons. Politically Mr. Arakelian is a strong believer in protection for America and so is a staunch Republican. CHARLES A. SPERRY.— A California freeholder whose pride in the Golden State is reflected in the esteem felt for him and his family, is Charles A. Sperry, who was born August 25, 1876, on the Whitmore ranch, near the present site of Hughson, the eldest child of the late Charles Edwin Sperry, a native of Maine and a second- cousin of the founders of the Sperry flour mills, and his good wife, who was Miss Clara Sabin, a native of the Catskill region in New York state, both well-known pioneers of Stanislaus County. When he was four years of age, his father purchased a farm of 966 acres, which he made the historic Sperry ranch, famed for its grain and stock. Since then much colonization has taken place, which has resulted in the cutting up of the original tract. When a j'oung man, Charles Sperry engaged with his brother, Louis N. Sperry, in raising grain there on an extensive scale, and after his father's death, he took charge of the ranch, and the brothers continued to raise grain and stock for twenty years, farming from 4,000 to 5,000 acres. As far back as 1906 he started a colony of farmers, and since then the district has been subdivided rapidly, and what was once a large, well-cultivated ranch has given way to many small, prosperous farms. Mr. Sperry retains sixty acres of the Sperry farm, on which he resides and farms. Miss Elmira Agnes Hartman, who was married to Mr. Sperry, is the daughter of David and Elizabeth Hartman, natives of Missouri and early pioneers in California, having located near La Grange in 1850. There Elmira was born about 1880. Two children have blessed this union, George A. and Richard N. Mr. Sperry has always taken a keen interest in public questions and has served on the election board for years. In national politics he is a Republican. CHARLES L. KILBURN. — An interesting story of pioneer activity and achievement is recalled in the narrative of Charles L. Kilburn's family, long identified with the development of California. His father was Guy Kilburn, also of Newman, who migrated to the Golden State in 1852, and early identified himself with both agri cultural and industrial pursuits. He had been born on November 17, 1836, in Ger mantown, Tioga County, Pa., where his father, Wells Kilburn, was born, and where he followed agriculture until 1852, when he came to California with his family. He traveled by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and was shipwrecked before he got here. He took up land in Napa County, and there followed farming for the rest of his daj's. In Napa, therefore, Guy Kilburn married Miss Jeannette A. Smith, a native of West Liberty, Iowa, and a daughter of Egbert T. Smith, who had come to California from Iowa across the Isthmus of Panama in the same year of the Kilburn migration. For a couple of years he was employed in the mercantile trade at Marysville, and then he removed to Napa County, where he took up land and resided until his death in 1879, at the age of eighty-five. His wife was Miss Sarah Schencke, a daughter of the Rev. William Schencke and a native of Ohio, and she died in 1851 in Iowa. Guy Kilburn early built a warehouse to hold his grain, on account of the inadequate transportation ?^Q* fAyisi-c^nyuuj , HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1139 facilities of those days, and when Salinas, Monterey County, appealed to him more than Napa, he removed hither, and only in the late sixties came to Stanislaus County. Here he acquired 1,000 acres about four and a half miles north of the present site of Newman, and from the beginning devoted all of his energies to grain farming. After the canal was opened, he was one of the first ranchers to devote his land to alfalfa. Charles L. Kilburn was born on the old Kilburn estate on March 27, 1881, the next to the youngest of the family, and attended the old White Crow school, growing up with his sister, Stella, who became the wife of William C. Smith of Stockton ; Ada; Ruth, later Mrs. George Stewart of Stanislaus County; Kate, the wife of D. Pickard of San Francisco; E. S. Kilburn died in 1917; Ella, who married W. G. Wilson, who died overseas in the World War, and his widow resides in San Francisco ; Mabel, the wife of L. M. Doty of San Francisco. When nineteen years of age Charles left home and spent five j'ears in the employ of the Wells Fargo Company at San Francisco. In that city, also, he engaged for a while in carpenter work, but the earth quake having created chaos there, he moved inland, with thousands of others, and settled at Newman. On May 8, 1911, Mr. Kilburn was married to Miss May Grogan, a native of Sacramento, who lost her parents when she was only two years old. She was reared by her sister and brother-in-law, Mrs. and Mr. John O'Brien of Sacramento, and was sent to the schools of that city. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kilburn are highly esteemed at Newman, in the lasting prosperity of which town they are especially interested. J. H. PINCKNEY. — Belonging to the first generation of native Californians, J. H. Pinckney, genial proprietor of the Modesto Carriage Works, located at the corner of F and Eleventh streets, Modesto, was born in San Francisco, May 17, 1856. His father, Richard, a native of Tarrytown, New York, and a carpenter and builder by occupation, had a brother in New York City who was the owner of a sash and door mill. This was the reason that the elder Pinckney brought a shipload of sashes, doors and building material with him when he came around Cape Horn to San Fran cisco in 1849. He also brought machinery for a sawmill which he built in Mendocino County, and from which he brought the rough lumber to his San Francisco lumber yard, located at the corner of Second and Mission streets, as early as 1853-54. He returned to New York to bring a bride back to California — before her marriage Miss Eliza Jane Loder, a native of New York City, to whom he was united in marriage in New York in 1855. Returning to California he later engaged in contracting, and moved to East Oakland where he continued the occupation until a short time before his death, which occurred December 18, 1872. His wife also died in Oakland. J. H. was the oldest child of the family and after completing his studies at the old Lincoln school in San Francisco, just after his father's death, he learned his trade in Oakland. After working for a time in San Francisco he was afterwards at Benicia five years with the Baker and Hamilton Agricultural Works. While there they built 1,000 wagons and 500 buggies. He was assistant foreman and learned modern wagon making with modern machinery. After this he worked at Snelling, then returned to San Francisco.* Learning of a shop for sale at Modesto, January 1, 1890, he bought the shop and three corner lots from the owner. He has remodeled the building and installed new machinery. The shop is now 50x100 feet, well equipped with modern machinery, planes, saws, tools, etc., and there is also a blacksmith shop in connection with it with all modern facilities and conveniences for handling work. Mr. Pinckney makes a specialty of automobile work, also has machinery for making auto springs, wheels, truck and trailer beds, doing work in that line for every garage in Modesto. He has also built a planing mill adjoining his shop, equipped with modern ma chinery and has at one time or another done custom work for the different lumber yards in town. It is the consensus of opinion of traveling men that he has the best equipped most modern of any individual blacksmith establishment in the county. Mr. Pinckney was married at San Francisco to Mrs. Jane Hawkins Geer, who was born in Los Angeles and whose father, John, a native of Virginia and a veteran of the Mexican War, crossed the plains with ox teams in 1849. He was engaged in the gunsmith business in Los Angeles and moved from there to Merced County, where he 1140 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY engaged in ranching. His wife, Lyda Hawkins, was a native of Spain. They were married in the East and she died in Merced. In a family of seven children, Mrs. Pinckney was the fourth child. She married James Soper and by this marriage had two children, Harriett, now Mrs. Forbes of Oakland, and James, who resides in Snelling. By a second marriage she was united to Thomas Geer, and one child was born of this union, Elsie, now Mrs. Ring of Oakland. Politically Mr. Pinckney casts his vote for the principles advocated in the Republican platform. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Merchants Association and the Board of Trade. JEREMIAH BARNHART.— An eventful, fruitful life has been that of Jere miah Barnhart, who, ably assisted by his gifted and devoted wife, has made a success of carpentering, engineering and farming, to say nothing of preaching and the rearing of a family of which any parents might well be proud. He was born in Millerstown, Pa., on June 22, 1854, the third son of Daniel B. Barnhart, who followed his trade of wagonmaker until his death. Then an older brother carried on the business for merly known as the Traction Wagon Works, but more recently styled the Kreamer Wagon Company. Jeremiah enjoyed but a limited schooling, and at sixteen set out to learn the blacksmith trade, at which he was apprenticed for three years ; and so well did he do as an intelligent workman that his employer saw fit to give him each year an increase above the standard wage scale for apprentices. The first year he worked for five dollars per week ; the second for eight dollars ; and during the third year, ten. At the time of the panic of 1872, Mr. Barnhart came to the oil fields at Oil City, Pa., and took a job as tool dresser. A few months later he engaged as a contractor and employed eight men on two sets of tools, and went to drilling on contract; and this work he continued until he was twenty-three. All through the last four years of his work in the oil fields, Mr. Barnhart had been studying the Gospel in the evenings and taking up a special theological course ; and when he was examined by the Board of Conference Preachers, he was appointed circuit minister of the Free Methodist Episcopal Church, and served several years, when he was elected district elder, serving nine years in the Pittsburgh conference, then came West. Desiring the better to carry out religious work, Mr. Barnhart dropped his trade, and since then has devoted the major portion of his time to his calling in the Christian ministry. As elder for four years of the Bradford district of Pittsburgh, he not only trebled the church membership, but he was also instrumental in the erection of seven teen churches and parsonages throughout his district. It was natural for him to work with vigor, and he always carried through what he had once undertaken. After a year as elder in the Alleghany district, he was forced to resign, owing to impaired health ; and for the same reason he was persuaded to go West. Locating for a time at Colville, Wash., as superintendent of Sharp & Winslow's lumber mills, he benefited in health and financially from the outdoor work, and was then given entire charge of the extensive mills and their 200 laborers, a position he held until 1902, when the concern changed hands. He then settled in Seattle and opened u;i a general merchandise business in partnership with his son, Lowell W. Barnhart ; and together they carried on very successfully the business known as the "Ross Marche." At the end of four years he sold out and exchanged his real estate holdings of 240 acres of timberland for a ranch of twenty acres near Keyes, in Stanis laus County; and since 1912 this ranch has been developed by Mr. Barnhart into one of the finest farms of its size in the state. He engaged for a time in dairying with such choice stock as Dutch Belt cattle, and he also bred Hampshire pigs, in both of which departments of enterprise he was very successful. The call to return to the service of the church, however, was persistent, and in 1916, at the California Con ference of the Free M. E. Church, the Rev. Mr. Barnhart was unanimously elected elder of the San Francisco district. He is now president of the board of trustees of the Free M. E. Church of Turlock, and served on the building committee when the new church and parsonage were erected in 1919. He also served as financial secretary to the Hart Memorial Chapel at 3024 Twenty-fourth Street in San Francisco. He organized a society at Tulare, and after carrying on revival work in that city for a few weeks, he raised funds for the Lake Drive Free M. E. Church. He was elected for HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1141 four years a delegate to the Missionary Board at Chicago, to which he went as a delegate in 1920 from the Pacific Coast district, a worthy honor considering that Mr. Barnhart has spent the best years of his life serving other people. On July 25, 1877, Mr. Barnhart was married to Miss Maretta Gavett, who was born in New York twenty years before. Her father was Daniel B. Gavett, and he was a lumberman all of his life. Four children have sprung from this union: Grace R., born on April 18, 1878, and deceased on February 25, 1916, left a family of six children who are being reared by Mr. and Mrs. Barnhart ; Lowell W. lives at Tur lock; Ethel B. married W. B. Van Valin of Los Angeles; and Mabel G. is the wife of R. E. Cochrane of Turlock. LEWIS W. BOIES. — A native of Iowa, Lewis W. Boies was born in Wood bine, Harrison County, May 25, 1888. His father, James A. Boies, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he learned the hardware business. When the gold excitement in Colorado started he made the journey to Pike's Peak, and after the Civil War started he enlisted in a Colorado regiment of cavalry and served in the Civil War. He was engaged as a hardware merchant in Woodbine, Iowa, from 1879 until his death in 1898. His wife was Emily J. De Cay, born in Simcoe, Canada, of French descent, and she continues to make her home in Woodbine, a devoted Methodist. Of their five sons, Lewis W. is the next to the youngest and the only one residing in California. After completing the public schools, he studied at the Woodbine Normal, after which he entered Highland Park College of Pharmacy at Des Moines, where he was graduated in 1906 with the degree of Ph.G He followed his profes sion at Woodbine, Iowa, until 1910, when he came to Fresno and entered the employ of Smith Bros, as prescription pharmacist, and afterwards with the Patterson Phar macy in a similar position until 1915, when he resigned and came to Turlock, forming a partnership with E. A. Sweet as Sweet & Boies. They purchased the Keller & Bennett store, which they remodeled, installing new fixtures, thus having one of the finest drug stores in the county, where as pharmaceutical chemists they are making a specialty of prescription trade. They have the agency for the Eastman kodaks and have a department for developing films and printing enlarged pictures of same. Aside from his business, Mr. Boies is interested in horticulture, and with two part ners, E. A. Sweet and Dr. J. L. Collins, owns eighty acres at Livingston, which they have planted to a vineyard of Thompson Malaga grapes and an apricot orchard, with fig trees lining the border and avenues, and it is known as the S. B. C. vinej'ard. During the World War Mr. Boies enlisted in the U. S. Medical Corps at San Fran cisco in November, 1917, being stationed at the Letterman General Hospital at the Presidio, rising from private to first lieutenant in the sanitary corps, having received the latter commission February 13, 1919, and his honorable discharge April 30, 1919. In San Francisco Mr. Boies was married to Miss Hazel Dunning, who is a native daughter of San Francisco, and they have one child, Lewis Wm., Jr. Fraternally Mr. Boies is a member of Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., and Turlock Lodge No. 98, K. of P., in which he is vice-chancellor, and he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Rex Ish Post No. 88, American Legion, at Turlock, while professionally he is a member of the California State Pharmaceutical Association and the National Association of Retail Druggists. ALFRED CARLSON.— A pleasant and affable gentleman who has done his part in improving and building up of the community of Turlock, is Alfred Carlson who was born in Westergotlan, Sweden, March 7, 1859, where he grew up and received a good education. From a lad he made himself generally useful on the home farm until nineteen years of age, when he was apprenticed at the blacksmith trade, and soon after completing the trade he decided to come to the United States arriving in McKean County, Pa., in May, 1882. He worked at his trade in Sm.thport, that county, for a year and then moved to Dagus Mines, Elk County, Pa., where he filled a position as blacksmith in a coal mine some years. ,»¦,.,, T i. While at Dagus Mines, Mr. Carlson was married to Miss Mathilda Johnson, who was born in Sweden, and they continued to reside there until 1893, when they 1142 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY moved to Anita, Jefferson County, Pa., where Mr. Carlson was the blacksmith at the coal mine until March, 1904. Rev. Boden, who had been their pastor, had come to Turlock, Cal., in 1903 and his report on conditions of soil and climate were so satis factory that Mr. Carlson resolved to come hither, for after twenty-nine years working at the blacksmith trade, he was desirous of quitting this work and engage in farming. Soon after arriving in Turlock Mr. Carlson purchased twenty acres just south of the town, paying forty-five dollars an acre. He built a small house and moved in just nine days after arriving here. He improved the place from raw stubble field to alfalfa and made of it a beautiful and valuable ranch. In 1918 he sold ten acres of the ranch, but still owns ten acres on the State Highway, which he devotes to alfalfa and a peach orchard, having set out every tree. Mr. Carlson was bereaved of his estimable wife in 1917, when she was fifty-six years of age, a woman much loved by all who knew her and particularly by her hus band and two children, Minna, who survived her mother only until 1918, and Lillie, Mrs. Lindgren of Youngstown, Ohio. Mr. Carlson has seen Turlock grow from a small town to a city of considerable importance and he is now one of the old-timers among the settlers to do intensive farming. AUGUST C. AHRENDSEN.— Inventor, first-class mechanic and blacksmith, with several very valuable patents, and a fine, up-to-date shop in Empire, where he does general blacksmithing and manufactures his patented devices, August C. Ahrend- sen yet finds time for a vast amount of good work among his less-fortunate fellow-men, always standing ready to lend a helping hand, or an equally helping dollar. For a period of j'ears he was actively associated with the work of the Salvation Army, being for a time one of its officers. He organized missions, Bible societies and cottage prayer meetings, and did great good among a class of people who are ordinarily non-church going. In 1916, in association with Mrs. C. A. Howe, and other prominent church women of Modesto, he organized the Bible Mission, in the Labor Temple in Modesto, where the hungry were fed and the idle provided with jobs. The mission was self- supporting from almost the very first, and was an instrument for much good. Among the inventions in which Mr. Ahrendsen is at present especially interested in manufacturirig are the A. C. A. weeder, a very useful tool around the farm and garden, a dish-washer, and a wheel attachment to the Fresno scraper. He also makes a line of trucks and trailers. Mr. Ahrendsen is an American in every sense of the word, and although foreign born, he has been a resident of the United States since 1891 and a citizen since 1902, when he received his final naturalization papers. He is a native of Schleswig, Germany, born April 27, 1872, the son of a Danish father, although born under the German flag. His father, Ahrend Ahrendsen, was born under the Danish flag in 1831, and served in the Danish army. Later he was a farmer and storekeeper by occupation, keeping the store at Oldrup in Schleswig, after it was ceded to Germany. He was married there to Johanna Krus, and of their union were born seven children. He died in Schleswig in 1886, at the age of fifty-six. The mother passed away in 1902. Our Mr. Ahrendsen passed his boyhood in Schleswig, attending the public schools, and was educated and confirmed in the German Lutheran Church. He learned the blacksmith trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years, and continuing to work at this trade until he was eighteen. In 1891 he bade farewell to mother and family and in March set sail for New York City, arriving on April 10, 1891. The place of his destination was Millard, Douglas County, Nebr., whither an elder sister had preceded him. Here he worked on farms for four j'ears, in the meantime being joined by two other brothers. It was in 1894 that Mr. Ahrendsen and his brother, John T., came to California, locating at Dixon, Solano County, where A. C. worked at his blacksmithing trade for the following two years. Later our Mr. Ahrendsen was working as a journeyman blacksmith at St. Helena, Cal., and while there was converted in meeting by the Salvation Army. Following this he went to the Rogue River Valley, Ore., and farmed for a year, and then Mr. Ahrendsen went to Portland, where he entered the Salvation Army Training School, and became an officer of that organization. He HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1145 then served as a lieutenant at Centralia, Ore., later organizing missions, reading rooms and libraries (about thirty-five in all) in Washington and Oregon, among these being the mission at Salem. He then returned to the pursuit of his trade, opening a blacksmith shop in Oregon for a time, but in 1916 returned to California and built his present splendidly equipped shop at Empire. He has never lost interest in religious and humanitarian work, and is well known for his efforts for the benefit of humanity throughout Stanislaus County, being still associated with rescue and mission work in Modesto and vicinity. The patents' which Mr. Ahrendsen has perfected give evidence of the fertility of his brain, and it is opined that he has still greater possibilities along this line. Politically, Mr. Ahrendsen is a Republican, and never fails to give his un qualified support to any movement for the welfare and uplifting of humanity. ' WILLIAM G. NEWSOME.— A native son of the Golden West and a pioneer of Newman, who has seen it grow up from a sparsely settled district to its present state of development is William G. Newsome, the proprietor of a garage and repair shop of that city. He was born on February 11, 1868, in Sacramento, the son of John M. and Mary E. (Hutchins) Newsome. His father, a native of Virginia and one of the pioneers who helped in the development of California, came to this state in 1853 across the plains in a prairie schooner drawn by ox teams. He was elected mem ber of the Legislature from Stanislaus County, and he also has the distinction of being one of the first supervisors of Stanislaus County, afterwards serving as justice of the peace. His mother is a descendant of an old American family, her father, Chas. Hutchins, serving as lieutenant in the War of 1812. As stated, Wm. Newsome was born in Sacramento; this was during a session of the State Legislature, of which his father was a member, and while the family were sojourning there. He was reared at Hill's Ferry and was educated in the Hill's Ferry school. He was employed by cattle growers and rode the range, and also for a time as a stationary engineer, principally in running engines for threshing machines. After this he turned his attention to stock raising, leasing land on which he raised stock for a number of years. In 1907 he changed his occupation, establishing his present garage and auto repair shop in New man, being located on N Street, where he does general automobile repairing and has a service garage. For about fourteen years he was deputy constable and is now con stable of Newman since 1919. In Jackson, Amador Ccunty, Cal, on July 13, 1893, Mr. Newsome was united in marriage with Miss Villa Shealor, who was born and reared in that vicinity, the daughter of George and Mary Shealor, the father being a gold miner in the early days. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Newsome : Cecil ; Merrill, who passed away in 1915 at the age of seventeen, and Mildred. In national politics Mr. Newsome is independent, and fraternally is a member of the Woodmen of the World and Ancient Order of United Workmen. JOHN W. BENOIT.— A truly self-made man is John W. Benoit, and a splendid example of what honesty, integrity and ability can accomplish, for when Mr. Benoit came to Modesto in 1907, he was obliged to borrow money to make his start, and in less than thirteen years he has grown independently wealthy. Mr. Benoit gives much of the credit for this splendid success to the fact that he has had in his wife a real helpmate, in all his enterprises and undertakings. They were married at Watsonville, December 6, 1906, Mrs. Benoit being then Miss Lucile Bentley, a native daughter of California and the daughter of W. A. Bentley, a farmer of Watsonville, now retired and living in Oakland, A son, Adelbert, has been born to this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Benoit's beautiful home, "The Lone Oak Farm," is located on California Avenue, five miles west of Modesto, and consists of forty acres of fine land under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Benoit is engaged in dairying and, since 1912 in the breeding of registered Holstein stock, in which enterprise he has met with great success, having taken many first prizes at livestock exhibitions throughout the state. Mrs. Benoit is a chicken fancier and is engaged in the hatchery business, owning a Hock of 600 pure-blooded White Leghorn hens. 1146 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY A native of Canada, born in Montreal, August 26, 1880, Mr. Benoit is the eldest son of Charles Benoit, also a native of Montreal, whose parents came directly from France, settling in Montreal in the early period of French colonization. His mother was Miss Matilda Pepin, also a native of Montreal. The family removed to San Diego when John W. was a lad of six years, and he became an American citizen through the early naturalization of his father. When he was nineteen, his father met with an accident which broke his foot and ankle, and the young son was obliged to leave school and undertake the support of the family. For some time he was em ployed with a teaming and freighting company and became an expert with horses. The family removed from San Diego, where the father had been a designer and plasterer on the interior decorations of the Hotel Del Coronado at Coronado Beach, in 1892, and located at Watsonville, where they purchased twenty-six acres of land which they set out to apples. Later our subject engaged in farming for himself and was so occupied when he was married in 1906, a year before he came to Modesto. Since coming to Modesto, Mr. Benoit has not only prospered financially, but has made many warm friends as well, and the Lone Oak Farm is the center of much neighbor hood activity. Mr. Benoit is active in the National Holstein Breeders' Association. A. F. BERTHOLD. — A well-educated, highly-esteemed, representative citizen of Oakdale, A. F. Berthold, the master-baker proprietor of the popular Moss Rose Bakery and Confectionery, is helpfully influential, standing as he does in business for the square deal, and advocating everything progressive likely to advance the best in terests of the town. He was born at Fort Wayne, Ind., on January 26, 1884, and grew up in his birthplace, attending the Ft. Wayne schools until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to Chicago and immediately apprenticed at his trade. He re mained there for six years, and during that time completed the baker's trade. Then, in the spring of 1905, he landed at Stockton, Cal., where he found work under Johnny Ingalls in the old state bakery. At the end of six months, he went back to Fort Wayne, Ind., and was married to Miss Frieda John, a native of Fort Wayne, after which he returned to Stockton and was re-engaged by Mr. Ingalls for another six months. In 1907 he came to Modesto, and entered the service of the Modesto Bakery, and four years later, he started a bakery for himself at Riverbank. In 1913, he moved back to Modesto, and in 1916 he came on to Oakdale. Here he bought out the Moss Rose Bakery and Confectionery, but after eighteen months sold it again and went to Turlock, and in the latter town he became pro prietor of the Home Bakery, which he ran for a year and three months, when he and his wife, made a trip to Fort Wayne to visit the old home scenes and relatives and friends. The lure of California, however, urged them to return at the end of a year, and in 1920 they came back to the Golden State and Oakdale, whereupon he once more bought the Moss Rose Bakery. This he conducts in the most sanitary manner, making the best of bread and pastry, and handling and delivering the same in such a cleanly and prompt way that the Oakdale housewives, famed throughout the state, could not suggest improvement if they would. Not only meeting but anticipating the wants of his customers, Mr. Berthold has found it easy to both increase the number and quality of his patrons, and to hold all trade when once acquired. He employs four men and three girls to assist him, and otherwise uses the most up-to-date outfit and only the best, and if need be, the highest priced materials for his piping hot wares. Mr. Berthold is a member of the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants Association, and he also belongs to the Oakdale lodge of Odd Fellows, in which he is an officer. Mr. and Mrs. Berthold have two children — Ella and Wayne. Mr. Berthold's mother is still living in Fort Wayne, Ind., although his father, who was a moulder, died in that city in his fifty-seventh year. He was born in Ger many, married there, and came to America in 1881. The mother's maiden name was Christina Metz, and having taken a medical training, she practiced for years at Fort Wayne. In that city our subject was sent to school, one of three children, Louis E., who used to be the proprietor of the Modesto Bakery, is now living retired in that city. Emil is proprietor of the Home Bakery on Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, and Anton Fred is the subject of this sketch. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1149 The bakery which was the predecessor of the Moss Rose Bakery at Oakdale was started by a Mr. Nagle. It changed hands several times, once being run by Mr. Connell, who gave it its name, Moss Rose. Mr. Berthold bought it of a Mr. Dalton, and in 1917 he sold it to H. A. Wood of Oakdale, and in 1920 purchased it again from Mr. Wood, and June 19, 1921, he moved into his new quarters in the Rodden Building on Third Avenue, adjoining the post office. This place he has equipped new, with a G. P. Glazer oven, and he has installed the most modern bakery machinery obtainable, which is operated by electric power, Mr. Berthold seeing to and insisting the whole be kept clean and sanitary and a marvel in neatness. The Moss Rose is also equipped with a modern, up-to-date soda fountain and a well-furnished ice cream parlor, also serving lunches, and is Oakdale"s finest and most popular place. FRANK COX. — The unrivaled resources of Stanislaus County have challenged the enterprise and experience of the rising progressive agriculturalists, prominent among who is Frank Cox, the son of John Dunlap Cox, a native of the Evangeline country in Nova Scotia, although a descendant of fine old Mayflower and other New England stock. He made his way to California by way of Panama in 1859, pushed inland to Stockton, farmed and teamed among the mountains and mining camps, un armed and yet unmolested, in a period when highway robbery and murder were rife, embarked in sheep-raising and was nearly ruined when the price of sheep and wool took a tumble, and finally settled in the Graj'son district, where he has been active and influential since 1877, the owner of upwards of 3,500 acres and distinguished as prob ably the oldest pioneer still living in Stanislaus County. He married, at San Francisco in 1878, Miss Rebecca Curry, by whom he has had five children. Frank Cox was born on the old Cox ranch on January 18, 1882, and attended first, the grammar school at Grayson, then, for a year, the high school at Oakland, and finally Heald's Business College at San Francisco, whereupon he became bookkeeper for J. R. McDonald at Grayson. After a brief term there, he associated himself with his father in1 farming, and with him he has operated, sometimes on a large scale, ever since. He is now farming the McPike ranch of 2,600 acres near Grayson, and also the ranch of 6,863 acres about three miles north of Westley, where he has the neces sary complement of buildings and makes his home. He also farms the Morton ranch west of Patterson, including 1,700 acres, as well as some 8,000 acres of grain on the West Side. In addition, he has about 7,000 acres of range land west of Patterson, regarded of late as likely to develop into valuable oil land. He is one of the extensive cattle raisers on the West Side, and has about 1,000 head of cattle on the range at one time and has dealt extensively in mules. He is a stockholder and director in the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Stockton. On September 30, 1915, at Oakland, Mr. Cox was married to Miss Anri E. Shannon, a native of San Jose, and the daughter of J. W. and Elizabeth M. (Sheehan) Shannon. Her father came from Utica, N. Y., when he was nineteen years old, and settled in San Jose, where he engaged in business; and in that city she attended the grammar and high school, and later took a course at the State Normal school in the same city. She also taught school for a year in San Jose, and then came to Westley and taught for another year. Three children give joy to the Cox household: Eliza beth Frances, Phyllis Jane, and Madaline. In national politics a Republican, as was his pioneer father, who voted for Lincoln, before him, Mr. Cox believes in a standard of broad citizenship. He is a member of the Elks of Stockton. WALTER T. SCOON. — Prominent among the successful business men of Stan islaus County is Walter T. Scoon of Modesto, who was born near Lacon, Marshall County, 111., on April 20, 1879, the son of James and Alice (Mannock) Scoon, esteemed residents of that place, and natives respectively of Scotland and England, from which countries they migrated while still children. His father grew up in Illinois as a farmer and stockman, and when he came to California, he continued the cattle business at Tulare. In 1895, he removed to Modesto, where he established a butcher business and continued to raise stock. At the age of eighteen he enlisted for service in the Civil War in the Seventy-seventh Illinois Regiment and served three years. 1150 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Walter accompanied his father to California when he was eight years old, and having gone through the Tulare grammar school, he pursued the prescribed courses of study at the high school in Modesto. When he was eighteen years of age, he struck out for himself and for nine months he was bookkeeper on the Bald Eagle ranch. Then he went to Fresno, where he was accountant for two months with the Raisin Growers Association; and after that he accepted a position with the First National Bank of Fresno, as bookkeeper. At the end of six months, he entered the employ of the Sperry Flour Company at Fresno, working as both salesman and accountant; and in the fall of 1903 he came to the Modesto Bank. He entered the bank's service as bookkeeper, and when he left, at the end of fifteen years, he had been made cashier. In 1918, Mr. Scoon entered the real estate, loan and life insurance fields, and now is interested in valuable properties in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. He also has a partnership interest in the Sullivan Electric Company of Modesto, a concern that energetically covers the entire county. His experience, sound judgment and reputa tion for fair, square and generous dealing have made him a favorite with those seeking advice as to realty, financial encouragement, or insurance protection. Mr. Scoon has been twice married. In 1901, at Modesto, he took for his bride Miss Myrtle Crow, the daughter of Albert N. and Laura Crow, both natives of California, by whom he had one child, Edyth, now a high school student. A favorite with a wide circle of admiring friends, Mrs. Scoon passed on in 1913. Two years later, in November, Mr. Scoon married Mrs. Grace Hansel, a native of Arizona and the daughter of W. A. Daggs, and their union has been blessed with the birth of a daughter, Jean, now aged four years. Mr. Scoon belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. E., in which organization, in 1914-15, he was exalted ruler, and is now serving as treasurer of the Elks Hall Association ; he is a member of the Progressive Business Club of Modesto. Politically he is a Republican and generally works for better citizenship. HORACE S. CRANE. — A man who has had a faf-reaching influence in shap ing the destinies and the building up of Turlock is H. S. Crane, who has been a resi dent of the place since 1871. He was born in Woodbury, Conn., in 1866, a son of S. H. Crane, a New Englander who was a pioneer of Turlock, represented on another page in this history. Horace S. Crane came to Turlock with his parents in 1871, when the place was just starting, a few buildings having been moved to the new Southern Pacific station from Empire City and Paradise. After completing the local schools he assisted his father at grain farming and in the livestock business and when his father retired, he took the helm and has since been one of the largest stockmen in the valley as well as an extensive operator in real estate, banker and business man. Since 1904 he has been engaged in raising cattle on their lands near Livingston, Merced County, being associated with his brothers. However, in 1918, they sold most of their cattle and rent their lands. Mr. Crane's uncle, John Mitchell, left an estate of about 117,500 acres when he died in November, 1893. After his death the heirs assigned their interest to the Findesi.ecle Investment Company and H. S. Crane was secretary and manager of the company for many years. The original subdivision in Turlock, laid out by Mr. Mitchell, comprised three whole blocks by three half blocks on the east side of the railroad and he donated the site of the grammar school west of the railroad. Since his death the Findesiecle Investment Company have laid out and platted most of the land on the west side and several additions on the east side, which are now all built up. Mr. Crane has individually laid out several additions which have been built up, and he donated the new Crane Park and the site for the new high school and its grounds. The first alfalfa was grown in 1902, at the time the water was brought to Tur lock, since which time Mr. Crane has always been interested in raising alfalfa. He has been a builder up of Turlock in many ways, building the First National Bank building, corner of East Main and Center streets, and was the prime mover in ,the organization of the First National Bank. In 1906 they purchased the bank here from O. McHenry. Later the bank was converted to a state bank and chartered as the Commercial Bank. Mr. Crane was its president from 1906, establishing branch HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1151 banks at Denair and Hilmar. This was the first bank in Stanislaus County outside of Modesto and has become a large and very strong financial institution. In 1914 he sold the controlling interest and resigned as president, while he still retains a large amount of stock and is chairman of its board of directors. For many years he was a stockholder in and a director in the Merced Securitj* Bank. Mr. Crane subdivided lands into twenty-acre tracts and built the ditch for irrigating the land, selling it for about twenty-five dollars an acre, and has seen these lands grow in value from the intensive farming of these lands until they sell for $800 and even $1,000 an acre, a wonderful transformation from the sand dunes and barren land of the early seventies. Mr. Crane's marriage occurred in San Francisco, where he was united with Miss Mary Roselle, who was born in Nebraska, and they have been blessed with two children, Horace Richard and John W. Active in the incorporating of the city of Turlock, he was a member of its first board of trustees, serving for eight years, being the second chairman of the board. Fraternally he is a member of Turlock Lodge of K. of P., and has been an active member of the Board of Trade since its start. A strong prohibitionist and an ardent Republican, he has always been active and prom inent in the councils of that party. JOSEPH M. AVILA. — Prominent among the progressive farmers who helped to develop Stanislaus County is Joseph M. Avila, who owns a ranch of 120 acres at Crows Landing and also 1,200 acres situated near San Juan, in San Benito County, where he conducted a large cattle ranch. In 1900 Mr. Avila leased 120 acres in Stan islaus County from Mr. Crow and there ran a dairy for five years, when he bought it and all the improvements placed thereon were the result of his industrj'. He continued dairying there until 1913, when he leased his ranch and retired to a home in San Jose. He became well-to-do and took an active part in all progressive movements in Stanis laus County. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Newman and at Crows Landing. Mr. Avila was born on St. George Island, in the Azores, December 25, 1852, the son of Joseph Machado and Anna Francisca Avila, who were farmers in the Azores. Having heard of America and how people had made good in this new country, he decided he would see what opportunities it offered for him. Upon his arrival here, when only thirteen years old, he was employed by a farmer near Boston and worked there three months for the small sum of five dollars per month. Thinking that he would like to see a little more of the world, he made his way to New Bedford, Mass., and from there set out to sea and for the next three years and seven months his time was divided between his duties on board and learning of the different countries, people, climate, and all the peculiarities of the countries and customs of the people. He visited Alaska, California, South America and many other points of interest the world over. When he returned from these voj'ages, he came back to New Bedford and went to work at a factory in that city and was thus occupied for the next year. Having on one of his trips seen the great opportunities afforded in California, he boarded a steamer and went to Panama and then on to California, settling in San Francisco in 1870. From there, he went to San Felipe and worked for James Dan, a large cheese manufacturer of that day; then from San Felipe he made his way to San Juan and started farming there. At first he operated leased farms and then having made a suc cess of farming, he purchased a 1,200-acre ranch and began raising cattle, which " proved a very successful undertaking. On February 14, 1881, Mr. Avila was united in marriage with Miss Isabel Nunes, born on the Island of Pico of the Azores group and who came to California in 1879. They became the parents of twelve children: Daniel is a rancher in Stanislaus County; Antonio died in San Jose in 1912, aged twenty-eight; Mary is Mrs. John Borba of Newman ; Joseph is engaged in the wholesale stock business and operates all over the state, he lives at Crows ^Landing ; Manuel has a dairy ranch in Santa Clara; Frank lives in San Tuan ; Tohn is a partner with his brother, Joseph, in the stock busi ness and lives at Newman; he served about two years in the U. S. Army with the Siberian forces during the World War ; George resides on his father's ranch at Crows Landing; William is on a dairy ranch at Santa Clara; Anna E. is assistant cashier in the bank at Gustine ; Rose M. "is at home ; Belle is single and is at home. The twelve 1152 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY children were all born in San Juan, and the priest, Rev. Father Close, who married Mr. and Mrs. Avila, christened all the children and also married Mary and Frank. They have all been educated in the public schools of San Benito and Stanislaus counties. Mr. Avila has had an active and useful life in which he has improved his opportunities wisely and well, not only in the advancement of his individual fortunes, but for the benefit of the community at large. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. D. E. S. at Gilroy, Cal., and of the U. P. E. C. at Hollister. PETER BRUNOLD. — Although a native of -Switzerland, where his ancestors for many generations have been tillers of the soil, Peter Brunold, one of the most successful dairy farmers and stock breeders of Stanislaus County, is a true American in every sense of the word, and has been a resident of the United States since he was a lad, having crossed the ocean with his parents. Three sisters and two brothers had preceded them several years and had located in Amador County, Cal. It was in 1 882, when Peter Brunold was sixteen, that he and his parents came to California, also locating in Amador County, and there his mother passed away at the age of sixty- eight, while the father spent the remainder of his days with his son Peter, his death occurring at Modesto, when he had reached the age of eighty-four years. Mr. Brunold came to Stanislaus County in 1904, and immediately purchased forty acres of land, soon after adding another twenty-six acres, all unimproved wheat land, paying therefor sixty and $100 an acre. Recently he sold forty acres of this land for $300 an acre, cash, thus indicating the increased valuation of land in this section of the county. He has improved his property until it is now one of the show places of the vicinity, with a modern residence and other improvements of a high character. He is engaged in the dairy business and in breeding registered Holstein cattle, owning a herd of thirty head. His herd sire is King Pontiac Sarcastic Korndyke, whose sire, King Korndyke Pontiac, 20th, was sold to Burns & Company of Los Angeles for $12,000, while a half brother of King Pontiac Sarcastic Korndyke was recently sold to Mrs. Anita Baldwin for $41,000. He also owns some very valuable regis tered Holstein-Friesian cows that make about a thousand pounds of butter a year. Mr. Brunold is a member of the Stanislaus County Holstein Breeders Association and of the National Holstein-Friesian Breeders Association. Born in Bergiin, Canton Grisons, Switzerland, August 7, 1866, Peter Brunold was the youngest of six children born to George and Margaret (Yager) Brunold He received his early education in the public schools of his native village. After com ing to California in 1882, he attended school at lone and then clerked in a genera store at lone until 1888, when he moved to Los Angeles, where he was employed at farming and dairying, and in 1894 had a dairy on South Main Street, near Slauson Avenue, now one of the thickly settled portions of Los Angeles. His brother, Andrew Brunold, is still a resident of that city. Selling his dairy on South Main Street, Mr. Brunold moved to Tropico, where he had a dairy until 1904, when attracted by the low price of land in Stanislaus County, he came to Modesto. The marriage of Mr. Brunold and Miss Louise S. Hayden took place in San Francisco, December 23, 1889, his wife being a native daughter, born at Sutter Creek, Amador County. Her parents, James and Hariette (Whitt) Hayden, were at that time residents of Sutter Creek. Her father- was born in Ohio, and when a youth, his mother having passed away, he ran away from home and enlisted in Company C, Fifth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, serving in the Civil War. He fought in the battles of Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg, Mission Ridge, Chancellorsville, Dallas, Lookout Mountain, Resaca and others, serving until the close of the war. Through exposure and lack of care his eyesight became impaired and he eventually became totally blind. At Sutter Creek he married Hariette Whitt; who was born at Fiddletown, Amador County, the daughter of Harry and Martha Whitt. James Hayden died in 1911, while the mother made her home at Sacramento till her death in 1908. Mrs. Brunold is the only child of the union and received a good education in the schools of Sutter Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Brunold have been blessed with seven children, all well and favorably known in the county: Alma, now the wife of Ed Peterson, garage owner HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1155 of Patterson; Margaret, Mrs. Alfred Davis of Modesto; Andrew, Hefti, Dawnna, Jeanette and Isola. Mrs. Brunold is a cultured woman, having a taste for the artistic and beautiful things of life. She is an active member of the Prescott W. C. T. U, in which she has been an official, and is a member of the Baptist Church and a teacher in the Sunday school. Mr. Brunold is one of the most enthusiastic boosters for the state and county that one can find, the type of citizen that has made the Southwest one of the favored places in all the world. And like most western men, Mr. Brunold gives 'a. large measure of the credit for the success he has achieved to the sympathy and cooperation of his wife. WILLIAM G. BACH. — A progressive cattle-raiser is William G. Bach, popu larly called Billy Bach, who keeps from 400 to 500 head of cattle on the Bach Ranch still belonging to the family estate. He was born on the home place near Knights Ferry on January 13, 1884, the son of William Francis Bach, whose parents were Johann Gotfried and Johanna Rosina Bach, and was a native of Prussia, first seeing the light in 1834. His home was at Burdschultz, near Keitz, in the Kingdom of Prussia, until he came to America, and while in Europe, he followed the occupa tion of a miller. He took passage from Bremen on a sailing vessel bound for New York, and arriving in the New World, he passed a year in Philadelphia, after which he kept a store at Little Rock, Ark. From the latter city, Mr. Bach came to Cali fornia, reaching Sonora in 1853, and for a time he resided at Buena Vista, in Stanis laus County, whence he removed to his latter home in Knights Ferry precinct, twenty-five miles from Modesto, nine miles from the railway, and five miles from a school. There he had a farm of 3,020 acres near the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, one-third of which was cultivated for grain, producing the best of wheat. The remainder was grazing land and supported some 3,000 head of sheep. . On November 24, 1867, William F. Bach was married to Miss Cordelia Gobin, by whom he had four children : Lelora, William Francis, who died when six months old, and Rose and Bessie. Mrs. Bach died on February 25, 1877, and on November 25, 1877, Mr. Bach took for his second wife Miss Lena Kuhn, a native of California from near Copperopolis, Calaveras County. William Francis Bach was well known as a cattle and sheep man, and gave him name to the Bach school district. He died in Oakdale, December 14, 1913. He was a Knight Templar Mason, being a charter member of Summit Lodge No. 112 at Knights Ferry. They had three children. Ella May became the wife of B. L. Sisson, and they reside on the Bach home place, with their one child, Marjory. Katherine, the second-born, married Fred Stone, a rancher, of Knights Ferry precinct. W. G. Bach is the subject of our review. William G. grew up to become familiar with the stock business, and attended the schools of the Buena Vista and Knights Ferry precinct. His first investment was the personal property of his father, including some 250 head of cattle, after getting which he rented the home ranch two miles south of Knights Ferry. On January 16, 1908, he was married to Miss Rosalie Marckley of San Francisco, the daughter of Frank F. Marckley, and they have three children— Avery, Thelma and Evelyn. He bought his building site in Oakdale in 1918, and a year later he built his beau tiful stucco residence. He is a member of the California Cattlemen's Association, and may well be regarded as successful and prosperous. He was made a Mason in Summit Lodge No. 112 F. & A. M., is a member of Sonora Chapter No. 2 R. A M., and Sonora Commandery No. 3, K. T. In national politics Mr. Bach is a Republican. HARRY R. FOSTER.— An enterprising man of affairs who has a record for success of which anyone might well be proud, is Harry R. Foster the wide-awake jobber and shipper of Keyes, who was born at Greenfield, in Greene County, UL, on July 3, 1875, the eldest son of Alonzo L. and Mary L. (Morrison) Foster. His paternal ancestors came from Ireland and settled in New York; while on his mothers side his forebears were of Scotch blood, and after crossing the Atlantic settled in Kentucky. Alonzo Foster devoted himself to farming in Illinois and Kansas to which state he and his wife moved on account of his poor health, when the subject of our review was four years old. The family resided near Parkerville for two and a half years; and on Christmas Day, 1881, they arrived in Los Angeles. Mr. Foster 47 1156 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY purchased a tract of forty acres near Tropico, where he continued to devote himself to agriculture and orchard work. Harry attended an excellent school on the East Side in Los Angeles, and also found good instruction at the Verdugo School, and for a couple of terms, or until his folks removed to Riverside, he was a student at the Los Angeles high school. From 1896 to 1898, he attended the Riverside Business College, but after finishing the course, he decided against making office work his life activity. He therefore engaged in the bakery business, becoming one of the partners in the firm of Bennett & Foster he continued as a baker on Eighth Street in Riverside for five years, selling out about 1905. He at once settled at San Bernardino and there remained over two years. In the fall of 1907, Mr. Foster came to Turlock, where he established the pioneer bakery and for two years engaged successfully in producing the best bake-stuffs in the town ; but on account of ill-health he was forced to get out into the open. He sold out, therefore, in 1909, and next became foreman for F. E. Robertson on his dairy farm at Denair. In 1912 he took entire charge of the Turlock Shipping Comnany's activities at Keyes, that company holding a five-year lease on the holding of H. M. Hatch at Keyes ; he had charge of the seeding, growing and harvesting of the entire crop of melons and sweet potatoes for the entire five years, and it need hardly be said that he had plenty to do. Since then Mr. Foster has engaged for himself in the brokerage of melons, other fruit and sweet potatoes, having established his present business in 1917, and has attained desirable success in shipping in carload lots. Naturally enough, he is a good "booster" for the land of his adoption. When Mr. Foster married he took for his wife Miss Anna R. Drew, a native of Canada, who came to the United States with her parents when a girl of seven years and settled at Riverside. Two children have been born to them : Edna W. is the wife of Harry Stammerjohan of Keyes; and Glen M. is attending the grammar school at Keyes. Mr. and Mrs. Foster are the owners of their choice residence and lot, where he has dwelt since 1912. Mr. Foster belongs to the Ancient Order of Foresters, and served on two of the Liberty Loan committees, as well as on various emergency drives during the war. JAMES T. MOREHEAD.— A practical developer of Stanislaus County especially active in leveling and checking lands, who, seeing the commercial possibility of a swimming pool, erected one of the best bathing places in the county, is James T. Morehead, who was born in Sutter County, Cal., on August 16, 1868. His father, A. Clinton Morehead, came from his native state, Virginia, to Missouri, where he married Sarah Reed and continued farming. In 1861 he crossed the plains with ox teams and located in Sutter County, Cal., where he followed ranching for thirty years ; , and then, for ten years, he settled in Nipomo, San Luis Obispo County. After that he went to San Jose, where he died in 1908, at the age of seventy-five. Mrs. More- head, who is in her eighty-second year, now resides in San Jose. James was the youngest of four children, and he was brought up on a farm in Sutter County, where he enjoyed the advantages of the usual public school education. He continued farming for a while there, and then he removed to San Luis Obispo County, where he practiced breaking horses. He also bought and sold horses, traveling through different parts of California, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and British Columbia. In 1908 he came to Modesto, where he engaged in general contracting, leveling, checking and building canals and ditches; and such has been the acknowledged quality of his labor that he has done more work for the Modesto Irrigation District than any other contractor. He has also done more checking of land and built more ditches in the county than anyone els >.. Mr. Morehead's far-sightedness was demonstrated when, in 1918, he built a swimming pool, 50x150 feet in size, and from three to nine feet deep, which is sup plied from the waste water of the Valley Ice Plant, flowing through the pool day and night at the rate of from 900 to 1,200 gallons a minute. The pool is one of the largest in the state, and is equipped with the latest swimming-pool devices. For a HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1159 cooling system he arranged a gigantic spray of aerated water, the whole flow forced through a pipe eighty feet long, placed horizontally twenty feet above the pool, from which the water comes as a shower the whole eighty feet, dropping on a sieve, which makes a fine spray, cooling the entire area, the water being reduced from ninety degrees to seventy degrees, undoubtedly the largest shower bath in California. The pool is drained out every night and thoroughly cleaned. It is generously patronized and has accommodated as many as 800 in a day, or about 250 in the pool at one time. People who have traveled all over the United States and Europe give it as their opinion that the Modesto Plunge is the finest and cleanest pool they have ever seen. Besides this, Mr. Morehead owns nineteen acres adjoining the city, in alfalfa. Mr. Morehead's first marriage occurred at the Buttes, in Sutter County, when he took Miss Bertha Gray for his wife. She was a native of that section, but she died at Modesto. One child blessed their union, a daughter, Ruth. On the occasion of his second marriage, at Modesto, Mr. Morehead was united to Mrs. Ethel (Lammi- man) Cable, a native of Ontario, Canada, who came to California first with her parents in 1897, attending grammar school at Aromas and the high school in Watson ville. By her first marriage she had four children — Webley, Amanda, Monte and Shirley. Both Mr. and Mrs. Morehead are members of the Christian Church : and he is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. CAPTAIN PETER KNUTSEN.— An interesting citizen of Turlock is Capt. Peter Knutsen, who comes of noble Northern lineage and for years sailed the deep seas, guiding his vessels laden with rich cargoes safely from port to port, visiting most of the notable harbors and coast cities of the world, and seeing no end of adventure and stirring historical events. A wide reader, a man of pleasing personality and with an exceptional supply of stories well worth the hearing, Captain Knutsen is wel come everywhere as a genial conversationalist. Captain Knutsen was born at Rangeven, Bergen, Norway, on September 19, 1869, and after attending the excellent public schools of that country until he was- fourteen years of age, he was apprenticed as a sailor in the coasting trade for two years, and then went on to the big merchant vessels. He sailed, for instance, on the barque Meda of Qiristiansand to Brazil and back for a year, and then for two j'ears he was on a Danish vessel. After that he went to sea on various vessels for years, until he was twenty-six, when he entered the Navigation School at Bergen, and studied to be a mate. When papers had been granted him for second mate, he continued until he was commissioned first mate on the Lyderhorn, and later he was made master of her. This was in 1907, and as captain he sailed that vessel through the Mediterranean to Africa. Then he became captain of the Blaamanden; but wishing to return to his old home, after an absence on the high seas of five years, he obtained a lay-off and came back to Bergen. A new law at that time went into effect requiring all masters of vessels to submit to an examination as to their eyesight, and as he could not pass muster, he was compelled against his wish to retire from the sea. His brother, Knute, had come back home on a visit from California, and from the glowing description of the Golden State, the captain determined to cast in his lot in the land of sunshine and flowers, and so came to Turlock in 1912 and started in m the warehouse business as a partner in the firm of Knutsen Bros. At the end of two years of trade on the Southern Pacific reservation, the firm built its present large warehouse on the State Highway, and the captain has luckily continued in that business enterprise. The firm has every desirable modern equipment and is properly rated among the leading merchants in their field in Stanislaus County. While still in Norway, Captain Knutsen was married to Miss Alvina Nickelsen, who died at Turlock in 1915, the friend to all and beloved by those who knew her. She had been a devoted mother to three boys— Berger, who is assisting his father in business; Eivin, who is in the high school at Turlock; and Ralph. Captain Knutsen married a second time, choosing Miss Marie Danielson of Bergen for his second wife, and the ceremony took place at Turlock. Since coming to California, Captain Knutsen has made a host of friends, and all wish him and wife long life and smooth seas. 1160 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY HARRY OSCAR FETTERMAN.— A hard-working rancher and a self-made, progressive citizen is Harry Oscar Fetterman, the proprietor of the sanitary, high-grade dairy one and a half miles northeast of Crows Landing. He was born in Columbia County, Pa., on April 16, 1881, the son of Urias and Susana Fetterman, worthy folks of a worthy generation, and parents of a good, old-fashioned family of thirteen children. His father is still living at the ripe age of eighty-one, active in the management of not only one, but two Pennsylvania farms, and well-known as an agriculturist. Owing in part to the death of his mother when he was four years old, Harry Fet terman attended school for little more than three months of each year, and at the age of sixteen left home for York County, Nebr., where he ranched for two years on grain land. In 1899, having learned of the greater advantages in California and, particu larly, in Stanislaus County, he came to Crows Landing and worked for three years on various alfalfa ranches ; and then he took up carpenter work and made a specialty of putting up farm buildings. His thorough understanding of the needs of the farmer enabled him to give entire satisfaction; and when, in 1919, he discontinued work at that trade and took up dairying on the George Thoming Ranch, he did so with the conviction that he could attain still greater success in that field. The ranch comprises 116 acres, in addition to which Mr. Fetterman manages sixty acres also belonging to the same owner. He has 100 or more head of cattle, and sixty are of milch stock. He has formed a partnership with Mr. Thoming, and together they enjoy the fruits of the ranches, representing no small part of the local output. On August 10, 1898, Mr. Fetterman married Miss Mary Bowman, a native of Ashland County, Ohio, and the daughter of William and Elizabeth Bowman. They came to California with the pioneers, and Mr. Bowman founded a gunsmith establish ment at Crows Landing, notable in its day. Mr. Bowman died in 1904, esteemed for his clever and honest workmanship, and Mrs. Bowman passed away six years later. Five children — all bright and shining lights in the grammar schools, have blessed this union, and their names are Doyle, Cecil, Edwin, Helen and Harry. ANGELO BASSO. — A genial and old settler is Angelo Basso, the bridge tender on the Waterford and La Grange highway, who was born in the little town of Basso, Italy, east of Genoa, on May 6, 1846. He crossed the ocean to America when seven teen years of age, and came to California by way of New York and Panama, arriving in San Francisco in the fall of 1863. His father, John Basso, had preceded him to America, and was mining at Moccasin Creek, in Tuolumne County ; and his mother, Theressa Basso, followed after our subject was established here. She died in Liver more Valley, in 1890, leaving four children, a boy and three girls, among whom Angelo was the oldest ; and Mr. Basso passed away there also the following year. Angelo Basso engaged in placer mining with his father until 1868, when he sold his claim and became a teamster, hauling heavy freight. Then he entered the employ of John Breccia, the merchant at La Grange, and engaged to run a vegetable wagon ; and this wagon he drove about for two and a quarter years. Then for seventeen years, he took up hydraulic mining, for the La Grange Gold Mining Company, and from 1890 to 1900 ran a hydraulic mine near La Grange; but when the enterprise failed, he lost everything, including his hard-earned savings. Then, in 1901, he began anew as a prospector and driller for the Gold Dredging Company. In 1902, he was employed by the county supervisors to run the ferry across the Tuolumne River, and he continued in that rather arduous field until 1912, when the authorities of Stanislaus County built the new steel bridge across the Tuolumne River about two and a half miles below La Grange, called Basso's Bridge, as the ferry had been called Basso's Ferry. Mr. Basso came to Stanislaus County in 1870, and he has been here ever since, acquiring more and more of an acquaintanceship, and adding to his number of loyal friends. He first married Mrs. Floto, and in 1882, he was again married, this time to Miss Carmillo Podesto, a native of Padgi, Italy, who came to California in 1881. Three children were born to this union: John works the dredger at La Grange; Nettie is now Mrs. Batz, and also lives there ; and Angelo lives at Modesto. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1161 S. GEORGE KOUNIAS.— It was fifteen years ago that George Kounias first came to Modesto, accompanied by his uncle, S. Athanasiu, who opened and con ducted the first grill in the town. Today, as the genial host of the Modesto Grill, George Kounias is accounted among the leading citizens of the growing city, and he numbers among his personal friends the most influential men of the state. Besides the restaurant business, he has invested his surplus in valuable Stanislaus County farm lands, and has been amply rewarded by increased valuation and profits in production. One of his side lines, and one in which he has become well known throughout the state, is in the breeding of registered Holstein cattle. He started with one registered milch cow in 1913 and built up one of the finest registered herds in the state. His famous herd sire, King Korndyke Hengerveld Ormsby 7th, won the grand championship during the Modesto Fair in 1917, defeating the winner of those honors at the State Fair at Sacramento that same year. This naturally attracted attention to the Kounias herd, and it was soon found Mr. Kounias w-as breeding a strain that not only showed the characteristics of the' breed but were producers as well, as the official records of his cows and heifers showed. He has since taken other blue ribbons and the official records for his herd show some of the best pro ducers in the state. His breeding ranch consists of ninety acres, and was started in 1913, and gradually developed under the personal supervision of Mr. Kounias. In October, 1920, he disposed of many of the best-known animals of his herd, keeping only a few famous cows and his herd sire for breeding purposes. By this means he intends to develop and improve the strain and to increase the herd's production record. Mr. Kounias is a native of Greece, born about 118 miles north of Athens, May 8, 1891. His father, George S. Kounias, was a farmer and building contractor, now past seventy years of age. His mother, Ellen (Athanasiu) Kounias, passed away during the influenza epidemic in 1917. George Kounias was reared on his father's farm and was well educated, being taught thoroughly in the Greek tongue, with an appreciable knowledge of French and a smattering of English, by the time he was fourteen. He early developed a great desire to come to America, and when- he was fourteen won the consent of his parents to join his uncle, S. Athanasiu, at Santa Rosa, Cal. Accordingly he set sail from Piraeus, July 18, 1905, coming by way of Naples, and landing in New York on September 1. On September 7 he reached Santa Rosa, where his uncle was engaged in the restaurant business and owned a small farm. He immediately went to work in the restaurant and developed an unusual ability in the concoction of palatable dishes. He worked hard during the day and studied at night, mastering the details of the restaurant business and the customs and language of the new country. On January 8, 1906, Mr. Kounias arrived in Modesto, with his uncle, who had sold his interests at Santa Rosa. Mr. Athanasiu opened the first grill in Mo desto, and for four years Mr. Kounias was employed by him. By this time he had determined to make a success of the restaurant business and in 1909 he went to San Francisco, where he worked at some of the leading grills, making a special study of modern methods and the latest dishes. Returning to Modesto in the latter part o that same year, he engaged in partnership with Tom Vlahos, who was the original founder of the Modesto Grill, and at the end of a year he bought his partner s interest in the business. . , . , , , On December 20, 1920, Mr. Kounias left Modesto for a visit to his old home. One of the principal reasons was to bring his aged father to live with him in his adopted country. From New York he sailed on the Olympic, December 29, via Southampton, to London. Then he crossed the Channel to Paris, remaining two weeks making pil grimages to the battlefields of the World War, as well as to Versailles, of treaty Tame. Going on to Trieste, Austria (now Italy) thence to Sophia, Bulgaria and to Serbia and on to Athens, via Saloniki, and thence to Constantinople, he found unsettled conditions, but remained for month and a half at the Golden Horn. Then he made his way to his home at Peristassis, Greece. As sometimes happens to travelers, he was detained by the authorities for four months. Mr. Kounias' messages and telegrams were held up and he could get no word 1162 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY to his friends. After weeks and weeks of delay he finally succeeded in sending word to Modesto and to the American consul in Constantinople. The latter sent word to the American consul at Athens. Through the efforts of friends in Modesto, and the assist ance of Senator Shortridge and Secretary of State Hughes, who kept the cables hot with messages to the American consul at Athens, Mr. Kounias was finally released, after nearly twelve weeks detention. He immediately went to Constantinople where he waited until his father joined him, when they went to Naples, Italy, remaining a week and then went to Marseilles, France, spending another week, thence to Gibraltar, and on to Lisbon, proceeding from that port by steamer to New York. Reaching Modesto, August 1, 1921, they found a warm welcome, and his father, who is now seventy, was amazed at the glories of California. As his business had been left in good hands, Mr. Kounias resumed the management of his affairs, and feels grateful for the assistance rendered him by his Modesto friends. He not only warmly appreciates it, but is proud to. have such a loyal following in the city of his adoption. Mr. Kounias found conditions all over Europe very poor, money scarce and farms neglected. In some places he saw only children and old men; the robust young men had been sacrificed to Mars, and women did all kinds of work. The towns and cities at the front were still torn up and devastated. Modesto, by contrast, naturally looked specially inviting, on his return. Being possessed of unbounded faith in the future of Stanislaus County, Mr. Kounias has invested from time to time in farm lands, buying his first twenty acres in 1913. In 1914 he added twenty-seven acres, and in 1917 forty acres, all in Laurel Lodge precinct. He also owns two valuable vineyards in San Joaquin County, of forty-two acres each, and several unimproved business lots in Modesto. He takes a keen interest in everything that pertains to the welfare of the county and especially of Modesto, and can always be counted upon to give unqualified support to any worth-while undertaking. He is a member of the National Holstein Breeders Asso ciation, and the California and Stanislaus County associations of breeders of Holsteins. GEORGE M. AVILA.— It is the proud claim of George M. Avila that he is not only a native born son, but the son of a highly esteemed pioneer as well, who was born on December 9, 1890, near San Juan Bautista, San Benito County, the son of Joseph M. and Isabel (Nunes) Avila. His father came to California in 1865, was well known in San Juan, where he was an extensive breeder of cattle and horses, who is still living in San Jose. There were thirteen children in the Avila family : Daniel, a dairyman now at Crows Landing; Antone, who passed away at -the age of thirty-one; Mary, the present Mrs. John Borba of Newman ; Joseph, a cattle buyer at Crows Landing ; Manuel, a dairj'man of San Jose ; Frank, also engaged in breeding pure-bred Holsteins ; John, a cattle buyer at Newman ; Isabel, who lives with her father at San Jose ; William, who passed away in infancy ; Anna, who is employed at the Gustine Bank ; Rose, also with her father at San Jose, and William Joseph, who is engaged in the dairy business with his brother Manuel at San Jose. Their early days were spent on their father's ranch, a 1,250-acre tract devoted to grain and cattle. In 1900 the father leased this farm and moved to Crows Landing, where he bought 123 acres about one mile east, on which" he erected a modern house, two large barns and out buildings and had at times from 80 to 100 head of milk cows and was actively engaged in dairying until 1913, when he retired and left the ranch in charge of his son Joseph, who managed the place until July 1, 1918, when Geo. M. Avila took it over. George M. Avila was educated in the San Juan district school, but being the eighth in the order of birth of a large family and his services needed at home, had little opportunity to attain an education in his youth, but later on took advantage of the opportunities offered by the night schools. At the age of fourteen he left home and took up horsemanship and for the next four j'ears was employed by William Best of Pleas anton, driving the latter's horses on the track. The next six years he spent with Ruby & Bowers at Portland, Ore., where he followed the same line of work, after which he came to Crows Landing and engaged in various kinds of work there and at Newman and Gustine until July 1, 1918, when he moved to his present abode. $ w HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1165 At Merced, on December 4, 1911, Mr. Avila was married to Miss Ethel Pettit, born on the Kerr farm south of Gustine, the daughter of Jerry and Julia (Woodworth) Pettit, the mother being a native-born daughter and the father a native of Montreal, Canada, who for a number of years was engaged in the dairy business at Gustine. Mrs. Avila received her education at the Enterprise district school, now known as Gustine, and is the sister of Iva, the present Mrs. Claude Wright of Patterson ; Elmer and Fred, residents of Gustine ; Joshua, deceased ; John, Charles, Waldo and Leslie, who live with their parents at Gustine. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Avila: Ethelrose, Gerald Milton and Annabelle. Politically, Mr. Avila is a nonpartisan in his views, giving his vote to the man he thihks best qualified for the office. ARTHUR FLUX. — Hard work and good business management have placed Arthur Flux among the prosperous dairymen and ranchers of Stanislaus County. Mr. Flux was born on the Isle of Wight, in the English Channel, August 1, 1861, and is a son of James and Mary Ann (Salter) Flux, who were also born on the Island of Wight, the father being in the government emnloy in the stores department of the penitentiary. Both parents are now dead. Of their seven children, Mr. Flux is the youngest; he had the advantages of a common school education in his native country and there he worked on dairy farms until he was twenty-one years old. Coming to America in the year 1882, he began by working out on farms in Ohio, in Geauga and Portage counties, in the Lake Erie region. In Nelson, Ohio, on December 25, 1885, Mr. Flux was united in marriage with Miss Ella Hamblin, who was born in Lexington, Ky. Her father, David H. Ham- blin, was born in Ohio and served in an Ohio regiment in the Civil War, being wounded in action. He married a Miss Coe and was engaged in the jewelry business, passing away in Kentucky. Mrs. Flux is the youngest of their four children and when she was two years old, she lost her mother, after which she lived with her uncle, Almon Coe, and attended school at Montville, Ohio. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Flux: Lee died at the age of one and a half years in Ohio; Alfred J. is married and lives at Portland, Ore. ; Herbert A. is helping his father on the farm ; he gave two strenuous j'ears in the defense of his country during the World War, first in the Ninety-first Division. He started overseas, but was taken with scarlet fever at Omaha. On his recovery, he went to Camp Merritt, N. J., and was sent overseas September 1, 1918. Arriving in France, he was transferred to the Ninetieth Division, serving in the first line trenches, and after the armistice he was with the Army of Occupation until he returned to Newport News, Va., June 7, 1919, and two weeks later arrived in San Francisco, where he was honorably discharged June 27, 1919, then returning home. George A. Flux also assists on the farm, while Frank is attending the Modesto high school. Mr. Flux continued to farm in Ohio for twenty-two years, owning a farm at Hiram. In 1907 he located at Lebanon, Linn County, Ore., and purchased a farm, engaging in farming and stock raising. Desiring to locate in California, he came to his place on March 31, 1915, buying a tract of sixty-two and a half acres east of Empire. He lost no time in having it planted to alfalfa and getting together a herd of twenty-seven milch cows, besides young stock. He ran a large dairy and made many substantial improvements on his place, among them an attractive bungalow residence. While his son Herbert was in the service he could not handle the dairy alone, so sold off twenty-five of his cows and twenty-five acres of the land. He is still engaged in dairying, but is gradually planting his alfalfa fields to fruit trees. He planted twelve acres in 1921 to Malaga and Thompson Seedless grapes, peaches and apricots, and in a few years will be reaping a good income from his orchard. Mr. Flux is a member of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau and in national politics is a Republican, but in local matters he is nonpartisan in his views. He is a member of the Empire Board of Trade and the Milk Producers Association of Central California, while Mrs. Flux is a member of the Get-Together Club. In 1896, Mr. Flux, with his wife and son Alfred, made a trip to England, visiting his old home and other places in that country, spending five months among his friends and kindred. 1166 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ANTONIO A. OLIVEIRA. — One of the leading dairy ranchers of his section is A. A. Oliveira, whose dairy farm of forty-eight acres with thirty cows is situated three miles northeast of Crows Landing. Born on the Island of St. George of the Azores on August 1, 1864, the son of John and Rosie Oliveira, when only seventeen years of age he crossed the Atlantic, settling in Vermont, where he made his own way by working in a sawmill. In 1882, believing that California offered greater oppor tunities, he came West and did ranch work for a year near San Mateo. From there he went to Point Reyes, Marin County, where he worked for two and a half years on a dairy farm. Desiring to farm for himself, he went to San Rafael, where he bought a half-interest in a large dairy farm of 650 acres, on which they kept fifty cows. After a period of eight years he sold his interest in the dairy farm and took a position as a butter maker for three and a half years on a farm near San Geronimo. On leaving that place he went to Tocaloma near Point Reyes, where he purchased an interest in a dairy business. A year after, however, he sold out his interest and operated a dairy farm alone near Nicasio, Marin County, on which he kept eighty cows. He kept this dairy ranch one year, when he sold it out and went to Tomales, remaining there for two years on a dairy farm. The next five years of his life were spent on a ranch near Valley Ford in Sonoma County, when he returned to Tomales, where he operated a dairy farm of eighty cows for six years. In 1912, Mr. Oliveira came to Crows Landing and purchased his present holding of forty-eight acres three miles east of there, sowed the land to alfalfa and two years later erected his present home and farm buildings. On October 30, 1897, Mr. Oliveira was married to Miss Rosie Areia, the daughter of Antone and Marian Areia, who was born on the Island of St. George not far from her husband's birthplace. When Mrs. Oliveira was twelve years old her parents came to the new world, settling near San Rafael, and here she grew to womanhood. Her parents are still living and make their home at Salida. Mrs. Oliveira passed away on February 9, 1920, leaving seven children: Mary E., Rosie, Antone, Manuel, Lena, Joseph and John. Mr. Oliveira belongs to the I. D. E. S. and U. P .E. C. of Tomales. ROLLIE R. PETERS.— It was in January, 1912, that Rollie R. Peters came with his family to Stanislaus County, and located at Patterson, where he had bought sixty acres of fine land on Walnut and Elm Streets in 1910. He immediately began to improve his property, erecting a handsome modern home, and commodious barns. In 1919 he sold this property to Frank Mendes, and moved to a farm of twenty acres on Almond Avenue, which he had purchased in 1914, and already it is fast becoming one of the show places of the vicinity, attractively improved and exceptionally well kept in every detail. At present it is largely devoted to alfalfa and annual crops, but Mr. Peters purposes to make it into one of the finest fruit and alfalfa ranches in the county. Another plan which he intends to put into operation at an early date is that for breeding registered Holstein milch cows, for which there is a great demand. As he is a capable, efficient farmer-stockman, his success is a foregone conclusion. Mr. Peters is a native of Ohio, born near Lightsville in Darke Countv. Sep tember 30, 1875, the son of Ambrose and Manora Peters. His father was a farmer on an extensive scale, and until he was twenty-one young Rollie remained with his parents on the farm, attending school and assisting with the farm work. On reaching his majority he left home and for six years was employed at Grundy Center. Iowa. Here he met and married Miss Julia Gilbert, a native oFOhio, born in Darke County, near Arcanum. Her parents were Silas and Frances Gilbert, well-to-do farmers. Mrs. Peters, as Julia Gilbert, attended the nublic schools of Arcanum, and graduated from the Normal School at Mount Morris, 111. Following this for ten years she was actively engaged in educational work, teaching a part of the time in her own home county in Ohio, and a part of the time at Grundy Center, Iowa, where she wedded Mr. Peters. Following his marriage, Mr. Peters leased 200 acres of land in Hardin County, Iowa, near Eldora, where for the succeeding nine years he engaged in farming, rais ing stock and grain, and meeting with deserved success. During this time he had become interested in California land and opportunities, and in 1910 he invested in land in Stanislaus County. Two years later he came to California, and has since resided in the vicinity of Patterson, where he and his family hold a high place in HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1167 public esteem. Mr. and Mrs. Peters are the parents of five children, the eldest two, Frances and Harold, being popular high school students in Patterson, while Margaret, Eugene and Everett are still of grammar school age. Mr. Peters is a director in the Patterson Irrigation Company, having served in this capacity for the past two years. He is also a member of the Milk Producers' Association and of the Stanislaus County Farmers' Union, having a splendid grasp of all situations pertaining to farm questions. He is today recognized as one of the most successful and influential men in the Patterson district, holding the confidence and esteem of the leading men of the community. GEORGE K. BEARD. — Another representative of one of the most interesting historic families is George K. Beard, the third son and seventh child of T. K. and Adele Grace (Lewis) Beard, the well-known pioneers long prominent in Stanislaus County's best circles. With his wife, Mr. Beard is very busy building up their home on their fruit ranch of 100 acres in the Dickinson precinct, five miles west of La Grange on the Waterford-La Grange Road. This property Mr. Beard purchased from his father, and he has certainly improved it greatly since he took possession. George Beard was born irt Modesto on February 4, 1893. After spending three years at the Modesto high school he entered Anderson Academy at Irvington, a mili tary school, where he was graduated in 1910. After that he spent two years at the University of Nevada, from 1912 to 1914, pursuing the mechanical engineer's course. He was next manager for two seasons on his father's large Stanislaus County ranches, and in 1917 set up for himself. He has erected a beautiful dwelling, and also a spacious barn; has sunk a well and has built a 15,000-gallon tank on a hill near his house, in order 'to obtain the desired supply of water for domestic purposes, and for lawn and garden. He is planting peach, apricot and other fruit trees. In Los Angeles in 1914, Mr. Beard was married to Miss Irma Keith of Denver; and they have been blessed with two children, Betty Ann and Barbara J. Mr. Beard belongs to the Odd Fellows of La Grange. In Mr. Beard is represented one of Stanislaus County's leading families, and it is pleasant to observe that he himself, totally disinclined to live upon a reputation created by others, is making a place and a name for himself, and so is contributing to the enviable record of the family. LON J. TAYLOR.- — A resident of Patterson since its infancy, closely identified with its activities and development, Lon J. Taylor, engineer for the Standard Oil Company, is one of the best-known men in this part of the county. His association with this great corporation has brought him in close contact with many of the leading men in the community, and he stands high with his employers and with his associates in the business, holding alike the confidence and respect of all. Mr. Taylor is a Southerner, born in Kentucky, at Tompkinsville, January 29, 1882, the son of William Jasper and Jane Taylor, both of Southern ancestry. His father was a farmer and horseman, and was held in high esteem in Tompkinsville. Lon J. Taylor received his early education in private schools of his native city, but these were in session only about five months during the winter. He helped his father on the farm and became thoroughly efficient in farm work and management. But he had heard much of the opportunities of California, and as soon as he was of age he came West to seek his fortune. He located first in Tulare County, near Tulare, where he worked on a fruit ranch for a year, learning much of value about the farm life of the state. He then went to Southern California, where he farmed 1,100 acres on the Laguna Ranch, one of the famous Spanish ranchos near Whittier, now belonging to Simons Brick Company of Los Angeles. After a year and a half here he returned to the central part of the state, and became associated with the Standard Oil Company in Kings County, working as an engineer at Lemoore. From here he went to Bakersfield for the Stand ard Oil, being located for a year and a half at the Rio Bravo station on the West Side. It was in 1912 that Mr. Taylor came to Patterson for the first time, remaining as engineer in charge of the Standard Oil Company's station until 1915, when he was transferred to Tracv for two years. At the end of that time he was transferred again to 1168 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Patterson, since which time he has resided here. He has identified himself with the best interests of the town and community and is recognized as a leading citizen. On August 24, 1904, before he started his westward journey, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage with Miss Ethel Pitcock, born in the vicinity of Tompkinsville, where she was married, and reared and educated with her future husband. Mrs. Taylor was the daughter of John and Alice Pitcock, her father being a well-to-do farmer and sawmill owner. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have three children, one daughter, Jewell R., attending the Patterson grammar school, and two sons, A. Guy, also in grammar school, and L. Rex, not yet of school age. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have a pleasant home on Third Street, which they own, and where their many friends are always certain to find a warm welcome. Mr. Taylor is prominent among the Masons of Patterson and a member of the local lodge. In politics he is a Republican and takes a keen interest in the political welfare of the county, state and nation. ANDREW J. OLESEN.— A farmer with a valuable, well-situated ranch, highly improved as the result of his own handiwork, is Andrew J. Olesen, the proud possessor of a score or more cows, and a successful dairyman. He lives about two miles southeast of Newman, and is to be classed amojig the industrious residents of Stanislaus County who have done something to advance California agriculture. He was born in Schleswig on July 20, 1866, the son of Christ and Christine (Brink) Olesen, and grew up to help his father, who was a landscape gardener and a nursery- man. He also attended the grammar schools for which his fatherland was famous. In the spring of 1891, Mr. Olesen crossed the ocean to America, and having been fortunate in the choice of the Golden State as his goal, he arrived at Newman on April 23. The conditions were very different in this New World from those of the Old, which he had left behind, and methods of and implements for farming were not a little strange at first ; but he was always quick to learn, and so he soon adapted himself and began to push forward. For eight months Mr. Olesen worked for Henry Miller on the Miller & Lux ranch, and then he hired out to Miller & Lux for the same kind of service on the McPike ranch. After that he entered the employ of John Schmidt, an early Stanis laus settler, and later on the Captain Morris ranch at Crows Landing, and it was not until 1894 that he started farming for himself. For a couple of years he raised grain ; but he then gave up the attempt to make a living in that manner, for the price of grain was not sufficient to make things pay. His next effort panned out better, for he started a dairy, and has continued dairying ever since. He had already acquired some experience needed in Schleswig, and he began on familiar ground. As early as the fall of 1894 he purchased ten acres of land southeast of Newman, and a year later set it out to alfalfa. At the end of two years, he purchased another ten acres and set that out in the same manner, and some years later he added ten acres more, so that he now owns thirty acres, and still later he purchased thirty acres of land three miles west of his present place. Among those who came to America at the same time as Mr. Olesen was Miss Carrie Holm, a native of Vilslev, Denmark, the daughter of George and Anna (Mayer) Holm, dairy folk, and on February 23, 1894, they were married. The bride had attended the schools of her native land, and had been lucky in growing up at home, where she mastered the ins and outs of domestic life. Three children have blessed their happy home life. Christine is at present Mrs. Peter Juncker, farming Mr. Olesen's ranch near Newman ; Anna is a bookkeeper in the Modesto Bank, and Christ is at home. Mr. Olesen is a Republican, but he aims to support local movements apart from party considerations. In 1905 Mr. Olesen, accompanied by his wife and three children, returned to Schleswig to celebrate the golden wedding of his parents, leaving for Europe July 3, and returning to America on November 8. The delightful anniversary was cele brated on August 12, 1905, and Mr. Olesen enjoyed every moment with "the old folks at home" and in seeing once again the scenes of his childhood, but all were delighted to get back to their own home in sunny California. They are members of the Lutheran church in Newman. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1171 PETER J. ROGUET. — A worthy representative of one of the old, historic French families of French Bar, now La Grange, was the late Peter J. Roguet, the popular barber and constable, who was equally efficient as deputy sheriff, and enjoyed the distinction of being the oldest living inhabitant of La Grange, and the oldest man continuously in business there. He was born at La Grange on January 9, 1864, the son of Peter Roguet, a native of Alsace, France, where he was born near Metz in 1822. He came out to California in 1854, and settled at Don Pedro Bar, about ten miles above La Grange ; he mined on week-days and barbered the miners on Satur days and Sundays. After two years he went back to Alsace and there married Mag dalene Zigler; and in 1857 he returned with his bride to Don Pedro Bar, where he continued barbering. He moved from Don Pedro to Mariposa Gulch in Mariposa County, and thence to Hornitos, in the same district; and in 1862 he came to La Grange. He knew all the placer gold miners, 600 of whom were Frenchmen, at French Bar, which was later called La Grange; and he died there in 1877 at the age of fifty-five. In 1881 Mrs. Roguet moved to Modesto; and two years later she died there, seventy-nine j'ears old. These worthy parents had three children. The eldest is Miss Amelia Roguet of San Francisco ; our subject was the second-born ; while the younger was Charles E. Roguet, who died in his thirty-second year. When Peter Roguet, the father, died and La Grange was without a barber, the citizens insisted that Peter, although then only thirteen years old, should succeed his father and maintain business at the old stand ; and thus while he grew up and at tended the local school, he early had his career determined for him. In 1899 he was married to Miss Dora Montgomery, a native of Stanislaus County, and the daughter of James Louis Montgomery, first tender of the dam ; they had one child, Harold E. In national political affairs, Mr. Roguet preferred to work as a Democrat, but he was a good mixer, ready to give as well as to take, and was, therefore, in local matters, a first-class "booster." For nineteen years he served as deputy sheriff under Sheriff R. B. Purvis. In 1886 he ran for constable, was elected, and in 1887 took office, which he held for two years ; then he was out of office for four years ; but after that, and ever since, he was reelected at periods of four years, holding that important office continuously for twenty-four years. He was not only a courageous officer, but a courteous and accommodating official, and well deserved the popularity which he enjoyed. Mr. Roguet passed away March 21, 1921, mourned by his many friends. LYNN H. CONNER. — A distinguished citizen of Stanislaus County who well merits all the honors bestowed upon him, is Lynn H. Conner, the agent of the Standard Oil Company, and a city trustee of Turlock. He was born near Eldorado Springs, Cedar County, Mo., on September 23, 1878, the son of S. H. Conner, a native of Missouri who came of Kentucky parents. Grandfather Lynn Conner, who was born in Kentucky, came out to Missouri and served in the Civil War as a soldier in the Union Army, and was killed. S. H. Conner, the father, crossed the plains to Oregon in 1881 and as a farmer engaged in stock raising; and he died in Wallowa County. He had married Amanda Cramer, a native of Wisconsin, and she also died in Oregon, the mother of seven children, among whom our subject and a son, James M. Conner of Livingston, are the only ones in California. The second eldest in the family, Lynn was brought up on a farm in Wallowa district, Oregon, and there attended both the grammar and the high school, finishing off at Pendleton Academy. He rode the range and continued in outdoor work until he was twenty-one years of age, then went East to Missouri and back to Virginia and West Virginia, where he was with the Royal Coal and Coke Company for two years, when he returned to Oregon. Once again in the Northwest, he became the foreman of a ranch for a year, after which he put in another year in the service of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, assisting in the bridge-building department. Again he went East, this time to Kansas, and there, in the office of the W. S. Timmons Lumber Company at Riley, he engaged in contracting and building. There, too, Mr. Conner was married, his bride Miss Elizabeth Schoonhoven, a native of Kansas. In 1909, Mr. Conner removed to California and settled for a while at Modesto; then he went'back to the old home in Oregon and remained there until 1911. In that 1172 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY year he once more came to Turlock and acted as foreman for Tornell & Larson, con tractors and builders, and he continued with them until 1913, when he was appointed agent for the Standard Oil Company, a position he has held ever since. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and served two years as a trustee when it was the Board of Trade, and in 1918 he was elected a trustee of the City of Turlock for four years. Two children — Evelyn and Ned — have gladdened the home life of Mr. and Mrs. Conner, and with their parents attend the Christian Church, in which Mr. Conner is one of the elders, as he is also superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Conner belongs to Lodge No. 346 of the I. O. O. F. at Riley, Kans., and he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America in Turlock. CHARLES L. MENGHETTI.— Coming directly to California from his native canton in the hardy little republic of Switzerland, where his ancestors' are farmers, Charles L. Menghetti in less than twenty years has amassed a competency in rich lands and property. He came into this county in 1911 from the northern part of the state and for a time was employed by Claude Maze on his dairy farm. He then leased land and engaged in dairy farming for himself on Garrison Avenue, farming 100 acres and milking seventy-five cows. Following the latest scientific methods in his enterprise and giving to it his best efforts in labor and application, Mr. Menghetti won an unusual degree of success. In January, 1919, he purchased 160 acres of the best land in Hart precinct, where he is now engaged in general farming, having seventy acres planted to alfalfa. Later he plans to again engage in dairying. Mr. Menghetti was born in Arbedo, Switzerland, a small town close to the capital of Canton Ticino, June 21, 1880. His father is Charles Menghetti, a dairy farmer, and his mother was Miss Fulvia Masotti, a native of the same canton. There were several brothers and sisters in the Menghetti family, successful farmers in Switzerland today. Mr. Menghetti was reared on a farm and early learned the essentials of successful dairy farming. He attended night school and acquired an early education. When he was sixteen he was apprenticed in a machine shop, and for five years followed the trade of machinist. It was in 1902 that he said good-bye to the home ties and set sail for the Western World, whither two older brothers had already preceded him. He arrived in San Francisco and it was just four days later that the new arrival secured employment as a milk hand ori a dairy farm near San Francisco. At the end of six months he went to Del Norte County and engaged to work in the big tree districts and became an expert logger, remaining there most of the time until he came to Modesto in 1911, where he has since made his home. Politically Mr. Menghetti is a Republican and a stanch supporter of party principles. He is a member of the Stanislaus County Milk Producers Association. EDMUND J. LEAR. — A successful native son of the Golden State, Edmund J. Lear is also the worthy representative of a family tracing its lineage and activities back to Argonaut days. He was born in Colusa, Cal., on August 29, 1873, the son of Thomas Dudley Lear, a farmer and early pioneer of this state, from St. Louis, Mo., who married Miss Alice Harris, a native daughter. Thomas Dudley Lear came from St. Louis in 1850, across the great plains in a prairie schooner drawn by oxen, and he went into the goldfields of the American River Canyon, at Gold Hill and Nevada City. Mr. Harris, the father of Mrs. Lear, on the other hand, was a well- known horseman, one of the leading judges of horse flesh in Colusa County. Thomas Dudley Lear later homesteaded and preempted land near Colusa, which he farmed. Edmund J. Lear had the usual grammar school education of those days, and when sixteen years of age learned the printer's trade, at which he served a four years' appren ticeship. On September 23, 1894, during a service of seven years with the Sun Pub lishing Company of Colusa, he married in that town, Miss Mary L. McCollum, a native of Missouri, and the daughter of Thomas McCollum, an esteemed citizen of the Iron State, a business man who came out to the Coast when she was only one j'ear old, and after her school days were over, she took up typesetting for the Sun Publishing Company. After his marriage, Mr. Lear embarked with a brother-in-law, Sr? fj^tz^^^^: HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1173 J. L. Kennon, in the publishing of the Sisson Mascot, and when, at the end of a year and a half, they had built up that lively journal, he sold out and took up farming. He returned to his old home place at Colusa and farmed 120 acres, upon which he raised alfalfa, grain and stock; and in September, 1913, he came to Patterson and bought thirty-one acres on Loquat Avenue, east of Sycamore, which he devoted to the growing of alfalfa and fruit trees. He also built a comfortable home and a com modious barn, but since that time he has sold all except fourteen acres of the place, upon which he intends to go into the raising of poultry extensively. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lear. Bessie Elizabeth is cashier of the Sterling Furniture Company of San Francisco. E. B. Lear is with the Mineral Products Company of Patterson. He enlisted in April, 1917, served in Supply Train No. 334, trained in Florida, went to Newport News, Va., and then crossed the ocean to Brest, and was stationed at La Havre, France, where he served for fifteen months in the American supply train. On his return, he received the coveted honorable dis charge at San Francisco in 1918. Sarah Lear has become the present Mrs. Fisher of Santa Cruz. Mary L. is in San Francisco, and Grove is a student at the Patterson high school, as are also Leslie and Arthur. James is a pupil of the grammar school, and Charles is at home. In national politics a Republican, Mr. Lear enjoys the fra ternal life of both the Odd Fellows and the Independent Foresters, having joined the former organization at Colusa. DAVID G. MEDLIN. — A pioneer past seventy who is still as able and active as the best man of fifty is David G. Medlin, for nearly thirty years identified with the old Day Ranch. He was born and reared near Gallatin, Sumner County, Tenn., on December 29, 1849, the son of Green L. and Eliza Medlin; his father, a North Caro- linan by birth, having come to the Volunteer State as a boy, after losing his parents. Mrs. Medlin, on the other hand, was born near Lebanon, in Wilson County, Tenn. Having gotten his schooling in Tennessee, Mr. Medlin came out to California in 1875, followed by his father in 1881 and his mother in 1883, both of whom lived the rest of their daj's in Modesto, the mother dying eight years after she came here and the father in 1900. Our subject came to California on a long emigrant train, which took twelve days to come from Nashville, Tenn. Odd incidents enlivened the trip ; as when the train would stop to permit the passengers to take their firearms and go hunt ing, for sport and food. Settling at Crows Landing on his arrival in the Golden State, Mr. Medlin farmed for grain on the old Day Ranch for twenty-nine years, a wide stretch of 2,000 acres; and in 1901 he purchased a half-section of land directly west of Crows Landing and one mile out of town, and since then he has farmed this area, and has succeeded. On November 19, 1885, Mr. Medlin was married to Miss Clementine Frances McMurtry, whose birthplace, in Sumner County, Tenn., was not far from that of her husband. She was reared and educated here, however, and became the mother of eleven children. Gertrude died when she was sixteen years old; Carl H. is in Crows Landing; David Kelly is on a dairy farm east of town ; Roy died when he was twenty-seven years old; Effie is at home; Ora T. is on a grain ranch, three miles west of Crows Landing; Arch is a student at St. Mary's College, Oakland ; Ivy and Eva were twins, but the latter died ; Bernice is a high school student at Modesto, and Richard Dana is a pupil of the Bonita grammar school. In matters of national political moment a Democrat, Mr. Medlin allows no partisanship to interfere with his support of worthy measures. CARL BUSINGDAL.— A native of Norway who brought with him to America the sterling qualities which have been the outstanding characteristics of our Scandi navian citizens, is Carl Busingdal, prosperous farmer of the Patterson district since 1914, and owner of a ranch of seventy-three acres, where he conducts a flourishing dairy business and also carries on diversified farming. Mr. Busingdal was born in Aalensund, Norway, July 17, 1884, the son of Thor and Anna Busingdal, farmer folks of good standing. He received a good education in the public schools of his district, completing the high school course. His early years were passed on the home farm, where he began when a mere lad to dream of the 1174 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY time when he could come to America. This time arrived when he was nineteen, and 1903 found him at Santa Barbara, Cal., where for two years he worked for wages at Montecito. As soon as he had mastered the customs and conditions of the new country, young Mr. Busingdal was ready to start out for himself, and in 1905 he rented a farm of 420 acres, near Santa Barbara, where he followed diversified farm ing for four j'ears. Following this he rented a half section at La Mesa, near Oak Park, and for two years farmed there. He accumulated some valuable domestic stock and prospered in his venture, selling his interests at a profit, when, in 1914, he came to Patterson, where he has since made his home. When Mr. Busingdal bought his present property on Sequoia and Vineyard avenues it was entirely unimproved, and he has indeed wrought a transformation in both its appearance and its value, immediately erecting a comfortable residence, bams, etc. His dairy numbers a herd of thirty-five high-grade cows, and his ranch equip ment is of the latest modern design. About half of his place is covered with a fine stand of alfalfa, and on the remainder he is now raising beans and corn. On November 2, 1912, at Santa Barbara, Mr. Busingdal was united in marriage with Miss Rachael Stangland, born in Stavanger, Norway, to Jens and Marie Stang- land. When she was a child of four years her parents came to America and located at San Francisco, and there the future Mrs. Busingdal was reared and educated. They are the parents of two little daughters, Aileen and Marie. As members of the Lutheran Church at Patterson, both Mr. and Mrs. Busing dal take a prominent part in church activity and have many friends. They are both interested in the public welfare and especially in the development of educational opportunities, for they desire that their children shall have all advantages possible. Politically Mr. Busingdal is a Republican, and fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, affiliated with the Santa Barbara lodge. GUNERIUS HEIER. — A patriotic Norwegian-American who brought with him to California much that is desirable, particularly in a new country, and who found here much that he had not enjoyed in the Old World, is Gunerius Heier, who was born in the Scandinavian peninsula far back on January 13, 1854. His father, John Heier, was a native of Norway, , and so was his mother, whose maiden name was Jane Thorpe. In that northern country, therefore, our subject passed his boyhood, developing a robust constitution and getting ready for his real tussle with the world. In 1876 Mr. Heier crossed the ocean to New York City, being accom panied by other members of the family to join the father and a brother who had come here in 1874, and after stopping for a while in the metropolis, he pushed on westward into Norman County, Minn. After a while, he purchased a farm in Min nesota, and there he continued to follow the life of a farmer until 1894. In 1894, Mr. Heier decided to go south into Florida and to try his luck in the citrus industry under tropical conditions; but after a great freeze, in the winter of 1895, which caused him serious reverses, in 1897 he went to Maine and he worked along the Atlantic Coast until he came out to the Pacific Coast in 1901 and settled for a while at Oakland. There he found employment in the shipyards until 1904, when he removed to Stanislaus County and, after looking carefully over the ground, pitched his tent at Denair. He purchased a tract of forty acres of raw land, which he at once proceeded to clear up and develop, and he was the first man to buy land in that tract; and such has been his reward for hard, intelligent labor that he how enjoys a fine steady income from his forty acres of fruit trees. In 1886, Mr. Heier was made a citizen of the United States at Ada, in Norman County,. Minn., and ever since, marching under Democratic banners, he has endeav ored to do his full duty as a patriot. He supported as generously as he could all Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives, and had a nephew who was severely wounded in the war who went from California. He is a Mason, and a very welcome visitor to the lodge. Norwegians have usually proven among the sturdiest, most respectable and most efficient citizens of foreign birth, and Mr. Heier has well sustained the reputation of his fellow-countrymen. /V. ^/tyyfyy- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1177 EDWARD KEITH. — A newcomer to the Patterson Colony whose appreciation of the resources of the locality lead him to take the keenest interest in the develop ment of Stanislaus County, is Edward Keith, who was born in County Cavan, in the province of Ulster, Ireland, on May 10, 1885, the son of Edward and Sarah Keith. His father was a very progressive farmer, and coming up in an enlightened household, Edward enjoj'ed all the benefits of the graded schools. There were seven children — five boys and two girls — in the family, and Edward was the fourth. Having decided to strike out for himself, the j'oung man at eighteen crossed the ocean and then came to New York, where he worked for five years in the service of a railroad. At New York, too, on July 19, 1913, he was married to Miss Sarah Ruth Foster, the daughter of John and Sarah Foster, also farmer-folk. She was born about ten miles from Mr. Keith's birthplace, and attended the same school, and when fifteen years of age came to America with her sister to join her brother. Prior to marrying, Mr. Keith had come to California, in 1908, and settled at Burlingame, in San Mateo County, where he worked for wages; but in 1912 he returned to New York, and there, after a j'ear or two of labor, he established his own household. In 1914, Mr. Keith came back to San Mateo, but after six months he removed to Modesto and there took up ranching. He bought five acres of alfalfa near. the town, but after a year he sold out. Then he leased 160 acres six miles from Hughson, where he raised alfalfa, grain and beans. On January 12, 1920, he came to Patterson and bought ten acres of alfalfa, where he has a dairy with twelve cows which he manages himself. The ranch is on Lemon Avenue and is so well situated for the raising of chickens, of which he already has two hundred, that he intends to operate more ex tensively with poultry. He is -a member of the Farmers' Union, and strongly favors the organizing of farmers ; he also belongs to the Milk- Producers' Association of Stanislaus County, and he owns an interest in the Modesto Co-operative Garage. Mr. Keith enjoys an enviable popularity in the circles of the Odd Fellows, admission to which ancient order he effected in joining Lodge No. 265 at San Mateo. DAN GRUNDY. — A man long active and successful in agriculture, who has also furnished two successors, his well-trained sons, for the same important field of Cali fornia industry, is Dan Grundy, who was born near Manchester, England, on a farm, on November 12, 1856, the son of Joseph Grundy, a farmer, who had married Miss Margaret Cross. Dan commenced his grammar school studies in Old England, but when he was twelve j'ears old, his father migrated to America, came West to Iowa, and at Cherokee took a homestead. The lad was the youngest in a family of ten ; hut he lived to farm the old home place for thirty-five j'ears. In 1908, Mr. Grundy came out to California and desiring to establish his home, purchased ten acres adjoining the town of Modesto. Since then he has subdivided this acreage into town lots. He succeeded so well that in 1919 he opened Hackberry Ave nue, through Enslyn Park Addition, which he named his subdivision. In 1909 he purchased eighty acres in the Wood Colony, which he now leases to other persons. He has also purchased eighty acres in the Westport Colony, and thirty acres on Dry Creek. Both of these desirable ranches are devoted to alfalfa and fruit. In Cherokee, Iowa, in October, 1883, Mr. Grundy married Miss Agnes Macy, one of the descendants of the famous Macy family of Nantucket, Mass., who was born in Marshall County, Iowa, the daughter of James and Delilah Macy. She attended Oskaloosa College, where she received a very thorough preparation for the duties of life. Six children blessed the union : Paul is farming at Westport ; lone is Mrs. C. N. Odell of Sharpsburg ; Herbert D. is farming at Westport ; Emma G. is in Chinese mission work at Portland; Hazel and Ethlyn are at home. Ten years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Grundy and their family removed to South Dakota, and there he purchased a section of land at Madison. He raised hogs and cattle, and for five years did general farming. During his residence in Iowa, Mr. Grundy served on the school boards, and then, as now, firmly adhered to the platforms of the Republican Party. Mr. Grundy is a stockholder in the California National Bank. The Christian Church is the communion preferred by Mr. and Mrs. Grundy, and has received their hearty support in their faithful work as members. 1178 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY HECTOR E. MACAULEY. — A capable contractor who specializes in difficult bridge and canal work, is Hector E. Macauley, the expert canal builder for the Modesto Irrigation District. He was born at Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Canada, on October 11, 1872, the son of Rodrick and Marjorie Macauley, and grew up one of a family of six children, with three brothers and two sisters. His father was a captain on a sailing vessel; but although much of the time away from home, he pro vided for the education of the children, and Hector started well on the road to success. When sixteen years old, he left home and went to the Eastern States, spending about six years in New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey. He learned the car penter trade thoroughly and worked at it until he went to Alaska, where he put in another three years prospecting, from his headquarters at Dawson, along the Yukon. He next came to California, and for five years at Los Angeles worked at carpentering, and among other enterprises then undertaken, he helped to build the Auditorium at the corner of Fifth and Olive streets. In 1904, Mr. Macauley went to San Francisco and there continued to work at his trade, and for twelve years was with the Pacific Construction Company at Oak land, becoming their construction superintendent; and while with that well-known firm in the North, he superintended the erection of the Alameda County jail. In 1916 he came to Modesto and hung out his shingle for himself ; and soon thereafter he joined C. E. Cotton, in place of his brother Ernest, then deceased, as a partner in contracting. In 1920, when the Pacific Construction Company was reorganized, he became one of that company, and ever since he has had all that he could do. While at Oakland, on December 28, 1910, Mr. Macauley married Miss Irma Schroeder, a native of Oakland and the daughter of Albert and Rose Schroeder, a gifted lady once a student in the Oakland high school. Her father was a pioneer of Oakland, as well as a machinist esteemed for his ability and honesty. Three children have been granted Mr. and Mrs. Macauley: Marjorie, Irma and Florence. Mr. Macauley is an Odd Fellow of Knights Ferry lodge ; in politics he is independent. CHRIS E. PETERSON. — A wide-awake, progressive citizen who is getting a generous share of patronage in his field of endeavor, is Chris E. Peterson, the busy contractor for automobile painting, a man the more interesting because of his relation, as son, to a sturdy California pioneer. He was born in Carson City, Nev., on August 7, 1 886, the son of Chris E. Peterson, who sailed to San Francisco as the captain of a vessel in 1856, but because his sailors deserted, when he was unable to get another crew, he himself gave up the sea and went inland to the mines. Captain Peterson's family were partly Danish, partly French ; and he was an excellent seaman. He married Miss Britta Anderson, and was interested in the Comstock' mine. Later on in life, he went to Carson City, and there took up photography as a profession. Chris was able to attend only the grammar school, at Carson City, for when he was twelve years old he ran away from home and went to sea. He buckled to the work before the mast, and for five years sailed the seven seas of the globe. After a while, however, he had enough of the hard life of a mariner, and on his return to San Fran cisco, served an apprenticeship under H. M. Black in automobile painting. He was thus ready when the earthquake and fire devastated San Francisco, to take work as a journeyman throughout the city; and he also spent some time with Nugent & Covey on Valencia Street, painting automobiles. In 1910, he was sent East to take charge of the painting of the Cole Auto Company's output, and on his return, in 1913, he opened a shop of his own at 1200 Van Ness Avenue, where he did very well until 1917, when he came to Modesto. He had been here only nine months, however, when he entered the service of the United States in the American Army. Enlisting in June, 1918, he trained at Camp Kearney with the Forty-eighth Heavy Field Artillery, and then went to Camp Hill, Va., where he was serving at the time of the armistice. In February, 1919, he was discharged, and on the following sixth of August he reached Modesto. Although he was willing and ready, Mr. Peterson, like many others, was given no opportunity for service at the front. Resuming work at his trade here, he opened a shop at 702 Ninth Street, and stayed there for a year, steadily adding to his patronage; and then he removed to 702 Tenth s6Z-./tf*?.j&, yt^U^O/ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1181 Street, in the Davis Garage. There he has a floor space of 75x125 feet, and during the past season, drawing his patronage from all over the San Joaquin Valley, he has employed as many as fourteen painters. He has two closed drying rooms, which enable him to put the highest grade finish on a car — a feature fully appreciated by his cus tomers — and he now enjoys an enviable patronage. At Stockton, the Fourth of July, 1916, Mr. Peterson was married to Miss Sadie V. Bracken, a native of Colma, Cal., and the daughter of John and Celia (Maloney) Bracken. Mr. Peterson belongs to Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. Elks; and in politics he is an independent. He is an active Chamber of Commerce member. In March, 1921, Mr. Peterson incorporated his business under the name of C. E. Peterson Company, A. Bessemeyer coming into the firm, and they have added to their equipment electric enameling ovens and going into the business of building tops, both standard and stationary, having an equipment second to none in the state. ARCHIE M. SORIA. — A worthy descendant of good old Spanish-American stock who has acquired an enviable reputation for experience and efficiency as super intendent of ditch construction is Archie M. Soria, who is in charge of the main ditch of the Turlock Irrigation District, whose important interests he has repre sented since 1906. He was born in Modesto on October 3, 1878, the son of Blass Soria, a very able man who followed railway construction and irrigation and hydro- electrical work, and now lives in the enjoyment of a comfortable retirement at La Grange. Blass Soria was born at Santa Cruz, Cal., and married Miss Katie Con traries, a native of Sonora, Cal., who was reared in Modesto. She died twenty- four years ago, the mother of three-girls and one boy, Archie being the oldest. He attended the public schools at Modesto, where he received a good grounding, and at fifteen years of age started out for himself. He was employed on the dairy farm of Litt Hill at Newman for five years, without the loss of a day. Then he went to Marshalls Flat in Tuolumne County, where with his father he was engaged in tunneling and placer mining for two years. He then entered the employ of the La Grange Mining Company, later taken over by the La Grange Gold Dredging Company, and was engaged in construction work on their ditch from the Tuolumne River to La Grange. This ditch is now the property of the P. G. & E. Power Company. For seven years he was thus employed, without losing a day. During his mining experience he had become proficient as a powder man, and beginning October 3, 1906, he was employed in this capacity with the Turlock Irrigation Dis trict. His services were appreciated and May 1, 1907, he was made ditch tender and foreman, so he is today one of the three oldest employees of the company. He is responsible for a jurisdiction extending to one and one-half miles of the main canal, immediately below La Grange, and he has more than once proven himself master of a difficult situation. While living at Marshalls Flat he made the acquaintance of Mrs. Mary (For- quera). Fuentes, born in Calaveras County, whom he married at Stockton in 1900. Her parents were '49ers, coming to California from Chile, South America. She has been an excellent helpmate for him, encouraging him in all his work. Each season she has charge of the camp and boarding house which accommodates the large num ber of men engaged in construction work in this part of the district. The excellency of her table is attested by the appreciation of the men who have the pleasure of enjoying her cooking. . , Mr. and Mrs. Soria are very kind hearted and charitable, and when Mr. Soria s sister, Mrs. Lupie Fuentes; died in 1909, leaving four children, they took them and cared for them and are rearing them as their own children. These children, Eugene, Celestine, Margaret and Phillis, appreciate their foster parents and in return are very dutiful and helpful. They have also reared a nephew, Andrew Claypool, who was a babe when his mother, Mrs. Lizzie Claypool, died twenty years ago, two nieces and two nephews, Mary, Inez, John and Mark Bogen, the latter twins, and a young man, Lloyd Halstead, now of Merced Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Soria make their home at Dawson Lake. 48 1182 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY DANIEL MORTON McPHETRES.— Prominent among the more recent comers to Stanislaus County, Daniel Morton McPhetres enjoys unquestioned esteem as an eminently gifted engineer, and the resident engineer during the construction of the most imposing bridge in Stanislaus County. He was born in Humboldt County, Nev., on March 4, 1882, the son of Daniel and Ida (Millett) McPhetres, natives of Maine, the latter coming to California via Panama when a child. Daniel Sr. was a lumber man and a mining man, who came to California from Maine directly after the Civil War and settled for a while in Plumas County. Later, he removed to Nevada and pitched his tent more permanently in Humboldt County, and only when Daniel was four years old did Mr. McPhetres -move back to California, and at Truckee take up the lumber business in a logging camp. He settled in Modesto and died here in 1920, aged seventy-four. Mrs. McPhetres died in San Jose in 1913. Daniel was able to attend both the grammar and the high school at Truckee, and after studying civil engineering, to graduate from the University of California with the class of '05. He immediately plunged into actual work and practical experience, and for a while was with Cotton Bros, of Oakland, and then with John B. Leonard of San Francisco. For the last six years, and up to October, 1920, he has been a civil engineer for Stanislaus County, and during that time he had charge of the con struction of the Modesto bridge, contracted for by Messrs. Annear & Hoskins. In the fall of 1920, the Pacific Construction Company was reorganized, and with Mr. Koetitz of Oakland and Mr. Macauley of Modesto, Mr. McPhetres took a share of the investment. This company has since been doing bridge construction work in California and building concrete canal additions to the waterways of the Modesto Irrigation District. On January 12, 1910, Mr. McPhetres was "married in Douglas City, Trinity County, Cal., to Miss Nellie Jordan, the daughter of Humphrey and Lauretta Jordan, early settlers. Her father farmed for years, but died in 1918; the mother still lives, now aged seventy, and makes her home at Modesto. One son has blessed the union, Jordan McPhetres. A Republican in national affairs, Mr. McPhetres is also a member of the Masonic lodge of Santa Cruz, and of Modesto Chapter, R. A. M. CHESTER LLEWELLYN BUTLER.— Born and reared on a farm, and for forty-five years prominently identified with the great stock-raising and grain-growing interests of Iowa, the only real regret of C. L. Butler, of Modesto, is that he did not come to California and settle in Stanislaus County many, many years before he did. He is one of the most enthusiastic boosters for the state and the county of his adop tion, and since locating here in 1908 has contributed freely toward the upbuilding of the community. He is an ardent supporter of irrigational development and improve ment and looks forward to the time when the entire irrigation system of the county will be carried in concrete ditches. In exemplification of this idea, he has recently installed 5,280 feet of concrete pipe lines on his own place, at an approximate cost of $4,000. He is a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers Union, and takes a keen interest in all matters of public welfare. Mr. Butler, who is a brother of the late Charles D. Butler, for many years' a distinguished citizen of the county, is a native of New York state, born in Sandy Creek Township, Oswego County, on March 14, 1857. His father was David Hol den Butler, born at Amboy, N. Y., owner of a sailing schooner engaged in the freight ing business on the Great Lakes for many years, and descended from the Scotch-Irish family of Butlers. His mother was Joana Hildreth, a native of New York. For many years his parents were engaged in farming in New York, but in the fall of 1864 they migrated to Jones County, Iowa, settling near Alamosa, where they bought a forty-acre farm and remained until the death of David Holden Butler in 1889. Remaining on the farm in association with his father until his twenty-fifth year, C. L. Butler then engaged in farming for himself, devoting himself to grain raising and to the raising and fattening of steers for the markets, and becoming owner of 210 acres. It was in 1907 that Mr. Butler first came to California, going first to Pasa dena, where he visited relatives and friends, before coming to Modesto to visit his brother, the late C. D. Butler, in 1908. The soil, climate and general desirability of J&l&yi^, OL. uUwv«o HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1185 the vicinity so appealed to him that he purchased a ranch of 107 acres seven miles west of Modesto, where he engaged for eight years in the dairy business with con siderable financial success. Recently he retired from active business, leasing his farm. This valuable property lies under Ditch No. 3 of the Modesto Irrigation system. Mr. Butler has been married twice, the wife of his j'outh, Miss Mamie Under wood, to whom he was married in Iowa, passed away in 1896, leaving five children, two living, Cora V. Coburn and Daisy L. Edwards, the former in South Dakota and the latter in Wood Colony. The second marriage occurred May 16, 1898, when Mr. Butler married Miss Clara E. Bean, a native of Iowa, born October 3, 1863. Her father was a native of Bristol, N. H., a farmer who pioneered into Iowa with Miss Elizabeth Slater as his wife. Here they broke virgin soil and farmed for a number of years, later going into Michigan where Mr. Bean became interested in the lumber and milling business, near Grand Rapids. Here the future Mrs. Butler completed her education, later teaching school in Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Butler are active members of the First Baptist Church of Modesto, and have formed a wide circle of friends since coming to Modesto. FRANK A. CARDOZA. — An energetic and capable young man, Frank A. Car- doza is part owner and manager of the famous Cardoza ranch near La Grange, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising with much the same success as crowned all the efforts of his father. He was born at La Grange on November 5, 1881, the son of the late Antone J. Cardoza, a native of the Island of Flores, in the Azores, who was a sailor before the mast. He came to New York in the course of his journeying, and was on a vessel lying in that harbor at the time of Lincoln's assassination. In the late sixties he landed at San Francisco, from which place he went on up to Sonora, Tuolumne County, where he engaged in placer mining. On coming down to La Grange, he started in as a sheep herder, and then made a part nership for sheep-raising with Patrick Delany, under the firm name of Delany & Cardoza. After that, he was joined by his brother, John, and the two brothers bought out Mr. Delany's interest, and the firm became Cardoza Bros. This gave way to Cardoza & Gonzaulas, and Antone J. Cardoza later bought out Gon- zaulas; he was one of the largest sheep men in the county, owning at one time as many as 10,000 sheep. He also became owner of 5,300 acres of land. Antone J. Cardoza was married at La Grange to Miss Mary A. Morton, of Irish parentage, one of the first girls born at Columbia, Cal, and a sister of John and Thomas Morton, well-known citizens of La Grange, and of Mrs. Ella J. Cardoza and Mrs. Jennie J. Cardoza of Redwood City and Modesto. She grew up in La Grange, where she attended school, her father, Bernard Morton, being one of the old-time mining men of La Grange. Antone Cardoza died in 1913, at the age of sixty-five, and. he left a ranch now owned and managed by a partnership, under Frank Cardoza's name, made up of Mrs. Cardoza, William J., Frank and Bessie M. The "eight children are: Mary, who died in infancy; John married Daisy M. Bowman and died at the age of thirty-nine, the father of one child ; Wil liam J., mentioned later in this sketch; Frank A., the subject of this review; Charles B. died in 1907; George and Joseph both died in infancy; Bessie is the youngest. William J. Cardoza was born on the old Cardoza ranch near La Grange July 4, 1880, where he was reared. After completing the local school, he took a course at Ayres Business College, San Francisco, where he' graduated in April, 1901. He then assisted on the home ranch until the death of his father, when he took up mechanical work. He was a machinist for the Smith Manufacturing Company at San Jose, later with the Anderson-Bongraver Company at San Jose, and then with the California Cooperative Canneries there, where he was master mechanic until the fall of 1921, when he returned to the ranch to give it his entire time. He was married in San Jose to Beulah Bowman and they have two children, Kenneth and Esther. Fraternally he is a member of the Yeomen. Frank A. Cardoza grew up on his father's ranch, attended the public schools in the LaFayette district, and then took a course at the Ayres Business College in San 1186 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Francisco, where he was graduated in April, 1901. Upon the death of his father, he became rather naturally the head of the ranch, and with the cooperation of the other members of the family circle, he has continued to manage it ever since. The Cardoza ranch is located three miles southeast of La Grange. It is well watered and devoted to raising hay, grain, sheep, cattle and hogs, and known to be one of the oldest and most prosperous ranches in the county. Mr. Cardoza was married in Modesto, April 19, 1921, to Miss Matilda Plas- sental, born in Ohio, a graduate nurse and a most excellent and accomplished woman. In national political affairs a Republican, Mr. Cardoza belongs to the Foresters, and he is also a Knight of Columbus. EPI MORGANTI. — An industrious and progressive dairyman who lives three miles northeast of Crows Landing on his well-improved ranch, is Epi Morganti, who was born on May 27, 1878, the son of Lazzaro and Isolina Morganti, in Canton Ticino, Switzerland. He was reared and educated in his native land, and after finishing his education, helped his father on his farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he de cided that the land across the Atlantic held greater opportunities for him than the land of his birth, so he migrated to America. He came' directly to California and settled at Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County, where he worked for four years on a dairy farm. Desiring a change and wishing to see more of the Golden State, he went to Marin County, and for the next three years worked on a ranch near Tomales, after wards engaging in the dairy business for himself, having fifty head of cows and 2,000 chickens. In addition to operating this place he took charge of another ranch, on which he had twenty cows and from 4,000 to 5,000 chickens. The following year, however, he sold out both places and in 1912 purchased eighty acres three miles northeast of Crows Landing, which he improved by erecting a fine house, large barns and many outbuildings and a year later moved into his new home. The land is devoted to alfalfa, has a herd of fifty cattle and markets thirty hogs each year. In San Francisco, on December 20, 1906, Mr. Morganti was married to Miss Ermina Maisetti, the daughter of Simon Maisetti, also a native of Switzerland, who came to America at the age of eighteen and lived in Santa Barbara County before her marriage. Seven children have been born of this union : Irene, Florence, Ella, Alice, Henry, Elmer and Mario. Mr. Morganti belongs to the Patterson Masonic Lodge. MRS. SARAH E. WILSON.— A typical Southern woman of the old school, Mrs. Sarah E. Wilson of Modesto is one of the influential women of the community. She is the widow of the late John Benjamin Wilson, who passed away March 10, 1917, at the family home, four miles west of Modesto, a man of power and influ ence, widely mourned bj' family and friends. Mrs. Wilson was Miss Sarah Elizabeth Ivy, a native of Fayette County, Miss., where she was educated in private schools and by special tutors in the home. She was one of a large family, consisting of seven daughters and five sons. Her father was Silas M. Ivy, a native of Mississippi and of Scotch-English descent. Her mother was Miss Sarah J. Clark, also a native of Mississippi and a descendant of Scottish ancestry. The Ivys were plantation owners and a family of wealth and prominence, but when Mrs. Wilson was fourteen years of age they moved to California, as did so many of the old families of the South, locating on the old San Pasqual ranch, at Pasadena, owned by her' husband's uncle, B. D. Wilson. Here Mr. Ivy engaged in the bee and stock business and in general farming. J. B. Wilson, one of the coming young men of the Southland, and Miss Sarah Elizabeth Ivy were married at El Monte, Los Angeles County, October 2, 1873. The young couple engaged in general farming for a time, and then Mr. Wilson entered the mercantile business at Lamanda Park, Cal., remaining for eight years, and serving on the Board of Trustees. In 1906 Mr. and Mrs. Wilson came to Stanislaus County, their family, of which there are eight children, being mostly married and in homes of their own. They are: Cordelia, the wife of Henry Winters, of Wintersburg, Orange County, and the mother of six children: Luther Benjamin, of Empire, foreman of the Modesto Irriga tion District, married to Miss Lucy Breezie, and the father of four children; James HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1187 Arthur, deceased ; Ivy Wilson, married to Elizabeth Green, of Phoenix, Ariz., a farmer and breeder of registered Holstein cattle; John William, who married Miss Daisy Butler, and became the father of three children, passed away October 31, 1918; Robert H., married to Miss Gladys Wheeler and the father of two children, both girls, and now residing in Modesto; Silas T., manager of the home place for his mother, married to Miss Florence Dahlberg, who died October 20, 1918, and Nettie Louise, residing at home with her mother, a group of sons^and daughters of whom any mother may well be proud. Silas T. has full charge of the home place and has been an unusually capable manager, farming for himself on leased lands outside. The home place of Mrs. Wilson originally consisted of forty acres, lying in the Hart precinct, four miles west of Modesto. Sixteen acres of this were sold, however, and the remaining acreage is now devoted to dairy farming and double cropping. She owns a herd of thirty high-grade Jersey cows, in which she takes much pride. Mrs. Wilson proved her loyalty during the recent war by her support of all war loans, Red Cross and other war activities. She is a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and an active worker in that denomination. She is also a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood, and the W. C. T. U. of Wood Colony. JOHN S. WOLFE. — Although not a California pioneer, having lived in Stanis laus County only since 1915, John S. Wolfe is a Western pioneer in the truest sense of the word. Intimately associated with the development of a wide area of Western and Middle Western country, John S. Wolfe's history, like that of many notable American families, is one of migration and adventure. His great-grandparents on both sides were veterans of the American Revolution and of the War of 1812. His father was a pioneer railroad construction contractor, and Mr. Wolfe himself spent many exciting years on frontiers, opening up new country and meeting the dangers and perils of pioneer life. In 1865 he spent three months as a civil engineer with the C. B. & Q. Railroad Company, laying a road out of North Platte, Nebr. He then went to work for the Government, having complete charge of twenty-three supply wagons taking provisions and ammunition to the settlers in Wyoming. The Sioux and Cheyenne Indians then occupied a strip of about 500 miles north of Denver in Colorado and in Wyoming. They were hostile and very troublesome, rendering any enterprise in that part of the country hazardous in the extreme. Mr. Wolfe met with many thrilling experiences and had many hairbreadth escapes. At one time, becoming separated from his two hunting companions, he found himself surrounded by seven savages, and in a hand-to-hand battle disposed of four of them with his hunting knife and put the remaining three to flight. He was the youngest man com manding in a battle with the Sioux and Cheyennes at Muchaegnotte Creek, Wyo., in which many were slaughtered. The troops were in command -of Brigadier-General Harrington, then stationed at Fort Phil Kearney, Wyo. Mr. Wolfe remained in the West until 1869, the latter part of that time being a civil engineer with the Union Pacific on their road construction work in Colorado, which was under the direction of General Caseman. In 1870 he entered into partnership with his father in railroad construction contracting, remaining in this association until 1906. The son of John S. and Margaret Wolfe, John S. Wolfe was born in Harris burg, Pa., March 26, 1849, his father then being a construction contractor for the Pennsylvania Railroad. When he was a mere lad, the father moved to Ohio, living for a short time at Zanesville, Fairfield and Tiffin. In 1856 John S. Wolfe, Sr., moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he engaged in construction contracting with the Galena, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad, which later became the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. His contract led west from Cedar Rapids, where he made his home, and where our subject received his early education, and later took up civil engineering work with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, being for a time located at Ottumwa, Iowa, and later going into Nebraska for the same company. Entering into partnership with his father in 1870, upon his return from the wilds of Colorado, Mr. Wolfe met with great success. They contracted with various railroads, their construction work spreading over eighteen different states of the Union, and involv ing the laying of more than 900 miles of road. Their first contract was with the 1188 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad Company, followed by the Cincin nati Southern, running from Cincinnati to Chattanooga, Tenn., later becoming one of the Huntington lines, and eventually being extended to New Orleans. Other con tracts followed in rapid succession, and the partnership proved a prosperous one. In 1884 Mr. Wolfe purchased a farm in Boone County, Nebr., where for ten years he bred fine horses, running to a high strain of standard trotters. During this time he also opened a bank in Cedar Rapids, Nebr., in partnership with his brother- in-law, L. D. Groom. From Cedar Rapids he removed with his family to Albion, Nebr., in 1900, and in 1904 he moved to Fullerton, Nebr., where he bought a 500- acre farm, remaining until he came to California in 1915, when he located at Patter son, where he has since made his home. He bought a splendid farm of sixty acres on Eucalyptus Avenue, where he is engaged in the dairy business, and another tract of five acres on Ward Avenue, west of Patterson. The first marriage of Mr. Wolfe occurred at Paris, Bourbon County, Ky., in 1878, uniting him with Miss Mattie Stipp, the daughter of Isaac Stipp, the father a Southern planter of prominence in that day. Mrs. Wolfe's mother, Miss Bristol, was a first cousin to Benjamin Bristol, secretary of the treasury under President Grant. Of this first marriage one child was born, a daughter, Louise. The second marriage was solemnized in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1885, uniting Mr. Wolfe and Miss Nellie Bird, a native of Madison, Wis., and the daughter of Truman and Ellen (Higley) Bird. Truman Bird was a native of New York, and came to Wisconsin in an early- day, becoming a successful manufacturer of carriages in Madison, while the Higley family were of old Ohio pioneer stock. Three children have been born of this mar riage, John T., Irene and Ellen. Always public spirited, Mr. Wolfe is a member of the Patterson school board. Politically he is a Republican and is the Republican committeeman for the fifth supervisorial district of Stanislaus County. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masons. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe are members of the Epis copal Church, giving liberally toward its support and upbuilding. CARL G. TELL. — A young man of enterprising and progressive ideas who showed his patriotism by serving overseas in the World War is Carl Tell, who was born in Galesburg, 111., November 3, 1887. His father, J. N. Tell, migrated from Sweden to Galesburg, 111., when a young man, when he married Miss Augusta Bro- gren. He was a shoe merchant in Galesburg until 1905 when he was attracted to California on account of its wonderful climate and brought his family to Turlock. He purchased a forty-acre ranch southeast of Turlock where he engaged in raising alfalfa and dairying. The Tells live retired, one of the sons operating the ranch. This worthy couple had five children, of whom Carl is the third eldest. He had a brother, David Tell, who served as an ensign in the World War. Carl was reared in Galesburg and received a good education in the public and high schools. He then learned the trade of an electrician in Galesburg, working at it until he came to Turlock with his parents in 1905. For a year he assisted his father on the farm. Then he went to San Francisco, where he followed electrical wiring immediately after the earthquake and fire. He was thus engaged for over one year when he returned to Stanislaus County and entered the employ of the La Grange Water and Power Company, afterwards the Yosemite Power Company and now the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. He began wiring and steadily worked his way up until he was placed in charge of the system as superintendent for the Yosemite Power Com pany. While holding this position, in 1917, the company was sold to the Sierra and San Francisco Power Company. He continued with the new company until Septem ber, 1917, when he entered the U. S. service for the World War conflict as a mem ber of the Three Hundred and Sixty-third Infantry Regulars, Ninety-first Division. He was stationed at Camp Lewis until he was transferred into the Three Hundred and Fourth M. O. R. S. and sent overseas in the Seventy-ninth Division in July, 1918, serving principally in the Verdun Sector as sergeant of ordnance until the armistice. Returning to the United States on May 28, 1919, he arrived in Phila delphia, and at the Presidio, June 12, 1919, he was mustered out and honorably dis charged. He immediately returned to Turlock and with Frank Stierlen formed the /Zc^r^aiZic^ &?. t&_ *&<-€,<&¦ g.fh.fir- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1191 present partnership and established themselves in business under the firm of Stierlen & Tell, dealers in Dodge Bros, automobiles, accessories and supplies. Their garage and showroom is located at 22 South Center Street, where they have a splendid equipment and repair department to care for their patrons' needs. Mr. Tell was married in Modesto, December 3, 1919, being united with Miss Gladys Berridge, who was born at Wausa, Nebr. Mr. Tell is a member of Turlock Lodge No. 98, K. of P., of which he is past chancellor and has been representative to the grand lodge. Active in automobile business circles, he is a member of the Stanislaus County Automobile Trades Association. REV. EMETER1US DE DIEGO.— The rector of St. Joachim's Catholic Church, Newman, Rev. Emeterius de Diego was born near Burgos, Castile, Spain, March 14, 1881. His father, Liborio de Diego, was a magistrate and also a farmer. After completing the public school, Emeterius attended the college at Valmeseda, VIzcaj'a, until he completed the classics, and then entered the University of Cervera, in Catalonia, where he completed the study of philosophy and theology. Next he attended the Santo Domingo de la Calzada College, and then, in 1906, he was ordained a priest for the religious order of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, founded by Father Claret, Archbishop of Cuba. He then spent one year preparatory for the apostolic life in the College of Aranda, in the Province of Burgos. In 1907 Rev. de Diego came to Mexico City, where he was sent as a mis sionary and teacher among the Indians at Talucca for five years. This he found very hard work, but he persevered, until the end of the five years, when he was transferred to San Gabriel Mission, Cal., and from there to Our Lady of Angels, the old Plaza Church in Los Angeles. He continued as assistant there for five years, and while there he built the church for Santa Ysabel, in Boyle Heights, which he started as a mission mainly for the Mexicans in that portion of the city. In January, 1916, he was trans ferred to Newman as assistant pastor and then he was made acting pastor at Patterson. He planned and built the new church at a cost of $8,000, and worked conscientiously to bring the congregation out of debt, which he succeeded in doing. He also started the church in Stevenson Colony and built a church there. On July 15, 1921, he was appointed pastor of St. Joachim's Parish at Newman, which also embraces the missions of Gustine, Crows Landing and Patterson ; a history of St. Joachim's is found on another page in this work. Father de Diego is a man of much learning and pleasing personality, and he is much loved and esteemed, not only by the members of his different churches, but by the general population on the West Side, who esteem him for his straightforward way and honesty and integrity of purpose. In the near future he plans to build an academy, so the children of the West Side can have the advantage of a college training without having to go to the city. ST. JOACHIM'S CHURCH, NEWMAN.— The first priest who visited New man and surrounding territory as far south as Ingomar was Father Giles of Modesto, who made his journeys with a horse and buggy and had to undergo hardships similar to those suffered by the early Franciscan Fathers— cold, heat, storms, hunger and sleepless nights. Bestowed by God with a splendid disposition, Father Giles was always cheerful and had a word of kindness that gave comfort to all, and even now, after so many years, many of the people remember him. He said the first mass in Newman on January 15, 1902, in the Masonic Hall, with very good attendance, and administered the sacrament of baptism ; services were held once a month. A committee composed of eight members among the Catholics, under the direction of Father Giles, started to collect funds to build a little church. Simon Newman gave them two lots on the corner of O and Kern streets, and four more adjoining lots were bought by Father Giles, and a small church was erected. The year 1903 was the date in which the books of baptisms and marriages appear of record. In connection with the church, Father Giles bought five acres for the cemetery. In June, 1910, father Leal was appointed resident pastor of Newman. He built the priests house at a cost of $4,000, and made improvements of the church in Newman at a cost of $6 000 and built a churcli at Gustine at an expense of about $13,000. In November, 1914, the 1192 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY order of Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary took charge of this parish at the request of Archbishop Riordan. Father Dominic Zaldiver was the first pastor and his assistant was Father Eugene Sugranes (a noted writer), and later Father Eulogio Arana and Brother John Telin formed a part of the community. During the period Father Dominic did good work in the parish, organizing different societies and extended his activities to Stevenson and Patterson, where a mass was said each month. On December 8, 1915, Father Dominic was elected superior of old Plaza Church, Los Angeles, and was succeeded at Newman by Rev. John Maiztequi, during whose pas torship the old debt of Gustine and Newman churches, amounting to $21,000, was paid. Three new churches were built within the boundaries of the parish, namely, Crows Landing, Patterson and Stevenson. Father E. de Diego was his faithful assistant during the six years he was in charge of the churches at Patterson and Crows Landing and did the work in connection with the building of the Patterson church. August 15, 1921, Father Maiztequi was succeeded by Rev. E. de Diego, the present pastor, whose experience as assistant in the parish well qualified him for the place of pastor of the Newman parish. In order to accomplish the plans of building a school and home for the Sisters, eighteen lots with .a bungalow have been purchased and added to the property of the church at Newman. Four lots also have been bought in Newman and two in Patter son. Baptism records up-to-date show about 1 ,324 ; marriages, 300, and confirmations, 800. The number of souls in the whole parish is about 4,500. BURYL FOSTER STONE.— A native of Tennessee who, as a progressive Stanislaus County rancher, is "making good" here, exerting much influence, particu larly in political circles, is Buryl Foster Stone, the son-in-law of George Perley, the well-known realtor. Mr. Stone resides at 1325 G Street, Modesto, and owns a ranch of some 200 acres ten miles east of Waterford. He was born at Sparta, Tenn., on April 20, 1870, the fifth child in a family of seven, the offspring of Walter and Susan (Cameron) Stone. When a mere babe, in the fall of 1870, he came to Cali fornia with his parents, and he grew up on a ranch west of Modesto. After completing the grammar school, he attended St. Mathew's Military Acad emy at San Mateo, where he was graduated in 1891. He then began farming with his father on the home ranch, continuing there until he was married. He then located in Stockton in the employ of the Sperry Flour Company, continuing there off and on for about ten j'ears. He returned to Modesto in December, 1920, having on December 1, 1918, purchased the George Hartman place of 200 acres in Dickinson precinct. It is conveniently situated on the La Grange Road, and he is planting it to grapes, walnuts and other fruits. It is also well located on the north bank of the Tuolumne River, a considerable portion of the acreage being rich bottom land. Nat urally a hard worker, an experienced agriculturist and a far-seeing business man, Mr. Stone is making valuable improvements and will soon have one of the best ranches for miles around. ' In 1904, Mr. Stone was married to Miss Mabel Perley, the talented and accom plished daughter of George Perley, who has done so much to advance values in this part of the commonwealth, and is today one of the acknowledged authorities on California realty. One child has blessed the union, named Perley. J. H. EDWARDS. — Elected originally over several opponents, and fortunate since then in having no opposition at the polls, J. H. Edwards, the assessor, tax collector and treasurer of the Turlock Irrigation District has proven himself the right man in the right place — square and punctilious in his dealings, and genial and attentive to all. When he took charge in 1910, the books carried 2,910 statements ; and although these are often now doubled up, the accounts today show some 5,220 water payers. Mr. Edwards was born in Butler, Bates County, Mo., on June 30, 1876, the son of John Edwards, a native of Kentucky, who moved to Missouri and became a farmer and stock raiser. He served in the Civil War, and was wounded. About 1880 he removed to Oregon and settled in Union, now Wallowa County, in the eastern part of the state, and engaged in cattle growing, and then he went to Medford, in South HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1193 Oregon, where he continued ranching. Finally, he settled at Turlock and died there. He had married Miss Sarah Powell, a native of Kentucky, who is also dead. The youngest of four sons, J. H. Edwards, attended the public grammar and high schools and afterwards went to a business college. Then he followed farming and stock raising, and in 1900 came to Los Angeles with the purpose of continuing at horticulture. Three years later, the superior advantages of Turlock drew him northward, and after ranching here for a while, he went to San Francisco and remained for a couple of years. He next went to Hughson and was in the service of the Tuolumne Lumber Company as bookkeeper, and after that he engaged in business, forming a partnership with a man named Quimby, the firm name being Quimby & Edwards, for the sale of general merchandise. Mr. Edwards was also appointed post master of Hughson ; but at the end of three years he resigned to accept his present position with the Turlock Irrigation District. In 1911, he won out over two op ponents; and in 1913, 1915, 1917 and 1919, he has been elected without opposition. Mr. Edwards was married at Westport on January 1, 1904, to Miss Clara E. Simmons, a native of Kansas, and the daughter of Harmon and Sarah (Sharp) Simmons. She was reared in California, where her father died, but where her mother is still residing. One child, a daughter named Lucile, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Edwards. They are members of the Methodist Church, in which Mr. Edwards is a steward, and are and always have been advocates of prohibition. JOHN H. MINTO. — A prominent citizen of Patterson who has reason to be proud of the fact that he was among the first to develop his land there is J. H. Minto, the enthusiastic breeder of fine Holstein-Friesian cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. He was born near Lisbon, Cedar County, Iowa, on April 4, 1872, the son of Robert H. Minto, an Englishman born on the River Thames, who came to the United States and married Miss Mary Bartley, the first white girl born in Cedar County, in the Hawkeye country. His father was a farmer, but he took up wagon- making at the time of the Civil War, learning the trade from a brother-in-law, William Harnet, and opening a shop in Ohio, where he first lived, and from which state he went into the great conflict, on the side of the North, enlisting at Springfield as a member of the first Ohio Cavalry. After the war, he removed to Iowa, and then and there married, and there he also continued the wagon-maker's trade. In 1885 he came to Fresno, Cal., and there established himself as a carpenter and builder. He formed a partnership with a half-brother of his wife, J. Shanklin, and together they contributed much to the development of Fresno County. John H. Minto began his formal education at a private school in Fresno, and later studied at a business college. In 1892 he removed to Guthrie, Okla., and having learned the carpenter trade under his father, he followed carpentering for a year and a half at Guthrie. In 1893, with his father, who also took up Indian land, he made a claim in the Cherokee strip, on which he proved up, but his father having died in Oklahoma, he sold out and came to California in December, 1899. He settled at first at Fowler, where he worked at the butcher business, although as early as November, 1910, he purchased forty acres of open land on Walnut Avenue, Patterson; and in 1912 he took up his residence there. He himself sowed the alfalfa which has so enriched the land, and he erected an attractive home. He has gone into live-stock breeding, specializing on Holstein-Friesian cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs, and as a director of the Stanislaus County Holstein-Friesian Breeders Association, he has worked hard to interest owners of grade cattle to replace them with pure-bred stock. On June 16 1895 Mr. Minto was married on his claim in the Cherokee Strip, Okla, to Miss Susanna Ferguson, a native of Bates County, Mo. Her father was a Virginia planter, and after the war he came to Missouri and engaged in breeding horses and mules. Susanna went to both the grammar and the high schools of Har- risonville, Mo. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Minto, but died in infancy, and now they have one adopted child, Charles. The family attend the Presbyterian Church at Patterson. Mr. Minto is a stand-pat Republican, and is also a popular member of the Odd Fellows of Fowler. 1194 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY JACOB GRISCHOTT. — A successful farmer who is interesting not only as an expert cheese-maker who brought his dairying art with him from Switzerland, but an industrious, ambitious and optimistic citizen who has won out in the face of supreme difficulties, is Jacob Grischott, who was born in Auser Ferera, Graubiinden, Switzer land, on August 5, .1869, the son of George and Anna (Mani) Grischott. He grew up on a dairy farm, where he helped his parents, at the same time that he attended the excellent Swiss schools, and then he served for two years in the army, of his native Republic. In 1891 he came to America and, pushing on to California, settled at Bakersfield, where he worked for Canfield on his dairy ranch and for six years was cheese-maker. In coming to America, he was joined by his sweetheart, Miss Barbara Mary Bap tista, whom he later married ; and soon after the birth of their first child she caught the fever then raging over Kern County, and suffered such a decline that it was deemed advisable for her to return, with the child, to her native Switzerland. This she did, in 1894, and the ocean voyage and the homecoming cured her and she became well and strong; and two years later, Mr. Grischott went back to Switzerland for six months, and then, in 1897, came back with his wife and child, after which he settled in Stanislaus County. At first, he worked for John Cordoza, and later on for Mr. Stevenson, milking cows and making cheese, and, when he left the Stevenson ranch, he rented 150 acres of the Wilman Bros. Ranch. He also leased the cheese factory on this ranch and made cheese from the milk of 130 cows. He gave three and one-half years to this dairy and cheese enterprise, and then he purchased forty acres of land from Peter Hansen, two and one-half miles southeast of Newman — adding, six years later, twenty acres adjoining, which he bought from Jack Russell. Mr. Grischott made this ranch his home until two years ago, when he sold the dairy business, with ninety-eight head of stock, to Messrs. Forte & Lucas, and rented them the farm. Then he bought five acres directly south of Newman, half a mile from the town, and moved onto the place. The marriage of Mr. Grischott, already referred to, took place at Bakersfield on May 1, 1893, and then Miss Barbara Mary Baptista became his wife. She was born, reared and schooled in the same neighborhood of his nativity, and no one could have been selected who would have proveri a better helpmate. Eight children have been born to them: Anna is at Crows Landing, and so is Jacob, Jr., who is on a dairy farm. John died at the age of eighteen. Christ met with a tragic death on a hunting trip in the hills, when he fell off a cliff and was found dead a week later, in the bottom of the creek. Mary and Eugene are at Crows Landing, and Peter and Jeannette are at home. The family are members of the Lutheran Church at Newman. Mr. Grischott finds his highest pleasure, as does his good wife, in assisting every worthy cause in the community, and, under the banners of the Republican party, as a loyal American, he does what he can to instil a higher and nobler patriotism and a deeper sense of civic duty.' Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow in Newman lodge. JOHN K. KINSMAN. — Since coming to Patterson but two years ago, John K. Kinsman has so identified himself with the best interests of the community that he is recognized as one of the leading citizens. Although born in the United States, Mr. Kinsman was not born a citizen, for his father, Charles Hugh Kinsman, was then serving the British Government as consul at Boston, Mass., where John K. Kinsman was born, November 15, 1875. His mother was Jessie (Hilton) Kinsman, and came with her husband from their home in Manchester, England, to his new post in America in 1875. They remained in Boston until 1890, and John Kinsman therefore received his early education in the public grammar and high schools of that city. In 1890 his parents returned to England and he enlisted in the British Navy, serving from 1890 until 1900. Here he made an enviable record in the service, entering as an artificer and coming out as a commissioned officer, with the rank of lieutenant. The sea had set its seal upon the youthful mind, however, and after severing his connection with the Royal Navy he again turned to the sea, and became associated with the Allen Line Steamship Company for three j'ears, serving as engineer on their ocean-going steamers. Following this he was with the White Star Line for two years (*s0-^- ~^A^e*A^iy(-*' HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1197 in the same capacity. In 1905 he engaged in business in Boston for two j'ears, with the Boston Fruit Company, meeting with much success, but the desire to sail the deep again caused him to engage on the Yarmouth Steamship Company's lines out of Bos ton for the West Indies for a j'ear, shipping again as engineer. Following this he went to Valparaiso, South America, as a master mechanic for the Cape Copper & Silver Company's mines, where he remained but a few months. Mr. Kinsman came to San Francisco, Cal., in 1909, and for two years was with the Union Iron Works- Ship Building Company, in their construction department. Following this he went to Los Banos, Merced County, and was with Miller & Lux Company as master mechanic on the Los Banos Farm until 1918, at which time he came to Patterson as superintendent for the Mineral Products Company, where he had upward of one hundred men under his management, and was exceptionally popu lar with all his employees. While at Los Banos, Merced County, he served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and was prominently connected with the "Yosemite to the Sea Good Roads Association," an organization to bring about the construction of good roads from Yosemite Valley to Santa Cruz, over Pacheco Pass. Mr. Kinsman's first trip to California was his last, for he has never felt any desire to leave the confines of the Golden State. His marriage, in San Francisco, September 27, 1903, united him with Miss Marie Ward, a native of that city. Mrs. Kinsman is the daughter of Edward and Mary (Le Strange) Ward, her parents having passed away when she was a young girl. She received her education in the grammar and high schools .of San Francisco. Of their marriage have been born two children, Alice, now a student in the Patterson high school, and Frank, attending the Patterson grammar school. Fraternally Mr. Kinsman is a member of the B. P. O. E., Stockton ; the Odd Fellows at Los Banos, and the Masons at Patterson. FRANCIS A. BROMLEY. — A rancher who, stimulated by high principles and guided by clear thinking and sound judgment, has certainly succeeded, is Francis A. Bromley, a native of Arkansas, where he was born on the Fourth of July, 1872. His father, Pilott Bromley, was born in Scotland, and came to America with his parents, who located in Missouri and became pioneers in Miller County. As an experienced frontiersman he removed from Missouri to Arkansas, and there engaged as a breeder and fancier of race and track horses, in which interest he traveled the world over. He was very successful, but it is curious to note how fatalities played their role in this family. Mr. Bromley met his death while pursuing his duties; Dick Baker, an uncle—brother of Mrs. Bromley, who was Willie Baker before her marriage- migrated to California in 1849, became treasurer of Stanislaus County, and died sud denly while in office. And another brother of Mrs. Bromley met death at the hands of the Indians, while en route to California. Both parents are deceased, survived by four sons and two daughters. Francis A. Bromley had little schooling, for when a mere boy he was put to herding on the Bromley Stock Range in Carroll County in Arkansas. In 1888 he moved to Boise City, Idaho, where he assumed the responsibilities of herder on a stock range of over 1,000 acres. Three years later, for six months, he was located on a vast range to the north of Cheyenne, Wyo., whence he removed to Cree ey, Colo., where he remained for two years engaged in potato raising. While at Greeley, Mr. Bromley read of the wonderful opportunities in the future of the ban Joaquin Valley, and lured by the prospects, he came to Stanislaus County on September 4, 1892, and for nine years following worked as a laborer in the wide grain fields of the Montpellier district. He at length made good, but only through his own unaided efforts. Now he owns 960 acres five miles north of Montpellier, where he is active as one of the leading grain farmers of the county. He has not always owned his acreage; for eighteen years he farmed more extensively on rented lands in conjunc tion with his own lands. He belongs to both the Merced and the Stanislaus County Farm Bureaus, and no member is more welcome there. On September 28, 1902, Mr. Bromley was married to Miss Birgette M Ras- mussen, who was born in Bornholm, Denmark, on July 6, 1880, the daughter of Bertel Rasmussen, who married Miss Clara M. Olsen, both natives of the same 1198 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY province. Mr. Rasmussen died on Christmas Day, 1910, and his devoted wife fol lowed him seven years later, on August 6. They left two sons and two daughters. Mrs. Bromley came to America on September 4, 1898, and located at Modesto, where her uncle, the pioneer James Johnson, already lived. Since then, a brother of Mrs. Bromley, James Rasmussen, has come to settle in Ripon, San Joaquin County. Four children have given joy to these worthy parents. Alfred Bromley is at home and ranches, and Edith, Alton and Orvel are students. Mr. Bromley belongs to the Woodmen of the World. He is a true American, and supported the various "drives" during the late war. In matters of national import he is a Democrat, and by all who know him he is rated as a progressive rancher who has contributed something definite to the development of California husbandry. WILLIS DALTON SHARP.— A highly respected native son who, through steady, intelligent labor -has been very successful as a dairy farmer, is W. D. Sharp, who was born in Lake City, Modoc County, Cal., on January 30, 1887, the son of James Wesley Sharp, a native of Texas, who had married Miss Viola Tranquil, also of the same state. Sometime in the later fifties, Mr. Sharp came to -California and Modoc County, went in for general farming and the raising of live stock, both buying and selling stock in that county so long that they became very well known there. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are still living retired at Porterville. A daughter, Miss Alia Sharp, and our subject, are the only representatives in Stanislaus County of this interesting family. W. D. Sharp worked on his father's farm as he grew up, but being fortunate in his parents who appreciated education, he was able to attend, first the district and then the high school, and after that take a course in the Modesto Business College. In 1908 he removed to Modesto with the family, and for eight years they resided here. J. W. Sharp then, owned fifty-seven acres at Prescott, upon which he engaged in dairying, horticulture and general farming. Later, disposing of his holdings, he returned to farming on Waterford Road ; then sold out and went to Porterville. The trim little farm of W. D. Sharp, one of the attractive ranches of the neighborhood, consists of twenty acres in Paradise precinct, off the Maze Road some three and a half miles from Modesto on the west ; and there he has thirty head of fine registered Holstein stock, with a sire from the Peter Brunold herd. He is a charter member of the Milk Producers Association of Central California, in whose activities he participates with keen interest, and he also finds time to serve as clerk of the board of trustees of Paradise School. On Christmas Day, 1912, Mr. Sharp was married at Modesto to Miss Laura Lucile Crispin, a native of Waterford and the daughter of T. J. Crispin ; and they have been favored with two children, Thomas Benjamin and Charles Milton. CHARLES TORNELL. — An enterprising upbuilder of whom men speak well is Charles Tornell, at present a grain dealer at Ripon, San Joaquin County, who was born in Sweden on December 5, 1864, the son of a prosperous farmer. Charles was reared on the home farm, while he attended school; and when he was old enough to learn a trade, he was apprenticed to a carpenter. At twenty he enlisted in the Swedish army, and was selected as King Oscar's body guard — one of 500 men who served in that capacity for three years, at the same time attending the officers' school. Wishing to come to the United States, he laid his request before King Oscar, and that sovereign gave him a discharge and passport. Through this relationship, it came to pass that Mr. Tornell knew personally Crown Prince Gustave, now King of Sweden. In 1888 Charles reached Pomeroy, Iowa, where he followed farming for three years, and then he went in for contracting and building at Fort Dodge. In 1903, he came further west and with his brother located at Oakland, and there together they did a large business in contracting and building. Through the earthquake and fire, however, their materials were destroyed, and by the time they had completed the jobs for which they had contracted, they lost all they had made. In the fall of 1906, Mr. Tornell came to Turlock and engaged in farming, pur chasing a farm on West Main Street and residing there for four years. Then he sold HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1199 the ranch, and under the firm name of the Charles Tornell Lumber Company, he opened a lumber yard and started a planing mill. He built up a large trade, and had a fully-equipped mill located on West Olive Street. After doing a large business there for five years, he sold out to advantage and bought his present ranch on Colorado Avenue, Turlock, where he built a residence and engaged in the raising of cantaloupes. He is now a member of the firm of Tornell, Larson & Company, dealers in feed and fuel at Ripon. For two years he was general manager for the United Growers Association, but in January, 1920, he resigned. Mr. Tornell was married in Iowa in 1888 to Miss Ellen Ekstrom, a native of Sweden, and their marriage was blessed with the birth of four children. Evar is a rancher of Turlock; Gothard, an employee of the American Fruit Growers, and served overseas in the U. S. Army ; Carl, who is running the home ranch, also served in the army, and Edith has become Mrs. C. E. Johnson and resides near Turlock. Mr. Tornell has been a member of the Swedish Mission Church, and prominent and active as a trustee, always working for the best interests of the congregation, and in Iowa he was the superintendent of the Sunday school. DAVID W. HOLVECK. — A rancher whose intelligent operations and enviable results entitle him to general respect, is D. W. Holveck, living a mile and a half east of Turlock. He was born near Colo, Story County, Iowa, the son of Louis Hol veck, a native of Luxemburg, who came to America when he was thirty years of age. He was married in Iowa to Miss Laura Robinson, who proved a devoted wife and mother. She died at Colo in 1912, leaving eight children. Our subject attended the district school in Iowa, and for six months pursued courses of study in a business college at Des Moines. In between, he passed his boy- hood on the farm of 400 acres, which his father bought in 1874 for seven dollars an acre. In 1919 a younger brother there sold the same land at $325 an acre. Mr. Holveck came to Turlock in 1907, but the following j'ear returned to Iowa to marry Miss Bessie Violet Farber, who was born at St. Anthony, in Iowa. They have five children: Muriel R., Harold, Verna, students at Denair; Elane and Richard R. A comfortable fortune has come to Mr. Holveck, who owns ninety acres of fine land east of Turlock and leases part of the ranch to responsible parties. When the duties of his ranch do not occupy all of his time, Mr. Holveck has a grading outfit and takes contracts for leveling, ditching and checking land, which business he has carried on since 1911 and during that time has materially improved considerable ranch land. He is a member of the Farm Bureau and a Republican; and he also belongs to the Turlock Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. IRVIN CLAYTON BELLAMAN.— An energetic young man from the Key stone State who is making good in California, is Irvin Clayton Bellaman, who owns thirty acres on the Coffee Road four and a quarter miles from Modesto. Mr. Bella- man is the son of Daniel and Lizzie (Geib) Bellaman, and was born in Heidelburg Township, Lebanon County, Pa., December 20, 1888. His parents are still living in their Pennsylvania home, and Irvin Clayton is the eldest of their four children. His earliest recollections are of farm life as he plowed and worked on the home farm, meanwhile attending the public schools. He remained at home until twenty-three vears of ago, and from the time he was a mere youth he assisted his parents on the home farm, and the lessons of frugality and thrift learned in these early experiences have been of inestimable value to him in later life. In 1911 he and G. G. Wenger, now of the Wood Colony, and two other young people, Miss Emma Brandt and Ellen Bachman, who afterward became the wives ot the two young men, came to Modesto, Cal., from Lebanon County, Pa. Mr Wenger had been in Stanislaus County, Cal., previously, and upon a visit to his old home told such glowing tales of the land of sunshine that Mr. Bellaman was p rone to try his fortune in the land of opportunity. His first work on arriving in California was hauling grapes from the vineyard to a car at Salida and he continued to work for various farmers and grape growers until in August 1912, he rented a place in Wood Colony and began farming on his own account. He was on the place as tenant 1200 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY farmer for two years, then went back to work again by the month. On January 1. 1916, he purchased the thirty-acre place he now owns. In Modesto, June 6, 1912, he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Brandt, a native of Lebanon County, Pa., and a daughter of Nathan and Amanda (Lehman) Brandt, who now live retired near Lebanon. Mr. and Mrs. Bellaman's union has been blessed by the birth of a daugh ter named Lena Emma. In 1919 Mr. Bellaman built a beautiful modern, up-to-date bungalow country home, fitted with all modern conveniences. His success in ranching is due to his diligent and painstaking effort, coupled with the valuable assistance ren dered him by his excellent helpmate, who is a model housekeeper, wife and mother. His dairy farm is one of the best in Sylvan precinct, and they have a fine high-grade herd of Holstein cows and a registered Holstein bull. Mr. Bellaman milks sixteen cows, raises alfalfa hay, has a good family orchard and an excellent vegetable garden, and is a member of the Milk Producers Association of Central California in Modesto. E. E. BOESWETTER. — An enterprising, successful merchant who, as pro prietor of the well-known Half -Way House, has considerably enlarged his knowledge of human nature, thereby being the better able to serve the public, is E. E. Boeswetter, who was born near Port Washington, Ozaukee County, Wis., on June 4, 1862. His father. Antone E. Boeswetter, was a native of Germany and belonged to a long line of professional men, such as teachers, attorneys and doctors of high repute, and he himself was a learned man, capable of speaking and teaching seven languages. He came to America in 1832, and was a pioneer at Port Washington. He toured Cali fornia on foot in 1836, and then settled at Port Washington. In 1867, however, Mr. and Mrs. Boeswetter moved with their family to Nebraska City, where they homesteaded on a half-section of land, located twelve miles east and three miles south of Lincoln. Soon afterward, Mrs. Boeswetter passed away, and our subject can well remember the hardships of pioneer life in Nebraska. His father, who had brought with him the true German ideals as to education and its value in everyday life, used his influence in the starting of the first school ; and although he did not teach himself, he saw to it that every child of school age in that vicinity was in attendance. This school was held in the basement of the old farmhouse on the Boes wetter home place. When sixteen j'ears of age, the lad was thrown upon his own resources, and he took up and thoroughly mastered the carpenter trade, and in 1885 he moved to West ern Nebraska, and there proved up on 160 acres. This was four years after his father had broken down in health and had passed away. While in Nebraska, he served for four j'ears as one of the commissioners or supervisors of Perkins County, and for fifteen years as county director of schools. In 1905, in company with a couple of friends, Mr. Boeswetter made a tour of the Northwest, incidental to visiting the Lewis-Clark Exposition, and he also came south to California, stopping at Lodi, in San Joaquin County. What he saw there induced him to purchase ten acres of vineyard ; and having centered some of his treas ure here, he soon found that his heart was also in California. He returned to Nebraska, therefore, only to sell out and prepare to migrate to the Coast. In Novem ber, 1908, he moved to Turlock, having purchased a farm of forty acres; and there he made his first essay in Stanislaus County agriculture. Since that time he has developed and sold two farms, and now he is proprietor of the Half-Way House, the well-known headquarters for general merchandise, which he purchased in 1916. The store is located on the Crows Landing Road, about ten miles from Modesto, and has long since proven of the greatest convenience to many, with the natural result that it enjoys an enviable patronage. Mr. Boeswetter is popular as a merchant who studies and anticipates the wants of his customers, and who leaves no stone unturned in his endeavors to assist and to please. Progressive in principle, he subordinates all to the slogan, "America first, last and all the time!" He has taken a live interest, for example, in the work of the Mountain View Farm Bureau, and for three years served untiringly as its secretary. He belongs to Lodge No. 212 of the Odd Fellows at Grant, Neb., and is also a member of the Rebekahs. Q t <£y $cr*My>*IELlls HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1203 GILBERT ERICKSON. — A very successful farmer whose attainments have encouraged others to work for higher standards and better results, is Gilbert Erickson, a resident of the region east of Montpellier. He is a Norwegian by birth and first saw the light in Guldbrandsdalen on July 12, 1860. His father was Erik Olson, who married Miss Ingeborg Sather, and they were both natives of the same province in that northern land. Nine children were born of their union, and the mother and seven children are still living. Gilbert spent his boyhood on his father's farm, and attended school until he was fifteen, when he was duly confirmed in the Lutheran Church. In 1885, he crossed the ocean to America, and for a season he located in Minnesota. Pushing on to California in 1886, he found work on a farm at Waterford, and settling there, he rolled up his sleeves and straightway set about getting on his feet, financially. At Waterford, too, in 1892, he married Miss Thora Larson, a native of Drammen, Norway, where she was born on June 21, 1867, a gifted young lady who had come to America in 1883 ; and in the course of time seven children blessed the lucky union. Iver Erick, the rancher, lives at home, as does Ingebel K, Olaf G, and Carl I., the last two ranchers also. Thora G. is a graduate of the San Jose Normal School, in 1921. Ellen I. is a graduate of the Oakdale high school, and Louie. For twenty-five years Mr. Erickson followed dry farming near Oakdale, and in 1918 he moved to the vicinity of Montpellier; and since then, on some sixteen hun dred acres of black, rich soil, he has raised grain with pronounced success. He is a careful student of both past and present conditions, and as a member of the Farm Bureau he both derives benefit from others and makes his own valued contributions. In 1896, Mr. Erickson was made a citizen of the United States, in the Superior Court at Modesto, and when able to exercise the right of franchise, he joined the ranks of the Republican party. For many j'ears he served as a trustee of the Oakdale school district; and having rendered three j'ears military service in his native land prior to leaving for America, he has always found it natural to do what he could to stimulate patriotism, in America, and to advance her best interests. ISIDORO P. ROSSI. — A retired dairy rancher and building contractor, Isidoro P. Rossi, although a native of Switzerland, is a thorough American and a citizen of whom any community might well feel proud, for he possesses the sturdy qualities of the indomitable little Republic which gave him birth. He was born in Sementina, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, April 1, 1870, the eldest of a family of seven children, all of whom still reside in their native canton except our subject. His father was Basilo Rossi and his mother Francesca (Cereda) Rossi, both natives of Sementina, which has been the home of the Rossis and the Ceredas for at least five or six centuries. The father was a farmer, stone mason and a carver of stone and monuments and came, to California in 1882 and engaged in building industries in Napa City and Contra Costa County. He did not remain in California for long, however, but returned to his native village, where he died, December 23, 1915, aged sixty-eight. In 1884 I. P. Rossi came to California, joining his father at Napa City. He became engaged in farming and in assisting his father in the building industry for a time, and later went to Napa, and still later went to work on a stock farm in Sonoma County, near Glen Ellen. After fourteen months he went to the dairy farm of Henry Hagen, near Napa, and later worked for Joe Dedini at Collinsville on a dairy farm. While here he was married in 1889 to Miss Felomina Rossi, from his native canton in Switzerland, although not of the same family. From here he went to San Jose and rented a 1,000-acre dairy ranch on shares from 1892 to 1895, this being the beginning of his prosperity. He engaged in business in San Francisco in 1895 and 1896, but sold out and worked for wages and at ranching at Bemcia, Martinez, and at Sutter Creek in Amador County, finally going to Richmond, Contra Costa County, where he built a home and engaged in the carpenter trade for four years. Following this he went to Stockton, where he engaged in contracting and building business under the firm name of Rossi & Coradim, in partnership with G. Coradini, erecting many fine buildings in Stockton and vicinity during the year. But the call of the land claimed him again, and in course of time he went again to San 1204 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Jose, where he rented the same 1,000-acre dairy ranch of J. M. Toney, which had brought him good fortune before. In addition to this he also rented the Spreckels ranch of 590 acres at Coyote, where for six years he ran a dairy of 150 cows. In 1909 Mr. Rossi came to Salida and bought eighty acres of land from Claude Heiny, just south of town, where he farmed for ten years. In June, 1919, he sold his farm and retired to his present home at 330 McHenry Avenue, Modesto. Mrs. Rossi passed away December 24, 1918; she was the mother of three children, all of whom are well and favorably known in the county. They are Louise, the wife of Elmer Tucker, residing in Modesto ; Frank, who married Lenore De Lorenzi on November 15, 1920, is assistant city civil engineer of Modesto, and Ida, a stenog rapher in Modesto. Mr. Rossi is justly proud of the war record of his only son, Frank, who enlisted early in the World War, in the Three Hundred Nineteenth Engineer Corps, as a corporal, and came home with three honor medals. He had charge of the construction work at Brest, France, where he saw seven months' service. Mr. Rossi's mother is still living in Sementina, Switzerland, and in the summer of 1920 he took his first vacation in almost forty years and returned to the scene of his nativity to visit her. He visited many points of interest and the great cities of America and Europe en route, but gladly returned to California. NELS O. HULTBERG. — An active, useful and worthy career has been that of the Swedish-American, Nels O. Hultberg, who was born near Skane on March 25, 1865, and spent his boyhood in his father's farm, blacksmith shop and implement factory, from which he attended the local public school. It did not afford extensive educational advantages ; but he learned what he could, and when, as a young man, he crossed the ocean to America, he was better prepared than many to secure a safe and satisfactory foothold. He went to work on a farm near Rochelle, 111., but he also attended the night schools when he could, and so continued his studies. In 1893, he made a trip to Alaska, in the foreign mission work, and he established at Galovin the first school for the Swedish Mission Church of America. From the start, he labored earnestly; and such was his success both in religious and educational work, that he spent five and a half years in that far-north field. Here it may be noted that Mr. Hultberg was the first white man to notice the deposits of rich gold-bearing ore in that territory, after watching the natives going to the place where they found copper and lead deposits. The natives had any amount of the stuff which they pounded into vessels and implements, without of course knowing the metal's real worth ; and after studying their movements, Mr. Hultberg staked a mining claim ; but before he could realize from it, he was forced to return to the United States on account of his family. He had married, and had become the father of three children; and it was a deep sorrow to him that the two eldest should die ere he could return to the United States. In 1894, he was met at St. Michael, Alaska, by Miss Hanna Holm, a native daughter of Sweden, who had also made the trip to Alaska in mission work; and at Unalaklick, on July 8, they were duly married. Three children were born to this excellent couple. Hilda died in infancy in Alaska, from a severe cold, and so did Amnon, another infant child. Albia A. is a graduate of the San Jose Normal School and has become a teacher at the Gratton school, north of Denair, although she makes her home with her father at Campbell, Santa Clara County. Having come back to the United States in 1898, Mr. Hultberg went back to Illinois; and the same year he made a trip to Sweden, taking with him his wife and child. He returned to America in 1899, and then located on a ranch in the Santa Clara Valley, near Campbell, where he remained for four years. He took up col onization work in 1901 and the following year went to Turlock, Stanislaus County, where he began operations in bringing in settlers and developing that section of the county. He always had the interests of the people at heart and took an active inter est in political, social, educational and religious movements. Mr. Hultberg took an active part in the colonization of the Hilmar Colony south of Turlock, and he also went in for real estate development in the Turlock irrigation district. Since 1917 he has been identified largely with Campbell, Santa ~^ha. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1207 Clara County, and he has scores of friends in both Santa Clara and Stanislaus coun ties, for he has done as much as any one man in colonization work in the Turlock district, always attracting the better class of settlers and home-seekers. Four more children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hultberg, two in Santa Clara County and one in Stanislaus County. Hilmar, born in Illinois, is named in honor of the colony started by his father, is now a rancher at Campbell, at which place Charles H. is also farming; and Hazel and Chester are both students. Mr. Hult berg is both a Mason and an Elk, holding membership in the former at Turlock and the latter in Modesto Lodge No. 1282. He was one of the original members and workers in the California Prune and Apricot Association, also an early member of the California Cooperative Associa tion. In 1902 he advanced the necessary capital for Prof. Fowler to go to England to study the cooperative plans there and feels gratified that it was largely through the effort of Prof. Fowler that the cooperative movement has been made a success here. JAMES D. YATES.— The proprietor of the Turlock Bootery, James D. Yates, is a young man of indefatigable industry and good judgment, and these traits have greatly aided him in his business career. He purchased the Turlock Bootery from Mr. A. A. Lindquist, and his success in other ventures warrants every reason to expect equal success in his venture in the boot and shoe business. Mr. Yates was born at Spickard, Mo., December 13, 1886. His ancestry in America dates to his great-grandfather Howard, who came from England and did valiant service for his adopted country in the war of 1812. The Yates family settled in Indiana, and Grandfather Yates, who went to Missouri from Indiana when only four years old, was reared and married in Missouri. Mr. Yates' father, James G, was also born at Spickard, Mo. His mother, Mary (Applegate) Yates, was a native of Indiana. His parents are now making their home at Turlock. James D. grew to maturity in his native state, assisting his father as a lad with the work on the farm. His education was acquired in the public schools, and at nine teen he passed the examination for a teacher and taught school five terms. In 1909 he came to Sonora, Cal., and clerked for a while at Angels, near Sonora. From Sonora he went to Modesto, where he purchased city lots and built eighteen or twenty houses which he disposed of. Among other vocations that have claimed his attention is the poultry business. He served as judge of the poultry exhibits at Fresno four j'ears, was also judge of the Oakland poultry exhibit one year, and was director of the Poultry Producers Association of Central California one year. His marriage in Lodi united him with Miss Edna Tubbs, a native daughter of California, born near lone, and daughter of R. C. and Nellie (Greene) Tubbs. One child has been born of their union, a daughter named Eleanor Frances. Gifted with a fine baritone voice, Mr. Yates did a great deal of singing while at Modesto, both in the churches and as a soloist in local concerts. He was a member of the Methodist Church choir, the Modesto Choral Society and the Yeomen. CHARLES L. JARRETT.— To say that a man is a native son implies more to any true Californian than a mere accident of birth, for it presupposes broad-minded, progressive ideals and a generous and hospitable nature. All these qualifications has Charles L. Jarrett, native son and son of a native son, his grandfather, Frank Jarrett, having come to California from Illinois in 1849, crossing the plains in an ox-drawn prairie schooner. Here he married Martha Bisby, and at Monterey, in 1858, was born their son Clifford, father of Charles L. Jarrett. Clifford Jarrett was married to Laura E. Walton, a native of Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of three daughters, Mrs. M. A. Beckwith, of Hart Pre cinct, Mrs. Scott Beach, of Los Angeles, and Mrs. E. W. Smith of Salida, and of one son, the subject of this sketch. The family removed to Pennsylvania in 1884, where Clifford Jarrett engaged in farming and in the breeding of fast horses. He was killed in a railroad accident in Warren County, Pa., in 1903. Charles L. Jarrett was born at Meridian, Sutter County, in the Sacramento Val ley, March 23, 1878, and was but a lad of eight years when his parents moved to 49 1208 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Pennsylvania, the former home of his mother. He was educated in the schools of Erie, Pa., and worked with his father on the farm until the latter's death. He was married at Brocton, N. Y., to Miss Maude Shepart and returned to settle on his father's old farm in Warren County, Pa., where three children were born to them. It was not until 1907 that the call of the West sounded clearly enough to bring Mr. Jarrett back to California. He located first at Dinuba, where he ran a dairy farm of 640 acres for D. T. Curtis for two and a half years. In 1909 he came to Stanislaus County and bought eighty acres on the Beckwith Road, near Salida. Later he sold one forty of this to his brother-in-law, E. W. Smith, and has developed the remaining forty into a home place which is a credit to the community and a property of value. Two more children have been born to them since coming to California, giving them three sons and two daughters, Marion and Melville, now in high school in Modesto, Velma, Clifford and Elwin. Mr. Jarrett is a trustee of the Salida school district, a member of the Farm Bureau and the Milk Producers Association. He is also an active member of the Native Sons of the Golden West. GEORGE WASHINGTON PRICKETT.— Although but a comparatively short time a resident of Salida, an interested part in its upbuilding must be accorded to George Washington Prickett, owner and manager of the Sterling Garage, owner of valuable residence and other property in Salida, and operator of a string of twelve two-ton trucks, handling all the milk for the Carpenter Milk Products Company, now owned by the Nestles Food Company. Mr. Prickett was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 16, 1890, the son of William H. and Cora (Ayer) Prickett, also natives of Ohio, but now residing at Fresno, where Mr. Prickett's father is a well-known raisin and peach grower at Oleander. The family removed to California when Mr. Prickett was but fourteen, and his education was completed at the Fresno high school. In 1910 he was married to Miss Ella Moller, a native of Fresno, and the daughter of one of the prominent pioneer families of the state. They are the parents of three children, Orval William, Harold George, and Alta Cora. Up until 1916, Mr. Prickett resided in Fresno County and engaged in raisin growing. He then came to Modesto and engaged in the trucking business, starting with one truck which he operated himself. In 1917 he came to Salida, where he opened the Sterling Garage, and purchased a city block of unimproved property This property he has highly improved, having built thereon two handsome resi dences, one of which he occupies, and the well-equipped garage and repair shop. He holds the contract with the Nestles Food Company for the handling of all their milk, and the trucks cover the territory twice daily, and he employs thirteen men the year around. He personally owns two of the trucks and the balance in partnership with others. Both Mr. and Mrs. Prickett are members of the Congregational Church at Salida and take an active interest in church affairs, Mr. Prickett being clerk of the official board of the church. GEORGE W. JOHNSON.— One of the many residents of Indiana who haye come to California and made a success of farming is George W. Johnson, who, in partnership with his brother, Jesse W. Johnson, owns a fine seventy-five acre ranch. He is a man of high ideals, of ability, judgment, and a successful farmer. Mr. Johnson is the eldest son of James and Martha Elizabeth (Hughes) John son, now residents of Prescott precinct, this county, making their home on five acres which originally belonged to the ranch owned by the subject of this sketch. Their former home was in Indiana, where our Mr. Johnson was born at Grantsburg, August 14, 1873. He attended school but a limited time, for, although ambitious to obtain an education, necessity appointed him to a life of early toil. He acquired a great desire to see California, and the passing years did not dim his determination to do so. Accordingly, in 1900, together with his brother, Charles, he came to California, going to Ventura County. The brothers engaged in ranching at Santa Paula, where they met with merited success, and later George W. Johnson engaged in various enter prises. Finally he and his brother, Jesse W., bought a ten-acre ranch in Ventura HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1211 County, which they operated successfully until 1907, when they disposed of it at a profit and came to Stanislaus County, purchasing their present property in January, 1908. This originally contained eighty acres, but five acres have been sold as a home place to the parents. George W. and Jesse W. each own an undivided half-interest in the remaining seventy-five acres, each having built his own residence thereon. One of the strongest characteristics of Mr. Johnson and his family is the close bond of fellowship among them and the manner in which father and brothers work together, giving support and cooperation in all undertakings. This bond is especially close between George W. and Jesse W., who have operated their business enterprises in a close copartnership for practically their entire lives. They attribute not a little of their success to this ability to work together in harmony and unison, and it is a generally known fact that they never have any trouble in agreeing upon the details of the management of their extensive interests. The marriage of Mr. Johnson occurred while he resided in Ventura County, uniting him with Miss Hattie Barker of that county, in 1907. They are the parents of three interesting children, Vernon, Vivian and Glenn. Mr. Johnson and the various members of his family occupy a place in the esteem of their friends and neighbors, which is a direct tribute to their ability as farmers, to the vigor with which they take hold of any enterprise, and carry it through to a successful conclusion, to their honesty and integrity in all dealings with their fellows, and to the spirit of brotherly love which prevails in the family circle. ROBERT JACKSON ROSS.— Coming to Stanislaus County less than ten years ago with practically no capital, Robert J. Ross, through his ability, integrity and industry, has made himself financially independent and now owns a valuable 100-acre ranch on the Empire and Hughson Road, one mile south of Empire, which he has developed and brought to a high state of productivity. Mr. Ross is a native of Mis souri, born near Hartville, in Wright County, February 5, 1862. He was brought up in the Ozark region, where his father was a blacksmith, his father, his uncles and his brothers all being mechanics. His father was John Ross, a native of Kentucky, born August 9, 1839. He died March 4, 1904. The mother was Nancy J. Box, a native of Tennessee, who moved to Missouri with her parents when she was a young girl of sixteen. There she was married, and passed the remainder of her years, passing away in 1909, at the age of seventy-four. She was the mother of six children, of whom the subject of this review was the first born. From a boy he helped around the black smith shop until twelve years old, then began to work for wages. The opportunities for education in the Ozarks were few and poor, and he received no early training and at the age of sixteen could not write his own name. But he was ambitious and ener getic, and through night study and reading in spare hours he advanced himself so mate rially that at the age of twenty-one he was able to enter the Southwest Baptist College at Bolivar, Mo., attending almost three j'ears, earning the means by teaching school in the Ozark region, having obtained a certificate to teach after his first year at college. But the schoolroom was too confining for his outdoor-loving spirit. Mr. Ross' first wife was Miss Alice Mayfield, whom he married in Polk County, Mo., and of their union were born six children, all of whom are living. Of these, V. D., the eldest, served in the Guard Force at Fort Douglas during the recent World War, was honorably discharged, and is now married and residing at Montgomery Ala. His health was unfortunately impaired by the hardships of military service, and he is now undergoing special hospital treatment. The second son, T. R, was a lieu tenant in the cavalry in the same great war, and an instructor at Camp Lee and Camp Sheridan, Ala. He is now employed with a construction company in Alabama. C J. is married and resides at Hanford, Cal, where he is employed as a cream tester ; Verna Alice is the wife of J. B. Kauffman, a farmer at Wichita, Kans. ; Cornelia E. is the wife of E. B. Holmes, an undertaker at Wichita, Kans.; and Luella J. is the wife of Elmer Talbert, employed by the Ward Lumber Company of Modesto, where they reside. Mr. Ross continued to farm in Missouri until 1898, when he went to Oklahoma and homesteaded a quarter section of farm land near Capron Woods County, residing on it for twelve years. His wife passed away September 15, 190U, 1212 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and in September, 1904, he was married to Mrs. Bertha McWilliams Hager, born in Illinois; by her he had one son, Lloyd R., who lives with his father at Empire. It was in 1911 that Mr. Ross came to Stanislaus County, where he has since made his home. He stepped off the boat at Stockton, October 17, of that year, with just $100 to his name. His sons, T. R. and C. J., were with him, and that same evening they went to Tracy and secured employment, going to work at eight o'clock that night. Since that time Mr. Ross has been a very busy man, and the tide of his affairs has turned. He bought thirty-five acres on Carver Road, northwest of Modesto, in 1916, and held it until 1919, when he sold at a satisfactory figure. He then pur chased his present holding, which he has improved until it is one of the most attractive as well as one of the most valuable in the vicinity. He is engaged in diversified farm ing and dairying, and is highly successful. A self-made man in every sense of the word, Mr. Ross has always kept up his interest in the accumulation of information, and is widely read and well informed on many subjects. He is a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers' Union and a strong advocate of cooperation. ALVIN D. MEDFORD. — Of the genial Southern type which is so fast disap pearing is Alvin D. Medford, of Salida precinct, well known for his business ability and integrity, and for his unusually. good judgment of land values. He is a native of the "Old South," having been born on a farm near Atlanta, Ga., September 23, 1878, where he passed his boyhood, attending the public schools and later attending college at Rock Mart, Ga. His parents have never left their native state and are now residing at Woodstock, Ga., his father having retired from active business. Mr. Medford came to California in 1902, stopping at Modesto, where he com menced working on a farm at the then accepted wage of one dollar per day. Later he bought land near Oakdale, acquiring in all some eighty acres. A year later, in 1904, he was married to Miss Rosetta Litt, a native of Oakdale. Their union has been blessed with three children, one daughter, Reon, now attending the Modesto High School, and two sons, J. B., Jr., known as Harold, and Merle A., aged ten. The eighty acres first purchased near Oakdale were improved and sold in 1913, and Mr. Medford then purchased his present place in Salida Precinct, numbering 100 acres of land under a high state of cultivation. He also does considerable busi ness in the buying and selling of country property, and owns and operates a modern McCormick combined harvester and reaper and other first-class machinery. Politi cally Mr. Medford disclaims strong party affiliations, and stands strong for men and principles, clean government and progressive methods in all things. WALTER M. SPROWL. — During their ten years' residence in Stanislaus County none have made for themselves a more enduring place than have Mr. and Mrs. Walter M. Sprowl, of Prescott precinct, where they reside on the Carvel Road, taking an active interest in all matters of general welfare and contributing largely to the upbuilding of community interest. They are members of the Prescott Community Hall, and of the First Presbyterian Church at Modesto, and Mrs. Sprowl is an active worker in W. C. T. U. circles. Mr. Sprowl is president of the Sylvan local of the Stanislaus County Farmers Union, and one of the original organizers of this local, being keenly alive to its practical advantages. Mr. Sprowl made his first visit to Stanislaus County in the fall of 1909, visit ing his wife's brother, Will M. Way, of Standiford Station, Sylvan precinct. This visit determined him to come here to make his home, and in December he arrived, with a carload of household goods, his wife and family coming by way of Seattle, where Mrs. Sprowl visited relatives, arriving December 27, 1909. Mr. Sprowl im mediately purchased twenty acres on the Carvel Road, and four years later bought the adjoining twenty, now farming forty acres. He was born in Yankton, S. D., his father being Robert Sprowl, a native of Ormstown, Canada.. Robert Sprowl was married at Mt. Forest, Canada, to Miss Maria Martin, and they came west to what was then Dakota Territory, in 1868, settling at Yankton, where they were for many j'ears identified with the development of the country, knowing such pioneer characters as General Custer. He was a carpenter by trade and in 1875 removed to Lemont, S^M I *&¦ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1215 111., and in 1886 to Kentland, Ind., where he passed away in January, 1905. His wife lived to be seventy years of age, passing away at Kentland in 1916. She was the mother of five, of whom the subject of this sketch, born July 21, 1872, was the third. Owing to an eye affliction, Mr. Sprowl found himself unable to attend school except for limited periods, and early turned his attention to mechanics, for which he had a natural aptitude. He worked for a time with any sort of machinery he could attach himself to — with threshing machine crews, running a threshing machine en gine, stationary engine, and similar occupations, and finally took up practical civil engineering, making a specialty of the subject of drainage for irrigation and general farming purposes. For some time he was engaged along this line in Newton County, Ind., and later in Pocahontas and Palo Alto counties, Iowa, gaining experience. Mr. Sprowl was married in Stockton, Jo Daviess County, 111., January 1, 1902, to Miss Linnie Way, a native of the same county and state and born near Nora. Her father was Griffin Way, a native of Indiana, and her mother Elizabeth Unthank. They came to Jo Daviess County in the early days, and Mrs. Sprowl was educated at Nora and at Wheaton College, Wheaton, 111. She has in Stanislaus County at this time two brothers and a sister, William M. Way, rancher of Sylvan precinct, and Fred and Miss Josie Way of Modesto, and a sister, Mrs. Mattie Barrett, at Ferndale, Wash. Mr. and Mrs. Sprowl have a son and a daughter, Willard G and Sadie. Mr. Sprowl has been engaged in the dairying business and in general farming since coming to Prescott precinct and has been very successful. His property on Carvel Road is highly improved, with a comfortable, modern home. ARTHUR C. McCREADY. — A man of unusual ability and great strength of character, is Arthur C. McCready, but has closely identified himself with the best interests of Stanislaus County during the four years of his residence here. Mr. McCready is a pioneer of the Middle West, his boyhood and youth having been spent in Dakota Territory, where his father was one of the well-known pioneer preachers of the time. A. C. came to Modesto in 1917 and bought sixty-two acres of fine land near Salida, on the Oakdale Road, a part of which he has planted to orchard, and where he resides with his family. Mr. McCready is a native of Missouri, born in Cass County in 1872. His father, the Rev. William McCready, D. D., was a Methodist minister, and the family moved from one charge to another, until he was made presiding elder with his resi dence at Yankton, Dak., and later presiding elder in the Huron conference in South Dakota, then Dakota Territory. Here he did much pioneer work, establishing many new churches, and resided at Yankton for many years when that city was then capital of the territory. He was in the prime of his life and knew all the leading men of Dakota, being a warm personal friend of Governor Ordway, Gov. Andrew E. Lee, and such prominent men of his day and location. He was the chaplain of the last territorial legislature which assembled at Yankton, was also elected temporary chair man of the national Populist convention, at Kansas City, in 1 892, having been active in the affairs of that party during its popularity in the Middle West. Rev. McCready also took up a homestead of 160 acres at Blunt, S. D., on which he proved up, and which was the home of his family for many years. The McCready family moved further west in 1882, at the time of the gold rush to the Black Hills, crossing the Missouri River at Pierre, and crossing the plains of Western Dakota in a prairie schooner. Always an apt scholar, Arthur McCready took advantage of every opportunity and finally completed his education m the Spear- fish Normal School, at Spearfish, S. D. He taught school for two years, but the call of the great outdoors was too strong, and he became interested in forestry entered the U. S. Forestry Service and for three years served as a forest ranger. While thus engaged he was induced to accept a position as forest ranger with the great Home- stake Gold Mining Company, and for fifteen years continued constantly in their em ploy, being a foreman of a portion of the company's timber operations and having charge of 16,000 acres of timber lands owned by the company, lying mostly in Wyoming. Mr. McCready was married at Nemo, S. D., to Miss Janet Robinson born in Ontario, the daughter of Robert Robinson, who was the lumber expert for the Home- 1216 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY stake Gold Mining Company. Mr. McCready came with his family to Modesto in 1917, and from January to October made a careful study of local conditions and lands before purchasing his present property. He has entered heartily into the spirit of the community life, and, together with his family, has become- an established factor in local affairs. He was appointed census enumerator in 1920, in that portion lying west of the Southern Pacific Railway tracks, bounded by the Stanislaus and Tuolumne rivers, and in the ninety days thus engaged he made the personal acquaintance of practically every man, woman and child in the district. Mr. and Mrs. McCready have six children: Gordon, Alan, Ruth and Jessie (twins), Howard and Catherine. Politically Mr. McCready is a consistent Republican, standing always for the highest principles. He is a strong advocate of prohibition and a supporter of the Eight eenth Amendment and of the Volstead Act. Mr. McCready's father and mother came to Palo Alto, Cal., a number of years ago, where his youngest brother, Harry L., a graduate of Stanford University and now holds an important Government position as head of a department under the state engineer at Sacramento. Rev. McCready passed away February, 1917. The widow, now seventy-five, resides at Palo Alto. EDWARD EALEY. — One of Stanislaus County's successful real estate dealers is Edward Ealey, who has been a resident here since 1911, and is recognized as one of the best informed ranchers and business men of the vicinity, especially on matters touching farm lands, city property, and land valuations generally. He owns a fine ranch of twenty acres, situated four miles north of Modesto on the McHenry Road, in the heart of one of the most beautiful residence sections. Mr. Ealey is a native of Center Point, Clay County, Ind., born June 13, 1884. His father, the Rev. William Martin Ealey, is a native of North Carolina. He moved to Urbana, 111., when our Mr. Ealey was but three years of age, and still resides on the same place which he bought so many years ago. He was a minister of the Christian Church, but has retired from active labors. He was married to Miss Louisa Presnell, also a native of North Carolina, and they became the parents of eight children, five daughters and three sons, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth born. When he was a lad of twelve years Edward began to shift for himself, selling papers to keep himself in school. After graduating from high school at Urbana in 1902, he came to California, single-handed and alone, and for six years worked as a conductor on the electric railway lines running out of Los Angeles. In June, 1911, he came to Stanislaus County, where he has met with such merited success. He bought a ranch, but has always been interested in buying and selling real estate. In 1915 Mr. Ealey began his career as a realtor in Modesto, establishing himself at 915 I Street, later moving into his present large offices in the Hughson Hotel building. It was in March, 1919, that Mr. Ealey bought his present home place on Mc Henry Road, and moved into the new home in February, 1920. He has owned other very valuable property in various parts of the county, which he has improved and sold. He handles both city property and farm lands, and is in close touch and cooper ation with leading real estate dealers throughout the United States and Canada, so that he can supply his clients with practically any kind of property that they desire, or can negotiate almost any kind of deal for them. He has not confined his local transactions to this county by any means, but is well and favorably known in the surrounding counties. Mr. Ealey is absolutely a self-made man, and his long, hard years of climbing to his present state of affluence have given him an understanding of human problems and a sympathy with human needs that causes him to do all his business on a basis of justice and fairness, cornerstoned on the Golden Rule. He is a member of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce and the Modesto Realty Board. The marriage of Mr. Ealey and Miss Delia Darrah occurred in Los Angeles, February 1, 1905. Mrs. Ealey is a native of North Dakota, but came to Los Angeles as a young girl and was reared and educated there, and is well known among a wide circle of friends in the Southern metropolis. She is the mother of three children, Marvin, who died October 16, 1920, in his fourteenth year; Norma Burdell, and Rosalie Vivian. Mr. and Mrs. Ealey are popular in social and civic ranks. /Tfc^ytUy/Tlr^^ (UAJiy HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1219 JACOB ORR. — An example of what can be done by hard work, intelligence, perseverance, and frugality is shown in the progress made by Jacob Orr and his family. He was born in County Armagh, Ireland, on August 5, 1843, son of William and Martha Orr, parents of eight children, three of whom are living in California ; our subject, besides Robert, a rancher, near Farmington, and Sarah Selina, who is single, in San Francisco. Jacob Orr was married in Pollockshaws, Scotland, July 17, 1874, to Mary Jane Jenkinson, also born in County Armagh, Ireland. In Scotland the Orrs both were in others' employment for ten years, when the parents decided to take their five children to America, and its larger opportunities. Landing in Boston, Mass., in March, 1887, they first worked near there on a farm, then moved to Bath, Me., where the sixth child was born. In 1888 the Orrs came on to California, first working on a farm near Stockton for eleven years, then moved to North precinct, Stanislaus County, and bought the 754 acres which Mr. Orr is now operating. He is known throughout the district as one of the most successful grain and sheep ranchers. He had leased land some j'ears, hav ing 1,000 acres in grain and running as high as 1,000 sheep. About four years ago the Orrs built a splendid up-to-date bungalow on their ranch, where they radiate a generous hospitality. Mr. Orr has been ably assisted by his noble wife and helpmate, and their industri ous children, twelve in number: William James, who died when six years, and Jacob, Jr., who died when three months old in Scotland ; Elizabeth is the wife of George C. Pehl, resides in Farmington, has five children: St. Clair O, Theo. R., Gladys A., Alvena E. and Chester G. ; James M. resides in Oakland, is with the Southern Pacific and has a daughter, Edina ; Sinclair Robert is on the home ranch ; Mary Jane is Mrs. Henry W. Carey, of Farmington, and has two children, Frances May and Shirley W. ; Joseph assists his father on the home farm. These children were born in Scotland. Then there are George H., born in Bath, Maine, who gives his time to the home ranch ; Sarah Selina, now Mrs. Edward M. Brennan, in Sacramento, with one child, Beverly Marie; John M. assisting his parents on the home farm; Rachael, Mrs. Thomas D. Brennan, on a nearby ranch and California Frances, who lives at home. The last four children were born in California. George H. Orr served in the Three Hundred Sixty-fourth U. S. Infantry in the World War, being stationed at Camp Lewis for four months. The Orrs are indeed a remarkable family and the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Orr worked out for others for years before they became ranch owners makes their splendid success all the more praiseworthj'. Father, mother and children have worked unitedly and enjoy the highest esteem and the good-will of their district. Capable, kindly and loved by everybody, Mrs. Orr is an ideal wife and mother, and no small part of success has been due to her efficient industry. Although seventy-eight years old, Mr. Orr keeps busy, always doing something good and useful. Politically, the family are all stanch Republicans. WALTER MILLARD CRIGLER.— An experienced rancher and popular pub lic official who enjoys the confidence and esteem of everyone, is Walter M. Crigler, who lives near the Bald Eagle ranch, about five miles north of Modesto. He was born at Cloverdale, Sonoma County, Cal., on January 19, 1882, where he grew to man hood and was married. His grandfather, William E. Crigler, was born in Madison County, Va., on October 27, 1824, a son of Jonas and Lucy (Finks) Crigler, who owned a large plantation. Jonas Crigler was born in the Old Dominion in 1796, a son of Aaron Crigler, a German who settled in Virginia in 1750, and he married there and was a large planter and a Southern aristocrat. In 1834, Jonas Crigler removed with his family to Boone County, Ky., where he lived for two years, and then he removed to Monroe County, Mo. At the age of twenty-one, William E. Crigler married, on December 3, 1845, Miss Sallie Hurd, a native of Kentucky, who went to Missouri with her parents in 1830. They had seven children, of whom only one, Thomas, the father of our subject, survived. The family moved to California in 1864, and W. E. Crigler bought a claim six miles north of Cloverdale, on the Russian River, now the old Edwards ranch; he died in 1906. When Thomas grew up he 1220 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY became first a farmer and then a carpenter, and he married Miss Bessie Porter, born near Healdsburg, Cal., the daughter of Thos. Porter, a pioneer of California, who died in Sonoma County. Thos. Crigler died in 1906, in Sonoma County, at the age of fifty-two years, leaving a widow, who still lives at Cloverdale, at the age of sixty- three. There were three children in Thomas Crigler's family. Sally has become the wife of Thomas E. Murray, a stock rancher north of Cloverdale ; Walter Millard is the subject of this review ; Lucy married Harry L. Henley, a Dry Creek rancher. After attending the common schools, Walter worked at the carpenter trade with his father; and on October 8, 1904, he was married in Sonoma County to Miss Tillie Welsky, a daughter of John and Annie Welsky, who resided on a ranch north of Ukiah, and who are now residents of Dallas, Ore. Mrs. Crigler was born in Minne sota, and came here with her parents when a babe of two months, and was educated in the schools of Ukiah. One child has blessed the union — a son, Harry Walter, who attends the Bel Passi grammar school. Mr. Crigler is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters. Ordinarily, Mr. Crigler votes the Democratic ticket. He served as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Davis, and he is now deputy sheriff under Robert Dallas. Mr. Crigler was for some years employed in the bridge and building department of the California & Northwestern Railroad. In 1913, however, he came to Stanislaus County and purchased twenty acres on Dry Creek, engaging in dairying, later selling it at a profit. He next purchased his present place, which consists of thirty-two and three-fourths well-improved acres adjoining the great Bald Eagle Ranch, of which it was formerly a part. The three Gragg Bros, bought ninety acres of the Bald Eagle Ranch in 1913, and built there houses, barns and other outhouses, and Mr. Crigler bought Bernard Gragg's place. At first he raised alfalfa and went in for dairying, and in time he engaged in raising barley and beans, but has now set it to Thompson Seedless grapes. JAMES F. JOHNSON. — Although one of the later comers to Stanislaus County, James F. Johnson, now seventy years "young" and so active and energetic that it keeps a man of half his years hustling to keep up with his labors through a long summer day, is one of the most enthusiastic boosters that the state and county have today. He resides with his splendid wife on his valuable little ranch of five acres on Dale Road, adjoining the homes of two of his sons, George W. and Jesse W., and near that of his son Charles, on Snyder Road. Since coming here in 1914, Mr. Johnson has erected a comfortable modern residence, planted an orchard, and made other improvements incident upon the establishment of a real home, doing all the construction himself. Besides the three sons mentioned, all of whom have fine ranches in Prescott precinct, there is also one daughter, Hettie W., now the wife of Emmett Bennett, a rancher at Anderson, Shasta County, this state. Mr. Johnson was born near Scottsville, in Clark County, Ind., September 3, 1850. His father was John Johnson, a native of Kentucky and a descendant from an old Virginia family, who removed to Indiana when a boy, and there grew to man hood on his father's farm, and was married to Miss Nancy Mavity, descendant of an old Dutch family. They became the parents of nine children, the third being James F., who received his education in the public and high schools of his native county. He was married at Grantsburg, Ind., August 22, 1872, to Martha Elizabeth Hughes, a native of Leavenworth, Ind., her parents, Eli and Catherine (Patrick) Hughes, of old English descent, having come to Indiana from Kentucky in an early day. Mrs. Johnson is a woman of education and culture and was attending a teachers' normal at Grantsburg, Ind., when she met her future husband. After his marriage, Mr. John son engaged in the general merchandise business at Grantsburg for a period of eight j'ears, later farming near there for some time. In 1896 he removed with his family to Areola, Mo., where he again engaged in farming for a period of five years, coming to Ventura County, Cal., in 1901, whither he had been preceded by his three sons. Arriving at Santa Paula, Ventura County, Cal., January 9, 1901, Mr. Johnson engaged in farming and for thirteen years ran a truck garden, with much success. In 1914 he disposed of his interests there and came to Stanislaus County and located in Prescott precinct, where his three sons were already established on valuable farms of HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1221 their own. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson take great pleasure in their children, and in their grandchildren, of which latter there are ten. The bond among the members of this family is a very beautiful one, the men giving in a business way much valuable assistance and cooperation to one another. In this spirit the father takes the lead, with his stalwart sons following closely. Mr. Johnson has governed his life, both social and business, squarely upon the golden rule, and has found it to be the safest and best paying business principle. He is a Mason, belonging to the Leavenworth, Ind., lodge. All of Mr. Johnson's three sons hold enviable positions in the good will and esteem of their community. Charles W. and George W. were the first of the family to come to California, arriving in Ventura County in January, 1900. Charles W. owns a fine forty-acre ranch on Snyder Road, in Prescott precinct. He was married in 1905 to Miss Olive Barker, who passed away in 1919, leaving, besides her husband, three children, Wallace, Russell and Harold, to mourn her loss. The other two sons, George W. and Jesse W., own a fine seventy-five acre prune ranch together. They are both married, and maintain separate establishments on their ranch. George W. was married to Miss Hattie Barker, in Ventura County, in 1907, while Jesse W. married Miss Effie Gilbert in Los Angeles during that same year. The sketches of both George W. and Jesse W. Johnson appear elsewhere in this volume. JESSE W. JOHNSON. — Occupying a place of prominence among the horti culturists and general farmers of Prescott precinct, Jesse W. Johnson is one of the successful prune growers in the district. Arriving in California with only seventy-five cents in cash in his pocket, he is today estimated as being worth from $35,000 to $40,000, the undivided half-interest in one of the finest fruit ranches in the vicinity. Mr. Johnson is the youngest of three sons born to James F. and Elizabeth (Hughes) Johnson, the date of his birth being October 21, 1876, at Grantsburg, Ind. Here he grew to young manhood under the tutelage of the "Hoosier schoolmaster," and was nineteen when his family removed to Missouri, where the father continued to engage in farming. In 1900 he came to California, and with his brothers he went to work with will and determination, saved their money and George and Jesse were soon able to buy a ten-acre ranch near Santa Paula. In 1907 Jesse W. Johnson was filled with a desire to locate at some point where bis opportunities would be greater, and in November came into Stanislaus County. In January, 1908, he was joined by his brother George, with whom he has always maintained a close copartnership in all business enterprises, and they bought eighty acres in Prescott precinct. Of this they later sold five acres to their parents, and today the remaining seventy-five acres, which they hold in undivided partnership, is one of the most valuable prune ranches in the county, valued at close to $80,000. The brothers, both married, have erected their separate residences on the property, and have brought it under a high state of culti vation, with careful management, making it very profitable. The marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Effie Gilbert was solemnized at Los Angeles June 12, 1907, and they have become the parents of two children, Gilbert and Lloyd. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson take an interest in all social and civic matters of their community and are general favorites. Mr. Johnson is a man with unusual capacity for hard work, and although his arduous farm duties have taxed both his time and his strength, there is never a time when he is not ready to do a goodly turn to his fellows or to lend a helping hand where one may be needed. AUGUST H. VOIGHT.— A prosperous horticulturist and apiarist of Empire precinct, is August H. Voight, who owns a splendid ranch of eighteen acres, which he has set to orchard, including prunes, almonds, peaches and Bartlett pears. His apiary consists of ninety stands of bees, and is one of the most profitable in the county. He has made a careful study of horticultural conditions, both state and local, and his orchards are especially well kept and productive. Personally, Mr. Voight is affable and enterprising, being an agreeable neighbor, an obliging friend, public spirited and dependable. He is a native of Germany, born at Brokum, Hanover, August 28, 1883, the son of William and Caroline (Holtman) Voight. In 1884, while he was yet a babe in arms, his parents came to America, coming directly to the home of his father's brother, Henry Voight, of Stanislaus 1222 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY County. Here the father engaged in farming until the time of his death in 1912. Mr. Voight is, therefore, a Stanislaus County boy, having no remembrance of any other home or influence throughout his entire life. He attended the public schools of his district until he was fourteen years of age, and then, being ambitious, he started to work for wages on neighboring farms. He has won for himself a reputation for industry and frugality, and for good, old-fashioned common sense in all matters of farm management. He takes a keen interest in all questions pertaining to farm activities, and is a member of the Stanislaus County Fruit Growers Association, the Cooperative Cannery Association, and a strong advocate of cooperation among the farmers and orchardists as a means to better conditions on the farms. Mr. Voight's mother at seventy-four, hale and hearty, graciously presides over his household. IMA W. AYRES.— A Californian who has always appreciated the greatness of Stanislaus County and its many possibilities, and who has exercised a helpful influ ence in many fields, is Ima W. Ayres, a native of Hartford City, Blackford County, Ind., where he was born on April 3, 1875. His father, George P. Ayres, also a native of Indiana, came of an old Pittsburgh, Pa., family that early settled in Indiana. He was a prominent business man in Hartford City until 1910 when he came to Modesto, where he was associated, until 1919, with his sons in the grocery business. Then he sold out his interest in the firm to Ima Ayres and since then has lived retired on McHenry Boulevard. His wife, who comes of an old Ohio family, was Mary Holmes before her marriage, and she, too, was a Hoosier by birth. She is, happily, still living, the mother of two children, Ima W., the subject of our sketch, and H. E. Ayres, who also resides in Modesto. Ima attended both the grammar and the high schools of Hartford City, while as sisting her father, during spare hours in the grocery. When he was through with his high school studies, he began to drill oil wells, and in time he became an oil-well contractor. He operated extensively over a wide area, sinking wells in Indiana, Penn sylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Texas. Having a desire to come to the Pacific Coast, he visited Seattle in 1910, took a trip South and traveled through much of California; but when he reached Modesto and discerned its wonderful possibilities, he decided to seek no further but to cast in his lot with the good citizens of Stanislaus County. He was particularly impressed with the rich land and abundance of water; and his father and brother, agreeing with his optimistic views, they built their present store building at the corner of Twelfth and Needham streets and there opened a grocery under the firm name of George P. Ayres. They established and developed such a flourishing business that in 1919 Ima purchased the interest of his father and brother and now the firm is I. W. Ayres. .The establishment ranks as one of the leading stores of the county. While in Hartford City, Ind., Mr. Ayres was married in 1905, when he was united with Miss Ora Clapper, a native of that city, and now they have three children, Helen, Edith and Ima W., Jr. The family reside in their beautiful residence at 610 McHenry Road. The Chamber of Commerce of Modesto numbers this gentleman among its most active members, and he also belongs to the Merchants and Manufac turers' Association and the Progressive Business Club. MARTIN HENRY STADIE.— A successful dairy farmer and one of the late investors in Stanislaus County land, is Martin Henry Stadie. He came to McHenry precinct in the fall of 1919, from Coos County, Ore., where he had been engaged in farming on 135 acres, conducting a prosperous dairy business. This was not his first trip to Stanislaus County, however, for he spent a year at Newman in 1912, and his return here was the direct result of his acquaintance with local conditions and oppor tunities in the dairying industry. His farm comprises thirty-two acres of fine land, and was bought from Walter Aspden, who had built up many of the present improve ments. Mr. Stadie is engaged in raising alfalfa, double cropping, and dairying, having a herd of twenty-two fine milch cows and a high-grade Holstein herd sire. Mr. Stadie is a native of Germany, born in Schleswig-Holstein, July 10, 1890. His father was August Stadie and his mother Anna Coranelsen, both natives of Ger- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1225 many. August Stadie was for a number of years employed on the dykes and on the Kiel Canal. He was a stone setter by trade, and died in 1898 at the age of thirty-eight. The wife and mother is still living in Germany, still a widow, and now almost sixty years of age. There were five children in the Stadie family, namely: Herman Frederick, now postmaster on the Island of Pell worm, Germany; Martin Henry, the subject of this sketch; Louise, the wife of Henry Steffins, an engineer on a steam dredger, lives in Husum, Schleswig; Annie Augusta, the wife of Ernest Boysen, a farmer on Pellworm Island, where they reside; and Albert. It was in 1907 that Mr. Stadie left Germany for America, sailing from Ham burg for New York, where he arrived on April 20. Ten days later he reached San Francisco, and went immediately to Ferndale, where he had friends. Here he found immediate employment and for three and a half years he remained in Humboldt County, working hard and saving his money against the time when he should have a home and a family of his own. In February, 1911, looking for larger opportunities, he. went to Coos County, Ore., remaining for a j'ear, whereupon he came to Stanislaus County and for a year worked at Newman. Returning to Coos County, he leased a dairy farm and engaged in the dairy business until October of 1919, when he again came to his present Stanislaus property on McHenry Road, in November. Shortly after going to Ferruiale, Mr. Stadie met Miss Mary A. Sutter, a native of Ferndale, who was to be his future wife. She is the daughter of Rageth and Anna (Risch) Sutter, both natives of Switzerland. She has two sisters and one brother, namely, Mrs. Sabina Haywood and Mrs. Julia Gevins, both now residing in Fern dale, and Rageth Sutter, a farmer near the same place. The marriage of Mr. Stadie and Miss Sutter was solemnized at Ferndale, September 15, 1915, and of their union have been born three children, only one of 'whom is now living, Adrian Herman, born October 1, 1918, in Coos County, Ore. Their first born, a son, Raymond Martin, passed away at their present home in January, 1920, of the influenza, when three and a half years old. The second child, Herman Rageth, born June 22, 1917, died on the day of his birth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stadie have made many friends since coming to McHenry precinct, where they bettered farm life and conditions. THOMAS N. BECKNER. — A worthy citizen, with a record for years of activ ity in important affairs, was the late Thomas N. Beckner, who had been a resident of Stanislaus County for over a decade. He was born in Hawkins County, Tenn., on February 10, 1860, the son of an abolitionist, who .had firm convictions against slavery, and was persecuted, as a result, during the Civil War. He was Perry Beckner, a native of Hawkins County, where he was also married to Miss Margaret Phillips, also of that section, whose folks had been slaveholders, but who also became abolitionists. The Beckners, far back, were of German extraction, although Grandfather Joseph D. Beckner was born in York County, Pa., on August 18, 1781. He married Miss Sarah Moore, who was born two days after the historic July 4, 1776, near Fincastle, now in Roanoke County, Va. The Moores were Scotch-Irish, while the Phillips were from England, and they were all pre-Revolutionary families, Grandfather Phillips being in the War of 1812. He was at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, under General William Henry Harrison, and knew the doughty old hero well in his more vigorous years. On account of his antislavery views, the Confederate soldiers took everything he had. Thomas Beckner grew up in Tennessee until he was nineteen years old, when pictures of teams plowing the virgin soil of Illinois attracted his attention, and he became inflamed with the "western" fever. He set out for Illinois, and arrived at Mattoon in July, 1879, where he worked on a threshing machine. He later worked at threshing and all-around farming in Coles, Douglas and Moultrie counties, in Illinois, and after that went to Macoupin County. He attended school in Illinois, in the winter season, after he was grown up, and on August 5, 1883, he was married to Miss Sarah Jane Harnish, daughter of John and Regina (Hoss) Harnish, born in Lancaster, Pa.v and Germany, respectively. They were farmers near Taylorville, Christian County, 111., later in Gove County, Kans., and then moved to Conway Springs, Sumner County, Kans., where they died. Mrs. Beckner was the third oldest Pf seven living children. She was educated in the public schools of Illinois, and was a 1226 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY member of the Church of the Brethren before her marriage, while Mr. Beckner at tended both that church and the Baptist. His mother was a Baptist, but his father was a Brethren minister, and two of his mother's brothers were Baptist ministers. After his marriage, Mr. Beckner removed, with his wife, to Macoupin County, 111., and there for ten years followed agriculture upon a rented farm. Then he went on to Kansas and settled in Sumner County, at that time very wild, and there he bought 160 acres at twelve dollars per acre. He worked hard, had abundant yields, and at one time he had enough corn, wheat, cattle and hogs on his Kansas farm to keep his family 300 years, a computation which was stimulated by a statement from the great Populist leader, Jerry Simpson, in a political speech, and which challenged in particular Mr. Beckner's party theories, he then being a standpat Republican. Mr. Beckner continued in Kansas for ten years, and in 1903 removed to Nampa, Boise Valley, Idaho, and four years later concluded his wide migrations by coming out to California. He landed in Fresno County and bought land near Reedley, where he successfully planted and developed three vineyards. On January 1, 1911, he came into Stanislaus County to live, and settled near Empire, where he bought a ranch to the north of the town, and later bought, improved and sold several ranches. In July, 1918, he bought the Empire Meat Market and actively engaged in business, assisted by his sons. Mr. Beckner passed away suddenly of heart- failure on December 22, 1920, mourned by his family and friends Mr. and Mrs. Beckner were the parents of four children. Arthur P., a graduate of the University of Idaho in 1911, with the degree of B.A., taught in the Philippine Islands for four years, after which he was principal of high schools in Oregon and Northern Idaho. He was married in the Philippines to Miss Elva Carl, born in Portland. They have one child, Jean. In December, 1920, he returned to Empire and is a partner with his brother in the Empire Meat Market. Lela is the wife of Daniel E. Eymann, the banker, who resides at Reedley. Tbe third in the order of birth was an infant who died in Illinois. Orville L. married Miss Elberta Ruth Bonsack of Empire, born at Cando, N. D., and he is a partner with his brother. O. G. OLSON. — A man who has made a prominent place for himself in the business world is O. G. Olson, the popular fruit shipper and horticulturist. "Gust" Olson, as he is popularly known, was born at Rensetter, in Vermland, Sweden, on April 25, 1865, and received a good training in the local schools, at the same time that he assisted on the home farm; In 1883, when he was eighteen years old, he crossed the ocean to the United States and settled in Traverse County, Minn., and there his parents joined him a year later. They homesteaded a farm of 160 acres, and Gust helped them until he began for himself in 1887. Then he purchased a farm of 160 acres near Norcross, Minn., and after having operated it for a few years, he rented it and was employed as salesman by Charles Batcher, an .extensive dealer in lumber. In 1891, he went to Chicago and attended the Chicago Theological Seminary for a year, and the next year entered North Park College, then located in Minneapolis. He continued to attend the college the next year when it was removed to Chicago, and in 1894 he was graduated from the theologi cal department. He then accepted a call to Brainerd, Minn., and immediately took up his duties, having been ordained a minister in the Swedish Mission Church in 1894. In that year, also, he was married to Annette C. Backman, and in 1895 he accepted a call to Su perior, where he was pastor for four years. When he resigned, he located in Braham, Minn., and for four years engaged in mercantile pursuits; at the same time that he was pastor of the church at Braham, and also of one at Grass Lake, Minn. He then moved back to Superior and engaged in the shipping and produce business. In 1908, Mr. Olson came out to California and Turlock, where he became man ager of the Rochdale Store, a position of responsibility which he filled admirably for three years. He then organized the Turlock Shipping and Supply • Company, and managed that until 1917, when the company was dissolved and their business discon tinued. Since then Mr. Olson has been busy as an independent shipper, and also as a grower of cantaloupes. Now he ships cantaloupes, watermelons and sweet potatoes, t^^t&.gZ^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1229 the offices of the packing house being located at the Southern Pacific tracks. Naturally, he is a member of the Turlock Board of Trade. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Olson : Miriam is Mrs. W. J. Thorn burg of Oakland ; Milton is employed in the First National Bank in Modesto ; Hilding attended St. Mary's College at Oakland, for two years and then entered the Students' Army Training Camp at St. Mary's until the armistice, and now he is assisting his father in business; Violet graduated from Armstrong College in 1920 and is now em ployed in the office of the Turlock Irrigation District ; Doris is a graduate of the Turlock high school and now attending Mills College, Oakland, and Carmen is in the Turlock high school. Mr. and Mrs. Olson are active members of the Swedish Mis sion Church; Mr. Olson is a Republican and a strong advocate of temperance legislation. EARL VICTOR LAUGHLIN. — Among the representatives of those early families who are well known in the annals of California pioneers may well be men tioned Earl V. Laughlin, the son of J. C. Laughlin of Oakdale. He was born three miles east of Modesto on May 15, 1884, and for the usual period in boyhood, attended the common schools in the Robinson district. He worked for his father; and Sep tember 28, 1905, he was married in Modesto to Miss Clara Adams, a native of Snelling, Merced County, but moved to Tuolumne and Mariposa counties. Two children blessed this union — Verna Martha Isabel and William Julius Laughlin. Mr. and Mrs. Laughlin own a home farm of 100 acres about three miles north of Waterford, and they rent 320 acres three miles west of Hickman, where they raise grain and barley. On the home farm, where he has thirty-five acres leveled and in alfalfa, they conduct a dairy with thirty cows. In 1917, they farmed 1,100 acres on the old Laughlin Ranch ; and in the fall of that year they built their bungalow. The parents of Mrs. Laughlin, who are now living in Stockton, are William Nelson and Sarah Isabel (Cole) Adams. Mrs. Adams was a daughter of Lum Cole, who was born in Missouri and came to California in the fifties, and in 1860 settled in Knights Ferry, and there Sarah Adams was born before the flood of 1861-62. William Nelson Adams, Mrs. Laughlin's father, was born in Illinois, a descendant of the Adams family in the East. He came to California when only nine years old, and crossed the plains in a train with his father, William Adams, and his family, who set out from Illinois about 1860. There were six children in the family, and Mrs. Laughlin was the fourth in the order of birth. From Knights Ferry, Mr. and Mrs. Cole moved to Langworth. Grandfather Cole teamed for many years to the Southern mines, and then he bought a farm and went in for the raising of grain in Claus pre cinct. One of Mrs. Laughlin's brothers, Herbert Harold Adams, fell in the Argonne drive, "a soldier in France," and his body will be reinterred at Oakdale. Mr. Laugh lin is interested in the cause of education and is serving his third term as a member of the board of directors of the Robinson school district, having been clerk of the board since his election. EDWARD EARL ARBIOS, JR.— Active in the life of his community, is Edward Earl Arbios, Jr., the postmaster and agent for the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company at Waterford, the owner of the building occupied by the post office, and the proprietor of a confectionery store. He was born in San Francisco on March 10, 1896, and lived there long enough to begin his schooling in the Bay City. Then he moved with his parents to Calaveras County and grew up at Angels Camp, where his father, E. E. Arbios, now the manager of the Turner Hardware Company at Oakdale, ran a store and had a stock ranch. He was born in Alameda County, and married Miss Laura Howard, who was popular as a school teacher. Both Mr. and Mrs. Arbios live at Oakdale; three of their children have survived, two having died in Calaveras County. Our subject is the oldest of these three: Emily has become Mrs. L. H. McBride, and is a dairy farmer, with her husband at Escalon ; Arthur is in the grammar school and lives with his parents at Oakdale. Edward E. Arbios, Jr., attended the Bret Harte high school for three years at Angels Camp, and finished his high school work at Oakdale with the class ol 14— two years in advance of the graduation of Miss Richards, now Mrs. Arbios, from the 1230 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY same institution. After graduation, Mr. Arbios went to work for the Wells Fargo Express Company at Oakdale, and for a year ran their delivery wagon ; then for two years he was an assistant with the company, and after that be was cashier for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company at Oakdale. In that town, too, he was married in 1916 to Miss Edna Richards, who was born in Sonora, and soon after marriage he took a position as clerk in the office of the Sierra Railroad Company at Jamestown, and in time he was made traveling auditor. Mr. Arbios next went to work for the Wells Fargo Express Company at Fresno ; but after three months he returned to Oakdale, to undertake relief work for the same company. Not long afterward, he entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company at Water ford, and held the first clerkship there ; and when there was a vacancy in the local post office, he took the civil service examination, passed, and was appointed postmaster. At first, Mr. Arbios installed the post office in Mr. Court's residence in Water ford ; but in August, 1 920, he commenced the erection of a suitable building for the postal service on his own lots at Waterford. It is a one-story stuccoed structure, 25x50 feet in size, and houses both the post office, the switchboard and other outfit of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, and himself and family, in the rear. Mrs. Arbios assists her husband to conduct the postal and the telephone service, and in the confectionery business. When he became agent there were only six farm lines, and now there are fifteen lines and eighty-seven subscribers. Fraternally, Mr. Arbios was made a Mason in Oakdale Lodge No. 275, F. & A. M., and Modesto Pyramid No. 15, A. E. O. S., and is also a member of Twin Town Lodge No. 342, K. of P., at Waterford, and is master at arms; and is a mem ber of the local Chamber of Commerce and of the publicity committee. HANS J. SORENSEN.— One of the men of affairs of Hughson is Hans J. Sorensen, among the leading and successful contractors of the country. He was born at Aalborg, Jylland, Denmark, on February 9, 1886, and when a mere youth left his native land and came out to America. His father Jens Sorensen, was a builder by occupation, operating in wood, brick and stone, and he married Miss Christina Petersen. She was a good mother and Hans was given such school advantages as their circumstances would afford. He began, however, to help support himself at the age of seven years, and on account of the death of his mother he left home early and made his own way in the world thereafter. He was one of a family of five children, and though his father tried to care for them, it seemed necessary that he should go out to work on farms to pay for his board. At the age of fifteen Hans turned from farming to carpentering, and after work ing for a couple of years at his trade in Denmark, he set out across the ocean to America and almost immediately came west to San Francisco, arriving April 22, 1904. There he found work in the planing mill owned by Hansen Bros, and he gave such satisfaction that he was induced to remain for four years. He then worked for a couple of years at cabinet work and fixture building. In 1911 he came to Stanislaus County, and after looking the ground over, he concluded that Hughson offered the best prospects for an expanding future. He therefore settled here, and at once pur chased a ranch of fifteen acres in the Tully tract, south of Hughson, which he farmed for three years; in the meantime, he embarked in the contracting business. His first ranch, however, he sold in 1915, and since then he has had three other ranches which he has improved with suitable buildings and then sold. The last of theses investments was forty acres in the Tully tract, and after selling this in 1920, he built for himself a model bungalow home in Hughson, just west of the new high school. In the building of the new high school for Hughson, which cost approximately $110,000, Mr. Sorensen was superintendent of construction, and he has more and more specialized in first-class homes and farm buildings. He has thus been able to render the community a substantial and appreciated service by helping to form and guide public taste and by stimulating the highest standard in architectural construction. On December 20, 1904, Mr. Sorensen was married at Eureka, Cal., to Miss Clara Jacobsen, who was reared at Ferndale, Humboldt County, the daughter of Jacob and Mary Jacobsen. Her father came to California from Denmark some years -^¦jjc^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1233 ago and is now the proprietor of Canyon Park, a resort on the Eel River near Scotia. Mr. Sorensen was bereaved of his faithful companion, who passed away March 6, 1918, deeply mourned by her family and friends. They were the parents of four children : Thea attends, the Hughson high school ; Alma and Elsie are in the grammar school; James is at home. In national politics a Republican, Mr. Sorensen is a broad- minded "booster" in local affairs, and may always be counted upon to do his utmost to forward the best interests of the community. He is a member of Bornholm lodge of the "Dania" at Modesto. VOLKERT VAN DER PLAATS.— A native of Holland, Volkert Van der Plaats is a representative of the highest type of foreign-born American citizen, whom California welcomes to her broad lands. Mr. Van der Plaats has been a resident of Empire, Stanislaus County, where he owns a valuable 100-acre farm, since 1909, and of California for ten years previous, and is a thorough, scientific agriculturist. Mr. Van der Plaats was born at Friesland, Holland, "November 16, 1863. His father, also Volkert Van der Plaats, was a well-to-do tea merchant, importing princi pally from the East India market. His family was for generations native to Fries land, Holland. He was married to Miss Catharine Gertrude Schagen, and they became the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this review was the third born, and is the only one in America. Five others are living and reside in Holland. Educated in the excellent schools of Holland, Mr. Van der Plaats was given careful training in the Dutch, English, French and German languages, receiving in all a well-rounded education. He took to the sea when he was but fifteen, and at sixteen he went into his father's business. His father, however, passed away when his son was only eighteen, and he then turned to agricultural pursuits, going onto the farms of Holland, where he became thoroughly familiar with farming and agriculture. Mr. Van der Plaats left Antwerp on November 27, 1886, and landing at New York City, proceeded almost immediately to Sioux County, Iowa, locating at Orange City. Miss Sarah Dykstra, a native of the same city in Holland, had come to Iowa with her parents in 1881, and she and Mr. Van der Plaats were married at Orange City in January, 1887. Mr. Van der Plaats, immediately after his marriage, bought two farms of 243 acres and 160 acres, respectively, in Sioux County, and later added a third farm of 200 acres. On this property, which lay some two and half miles southwest of Orange City, were born the six children which blessed his marriage, and here he resided with his wife and family until, in 1899, his wife's failing health brought them to California. He located in Los Angeles, where he invested in property, and where he resided for the next ten years. Agricultural interests of the state invited Mr. Van der Plaats' attention, and he eventually came into Stanislaus County and bought 100 acres near Empire, where he has since resided. His farm has been managed by his eldest son, Fulton, except for the time this young man was in war service . During the great gold rush to Alaska Mr. Van der Plaat made the journey there. His party, under the leadership of Dr. Henry of Sioux City, Iowa, were the first to explore the third glacier from Ketchikan. They also explored the Alsac River for gold, but here, as elsewhere, they failed to find the precious metal in paying quanti ties. Mr. Van der Plaats turned his hand to other activities, being for a time in the salmon fishing industry and also in the canning industry before he returned to California. Mr. Van der Plaats is a student and a wide reader, having an unusually broad grasp on great questions. His children are all known here and highly esteemed. Fulton enlisted in the army soon after the outbreak of hostilities in the World War, and saw much active service in France with Headquarters Troop of the Ninety-first Division. He had many hairbreadth escapes from death and injury, but was not seriously wounded. He is now farming his father's 100-acre ranch. Donald is also assisting his father in his farming operations; Bertha is the wife of H. Hider of Vallejo; and Gertrude, the youngest, resides at home with her parents. Politically, Mr. Van der Plaats is a Republican, a strong party man, and an advocate of clean principles in government and real business administration. Mrs. Van der Plaats is a member of the Presbyterian Church, in which her children have been reared. 1234 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY EARL WILLIAM COSTNER.— Much of the progress in California agricul ture of recent years has been due to such successful grain farmers as Earl William Costner of the Waterford precinct. A native son, proud of his association with the great Pacific commonwealth, he was born near Modesto on July 12, 1895, on the ranch of his father, W. S. Costner, whose biography may be found elsewhere in this volume. He had married Mattie Halliday. The lad attended the local schools ; and at La Grange, on October 5, 1919, he was married to Miss Verda McMillan of that town. He had already rented a grain farm in the vicinity, and so was established at La Grange before he undertook the responsibilities of marital life. Since then, through hard work and strict attention to business, Mr. Costner has succeeded where others have failed. In 1919 he rented the Roxy Harbert ranch of 700 acres in the Waterford precinct, and there he operates with a full complement of farm machinery, using two twelve-mule teams. He heeds the late developments of science, and also seeks to incorporate the most practical means and the shortest cuts, and is a member of the Hickman-Waterford Center and Farm Bureau Exchange. As might be expected of one who was by birth a Californian, and who had come to prosper in this part of the state, Mr. Costner is very devoted to Stanislaus County and the Waterford precinct, and is ever ready to "boost" this favored section. PETER PALLESEN. — Although one of the more recent arrivals in Stanislaus County, Peter Pallesen has identified himself with the best interests of the county. He is the owner of two good ranches, both highly improved, and. he and his sons are recognized as men of superior ability as farmers. The eldest son, Arne, rendered splendid service under the Stars and Stripes on the fields of France and with the Army of Occupation in Germany. He saw service with the One Hundred and Fifteenth Engineers Corps. He was overseas for eleven months, and was honorably discharged at the Presidio, at San Francisco, July 10, 1919. There are eight children in the Pallesen family. They are, besides the son mentioned above, Jens Christian, Chris tine G., Della, Neils, Thomas, Martin and Mary. The mother passed away in 1913- the year before the family came to California. Peter Pallesen, now a loyal, true American citizen, and the father of splendid joung citizens, was born in Jylland, Denmark, October 23, 1868. His father was a small farmer, owning about thirty acres, and here the family of seven children were reared and educated, and all confirmed in the Lutheran Church. The young Peter was confirmed at the age of fourteen years, at which time he also practically com pleted his education. Later he worked with his father on the farm. When he was twenty-two he journeyed across the ocean to join an elder sister, who had the year before come to Albert Lea, Freeborn County, Minn. This was in 1890, and for two or more years he worked for wages on the farms of that vicinity, learning the manners and customs of the new country, acquiring their speech and saving enough money to go into business for himself. In 1893 he and a brother-in-law, now deceased, rented a farm in Freeborn County and engaged in ranching on an independent basis. The marriage of Mr. Pallesen occurred in 1894, uniting him with Miss Mary Olsen, a native of Freeborn County, Minn., and descended from a good old Danish family. Following his marriage he went with his bride to Clay County, Minn., where he bought 240 acres of land sixteen miles southeast of Moorhead, Minn., where he farmed with great profit. Later he sold this property and moved to Douglas County, where he bought an improved farm of 160 acres. It was here that Mrs. Pallesen passed away in 1913, leaving her husband and children desolate at the great loss. The following year the home farm was sold and the entire family came to California. At first they lived for a short time in Yolo County, where Mr. Pallesen owned 195 acres of fine land five miles southeast of Woodland. Coming to Stanislaus County in the fall of 1919, he has bought two places, one of thirteen acres just west of Empire, where the family home is established, and another of 130 acres of grain land at Oak dale, both very valuable. Mr. Pallesen has prospered steadily since he came to America, now some thirty years ago. He brought a goodly competence with him tc Stanislaus County, which he has invested wisely and well, increasing his holdings. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1237 A. E. SANDBERG. — An enterprising and prosperous merchant of Turlock who has yet found time to devote to both church work and civic affairs, is A. E. Sandberg, who was born near Red Wing, Minn., on July 28, 1877, the son of A. B. Sandberg, an early settler in that region. He followed farming and was very successful; and when he removed to Minneapolis and engaged in contracting and building, good luck pjso rewarded his efforts. After that, he took up his residence at Willmar, Minn., and farmed for fifteen years, and then he came back to Minneapolis, where he died. Mrs. Sandberg still resides there, the mother of seven boys and a girl. Our subject is the only one in California, the other six sons being in the grocery-bakery business together. A. E. Sandberg was reared in Minneapolis, and there attended the local schools, although part of his school days were passed at Willmar. On his return to Minnea polis, he attended Northwestern College, now Minnehaha Academy; and after being graduated, he set himself up with his brother, Samuel, in the grocery business, under the firm name of Sandberg Bros. At the end of four j'ears, he sold out his interest to his brother, and in 1907 struck out West for California. He had not been here long before he chose Turlock as the locality which appealed most to him and here he entered the employ of M. M. Berg as general clerk in different departments. At the end of the year, he went with the Turlock Rochdale Company as clerk, and was in charge for a year of their dry goods and clothing department; and when that firm became the Turlock Mercantile Company he continued with them until April, 1917, when he started "The Reliable" establishment for boys' and men's clothing and furnishings and shoes, forming his present partnership with A. C. Lund gren under the firm name of Sandberg & Lundgren. They are located at 212 West Main Street, and not. only is their store equipped and designed in an ideal manner, but their methods of doing business, together with their large, varied and complete up-to- date stocks, make the place most desirable and satisfactory. Mr. Sandberg belongs to the Board of Trade, and is a stockholder in the Yosemite Hotel Company. At Willmar, Minn., Mr. Sandberg was married to Miss Lydia Anderson, a native of Minnesota; and three children have blessed their union. Harold Edward is the oldest ; then comes Marian Janet ; while the j-oungest is Lorraine Violet. Mr- Sandberg is a member of the Swedish Mission Church, of which he was for years the financial secretary, and he is at present president of the official board. He has also been secre tary of the Board of Trustees of Emanuel Hospital from the time of its organization, and has been especially active in building up that most serviceable institution. Mr. Sandberg is also interested in ranching, and owns a small farm which is devoted to the raising of peaches, raisins and cantaloupes. ANSEL LITCHFIELD KNOWLES.— A public official of varied and valuable experience, Ansel Litchfield Knowles was born at Stockton, on March 29, 1862, and in that interesting city of the San Joaquin Valley passed his boyhood and grew to a vigorous manhood. His father, Isaac Hazard Knowles, crossed the great plains in 1849, and then returned to Rhode Island by water, after which -he brought his wife, who was Miss Eliza Wilson before her marriage, and his two children with him on his return journey to California. He teamed for a while to Coulterville, and was elected judge at that place, and in later years he was best known as a bookkeeper. Ansel Knowles attended the public schools at Stockton, and after that entered the volunteer fire department, and as a result of this early gratuitous service was a paid fire man in Stockton for twenty-five years. He acted as chief of the fire department at times, worked hard for its development and advancement and overworked, and so broke down his health. His physician gave him only a year in which to live and advised him to get "out into the open — God's open world." He had been married at Stockton to Miss Ethel L. Gardenhire, daughter of Fred Gardenhire, a native of Tennessee, a member of one of the early families in San Joaquin County. In 1907 he bought twelve acres just outside of the town limits of Hickman, and this he has since operated, with the aid of his devoted wife, and with such excellent results from the enforced living in sunshine and fresh air that he has been mercifully restored to health, and has been able to serve as constable of Waterford Township, and is also deputy sheriff. He is a popular member of the Firemen's Asso- 50 1238 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ciation of Stockton, and the Stockton Parlor of the Native Sons. Mrs. Knowles is a member of the Native Daughters of the Golden West at Stockton, and both Mr. and Mrs. Knowles attend the Congregational Church. The Knowles family has an interesting origin and history. It is of English ex traction, and during many generations there have been substantial farmer-folk of that name in Rhode Island. The Wilson family, on the other hand, came from Ireland, and as Protestants they were prominent, the great-great-grandfather of our subject having been a Methodist preacher in Rhode Island. I. H. Knowles was one of the first New Englanders to cross the wide plains to California ; and he died at Stockton seventy-six years old. Mrs. Knowles also passed away in that city, the following year, in 1901, in her seventy-seventh year. They had six children: Frank W., Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. Lucky of Portland, Ore. ; William H., now deceased ; Edward B., Ansel Litchfield, and Mary, who died in Stockton when she was two j'ears old. Mr. and Mrs. Ansel L. Knowles are the parents of two children. Verna E. has become the wife of W. E. Hall, a rancher of the Hickman precinct. Ray is a student in the Modesto high school. GUY LAUGHLIN. — An interesting representative of the bonanza farmers of Stanislaus County who have done so much, by their foresight and intelligent industry and courageous enterprise, to make this favored section of Central California still more famous, is Guy Laughlin, who lives southwest of Hickman on the L. N. Mires ranch. He was born on January 1, 1872, in Osage County, Mo., the son of J. C. and Martha (Dallas) Laughlin, whose life-story is given elsewhere in this historical work; and when eighteen months old came with his parents to California, when they settled at Riverbank. The father then moved east of Modesto, where he bought 280 acres of land, which he farmed to wheat; and later he bought 640 acres, north of Turlock. He sold this tract and bought and sold various other places, and at one time owned two sections seven miles southeast of Oakville in the Claribel section, so that for many years he was regarded as one of the most extensive wheat farmers in the country. He had six sons, and they all helped their father in these farming opera tions. Now he is living retired, and is director in the First National Bank at Oakdale. Seven of their ten children are still living, and among them our subject is the third son. Guy Laughlin grew up on the home farm, and attended both the public schools and was for two years at the Stanislaus Seminary and Normal School at Oakdale. He took a commercial course in the same institution, and graduated in the first class sent out from that expanding institution. Then he rented the old George Murphy place of 320 acres, near Oakdale, from his father, as his first business venture in 1894. Mr. Laughlin and his brother, Herbert G. Laughlin, now at Oakdale, next together bought 1,400 acres three miles east of Waterford, and with 1,100 acres of the Reservoir Ranch, they farmed 2,500 acres. At the end of three j'ears they divided the land, which they -continued to farm until the Modesto Reservoir district bought the land they had leased, when he farmed his own place. Mr. Laughlin then went into the sheep business, on Collins, Ward & Bishop's ranch, where he had from 1,200 to 1,500 head. He also farmed his 700 acres, and rented three places besides, operating again about 2,500 acres. He was in the sheep business another three years; but in 1920 he sold the 700-acre ranch. Mr. Laughlin had rented his present place, the Lou N. Mires ranch, as early as 1917, of 960 acres, and here he and his two sons are associated in their farming opera tions. He rents in addition 1,200 acres of the Hickman ranch. They have also been running, for the past four j'ears, with the home place, 2,700 acres. They Use a big team of ten mules, and one Best tractor of seventy-five horsepower. They also own and operate a Holt self-propelled, combined harvester and thresher, propelled by a fifty-five horsepower engine. Mr. Laughlin is a prominent member of the Waterford- Hickman Center of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, and he is also a director in the Federation of American Farmers. In national politics he is a Republican. Mr. Laughlin has built a fine residence at 107 Tuolumne Boulevard, in Mo desto, and in that city Mrs. Laughlin attends the Episcopal Church, of which she is HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1239 a member. Mr. Laughlin was married for the first time in 1894 to Miss Maria Steele, a daughter of Lafayette Steele, and a native of Stanislaus County; and in June, 1896, she passed away. Two years later he married Miss Johanna Holm, a native of Copen hagen, Denmark, a daughter of the late J. P. Holm, of Oakdale. He was born on the Island of Bornholm, and was married in Copenhagen to H. C. Mathilda Hansen, who was born on the Island of Fyen. They came to California in 1888. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and the worthy couple had eight children, but only two are living: Johanna Mathilda, nee Holm, now Mrs. Laughlin, and Inger Marie Holm, now Mrs. H. J. Coffee, the wife of the rancher living north of Modesto. Six children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Laughlin: Raj'mond is a graduate of the Modesto Business College, and in 1920 was married to Miss Edna Anderson of Montpellier, a prosperous rancher; Arthur is also a graduate of the* Modesto Business College and lives at home. These two sons are partners of their father in the farm enterprises. Doris I., who was graduated from the Modesto high school in 1919, is a sophomore at the State University. Marie attends the Modesto high school in the class of '22, while the younger members are Edwin and Howard. SYLVESTER FITZPATRICK.— A well-known stockman of Central Califor nia, whose father was one of the biggest cattlemen of early California, running hun dreds of head of sheep and cattle on his own acres and on the public domain, Sylvester Fitzpatrick owns one tract of 700 acres in this county on which he has always grazed stock, or leased it for purposes of pasturage. But the onward march of progress is manifested by the fact that this will soon be under irrigation, and then Mr. Fitzpatrick, veteran cattleman though he is, purposes to subdivide and sell it off in small farms. And so the old era passes to make way for the new. Mr. Fitzpatrick is a native of California, born in Marj'sville, Yuba County, February 5, 1865. His father was Owen Fitzpatrick, and his mother Rose Fitz simmons, both natives of County Cavan, Ireland. Owen Fitzpatrick came to America in 1854, landing at New York and coming on immediately to California, where he engaged in mining industries in Yuba County, his wife soon after joining him, making ¦ the long journey around the Horn. In 1868 he came with his family into Stanislaus County, three years before the railroads arrived. Here he preempted and bought 2,000 acres of land and engaged in sheep and cattle raising ; the old homstead place is still marked with a few oak trees where the cabin stood when the family came from Marj'sville. Soon after this Mr. Fitzpatrick died, leaving his wife with four sons. The district school, called "The Junction," furnished the only available educa tional opportunities of the place, and here the brothers were educated. The first business, enterprise of Mr. Fitzpatrick was stock raising, which he has always followed with great success, while his brothers, James and Peter, have followed general farm ing and dairying. He had 400 or 500 head of stock at an early age, and his constant attention to business, his wide knowledge and careful study of marketing conditions have been important factors in his success. Mr. Fitzpatrick has not confined his interests to Stanislaus County by any means, but has been in the stock raising business in Fresno and Santa Clara County, on Kings River, and on the McDermott ranch, where for eight years he was foreman. Besides the 700 acres of grazing land previously mentioned, Mr. Fitzpatrick owns residence property and other real estate in Modesto, 350 acres of valuable land in Tuolumne County, and valuable city property in Richmond, Cal. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church in Modesto, and takes a keen interest in all matters which concern the welfare of the community, and carrying into his neighborly goodfellowship the same splendid energy and .efficiency which has made him such a success in business. Mr. Fitzpatrick has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Millicent Malone, to whom he was wed in 1898, and by whom he had one son, Sylvester A., a student in the Bakersfield school, taking up mineralogy. After her death, he was married July 5, 1908, to Mrs. Lucy (Oaman) Herlilie, in San Francisco, a widow with one daughter, Miss Marjorie Herlilie, a student in Modesto high. Of this marriage have been born two daughters and a son : Lucile and Millicent, in the gram mar school, and James, the latter born September 24, 1920. 1240 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY MRS. HUGH HEAD. — A native daughter, distinguished for her natural ability and definite attainments, is Mrs. Hugh Head, until some years ago the widow of W. W. Hall, and now residing on the old Hall ranch some three miles south of Hick man. Her father was Thomas S. Rowe, who was born in New Hartford, Conn., in 1832, the son of Jacob and Maria Rowe. The latter died when Thomas was only three years old ; and he emigrated from New England to Michigan with his father in 1835. Two years later, they moved on to Mineral Point, Wis., where they remained until 1849; and then he crossed the plains with his father and settled in Nevada. Upon arriving, eventually, in California, they found everyone in a great fever of excitement, and as many as could go were in the mines delving for gold. Among them was Jacob Rowe, who had caught the fever and had come with the real Argo nauts to dare and to share. All were armed for defense ; and as most of the company were young men, active, healthy, and often well-educated, and full of hope and en thusiasm, they became the flower of the West. In their ignorance of the nature of auriferous deposits, they expected, unless extremely unfortunate, to strike places where they should dig up two or three hundred pounds of gold in a day without difficulty; and in visions by day and dreams by night, they uncovered dazzling treasures. Soon after reaching California, Thomas Rowe decided to return for his family; he brought them to Nevada, and after remaining there for a few months he returned to the Golden State, removed to Tuolumne County, and settled near where he later resided, locating his Stanislaus County home in 1855, a year after the organization of the county. Jacob Rowe died in 1862, ten years after Thomas S. Rowe had married Miss Clarinda Browder, by whom he had nine children — five girls and four boys — - named Augustus F., James H., Maria, Josephine, Orilla A., Laura, Victoria, Thomas G., and Andrew Rowe. Thomas S. Rowe, who died at Los Angeles May 28, 1914, in his eighty-third year, came to own 1,100 acres of land and to farm four rented sec tions, devoted principally to grain — a handsome farm, well-watered and well-tim bered, on the Tuolumne River, ten miles east of Modesto. His good wife, who was a native of Missouri, died in her forty-third year, when Mrs. Head was only eight years of age. Augustus and James Rowe reside in Marysville. Maria married O. H. Murray and died at Westport on April 30, 1918. Josephine is the wife of John Lyons and resides at Colfax, Wash. Orilla Adeline is the subject of our review. Laura is Mrs. Beyrle of Los Angeles. Victoria is the wife of Bert L. Dallas, of Berkeley, who ranches at Hickman. Thomas still lives at Los Angeles, and Andrew is at Weed in Shasta County. Mrs. Head was born within four miles of her present home and in that district she attended the public schools. When eighteen years of age, she was married to W. W. Hall, a native of San Joaquin County, but later a farmer enviably associated with the history of Stanislaus County. He was the son of a very representative citi zen, Edgar A. Hall, who was one of the largest tax-payers and most substantial and influential citizens in Central California. He was born at St. Johnsbury, Vt., in 1835, the son of William and Maria (French) Hall, both natives of and long resi dents in Vermont, and his early occupation was that of a farmer. He enjoyed a common school education, and when seventeen years of age, went to Boston, where he worked for three years. At twenty years of age, he left St. Johnsbury to try his fortune in the El Dorado ; and at New York he took the steamer for Panama, crossed the Isthmus, and arrived in San Francisco on July 28, 1855. He then went to the mines in Sierra County; and after spending some three years there, he was glad to retire with only fifty dollars in his pocket. He then traveled through all the northern counties, and finally, in 1860, located in Stanislaus County, where he engaged in raising and selling stock for seven years, finding it more" profitable than prospecting; and after that his career illustrated what steady industry and perseverance might accomplish in a few years, enabling him, for example, to rise from the position of a poor boy to that of one of the enviable men in the county. In February, 1866, he married Miss Mary Elizabeth Jones, a native of Missouri, and their union was blessed with William Wheeler, Georgia, Alice Maud, and Mary Elizabeth Hall. Edgar A. Hall had nearly 5,000 acres located fifteen miles east of Modesto, and m addition to raising grain, he had some 2,500 sheep, seventy-five horses and mules, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1243 and 200 hogs. The ranch home of the family was a large residence with ample verandas, with an observatory tower from which fine views could be had of the plains and distant mountains. Besides the best of machinery and modern appliances then obtainable, Mr. Hall kept about eighty head of horses and mules for the operation of the ranch. At his death, he left his son, W. W. Hall, 2,600 acres of land, including the Hall home place, while the widow had about 5,000 acres. On November 18, 1910, Wm. W. Hall died, aged forty-four years, the father of three children by the subject of our sketch. Georgia is the wife of Siddall Barnes, rancher, who lives on 640 acres adjoining. Leland is another prosperous rancher, with the same amount of acreage, and he married Ethel Yancey. And Edgar also does well with another 640 acres. He. married Verna Knowles, a daughter of A. L. Knowles. This fact of equal ownership among the children is to be explained by the fact that their mother, when she married Hugh Head, of Napa, first distributed her property. The late Mr. Hall was a graduate of the college at Lytton Springs, and Mr. Head, who was born at Napa, in 1875, on November 24, is also a man of attainment, particularly as an agriculturist. He grew up in Napa, went to school there, and be came a farmer and a stockman. He also studied civil engineering, and became an engineer of ability. Mr. and Mrs. Head live in the comfortable residence on a knoll, three miles southeast of Hickman overlooking the Tuolumne Valley ; and as they are both good workers, and large-hearted, broad-minded folks, they dispense a generous hospitality, and seek to participate in local movements in such a manner as to enable them to be of the greatest service, unostentatiously, to the community. NIELS ANDERSON. — One of the representative grain ranchers of Stanislaus County is Niels Anderson, owner of 800 acres of fine grain land on the West Side. He was born on November 1, 1866, in Guldbrandsdalen, Norway, son of Andres and Anna Nelson. His father was a farmer until an injury diverted him into merchant tailoring. He passed away in 1892, his widow surviving him until 1913. The Nelsons had five children reaching maturity, our subject being youngest. He grew up in a farming community and received a good education locally. When nineteen he wandered Calif orniawards to Stockton. In July, 1886, he settled in Waterford and ranched there. He then leased a 700-acre farm for one year in partnership and later leased a 1 ,200-acre grain farm alone near the Halfway House, between Modesto and Crows Landing. He next leased a 320-acre farm five miles east of Modesto and then a 580-acre farm southwest of Crows Landing, where he raised barley and wheat. Mr. Anderson finally purchased a half section of the old Spriggs ranch in 1908, later buj'ing additional land adjoining until he now controls 800 acres, devoted to grain raising. He owns a seventy-five-horsepower Holt caterpillar, with a fifty-eight foot harrow, and a Haines-Hauser combined harvester. He keeps only sufficient horses, cattle and hogs for domestic use. Mr. Anderson's first visit to his native land was in 1902, while his mother was still living: Returning to California he resumed farming. However, yearning to see the fields and fiords of his youth, he made a second trip to Norway, remaining a year, and renewed the acquaintance of Miss Nora Marie Hansen, whom he had met at his earlier home-coming in 1902. This acquaintance resulted in their marriage October 14, 1911. She was born at Narmestad, near Christiania, a daughter of Hans Lauritz Dohlen, who married Mathia Thori. They were well-to-do farmers, owning the Gaard Dohlen at Gjerdrum. He was also a stone mason engaged in contracting and building, was a manufacturer of brick and tile and operated a stone quarry until his death in 1916. His widow continues to reside in the old home, while the oldest son, William Herman Dohlen, has succeeded to his father's business. Ten children were the issue of this couple, but only five survive. Mrs. Anderson is the oldest, and the only one in America. When fourteen, Marie went to live with an aunt and uncle in Christiania, and it was there she first met Mr. Anderson. Since 1911 the Andersons have dwelled and farmed near Crows Landing, and one child, Alfhild Madalene, has blessed their union. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of Patterson Lutheran Church, and are Republicans. 1244 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY JAMES O. RAFTER. — One of the attractive country homes of Stanislaus County is that of James O. Rafter, four miles east of Modesto, on the Waterford Road. It consists of thirty acres of fine land, under a high state of cultivation, and was bought by Mr. Rafter in 1917. Immediately he commenced to improve it. He has thirteen acres in peaches of Tuscan and Phillips Cling, and seven acres of Thomp son Seedless grapes, and the balance in alfalfa. He has erected a handsome modern bungalow, while the grounds are artistically developed. Mr. Rafter is a native of New York State, born at Batavia, March 12, 1875. He is a genuine Californian nevertheless, for this state has been his home since he was a mere lad, for in 1885 his parents, John and Susan (Passmore) Rafter, came with their family, then numbering five children, to this state, settling near Salida. Here three more children were born, all well and favorably known in this section of the state. For a time the father and the elder sons worked for wages, but later the father bought land and farmed. He died in 1895, but the widow at seventy survives in Oakdale. After completing his education in the excellent public schools of Stanislaus County, Mr. Rafter engaged in farming industries, and has met with much well deserved success. He has a splendid reputation among his fellows as a man of integrity and ability, and ranks high in business circles. His marriage occurred August 27, 1914, uniting him with Mrs. Jensine Christensen, who was the mother of one child, a daughter, Gladys, who has adopted her stepfather's name and is being reared as his own. Mrs. Rafter is as popular as is her husband, and their hospitable home is the center of much social activity. Mr. Rafter is a member of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, and of the Federation of American Farmers. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World. Politically he is a Republican, a stanch party man, standing strongly for clean government and for business administration. FRANK C. HALDEMAN. — Prominent among the chief owners of business property at the growing village of Hickman, Frank C. Haldeman is naturally much interested in the future of this promising town. He has had an extensive experience as grain warehouseman, storekeeper, drayman and public official, and all this experience will be at the service of the community as Hickman continues to grow. Frank Connell Haldeman first came to Stanislaus County about thirty years ago from Missouri, where he was born at La Belle, Lewis County, on July 9, 1867, and had obtained a good grammar school education. His father was William Haldeman, a native of Pennsylvania, who was married in Missouri to Drucilla Connell, who was born in Ohio ; and to these worthy folks Mr. Haldeman owed the right kind of a home for boyhood daj's. In 1883, Mr. Haldeman spent some time in Kansas, after wards going to Colorado, where he spent several years; then in Texas and Old Mexico a short period; then in New Mexico, where he remained until 1889. After five j'ears in Stanislaus County working for the Grange Company at Modesto, Mr. Haldeman went to Los Angeles, where he worked in a warehouse; and while living in the City of the Angels he met and married Miss Ella Williams, who was born at Indianapolis, Ind. Returning to Stanislaus County, he was again emploj'ed by the Grange Company and sent to Hickman to run the large grain ware houses here at the end of the nineties. He was appointed postmaster at Hickman, but press of business led him to resign, and a few years later his wife was appointed in his stead. Mr. Haldeman was for many years in the general merchandise business at Hickman ; and a year and a half ago he embarked in auto-truck draying. His son, Frank C. Haldeman, Jr., is also engaged in the same line at Hickman, and runs his business independently of his father. The building in which the post office at Hickman is located is also owned by Mr. Haldeman — and so is a store building and the public hall at Hickman. They have three children: Frank O, already referred to, is married and lives in Hickman; Lucile is the wife of Harold Young and resides in San Francisco ; Georgia married C. L. Robinson, a rancher in Tuolumne County. In 1919, Mr. Haldeman was appointed justice of the peace in Hickman, with jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, sitting as a committing magistrate in case of felonies. He is well-read, endeavors to be fair, and decides without fear or favor. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1245 The court room and office adjoins the post office building. Mr. Haldeman has been an active member of the Hickman Board of Trade since its organization, serving as its first president, since which time he has been secretary and is the representative from Hickman to the Stanislaus County Board of Trade since its organization, serving several years as a member of the advertising committee. He has been a member of the board of directors of the Hickman school district several years. Mrs. Haldeman, the postmaster since 1904, who is also engaged in running an ice-cream and confectionery store nearby, is the daughter of John T. Williams, a mechanical engineer of Indianapolis, who was born in Indiana and there married to Miss Mary A. Whittaker, of Greencastle. They had three children, two of whom are still living: Mary F. became the wife of Max Streicher, a shoe dealer in Los Angeles, but died six years ago and left one child; Ella is Mrs. Haldeman of this portion of our review'; George resides in Pasadena. Mr. and Mrs. Williams came to California, and Mr. Williams died in Los Angeles six j'ears ago, in his seventy-first year. The mother is seventy-five j'ears old. Mrs. Haldeman grew up in Indianapolis, attended both the grammar and the high schools there, and then went to a business college; in 1894 she came to California with her parents. JACOB WARREN DEARDORFF.— A total-abstinence pioneer who has the satisfaction not only of having helped to establish a branch of an important church, but to advance the cause of prohibition, is Jacob Warren Deardorff, the rancher and leveling contractor, well known in Stanislaus County, who is acting elder in the Church of the Brethren at Waterford. He was born in Henry County, Ind., on June 14, 1864, the son of John Deardorff, a native of that county. The Deardorff family is traceable back to Catherine Deardorff, of York, Pa., who was the mother of a large family of sons and came of a family at one time living in Holland. John Deardorff was married in Henry County to Miss Matilda Bowman, also a native of Henry County and the daughter of an Indiana farmer and preacher in the Church of the Brethren. Eight children were born to that union, and among these our subject was the fifth child and the eldest son. By a second marriage, John Deardorff had two more children, and all ten grew to maturity. J. W. Deardorff attended the common schools of Huntington County, and later in Henry County, Ind. Near Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, December 21, 1883, he married Miss Elizabeth Howard, a native of Ross County, Ohio, born near Green field, where she grew up. Later, she moved with her parents to Preble County, Ohio, and there she was married. She was a daughter of Christopher and Mary Howard, and the seventh among ten children. She obtained her schooling in various places, and went to the common schools in Ross County, Ohio; and later at Maple Hill and Davis, Ind. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Deardorff continued to farm in Henry County, and then Mr. Deardorff became a traveling salesman for the Harding k Miller Music Company of Evansville, Ind., and for five years sold pianos and organs throughout Southern Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. His home was at Oakland City, Ind., until he moved to Murray, Ky. While living at Murray, Ky., Mr. Deardorff had an attack of typhoid fever, and with the breakdown of his health, he was also attacked with inflammatory rheu matism. He was told that North Dakota would be favorable to him ; and he went there and regained his health. In that state, also, he obtained salvation, and at Egeland, N. D., in 1903, he was elected to the ministry, and the following year advanced, and the third year he was ordained a bishop. From North Dakota he came to California and Modesto in 1909. Arriving here, he went over the Empire section with Mr. Beery of the Colonization Company and was so favorably impressed with the land that when asked by Mr. Beery and his colleagues of the company what he thought of it, Mr. Deardorff replied, "As far as I am concerned, whether you buy or not, I shall buy a farm there anyway." That settled it with the members of the Coloniza tion Company and the result was the founding of the Empire Colony. In February ' of the next year Mr. Deardorff bought forty acres of stubblefield at Empire, and in the same month moved here with his family. He checked land and planted alfalfa; and as a land-leveler he has become an authority. He is also a practical engineer. 1246 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. Deardorff has done much to build up the church at Empire, and became the first presiding elder, serving for two years, and assistant elder for the same period. He has also taken a live interest in the Sunday school work. The church grew from n membership of thirteen to over 300 souls. At the same time, he helped to establish the church at Waterford, having sold his land at Empire. He bought new acreage at Waterford, has checked up five acres and planted the same to alfalfa. He already has a barn, tank house, and garage, and a new residence will start soon. Mr. Deardorff belongs to the Conservative body in the Church of the Brethren — the other parties being the Old Way and the Progressive, and in 1913 he was a dele gate to the national convention of the church at York, Pa. He has attended many of the church conferences, and he and his good wife will in all likelihood go back and attend the international conference at Hershey, Pa., in 1921. He helped the settlers to organize the Church of the Brethren at Waterford, in the fall of 1918, and the church now has a membership of about 110, with a Sunday school having 130 pupils. He is now presiding elder of the church. Mr. and Mrs. Deardorff have two children: Irwin Howard is a rancher living west of Waterford, where he has ten acres, half of which are devoted to Calimyrna figs and half to alfalfa. He married Miss Hattie B. Garvey, a native of Missouri. Goldie Olive, the second-born, is the wife of David Howard Rinehart, the rancher, who also has five acres west of Waterford. They have three children — Mary, Fern and Warren La Veri. Mr. Deardorff was one of the organizers of the Old Peoples Home of the Church of the Brethren at Empire and was a member of the board of trustees Irom its organization for six years, a part of the time as president. AUGUST DICKOW. — As the pioneer rice-grower of Stanislaus County, August Dickow, of the firm of Dickow & Cook, in the Waterford precinct, enjoys with his partner, W. F. Cook, an enviable position in the history of progressive agriculture in Central California. He was born at Bergbruch, Germany, on December 12, 1865, the son of John Dickow, who owned 300 acres of land in the province of Posen, Ger- manj' — now belonging to Poland — where he was a successful farmer. He married Miss Augusta Dendenger. Jno. Dickow is now dead ; but a year ago the mother was alive, at the age of ninety-eight, and since then Mr. Dickow has not heard from her. Four brothers and four sisters in the family of nine remained in Germany, but our subject came to America in 1887 to escape military duty. He sailed from Bremerhafen and reached New York City on February 14, 1887, and in the metropolis he learned the harness-maker's trade. He had received a high school training in the gj'mnasium in Germany, and had pursued there a course in forestry. When he settled at Cincinnati, he worked for the Perkins Campbell Com pany, wholesale harness manufacturers, continuing with them for twelve years, when he went into business for himself at Seymour, Ind., and built up a harness factory which employed forty men, and he did half a million dollars' worth of work for the Government during the Philippine campaign. In 1888, Mr. Dickow was married at Cincinnati to Miss Charlotte Klein, a native of Ohio. One child was born of this union — a son, Ewalt E., who was entered into service for the late war, served six months in camps in the United States, caught cold, was discharged, came home to Oakdale, took cold again, and died on November 6, 1918, at the age of twenty-six, passing away at the same place where his mother, sixty years of age, had died on October 6, 1918. In 1910, Mr. Dickow came direct from Sej'mour, Ind., to Biggs, and there he became acquainted with the pioneer rice-growers of Butte County, Mr. Grant and Mr. Sushima. Coming to Wasco, Kern County, in 1914, he there started the rice industry, being the first rice grower in Kern County, and raised a fine crop ; owing to insufficient water for irrigation, he came to Oakdale the following year. Some Japanese had commenced to grow rice at Paulsell in 1914, but Mr. Dickow was the first white man to carry on rice culture in Stanislaus County on a commercial scale. Messrs. Dickow and Cook rent 400 acres from Jesse M. Finley, and Mr. Dickow lives on the Henry Walthers Ranch of 408 acres, which he also rents. During 1920, they raised 500 acres of rice, an excellent crop, some of which went as high as sixty-five HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1247 sacks to the acre. They have under lease in Stanislaus County, all told, 880 acres, of which 208 acres are in pasture, and 100 acres in barley. This area of 880 acres in cludes the so-called Jap Ranch of 300 acres, devoted to rice and barley. Owing to the heavy rains, most of the 1920 crops was out until April, 1921, when it was harvested and put in sacks and stored. The firm of Dickow and Cook have bought 400 pigs, and by using a steam cooker, will convert the damaged rice, by feeding it to the pigs, into pork. The firm owns and operates five binders with gasoline motors, and they also have a Buffalo Pitt rice-threshing outfit. In addition they have a Best sixty-horse power tractor, and have recently rented 1,000 acres at Colusa, on the Moulton Ranch, 500 acres of which is in barley, with a fine crop in sight. Mr. Dickow is now a naturalized and thoroughly patriotic and devoted American citizen, having been made a citizen in the Hoosier State. He cast his first vote for McKinley, whom he knew personally, and he also knows ex-President Taft and Presi dent Harding, having done much business in Marion, Ohio. OSCAR GREEN. — An excellent, successful business man who was highly es teemed as a citizen, neighbor and friend, was the late Oscar Green, a native of Rush City, Minn., where he was born on January 27, 1878. His father was a farmer and died when our subject was thirteen. He therefore learned the blacksmith trade; but on his removal to Turlock in 1907, he purchased and improved some raw land on Colorado Avenue, and made for himself a farm. On June 4, 1913, he was married in Los Angeles to Miss Lydia Nelson, who was born in Daleslan, Sweden, the daughter of Peter and Mary (Olson) Nelson, who came to America and Manistee, Mich. The mother died in California in 1918, and the father now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Green. She was educated in Manistee and Trout Creek, on the Upper Peninsula, and in 1908 came out to Turlock. In 1912, Mr. Green started in the blacksmith business on South Broadway, in Turlock, and being a thoroughly capable mechanic, he built up a brisk trade. He sold the farm he had first improved, and then he bought some more raw land, also east of the town, in the Geer Colony, which he likewise improved, and is still owned by Mrs. Green. This twenty-acre ranch he rented out, and was actively engaged in busi ness until he died, on February 11, 1920, in his forty-second j'ear. Three children blessed this happy and fortunate union of Mr. and Mrs. Green. The eldest is named Margaret, the second Robert, and the j'oungest, Oscar Ben. With their mother they attend the Swedish Mission Church where the memory of our departed subject is sacredly cherished. MARTIN LUTHER HUFF. — A rancher and orchardist of Empire is Martin Luther Huff. He was born in Dunkirk, Hancock County, Ohio, February 8, 1882, the son of Thos. G. and Elizabeth (Baughman) Huff, both natives of Ohio. They were the parents of three sons: Harry H. is in the hardware business as Savonbury, Kans. ; Jonathan B. operates a ranch at Empire, and Martin Luther. When Martin was two years old, his parents moved to Kansas and there he grew up on his father's Allen County farm, attending the public schools of that local ity, and then taking up preparatory work for the University of Oklahoma at Norman, Okla. He then went to work at the carpenter's trade and did contracting and building for the next two years. Having heard of the Coast and its possibilities, accompanied by his mother and father, he came to California in 1904 and settled at Glendale. Here he engaged in building houses and general carpenter work. February 21, 1912, Mr. Huff was married in Los Angeles to Miss Lydia Alberta Reigle, who was born in Whitesville, Wood County, Ohio. She is the daugh ter of Martin and Lydia (Sparr) Reigle, who were born in Wyandotte and Hancock counties, Ohio, respectively. The Reigle family were from Pennsylvania, while the Sparr family were originally from Maine. Martin Reigle, when nineteen, enlisted in Company A, Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving four and a half years in the Civil War, being wounded in two different battles, which greatly impaired his health. He was afterwards postmaster at Whitesville, Ohio, later removing to Bluffton, Ohio, where he engaged in farming until his death at the age of seventy- 1248 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY four. The mother passed away about 1900. Of their eight children, Mrs. Huff is next to the youngest and was educated in the public and high schools at Bluffton, and later graduated as a nurse from the Lima hospital. Coming to California in 1911 for rest, it was here that she met Mr. Huff, the acquaintance resulting in their mar riage. They moved to Empire in 1913 and bought eighteen and a quarter acres a mile north of Empire, where for some time he has been engaged in raising alfalfa and had a number of dairy cows, but in 1920, deciding- to change his crops, he sold all but four cows and is now planting trees and vines. He has recently purchased another fifteen-acre tract a half mile east of his home, which is unimproved but under irriga tion. He is now leveling it off and intends to plant it to Thompson seedless grapef in 1922 and in about 1924 he will have both places planted to vines and fruit trees Mr. Huff's mother and father made their home with their son, the father being totallj blind the last twenty-five years of his life. The sight of one ej'e was lost during his service in the Civil War and in time the other became blind. He enlisted Februarj 22, 1864, in H and I Companies, One Hundred Fifteenth and One Hundred Eight eenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served one year, seven months and twenty-nine days. He died at Empire, May 21, 1917. The mother lives with her son at Empire. Mr. and Mrs. Huff have two children : Thomas Martin and Merideth Luther. In 1916 Mr. Huff was elected to serve on the board of trustees of the Empire Union grammar school and re-elected in 1919, having been clerk since his first elec tion. They are now building a new $63,000 schoolhouse of six rooms and auditorium and employ seven teachers. He is also a member of the Empire Board of Trade, and is a director and appraiser of the Empire branch of the California Home Invest ment Company, their main offices being at Oakland, Cal. Mr. Huff stands for progress and improvement in all that has to do with the civic life of the neighborhood and has made it a rule to uphold every plan and measure for the general good. JOSEPH F. FRITTS. — An experienced, successful and prosperous farmer who has become an active and influential public man, helping to spell prosperity for others, is Joseph F. Fritts, who was born in Lebanon, Hunterdon County, N. J., on October 6, 1862, the son of Joseph A. Fritts, a farmer, and a grandson of Joseph Fritts, a veteran of the Civil War, and at one time a member of the New Jersey State Legislature. His father married Miss Susan C. Huffman, and they lived in New Jersey until the middle eighties, when they removed to Gage County, Nebr. Joseph attended the district school in New Jersey, then Ryder's Business College in Trenton, and then later the State Normal school at Trenton, N. J., and in 1886, having completed his education, he followed his parents to the West. The elder Fritts bought 320 acres of land, and Joseph intended to take up a homestead; but he put it off a day too long, as President Cleveland had revoked the homestead adt. Mr. Fritts farmed in Nebraska, and during that time he made a trip to Colorado, but remained there but a short time when he returned to Nebraska. In 1888, he came to Salt Lake City and was employed in a nursery until 1890, then he accepted a position with the Government in the railway mail service, working on the Central, now the Southern Pacific, and he gave such satisfaction, and was so well satisfied himself, that he remained there for five j'ears, running between Ogden and San Francisco. In 1895, he was transferred to the Coast route, on which he continued until July, 1911. He resigned to devote his time to horticulture, having been twenty-one j'ears in the mail service, during which time he saw some of the exciting and seamy sides of life. On August 18, 1907, he was in a wreck at Point Conception and the mail car in which he was working turned over and he was unconscious for some time. In November, 1890, Mr. Fritts had purchased twenty acres near Mountain View, which he improved to peaches, prunes, apricots and cherries. In 1908 he had purchased forty acres near Hughson, on which he located in 1913, and a year later sold his former place. He has improved his Hughson ranch with a modern residence and a full-bearing orchard and vineyard. In addition he owns forty-one acres four and a half miles southeast of Hughson, which he intends also to set to orchard and vineyard. He is president of the Hughson branch of the Federal Loan Board, also a member of the California Associated Raisin Company, the California Peach and Fig Growers, Inc., California HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1249 Prune and Apricot Association, California Bean Association and the Farm Bureau .Exchange. Mr. Fritts was a director in the Mountain View Fruit Growers Ex change from 1904 to 1911, and also had the honor of helping to organize this exchange and the associated packing house. At San Francisco on June 21, 1894, Mr. Fritts was married to Miss Laura Burton, a native of Morrison, 111., and the daughter of George and Mary Burton, an excellent woman who died at Mountain View on April 1.8, 1905. For a second time, Mr. Fritts married, at the same place, when on April 7, 1907, he took for his wife Miss Lora May Hopper, who was born at Ukiah, Mendocino County, the daughter of Greenberry and Sarah (Van) Hopper. Her father came to California in 1847, and traveled across the plains in an emigrant wagon drawn by oxen. She attended the Santa Maria schools. Four children were born to Mr. Fritts by his first wife — Joseph Burton, James William, Mary Grace, and Harriett Martha. Mr. Fritts has been on the board of trustees of the Hughson Union high school for the last seven j'ears, and has been the president of the board all this time. A new high school build ing has just been completed at a cost of $110,000. Mr. Fritts is a Democrat, and prides himself on having long jvorked for prohi bition, and has done what he could to make the country dry. He was also active in the campaign which deposed the Mormons from political power in Salt Lake City. In local politics, however, he favors less partisanship. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, which he joined at Ogden, Utah, in 1890, and afterwards transferred his membership to Mountain View lodge, in which he is past grand. His son, Joseph Burton Fritts, enlisted for service in the World War on Decem ber 9, 1917, and was sent to Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, and the following April he was sent on to St. Paul, for a mechanic's examination. After that, he was sent back to Brook Field at San Antonio as an expert mechanic in repairing aeroplane motors, and there he remained until July 15, 1919, when he was honorably discharged. James W. Fritts, the other son, enlisted on August 1, 1918, in the Naval Reserve Flying Corps, and was sent to Seattle, and trained and drilled there until December 9, 1918, when he also was honorably discharged, as chief quartermaster. KNUT K. FRISVOLD.— A native of Norway, but a resident of America for more than forty years, a citizen of the United States, and the father of two sons who served in the military arm of the U. S. Service during the great World War, Knut K. Frisvold is a true and loyal American, and highly respected among his friends and neighbors in Patterson colony. He owns a splendid farm of thirty acres which he farms to alfalfa, keeping a dairy of twelve milch cows. Mr. Frisvold's farm, located on Fig Street just east of Elm Avenue, is one of the attractive places of Patterson, being well improved and carefully kept in every detail. Mr. Frisvold was born in Norway, near Guldbrandsdalen, September 22, 1853, the son of Knut and Thora Frisvold. His father was a farmer and Mr. Frisvold worked on the farm during his early boyhood, and was later engaged for four j'ears in the fishing industry, having a large fleet of fishing vessels which he operated on the North Sea. The trips usually occupied two or three weeks, the catch amount- ;ng generally to about 2,500 barrels. It was a hard and hazardous life, however, and in 1881 he came to America, settling in Minnesota, in Freeborn County, where he was variously employed for a period of years, working on railroad construction work, on farms, and in the winter months, in the logging camps near Eau Claire, Wis. He then went to Becker County, Minn., where he bought 148 acres of land with his hard-earned money, and for the succeeding fourteen years engaged in general farm ing. He then sold this property and went to Thief River Falls, Minn., where he rented 160 acres and farmed successfully, until he came to California in the spring of 1908. For three years he was employed with Ole Olson on his farm near Newman. During this time Mr. Olson made a trip to Norway, leaving Mr. Frisvold in charge of the ranch. Following this he went to Gustine, where for two years he worked for Mr. Hunt on his ranch just south of that place. By this time he was ready to invest for himself, and in 1915 he came to Patterson and bought his present place, where he has since lived. He is a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers Union. 1250 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. Frisvold was married before he left his mother country, espousing Miss Ingeberg Neilson, in Brudvig, Norway, of which place she is a native. Mrs. Fris- vold's parents were Nels and Sarah Neilson, her father being a farmer in comfortable circumstances near Brudvig, where she received her education. She has been the solace and comfort of her husband throughout the years. Mr. and Mrs. Frisvpld are the parents of eight children: Nels and Carl are now deceased; Carl T. is in the employ of the San Francisco post office but residing across the bay; Anna, Mrs. J. T. Christopher- son of Patterson; Severt A., a student in the State University; Marie is now Mrs. F. L. Greening, residing at Oakdale, while Martin and Alfred are at home. The two sons who were in the great World War are Severt A. and Martin. Of these Severt was the first to go. He enlisted in July, 1917, and was in the Aviation service. He trained at Kelly Field, at San Antonio, Texas, and sailed for France on January 1, 1918, and was stationed at Bordeaux, where he worked on repair and construction of aeroplanes until his return to America in May, 1919. He was honorably discharged on May 17, of that year. The younger son, Martin, entered the service on September 15, 1918, and served in the Medical Department at Camp Kearney. He w^s discharged in February, 1919. Mr. Frisvold is very proud of both these sons, and stood loyally back of them during the trying days of the war. JOHN GASNER. — No better citizenry ever comes out of the great American "Melting Pot" than that brought across the seas from the little Republic of Switzer land, and of such ancestry and nativity is John Gasner, dairy farmer of Prescott pre cinct, a man of ability and much executive force. He came to California a boy of nineteen years, became very soon a citizen of the United States, and has been a resi dent of Stanislaus County since 1911, and of Prescott precinct since 1918, when he bought his present place of twenty-two acres, which he has highly improved, building a modern residence, dairy barns, and other outbuildings necessary. He owns a fine herd of high grade cattle, including fifteen fine milch cows and a registered Holstein herd sire, besides j'oung stock and several horses. The entire place is kept up in the most approved manner, giving evidence of the industry and ability of its owner. It was in 1891 that Mr. Gasner first came to California, from his native canton, Graubunden, Switzerland, arriving in New York in November 22, of that year, and reaching Oakland one week later, November 29. His brother, George Gasner, was engaged in the dairy business at Oakland, and on the very day of his arrival young John went to work on the farm, where he remained for two years, learning the waj's and customs of the new country and becoming familiar with its language. For the following three j'ears he worked around Oakland, and in 1894 went up to Eureka, Humboldt County, and later to Ferndale, that county, where he was employed in the dairy business for the succeeding five or six years. At the close of this period he went down to San Francisco, and while there he met and married, in 1896, Mrs. Anna Reitz, the widow of the late John Reitz, who had died in Germany several years previously. Mrs. Reitz, who was Miss Anna Trabold, a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. She is a daughter of Joseph and Katherine (Kretzmar) Trabold, natives of Darmstadt. Her father was a mechanical engineer and later in life was a farmer. He has passed away since she came to the United States. Mrs. Gasner was first married to John Reitz, who was in the employ of a prominent government official of the district and also served as a soldier in the Franco-Prussian War. Mr. Reitz passed away at the age of forty-eight years, leaving his widow and eight children as follows: Helen is Mrs. Hansen and resides near Ferndale; Kate, Mrs. Klausen, also lives at Ferndale ; Jacob is a prominent rancher in Prescott Township, Stanislaus County ; George is assisting his brother Jacob in farming operations ; Mary, Mrs. Schmidt, and Margaret, Mrs. Dedlefsen, both live at Coos Bay, Ore. ; Adolph served overseas in the World War and now resides at Visalia; Fred is a resident of this county. Desiring to give her children the wider freedom of life in the United Slates, Mrs. Reitz came to California in 1895 and it was here she met Mr. Gasner, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Gasner have become the parents of two sons, Bartlett and John. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1253 Following his marriage, Mr. Gasner, together with his wife and family, returned to Humboldt County, where he engaged in dairying and general farming until 1910, when he sold his interests and went for a short visit to Europe, visiting his old home in Switzerland, where his parents were both living, where his mother still lives, and also traveled in Germany. He had no inclination, however, to consider that country as a residence place, so after a stay of about seven months he returned to California and after a residence of five months in Humboldt County, brought his family and located at Newman, this county, buying a farm of fifty-eight acres, which they highly improved as a dairy farm. In 1918 Mr. Gasner sold this place at a handsome profit and bought his present home place in Prescott precinct on Bangs Avenue, which he has made one of the attractive places of the vicinity. He is a member of the Milk Producers' Asso ciation, Central California. Mr. Gasner was born at Fanas, Canton Graubiinden, Switzerland, May 7, 1871, the son of Bartholomeus and Elspet (Rieder) Gasner, his father a prosperous farmer' There were seven children in the family, namely: Margretha, who lives in Switzer land; George, a fruit rancher in Contra Costa County, Calif., where he' owns a fine farm of thirty-five acres; Parlina, who married Peter Wurtlinger, of Oakland, where she died in 1896; Chris, a farmer in Switzerland; John, the subject of this sketch; Casper, a dairy farmer in Coquille Valley, Ore., and Bartholomeus, who farms the old place in Canton Graubunden. Mr. and Mrs. Gasner are members of the Lutheran Church in Modesto in which they were raised and have always taken an active part, and politically they are Republicans. Mr. Gasner has never regretted coming to America, and California may well be proud to claim him as one of her adopted sons. ARTHUR FOSTER. — A public-spirited citizen who is a vigorous endorser of all worthy enterprises, is Arthur Foster, who has been phenomenally successful with his Thompson seedless vineyard and his rich land near the river, at the end of Orange Avenue, Patterson, so well adapted for the growth of melons. He was born in Clinton County, Iowa, near Wapsipinigan, on May 12, 1857, the son of Joseph and Eliza Foster, who removed with him, when he was only two years old, to Jones County. His father was a minister of the Gospel, and also a farmer; and his choice of occupations led to his moving about a good deal. Arthur commenced his schooling in Jones County, at a district school ; but when he was twelve, his father moved on to Delaware County, Iowa, where he continued farming. Ten years later, Arthur moved to Columbus County, Kans., and when he had been there three years, he bought rail road land and took up general farming. For three years he worked for wages. In 1888, Mr. Foster came to California and settled in Santa Clara County, be tween Santa Clara and Mountain View. At first he rented a fruit farm, and for a couple of years grew wine grapes and fruit. Next he pitched his tent in the moun tains on Bear Creek, near the Montezuma schoolhouse, south of Los Gatos, and there he purchased twenty acres of redwood trees, cleared the land and set out prune trees and grapes, raising and budding his own tree stock; and he lived until 1905 on that ranch. After that, for eleven years, he ran a rural delivery mail route south of San Jose. In 1916 he traded his Santa Clara ranch, where he had made his home for j'ears, for ten acres of alfalfa land on Los Palmas Avenue, between Sj'camore and Elm, in Patterson Colony, to which he immediately moved ; and at the end of two years he sold the ten acres and bought twice that amount along the river. Now he has fifteen acres planted to Thompson seedless grapes, and he intends to set out more. Mr. Foster has been twice married, and both wives have passed away. At Co lumbus, Kans., on March 18, 1886, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Ella Hamilton, a native of Indiana and the daughter of Nathaniel Hamilton, a substantial farmer; and she died at Los Gatos, Cal, in 1892, the mother of two children — Dora Ann and Markham, named after Henry Harrison Markham, Governor of California. Mr. Foster's second marriage took place at San Jose on December 23, 1896, when he chose for his wife Mrs. Annie Webbley, a native of California. One child blessed this union — Clarence R. Foster, who is a student at the high school at Patterson. Mr. Foster is a Republican, and while living in Santa- Clara County was a trustee of the Montezuma school. He is a member of Moose Lodge No. 104, San Jose. 1254 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY GEORGE G. NELSON. — A wide-awake master mechanic who has recently equipped his planing mill with the latest and most improved machinery and an electric plant for furnishing all the power needed, is George G. Nelson, who came to Cali fornia in 1904, and is now able to meet any demands for output in his busy field. He was born in Vermland, Sweden, April 1, '79, and came to the United States and Iowa in 1881, when they located twenty miles east of Storm Lake, where his father, Andrew G. Nelson, farmed and eventually died. His devoted wife, in maidenhood Christine L. Erickson, now makes her home in Turlock. The third oldest of four children, George was brought up on the Iowa farm and educated in the public schools, topping off his preparation for a tussle with the world at North Park College. In 1904, Mr. Nelson came out to California, and at Oakland he was employed at the carpenter's trade, while he studied architecture and drawing. Three years later, he located at Turlock, and bought a twenty-acre farm four miles west of the town. He set out an orchard and vineyard, and further improved the ranch by planting the acreage to alfalfa; and he established a dairy and ran it for eight years, while he worked at the carpenter's trade not only in Turlock and vicinity, but all over Stanislaus, and into San Joaquin County. In 1912, he sold his ranch; and since then he has given all of his attention to building and contracting. He has also put up a modern planing mill, conveniently located at No. 216 N. First street, where he does all of his own work and also turns out work for others. The mill is run by electric power, and he has handy, and in good working order, all the machinery that such a shop ever needs. He has erected many good buildings here, among them the Ford Garage, Pentecostal Chapel, the Covell Garage, in Modesto, and numerous residences in Turlock and vicinity. He often makes his own designs, and employs at times as many as. twenty-five hands. Mr. Nelson has invented and patented an improvement for bodies on dumping trucks. It is an arrangement where the load is dumped on either side clear from the wheels of the truck, so well poised and balanced that one man can manipulate it and without a derrick as used in other dumping arrangements. This new dump body on account of simplicity of construction can be built at a minimum cost and has proven efficient through tests made and will no doubt be readily adopted by motor truck and wagon manufacturers. It dumps from either side instead of the end. By a slight movement of two small levers the load will dump itself automatically, thus getting away from expensively operated hoists. The patent was obtained in April, 1921. Mr. Nelson is now building bodies for high school busses after his own plans. This new Nelson bus has brought new orders from different parts of the state. At Oakland Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Agnes Ekstrom, who was born in Sweden ; and both he and his devoted wife attend the Swedish Mission Church. They have two children, Waldemar and Ella. CHARLES GUSTAFSON.— For more than twenty years a resident of Califor nia, and for much of that time actively engaged in the building industry, Charles Gustafson is now one of the most reliable and efficient carpenters and builders in Pat terson, where he has resided since 1918. Mr. Gustafson is a native of Sweden, born in Kristianstad, January 14, 1855, the son of Gustaf Nelson and Anna (Peterson) Gustafson. His father was a farmer and Charles remained at home, attending school during his youth and then helping his father on the farm until he was twenty-five years of age. But he was ambitious and energetic and the opportunities in his home land were limited, so, bidding farewell to family and friends, he came to America in 1880, locating in Chicago, 111., where he took up carpentering and cabinet making. While here he met, wooed and married Miss Elsie Peterson, the marriage being solemnized on June 4, 1884. Mrs. Gustafson is a native of Sweden, born near Kris tianstad, and the daughter of Peter Russell and Johannah Peterson, her father hav ing been one of the well-to-do farmers of that locality. The farming interests of the plains of Minnesota promised large returns, and in 1886 Mr. Gustafson went to Polk County, Minn., where he preempted a quarter- section of land and engaged in general farming, remaining for fifteen years. He be came one of the well-known farmers of this section and met with well-deserved sue- "^y^-O *^&t* /L-e^&er-i^-^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1255 cess. But the desire to come to California had taken root, and April 30, 1901, he disposed of his holdings in Polk County, and came to Stockton, arriving on May 4, of that same year. Here he again took up carpentering and for four years was actively engaged in building industries. In 1905 he went to Berkeley and for the following eighteen months followed his trade there. He then purchased a city lot in El Cerrito and built a comfortable home there, making that his residence until 1918, when he came with his family to Patterson. He still owns this El Cerrito property. On his arrival at Patterson, Mr. Gustafson purchased a valuable tract of four and a half acres on Locust Avenue and Fig Street, and improved it for a permanent home, building a comfortable, commodious residence. He has his place planted to alfalfa, and is himself engaged in carpentering and building, and has been actively identified with the building industry since he has resided here. Mr. and Mrs. Gustafson are the parents of four daughters: Jenine and Tillie, at home; Nellie (Mrs. David Hoffer), and Clara (Mrs. Lester F. Schafer) of Patterson. GEORGE H. KNUTSON. — Representing the younger generation of prosper ous farmers in this part of the state, George H. Knutson was among those who ren dered devoted service to the nation in her hour of need during the recent World War. He entered the military arm of the national service in August, 1918, and until the time of his discharge was with Company G, Seventy-fifth Infantry, Thirteenth Division, stationed at Camp Lewis. He was honorably discharged on January 31, 1919, his only regret being that he did not get to see active service on the fields of France. Mr. Knutson is interested with his father, John C. Knutson, and his brother, Alfred, in one of the finest farms in the Patterson Colony, where they are engaged in dairying and in raising alfalfa, and since returning from his term of military service he has devoted himself exclusively to his farming interests. A native of Minnesota, Mr. Knutson was born near Crookston, Polk County, August 18, 1894, the son of John C. and Tena Knutson. His. father was a farmer and at an early date homesteaded a quarter-section of land in Polk County, Minn., and a little later purchased an additional 160 acres. It was here that George Knut son spent his boyhood and youth, attending the public schools of Crookston, and later a private school at Everett, Wash. It was in 1912 that the family came to Stanislaus County, where the father purchased forty acres on Quincy Avenue, near Patterson, in which the two sons, George and Alfred, have a financial interest. They have twelve cows, and some young stock in their dairy herd, and have brought the place under a high state of cultivation, making many attractive improvements. The Knutson family consists of three sons and five daughters. Of these, George H. and Alfred are associated with their father in the farm; Clifford is employed at the Patterson Garage, but resides at home; Josephine is now Mrs. A. L. Mortensen, of Oakland; Alice and Lois are in San Francisco, and Amelia and Pearl reside at home. Alfred Knutson was fortunate enough to see much of active service at the front. He enlisted in September, 1917, and served with the First Division, in Company B, Twenty-eighth Infantry. He was in four offensives and one defensive, but escaped without serious injury. After the armistice he was with the Army of Occupation in Germany. He received his honorable discharge in September, 1919. FRANK S. KELLEY. — A native son who is naturally proud of his association •by birth with the great Pacific commonwealth, is Frank S. Kelley, the deputy county assessor, who was born at Berkeley on May 23, 1886, the son of George W. and Kate Kelley. His father was an early settler in California, as he came to Berkeley about 1870; and he enjoyed the rewards of those who helped to pave the way for" the present favored generation. Frank attended the common schools of his birthplace. He took up drafting and surveying, and worked at both Berkeley and Oakland. In 1907 he came to Modesto and entered the service of the county as a draftsman, working under County Engineer Annear, and he also executed plans for the city engineer ; he has since been chief deputy assessor. 1256 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY On February 4, 1911, Mr. Kelley married Miss Amy Boyd, a native of Prescott, Ariz., and the daughter of Joseph and Lucy Ellen Boyd. Mr. Boyd was engaged in sawmilling at Williams, Ariz., and first in 1893 brought his family to California. He settled in Hanford and for seven years as a carpenter was active in the building trade; and then he came to Modesto. Since 1893, Mr. Boyd has been back in Ari zona four times ; but he is now making his permanent residence in California. Two children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kelley, Gordon and Eileen. Mr. Kelley is an Odd Fellow, being a member of the local lodge, and he is also a Native Son, associated with the Modesto parlor. Mr. and Mrs. Kelley own a fine ranch of five acres on Spencer Street, within Modesto, raising almonds and fruit. FREDERICK LUCKSINGER.— The position won by Fred Lucksinger, a worthy and highly esteemed citizen of Stanislaus County, has been the result entirely of his own efforts, as early in life he became dependent upon his own resources, with nothing to presage future success save the sturdy characteristics inherited from his pioneer parents. He was born near Leslie, Franklin County, Mo., October 20, 1861, the son of Melchior and Christine (Hanes) Lucksinger. His father was born in Canton Glarus, Switzerland, and coming to America when but a young man, he was married in Missouri to Miss Hanes, a native of Germany. Both parents are deceased. Mr. Lucksinger grew up in his native state and in the year 1891 was married to Miss Amelia Klinesorge, who also was born in Missouri. He engaged in diversi fied farming, raising cattle, hogs and grains and was very successful in all his under takings. His wife's health becoming impaired, he sold his Missouri holdings and came to California in 1907. At first they went to Pasadena, Cal., then in 1908 they moved to Chula Vista near San Diego, remaining there for one year and then going to El Cajon, San Diego County, he improved land, then sold it, and came to the Empire section of Stanislaus County about three years ago, bringing with him con siderable means which he invested in farm lands east of Empire. He is a progressive farmer and a substantial citizen in every way and he and his family have won the respect of the people in the community in which they live and have been welcomed into the best circles, both of Empire and Modesto. He resides at this twenty-acre home two and a half miles east of Empire which he bought when he first came here. Fie has three children and the two eldest sons have had the benefit of college educations: Prof. Oscar F. Lucksinger, a graduate of University of California, served in the Veterinary Corps, U. S. A., at Camp Lewis, and now teaches in the high school at Gonzales, Calif. ; Ralph L., a graduate of University of California, and Leonard W., both own and operate a thirty-acre ranch about three-quarters of a mile east of, their father's place in East Empire precinct. The entire community sympathizes with them in their recent bereavement in the loss of the wife and mother on November 27, 1920, at La Mesa in San Diego County, Calif., where she had gone for her health. She was only fifty years old and a great worker in the First Methodist Church at Modesto, of which the family are members. A man of sterling worth, Mr. Lucksinger has made many friends in Stanislaus County, and is an enthusiastic supporter of every movement for the broadening of" the educational facilities of the district. He is an adherent of the Republican party. JOSEPH O. LEVERTON. — An energetic and successful young business man of Patterson, Joseph O. Leverton has not only made a success in business, but he ren dered splendid service to his country in the hour of her need, having served in the Navy from July 28, 1917 to July 30, 1919. Since his return to civil life he has been engaged in the electrical business in Patterson in partnership with J. H. Evans, and is known as one of the promising young men of the community. Mr. Leverton is a native of Texas, born in the famous Panhandle. His par ents were J. B. and Martha Leverton, both well and favorably known" in Patterson, where they have resided for some years. The father was early engaged in the stock business in Texas and moved from Greer County to Shamrock, Texas, when Joseph O. was ten years of age, and it was at Shamrock that the early school davs passed, with work on the great 640-acre cattle ranch in vacation times. In 1909 the family frjL£(faoMftM. WAytffo/yiACL Q/^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1259 removed to California, locating first at Madera, where Joseph Leverton received his high school education, working in the meantime with his father in the management of a dairy ranch. Later J. B. Leverton moved to Sebastopol and engaged in the garage business in partnership with our subject, the latter having charge of the machine shop. After a year of this partnership they came to Patterson, where the father became identified as one of the pioneer builders of the town, erecting the Leverton building in 1910. It was in 1913, however, that Joseph O. Leverton finally came to Patter son to make his home permanently, together with his parents. He took up tractor work and became an expert operator, being emploj'ed with the Zacharias Brothers, Ed Brown and the Patterson Ranch Company. When the time came for America to enter into the great World War, Mr. Leverton was one of the first to volunteer for service, enlisting in the U. S. Navy in July, 1917. He was held for six months in the reserve before being called into action, but on January 30, 1918, he was sent to San Diego, where he entered training at the Naval Base. On March 8 following he was transferred to Key West, Fia., where he received additional training, was promoted to the rank of second-class seaman, and was sent on a four and a half months recruiting campaign through Florida. After he returned to Key West he was put in charge of the engine room on the "Raven the 3rd," an Admiral speed boat. He remained on this duty until July 30, 1919, when he received his honorable discharge, with the rating of a first-class ma chinist mate. During his naval training Mr. Leverton received a great deal of elec trical experience and training, being constantly in direct touch with the electrical department. He also took a special course in electricity during this time with the International Correspondence School, and since August 1, 1919, has been engaged in his present partnership with Mr. Evans. The marriage of Mr. Leverton occurred March 26, 1920, uniting him with Miss Alma Medlin, the daughter of B. F. and M. A. Medlin, and a native of Stanis laus County. Mrs. Leverton's parents were among the very early settlers at Crows Landing, and she has grown to young womanhood in this county. They have one child, Jack, and are residing in a bungalow home located in North Mead, a suburb of Patterson, which Mr. Leverton has built. WARREN ROSEWELL BARMORE.— A successful rancher whose extensive operations have meant much to Keyes and vicinity, giving him an enviable place among the leading agriculturists of Stanislaus County, is Warren Rosewell Barmore, who was born near Beloit, Wis., on August 11, 1861, the only son of Loring Knox Barmore, of Niagara County, N. Y., where he was born on July 24, 1826, and spent his entire life in farming pursuits. His father was Harry Barmore, a native of Schenectady, in the same state, where he was born in 1800, and was married on September 8, 1824, to Miss Laura Knox, a native of New York. Besides being a successful farmer, he was associated prominently with the great work of constructing the Erie Canal, prior to his coming to Northern Illinois. Loring Knox Barmore mar ried Miss Ellen Ford, also a New Yorker, who came with her parents to Wisconsin. Warren Barmore attended the public school near Belvidere, Boone County, 111., and having lost his father when he was four j'ears of age, he was reared by his grand parents. Soon after his fourteenth birthdaj', however, he hired himself out to a farmer at eight dollars per month and his board. The next year he was paid ten dollars per month, and before his twentieth year he was farming on his own account. In 1882, Mr. Barmore came to McGregor, Iowa, and instead of farming, he took up locomotive engineering and followed railroading, until 1894, on the Iowa and Dakota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. He spent four years at McGregor, although he still owned his home place at Mason City, and dur ing that time he became thoroughly expert with the steam engine; but in 1894 he changed localities, and came West to California. He settled at San Bernardino, and for a number of years had charge of the steam and electric power engines at the Col- ton Cement Works. From 1904 to 1906 Mr. Barmore was chief engineer for the City Electric Light Plant at San Bernardino. In the fall of 1906 he removed to Hermiston, Ore., and there for a couple of years he was emploj'ed upon the construc- 51 1260 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY tion of the dam which was to store water for the reclamation of some 18,000 acres of waste land, and had charge of the steam engines which furnished the power for the work. In 1909 Mr. Barmore entered the U. S. Reclamation Service as an electrical and steam engineer at Twin Falls, Idaho, and for one year he was busy in extension work on power lines. Coming to Keyes, Stanislaus County, from Redmond, Ore., in 1912, Mr. Barmore soon became the owner of twenty acres. His two sons also own forty and sixteen acre tracts, and for eight years have been doing diversified farming. At Poplar Grove, 111., in the fall of 1885, Mr. Barmore was married to Miss Amy Covey, a native of that attractive town, who was reared and schooled in the same district and then attended college at Rockford, where she was duly commis sioned to teach. At the time of her marriage she had been active in her profession for three terms. Five children blessed their union. Pearl, the mother of two children, is the wife of Harry Straw, the prosperous retail lumber dealer at Hermiston, Ore. Walter is a civil engineer in the service of the Government and is engaged on the Boulder Creek Canyon Reservoir at St. Thomas, Nev. Harry is a farmer at Keyes and has a farm of sixteen acres. Raymond is also at Keyes and manages his trim ranch of forty acres. And William, who is fourteen years of age, attends the Tur lock high school. Mr. Barmore is a member of the I. O. O. F., which he joined in 1885, and he has been a Master Mason since 1882. He is a Republican. SAVILLION COOK DALBY. — Among the representative ranchers of his sec tion of the country is Savillion Cook Dalby, who has leased 160 acres below the canal west of Newman, on which he raises alfalfa and grain. He is also engaged in dairying on a partnership basis and has at present fifty milk cows, which he will increase to 120 cows. Previous to engaging in dairying he raised hogs on a large scale, continuing to raise a large number on his ranch for the market. Mr. Dalby was born on February 9, 1879, on the Dalby ranch about four miles north of Newman, the son of Samuel Dalby, and was reared and educated in that vicinity. At the age of eighteen he left home to make his own way and at first worked on various ranches, later leasing land which he farmed for himself. His father, Samuel Dalby, a native of Boston, Mass., enlisted in a Massachusetts regiment during the Civil War, and soon after his term of service was completed he came in a sailing vessel around Cape Horn to California. Coming to the West Side in Stanislaus County, he engaged in sheep raising at Hill's Ferry, where he bought Government land at three dollars an acre, now worth from $500 to $1,000 an acre. He was married to Mrs. Fredericka (Fink) Kniebes, who was born in Wisconsin. After their marriage they located on a ranch four miles west of Hill's Ferry, which they improved to alfalfa. Here they followed farming until they sold it and retired to Newman. He died there August 19, 1919, while his widow is still living. He was a Hill's Ferry Lodge Mason. On August 20, 1901, in Modesto, Mr. S. C. Dalby was married to Miss Alice Gill, the daughter of John and Kate Gill, natives of Iowa. Mrs. Dalby was educated in the grammar school of Newman and is the mother of one child, Dorothy. Frater nally Mr. Dalby is associated with the Woodmen of the World of Newman, and politically he is an independent voter. FIRST NATIONAL BANK AT TURLOCK— COMMERCIAL BANK OF TURLOCK. — The first banking institution to be opened in the Turlock Irrigation District was the First National Bank of Turlock, organized in 1905 by Oramil McHenry of Modesto, associated with Theodore Turner, J. P. Islit and J. P. Fuller. Mr. McHenry was the first president and C. Oscar Anderson the first cashier. Mr. McHenry died the following year and in March, 1906, David F. Lane became presi dent. Shortly afterwards, the controlling interest in the bank passed to C. H. Sharp and S. Prentis Smith, the former of whom was made president. During the same year, the controlling interest in the bank was purchased by Horace S. Crane and several other local people. On December 2, 1906, Mr. Crane became president, hold ing this office until July, 1914. Tbe directors elected at that time were E. B. Osborn, A. Chatom, J. F. Carlston, and C. V. Lundahl. F. W. Hosmer succeeded Mr. Ander son as cashier. /^OyzM^u Z^Ce^^r^ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1263 Owing to the fact that at that time the National Bank Act did not permit real estate or farm loans, for which there was considerable demand in so purely an agri cultural section, it was determined to convert the First National Bank of Turlock into a state institution. Accordingly, in March, 1907, the National Bank charter was voluntarily relinquished and the Commercial Bank of Turlock was organized with the same officers and directors. v In 1909 the board of directors was increased from five to seven members, W. W. Cottle and J. N. Lester being chosen for the new places on the board. C. H. Geer was elected to succeed A. Chatom as director when Mr. Chatom resigned. The fine two-story bank building at the corner of Center and Main streets was erected in 1910 at a cost of $75,000. In June, 1914, Howard and T. B. Whipple acquired the controlling interest in the bank, and in the spring of 1918, owing to the growth of business, the entire interior • of the bank was remodeled and redecorated. » In July, 1918, a new corporation, the First National Bank at Turlock, organ ized and owned by the stockholders of the Commercial Bank of Turlock, was opened, taking over the commercial business of the Commercial Bank of Turlock. The char ter for the Commercial Bank of Turlock was retained, however, for the use of the savings department and the two branches of the Commercial Bank of Turlock, which had been established at Denair in 1912 and at Hilmar in August, 1916. In June, 1919, F. W. Hosmer resigned as cashier and was succeeded by L. T. Brown. The present officers are: Howard Whipple, president; T. B. Whipple, vice- president; L. T. Brown, cashier; W. W. Ferguson, assistant cashier; Arthur Auster- land, assistant cashier. The directors are H. S. Crane, C. H. Geer, H. M. Hatch, S. A. Hultman, E. B. Osborn, Howard Whipple and T. B. Whipple. From a modest beginning of two employees in 1905, the active force at the home office and the two branches has increased to twenty-three. The growth of the institution may be taken as an index of the growth of the Turlock Irrigation District, with the fortunes of which the First National Bank at Turlock has always been very closely identified. MARTIN NELSON. — An energetic contractor whose popularity has contributed to keep him exceedingly busy, is Martin Nelson, of 1525 Morris avenue, Modesto. Martin was born near Hakanryd, Skane, Sweden, on November 6, 1885, the son of Nels Mortenson, a farmer of that locality; and there had a comfortable home, and was able to acquire a good education in the excellent schools of that country. When seventeen years old Martin started out to make his way in the world, and for three years in his home town served an apprenticeship to a cabinetmaker. In 1907 he came out Jo the United States and settled at Red Wing, Minn., and once estab lished, turned his attention to carpentry. He then followed carpentering about a year in Red Wing. Then he came on west to Colorado, and at Denver, in assisting to build choice homes, he spent two years in carpentering, and while there attended night school to perfect himself in English. He then came on to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he spent a year and a half at his trade; and in 1911 reached California, and at San Francisco started building for himself, being associated with his brother, Hans, under the firm name of Nelson Brothers, and also attended night school there, studying drafting and architecture. From the beginning they specialized in first-class homes, and in the course of time put up scores of homes in Richmond district and Westwood Park on lots they owned in the Bay city. In 1918 the brothers dissolved partnership and Martin Nelson located in Stanislaus County, while Hans Nelson continued busi ness in San Francisco. It was in 1918 that Mr. Nelson located in Turlock and for a year helped make things hum there ; then he came to Modesto, and ever since then he has been very active and prominent in building circles here, doing business indi vidually under the old firm name of Nelson Bros. Again he specialized in fine homes, and has acquired an enviable reputation for erecting most artistic bungalows. Mr. Nelson has just completed one of the most attractive bungalows in the city, where he resides with his family. At San Francisco in April, 1913, Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Betty Pearson, a native of Hastveda, Skane, Sweden, near the vicinity of Mr. Nelson's birthplace. 1264 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY She came to Marathon, Iowa, in 1904, afterwards removing to Denver, and later still to Salt Lake City. As early as 1910 she made a trip to Los Angeles, but later went to San Francisco, and there she renewed the acquaintance with Mr. Nelson, which had begun in Salt Lake City, a friendship that resulted in their marriage. They have been blessed with two children, Martin Phillip and Hugh Kermit. The family are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Nelson is a Republican in matters of national political import, but too broad-minded to be other than nonpartisan in local affairs. JONATHAN B. HUFF. — A young man who believes that hard work, perse- veiance, and frugality will in time win success is Jonathan B. Huff, who is operating two farms in the Empire section of Stanislaus County, in the East Empire precinct about one mile northeast of that city. He was born on April 22, 1873, near Savon burg, Allen County, Kans., the son of Thos. G. and Elizabeth (Baughman) Huff, both natives of Ohio. They were the parents of three sons: Harry H. is in the hard ware business at Savonburg, Kans. ; Johnathan B. of this review, and Martin Luther, a rancher at Empire. A short time after his birth, Mr. Huff's parents moved back to Ohio and lived in that state for a number of j'ears, moving back to Kansas again when he was only eleven years old, and there he attended the public schools of Allen County. He grew up on his father's farm in Kansas and being handy with tools, he became a carpenter and worked at the carpenter trade several years in that state,, then coming to Cali fornia in 1904 and settling at Glendale, near Los Angeles, he again resumed his old trade of carpentering and worked in this business in all for twenty years. Mr. Huff's marriage occurred at Glendale, when he was united with^ Miss Elizabeth J. Reigle, who was born in Ohio and came here in the year of 1905. She is the sister of Mrs. Martin" Luther Huff, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Huff have one child, John Robert, who is attending the Union grammar school at Empire. Upon coming to Empire, Mr. Huff bought twenty acres north of Empire, then in 1920 he bought an additional ten acres on what is known as the Bilicke Tract, a half mile north of Empire. He has been engaged in the dairj' busi ness, stock raising, poultry and diversified farming but now he is changing his crops to trees and vines. He is making the change gradually, in the meantime relying mainly on the alfalfa, poultry and dairy products. Before coming to Empire he gave considerable time to building and carpenter work but now his entire time is given to the care of his two farms. Politically Mr. Huff is a stanch Republican. FRANK C. MILLER. — A man of sterling worth who has risen tp an honored place in the community through his diligence and perseverance is Frank C. Miller, born in Germany, December 15, 1874, the eldest of the six children of Fred and Frieda Miller, a dairy farmer located four miles north of Modesto, who came to America when Frank C. Miller was only six years old and, coming direct to Stanis laus County, have contentedly lived there ever since. Having passed his boyhood days in Stanislaus County, Mr. Miller is indebted to the public school of Langworth precinct, Stanislaus County, for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed and which qualified him for life's practical and respon sible duties. He began life by working during the summertime on ranches, and was employed by the late Oramil McHenry on the great Bald Eagle Ranch, helping to set out the fig trees in the celebrated fig orchard located on this ranch, which is, with out doubt, the largest and finest fig orchard in America. Having made his own way in the world ever since a lad of fifteen years, his steady progress and finally his success is even the more praiseworthy for having accomplished these ends by his own labors, beginning as a night watchman for the Sierra Railway at Oakdale, where he worked for two and a half jears, then rose to fireman, which station he occupied for a period of four years, after which he was promoted to locomotive engineer and has been steadily and continuously on the job ever since, covering a period of a quarter of a century. Being the engineer in charge of the freight engine that moves the freight train, on the Sierra Railway from Oakdale, where it connects with both the Santa Fe HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1267 and the Southern Pacific to Sonora and at times as far as Tuolumne, which is the end of the line, he travels fifty-seven miles from Oakdale to Tuolumne, through a very scenic and interesting portion of California. Among some of the most interesting sights to travelers are the great sawmills, the lime kilns, and gold ore (quartz) mines. Two of the sawmills, the Standard and Hetch Hetchy, average six carloads daily. Mr. Miller's whole time and attention is given over to the duties and study of rail road work, and his has been an active and useful life. O. W. BEACH. — A first-class mechanic, well-informed through travel, with such a stock of original ideas that he has easily become an inventive genius, is O. W. Beach, the proprietor of the Broadway Repair Shop, who first came to California in 1892. He was born at Springfield, 111., in 1854, the son of George Beach, a native of Mary land, who was a wheelwright. He had married Miss Phylette Goodell, who was born in New York State ; and having migrated to Illinois, they died in the Prairie State. Five of their seven children are living, and the subject of this interesting review is the second youngest. He was brought up at Springfield, and there attended the public schools ; and at nineteen started out to make his own living. He chose the blacksmith trade, and as a journeyman traveled from place to place through many states, and by the age of twenty-five, he had been in twenty-seven, besides old Mexico. Mr. Beach was first married in Lyons, Kans., to Miss Martha Chilly, and there he maintained a smithy until his wife's health failed, when he removed to Denver, and for the same reason continued to come West until, in 1892, he came to California. He spent some time in San Diego, and then in Riverside, and there he was busy as a blacksmith; and when he had nicely established a well-equipped shop, his faithful wife died, despite the efforts he had made to save her. He had then the responsibility of five children ; and after removing to Los Ange les and Ventura, he there married Miss Charlotte Raddick, a native of Nebraska. He then continued blacksmithing in Los Angeles, and later removed to Orange County. In 1918, he located in Turlock and purchased his present business, which he con ducted in partnership with his son. He has done a general trade, but made a specialty of automobile springs, auto-truck bodies, and all kinds of automobile repairing. Being of an inventive turn, Mr. Beach has originated many useful appliances, including a sanitary toilet seat, and he has perfected the invention of an automatic land-leveler said to be the best for its purpose anywhere. He has completed the second Beach land leveler and after trials they find it does all that he expected it would. Run by either tractor or horse power, it scoops and dumps automatically and can be oper ated by one man who also operates the tractor. He has demonstrated that he can accomplish twice as much in the same given time as with any other leveler made. Socially, Mr. Beach is a companionable, neighborly fellow, and a welcome mem ber of the Knights of Pythias. He likes Stanislaus County, and leaves nothing undone to increase its attractions for other folks. ETIENNE LACOSTE. — A man who has thoroughly caught the spirit of the West and is making a success in the business life of Modesto is Etienne Lacoste, who was born at Iherre, Basses-Pyrenees, France, September 24, 1878, the oldest of seven children born to Salver and Marie ( Gastolovere ) Lacoste, who were highly respected farmer folk in the south of France. The mother passed away in 1893, but the father is still hale and hearty and actively engaged as an agriculturist. Etienne spent his boyhood on the farm and being raised to outdoor work in that healthy climate of the Pyrenees region, grew up to be a very large, powerful and athletic man. When twenty- one years of age he responded to the call and entered the Seventh Regiment of the French army, where he served for three years, when he received his honorable dis charge. Returning home, he continued to assist his father on the farm for three j'ears, during which time he saved all the money he could to defray his expenses to California, having become intensely interested in the Pacific Coast region through reports from his countrymen who returned and spoke of opportunities that awaited young men here. Arriving in San Francisco in December, 1905, Mr. Lacoste made his way to King City; he was employed by a sheepgrower for eighteen months and then went 3268 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY to Nevada in the employ of Mr. Pon for three months, when he returned to San Francisco, where he began the bakery trade, in which field he has since become so successful . He was for a year in the French Bakery on Broadway and High Street, and then with the Bascou Bakery on Church Street, San Francisco, another year. Next he was with the Parisian Baking Company on Broadway between Powell and Stockton, and then nearly two j'ears was baker for Laraburu on Third Avenue. While living in San Francisco, in September, 1908, Mr. Lacoste was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Pochelu, also a native of Basses-Pyrenees, France, born at Iholdy, the daughter of Cadet and Marie Sabarotz Pochelu, members of an old and honorable family who were well-to-do farmers. The father has passed away, while the mother is still living at the old home. Of the eight children born to this worthy couple, seven are living, of whom Catherine is the next to the oldest and she was the first member of the family to come to California, arriving in San Ardo, Monterey County, in December, 1906. It was in the land of sunny California where she met Mr. Lacoste, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage. On May 22, 1911, Mr. and Mrs. Lacoste came to Modesto and immediately started a new bakerj'. He named it the Modesto French Bakery and it has since be come the leading business of its kind in the city and is very popular and well patronized. His first place of business was at 619 Tenth Street, where they continued until October, 1917, when they moved into larger quarters, their present place being at 832 Tenth' Street. This was remodelled into a most modern plant with two ovens, and they bake 4,000 loaves a day, although that can be doubled if necessary. Their retail store is well arranged and is very inviting. Mrs. Lacoste is a woman of much native ability and business acumen, who also gives her time to the business, and Mr. Lacoste gives no small degree of credit to her for his success. He is a member of Wildey Lodge of Odd Fellows in Modesto and the American Order of Foresters, and he also is an enthusiastic member of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade. DR. A. J. ROUSSE. — A worthy representative of the profession he has chosen who may justly be proud of a fine war record, is Dr. A. J. Rousse, who was born in St. Marys, Kans., June 13, 1886. His father, Ernest C. Rousse, was born in Catillon, Nord, France, coming to Kansas when twenty-one years of age, and there he after wards married Miss Ella Verschelden, who was a native of Flanders, Belgium. After his marriage he engaged in farming in Kansas for two years and then removed to Flagstaff, Ariz., where he was employed as a stationary engineer for eight years. In 1889, Dr. Rousse came to California, locating at San Luis Rey, where he engaged in farming and stock raising, as well as horticulture, and there the parents still reside. Of their eight children, Dr. Rousse is the oldest. When seven years of age he was sent to Belgium, where he attended school for five years at the city of Ghent, after which he returned to his native country, joining his parents, who had located in San Luis Rey, Cal., completing his education in the Oceanside high school, after which he followed ranching with his father. Always interested and a lover of horses and sympathetic in alleviating their ailments, he read veterinary medicine and finally determined to make a study of veterinary science, so in 1910 he entered the Kansas City Veterinary College in Kansas City, Mo., where he was graduated in 1913 with the degree of D.V.M. Returning to California, he located in San Diego, where he was city dairy and meat inspector for nearly two years, and then located in Hemet, where he practiced until the fall of 1916, when he came to Modesto and became associated with Dr. Haney as Haney & Rousse, practicing veterinary medicine until June, 1917, when he volunteered his services to the Veterinary Corps of the U. S. Army. Joining the colors at Camp Kearney, he was commissioned second lieutenant and later first lieutenant, afterwards serving on the border in Texas until after the armistice, when he was returned to Camp Kearney, where he received his honorable discharge in August, 1920, after three years of service, and immediately returned to Modesto and resumed his practice. In December, 1920, he moved to Turlock and formed a partnership with Dr. J. W. Roberts, as Roberts & Rousse, and there they maintain a veterinary hospital and are* meeting with exceptional success, Dr. Roberts having already been well established there in his profession. C/. ([ ^^rL^^/^^z/ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1271 In August, 1921, their veterinary hospital and office building were totally de stroyed by fire. Nothing daunted, they immediately rebuilt. The buildings are of concrete and 'brick, 60x100 feet. Their offices and store building are on South Broadway, while the veterinary hospital and blacksmith shop is in the rear. In San Diego, Nevember, 1919, Dr. Rousse was united in marriage with Florence McDermott, who was born in Tulsa, Okla., a lady of culture and refinement, and both take part in civic and social affairs. Dr. Rousse is a member of the Knights of Columbus in Modesto, California Veterinary Association and American Legion. CARL JOHN LUNDGREN. — A man of sterling worth and integrity was the late Carl John Lundgren, a native of Sweden, born in Nordland January 6, 1857. His father, Peter Lundgren, was engaged in lumbering and sawmilling in Sweden, but spent his last days in Ohio. Carl John received a good education in the excellent schools in his vicinity until the age of sixteen, when he entered the local iron works, becoming a roller man. Coming to Worcester, Mass., when twenty-two years of age, he went to work in the roller mills. In time his adeptness and knowledge of the business were appreciated and he was made head roller. In Worcester he was married in 1880, being united with Miss Anna Hedlind, who was also born in Nordland, the young people having been acquainted in the old home. Her father died in Nordland, while his widow came to the United States and spent her last days in Turlock, dying at the age of ninety years. After nine years in Worcester, Mr. Lundgren removed to Cleveland, Ohio, where for four years he was head roller in the Baker Rolling Mills and then removed fo Newburgh, N. Y, where he filled a similar position. Then for short periods he filled the same position at Mingo Junction on the Ohio River, Steubenville, Ohio, Duquesne, Pa., and Youngs town, Ohio. Having become interested in and desirous of locating in California, he came to Turlock in October, 1903, and purchased forty-four acres in Youngstown Colony, across the county line in Merced county. Here he built a residence and made improvements, engaging in general farming until he died October 8, 1918, mourned by his family and many friends. He was a consistent Christian and in the various places had been prominent and active in the Swedish Mission Church, and was a trustee of the church in Turlock when he died. For many years he had been a leader of the choir and possessed a beautiful deep bass voice that was much appreciated. Mr. Lundgren was also inter ested in the cause of education, having been a member and clerk of the Johnson joint school district for years. A believer in protection, he was naturally a Republican. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Lundgren resulted in the birth of three children : Carl Henry died when a baby; Ruth Elizabeth is a graduate of Heald's Normal at Stockton and is a teacher in the Johnson school ; Melvin Carl is operating the home farm. After Mr. Lundgren's death the family resided on the farm for a year, when Mrs. Lundgren moved to Turlock, purchasing a home at 318 Vermont street, where she lives with her daughter, both being active members of the Swedish Mission Church and the Dorcas Society. LELAND A. HALL. — Among the expert grain growers in Stanislaus County may well be numbered Leland A. Hall, who comes honestly enough by his proficiency, for he is a great-grandson of Johnny Jones of San Joaquin County, who in his day was the "wheat king" of California. He was born on April 18, 1890, on the W. W. Hall, formerly the E. A. Hall ranch, and is the oldest son and second child of the late W. W. Hall, who married Orilla Adeline Rowe, the daughter of Thomas S. Rowe, one of the extensive grain growers in pioneer daj's, and very well known, as was E. A. Hall, one of the largest tax-payers of Stanislaus County. He attended the public schools of the Union and the Rowe districts, and at the Western School of Commerce at Stockton. In 1909, W. W. Hall died, and it fell to our subject, as the oldest of the fam ily, to get down to hard work. He therefore assumed the responsibility of running fhe 2,600 acres of the home farm. As early as 1907 he had become his father's right-hand helper, and he continued as the head man on the home ranch until his 1272 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY widowed mother, in 1917, married Hugh Head, at which time she deeded each one of her three children 640 acres. Although a j'oung man, Mr. Hall is without doubt one of the best grain farmers in Stanislaus County. On the first of March, 1921, he had on hand 6,200 sacks of barley of the 1920 crop, all raised on a half-section, the best grain crop in the drj* farming section of the county, for he summer-fallows half a section each year, and crops the other half. He relies on horses and mules, for the most part, for his motive power needed on the farm, and owns and uses twelve mules in his operations. He owns an interest in a large combined Harris harvester and thresher, and co-oper ates with Mr. Head, Mr. Barnes, and his brother, William Edgar Hall, in harvest time. This gigantic harvesting machine is propelled by means of a seventy-five horse power Holt tractor and can cut, harvest and thresh fifty acres per day, and is used to harvest all of the grain grown on the four ranches carved out of the original E. A. Hall acreage. In 1917, when he located on his 640 acres, he built a fine residence, with large barns that will easily hold seventy tons of hay. In 1912 Mr. Hall was married to Miss Ethel Fern Yancey, a member of the distinguished family of that name so pleasantly associated with the annals of Georgia, and thej* have had two children — Fern and William Abner. Mrs. Hall is a daughter of A. J. Yancey, who came to California from Georgia in 1889 and settled at Ceres. Later he became a merchant at Montpellier, and a large landowner. Mrs. Yancey, who was Amanda Barnes, is also a native of Georgia. They now reside in Tuolumne County. Of their four living children Mrs. Hall is the second youngest She was born a.t Ceres and educated there and at the high school at Stockton. Mr. Hall is a Republican when it comes to matters of national political moment, but in local affairs he is always willing to pull with his neighbors. HUNT-JEWETT-BONTZ CO.— A thoroughly up-to-date concern, whose enter prise has also stimulated other firms, is the Hunt-Jewett-Bontz Company, which established its plant at Turlock in 1919, building a fine structure 51^4x544 feet, of interlocking tile. They have packing sheds, besides, of the same width and 172 feet long, thus giving their establishment an entire length of 716 feet, and a total floor area of 36,516 square feet. The firm buys sweet potatoes and stores them until the market is most favorable for their delivery, when the stock is shipped to Eastern markets; and with their 385 bins, each with a capacity of seven tons and properly ventilated, these men have the only plant of the kind in the West, and largest of its kind in the world. They are incorporated with a capital stock of $200,000, and the officers are: President, C. W. Hunt, of Hunt, Hatch & Company, San Francisco; vice-president, L. E. Bontz, of Sacramento; secretary and treasurer, E. L. Jewett, of E. L. Jewett & Company, a produce broker of more than thirty years in San Francisco. The manager of the shipping department is Grant Hunt, a native son of Oakland and a graduate of the University of California ; the sales manager is Austin Eimer, also a graduate of the State University; while another young man of ability, and also of the same college alma mater, is Van Duyn Dodge, the cashier. R. K. Bontz is general manager of the company, and is the son of L. E. Bontz, who came to California from Peoria, 111., in 1891, and was connected with the San Jose Mercury for fourteen years. Then he removed to Sacramento, where he was with the Sacramento Union. R. K. Bontz was born in San Jose, and when a student at Berkeley, followed the course of the College of Letters and Science, majoring in economics. The four last mentioned all served in the World War, enlisting from California, and won commissions. Another member of the company, and a j'oung man of much ability, is Manuel Gomez, whose father is a large landowner on Sherman Island, in the Sacra mento River. He is a sweet potato expert, and a buyer for the company. The firm is a member of the Turlock Board of Trade and its heads participate in all that helps build up the town. Besides sweet potatoes, they handle onions, garlic and tomatoes, watermelons, cherries, grapes, cantaloupes, casabas and beans, and even during the first year of their existence had shipped over 450 carloads of produce, the second year over 500 cars, and in 1921 will probably increase this output. They have about fifty outlets for their goods, and find their markets chiefly along the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1273 Pacific Coast, in Salt Lake and Denver; but they also send produce as far as New York. Before they started their plant, sweet potatoes in season fell below one cent a pound, but through their service to the grower they have been able to maintain a mini mum of not less than two and a half cents a pound. In the spring of 1920, thej* brought in two carloads of seed of the Nancy Hall brand of sweet potatoes, in the South well-named the Pumpkin Yam, and these they find sweeter and more satisfactorj- to the consumer whose tastes thej' are in business to study. BENJAMIN SISSON. — An interesting couple who still maintain the old-time California traditions of hospitality are Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Sisson, resident on the old Bach place near Knights Ferry, south of the Stanislaus River and off the State Highway. The eldest son and the fourth child in a family of eight, Benjamin Sisson was born at Oakdale, on December 27, 1878, the son of Benjamin H. Sisson, whose ancestry was Quaker, and who was born at Poughkeepsie, on the Hudson, a member of a pre-Revolutionary family. He rounded the Horn in the latter part of 1868, and in January, 1869, sailed through the Golden Gate. He brought with him his bride, who had been Miss Ida Simmons, and whom he married at Poughkeepsie, and they settled early at Langworth, and became neighbors and friends of Henrj* Langworthy, Thomas Richardson and Thomas Snedigar, now deceased. Mr. Sisson and Thomas Richardson formed a partnership, and together they farmed thousands of acres of wheat. After ward, operating once more alone, Mr. Sisson moved to Kern County and herded thousands of sheep close to Delano, and when he sold out in 1875, he established him self at Oakdale and went in for draying. On the arrival of the first railway train at Oakdale, Mrs. Sisson helped to cook the dinner celebrating the event. Benjamin Sisson attended the Oakdale schools, and then engaged as bookkeeper for E. L. Barkis of Oakdale, remaining with him for six years. After that he went to Sacramento, and for nine years was with the American Fish Company. He was married on May 8, 1901, to Miss Ella May Bach, the fourth of the six Bach chil dren described elsewhere-, and they have had one child, Margery. As an agreeable and wholesome change from clerical work, Mr. Sisson, with the assistance of his good wife, has farmed the old Bach home place in the Knights Ferry precinct for the past five years, operating some 280 acres. He has fifteen cows, and raises for the most part beef cattle. He also owns a fine ranch of twenty acres at Live Oak, in Sutter County. Mr. Sisson belongs to the Masons in Knights Ferry and to the Odd Fellows in Sacra mento. Mr. and Mrs. Sisson are also popular in the Eastern Star. WILLIAM C. HANSEN. — Among the progressive grain ranchers of Stanislaus County may well be mentioned William C. Hansen, who leases the Kearney Ranch, four miles southeast of Oakdale, with its choice tract of nearly 500 acres. He was born in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, on July 25, 1867, the son of Christopher and Elizabeth Hansen, who came to America in 1875. Mr. Hansen died in the spring of 1898, at the age of sixty-five years, but his devoted widow is still living at the age of eighty-eight and resides with our subject. Four children gave happiness to this worthy couple: Minnie is the wife of R. P. Finch, a farmer in Kings County. Cal.; Sophia, who died in December, 1919, was the wife of A. W. Hansen, a rancher of Stockton, and the mother of three children; William C. is the subject of this review; Henry Hansen died when he was fourteen years old. William remained in Germany long enough to attend school there for a year, and then he accompanied his parents to California and San Joaquin Valley, where the family spent the first five years of their residence in America, an uncle, Joe Spenker, having a couple of ranches at Woodbridge. He was a pioneer and a '49er, having crossed the plains to California with ox teams. In the fall of 1880, he came to Stanislaus County, rented lands and became a prosperous grain farmer. Mr. Hansen now rents 480 acres of the Kearney Ranch ; he is a hard worker, very conscientious, and is esteemed by his neighbors as a fine man and a patriotic, public-spirited citizen On August 14, 1904, Mr. Hansen was married to Miss Elizabeth Green, a native of London, and the daughter of George Green, a lighterman on the River Thames, who had married Mrs. Emily Haywood, formerly Miss Emily Cowenden. A 1274 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY brother, Henry S. Green, came to America, lived for a while in Toledo, where he became an American citizen, and then returned to London, where he died. Mrs. Hansen, who well remembers Queen Victoria and the great parade of the Golden Jubilee, came from London to Canada, thence to Toledo to her brother's, and later worked in Detroit, Chicago, Kansas City and Los Angeles, where she arrived in 1895. The following j'ear she proceeded to Stanislaus County. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen have bad two children, but one — Bessie — died in infancy. The elder, Emily, although only twelve years old, has developed into a fine pianist. Mr. Hansen is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and his wife shares with him much social popularity. CHAS. O. PETERSON.— A resident of Turlock since the fall of 1903, Chas. O. Peterson, was born in Elskelsheim, Gotland, Sweden, February 3, 1853, the son of P. G. and Hedvig Sophia Peterson. His father was a graduate of Wisby Seminary and was a well-known educator in Elskelsheim, where he was principal of the gram mar school until he retired from the profession ; he died at the age of eighty-seven, while his wife had preceded him, aged fifty-two years. Four of their children grew up, two of whom are now living. Chas. O. received a good education in the public schools of Elskelsheim, and after bis school days were over he was apprenticed at the dyer's trade for three years in Klinthavn; completing the trade, he traveled as a journeyman in Sweden until he decided to cast in his lot in the land of the Stars and Stripes. Coming to Philadelphia, Pa., in 1882, he wished to do outdoor work, and having always had a great love for flowers, shrubbery and trees and considerable experience in that line, as his brother was superintendent of the Botanical Gardens, he naturally chose gardening, which he followed at Philadelphia for a few years and then located in Youngstown, Ohio, where he continued in the same line. Through reading and hearing from friends at Turlock of its good soil and irrigation possibilities, he came with a party of forty-two others, of whom Rev. J. V. Boden was the leader, in a special car, arriving in Turlock October, 1903. He liked the place, the country and its possibilities and determined to remain. Becoming owner by purchase of ten acres in Youngstown, Colony, he was one of its first settlers, improving his ranch and residing there a few years until he sold it, and then purchased five acres adjoining Turlock on the southwest, which he planted to trees and later sold it. He had also purchased some lots when he came to Turlock, which he afterwards sold to advantage. When the new Swedish Mission Church was completed, Mr. Peterson was appointed janitor, January 1, 1909, and has since filled the position very ably and creditably. Mr. Peterson is a broadminded and liberal man and has always been ready to do his bit towards the upbuilding and improving of his adopted country. He is a mem ber of the Swedish Mission Church and active in its good work and benevolences. Politically he is a believer in protection and is a strong Republican. JOHN P. CORSON. — A strong supporter of the cooperative marketing idea for farmers, John P. Corson believes that such practical methods will forward the much-discussed back-to-the-farm movement and solve, in a measure at least, the vexed questions of supply and demand, uniform price and transportation. Mr. Corson is a natural leader, and while quite a young man was assistant secretary for three and a half years to the Board of Trade of Indianapolis, Ind., and since coming to Modesto in 1907, was instrumental in effecting the organization of the Stanislaus County Farmers Union. He was a delegate to the first State Farmers Union convention and was president of the Modesto local of the Farmers Union for several years, and has served as secretary and treasurer of the county union. He is a booster for all public enterprises and for every forward looking policy, but in every thing he is essentially practical, possessing as well the ability to develop the practical -application of such policies. A native of Indiana, born in Dearborn County, near Aurora, January 25, 1874, Mr. Corson is the son of J. K. Corson, also a native of Indiana, with whose early historj* he was intimately associated. J. K. Corson was a farmer, owning a ranch of 160 acres, where he raised grain and stock, but he also took a prominent part in the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1277 affairs of his home town, acting as city councilman of Rising Sun for many years. John P. Corson was born on the farm, and attended the public schools in Indiana, and gained his first knowledge of life from assisting his father in the daily round of home duties, and when he was nineteen j'ears old he took over the home place and worked it on the shares for his father. At the age of twenty-five he moved to Indianapolis and engaged in the wall paper and interior decorating business for some years and then was employed in the Panhandle shops, then was three and a half years with the Indianapolis Board of Trade. In 1907, Mr. Corson came to California and located his present ranch of sixty acres of land, five miles west of Modesto, on Shoemake Road. This he planted to alfalfa, and having a dairy of thirty cows, and owning a registered Holstein herd sire. Seven years ago, in 1913, he retired from the dairy business, and is now engaged in orchard and vineyard culture, having ten acres Qf fine peaches and twenty-one acres of Thompson seedless grapes, the remainder being double cropped. The marriage of Mr. Corson and Miss Marion Hunt occurred at Indianapolis, Ind., May 2, 1903. Mrs. Corson is the daughter of Washington M. Hunt, a farmer in Indiana and also in charge of construction for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Corson have four children : James H. being in the Modesto high school, while Elizabeth, George and Mary are still in grammar school. Mr. Corson is not a politician, but in response to the urgency of his friends several years ago, he allowed himself to be put up for supervisor against the present incumbent, Mr. Dunn, his close personal friend and business associate. The contest was full of interest, and while Mr. Corson was defeated, it is worthy of note that he and Mr. Dunn came out of the election still warm friends. DAVID TERRY LAIRD.— The ox team and the "prairie schooner" brought to California during the famous "days of '49" and in the succeeding decade a class of hardy pioneers, and of such ancestry David Terry Laird, qne of Stanislaus County's prosperous dairy ranchers, is descended. His father was E. G. Laird, a native of Ken tucky, a farmer and stockman, who was touched by the lure of the discovered gold, and who left the comforts of home and civilization to cross the plains with an ox team in 1850. He located in San Joaquin County, where he engaged in farming after he had taken the customary trial at obtaining immediate wealth and affluence through gold mining. His wife was Miss Mary McDowell, also of Kentucky, and had made the long, hard journey across, the plains with her two brothers. They were among the early settlers in San Joaquin County and for many years were intimately identified with the growth and development of the county. David T. Laird was born at Lodi, April 30, 1865, and was reared in Mariposa County, whither his parents moved when he was a little lad, locating near Jersey Dale. Later the family moved again, this time into Merced County, where the father pur chased a quarter section, where he engaged in general farming and stock raising. He was among the first men to break the virgin soil of that county, and was one of those who welcomed the first railroad into this part of the state, giving the right-of-way to the Southern Pacific Railroad. The boyhood days of David Laird were the same as those of other farm lads, but the spirit of adventure always walked with him, and accordingly he answered the call of the North in 1898, as his father had answered the call of the West in 1850. He went with the great Alaska gold rush of that year, remaining for four years, during which he mined for gold with appreciable success. Later he made another trip to Alaska, meeting with many interesting adventures. On his return to California, Mr. Laird located first at Santa Cruz, going later to Watsonville. But he found that the conditions in Stanislaus County were best suited to his needs, and in 1907 he returned to make his permanent home here. He purchased forty acres six and a half miles southeast of Modesto, where he engaged in the dairy business with great success, and has made of his place a delightful country home, with a comfortable modern residence. The marriage of Mr. Laird occurred in 1902, his bride being Miss Eva Rose Turner, the sister of George D. Turner, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Laird is the daughter of William T. and Mary (Camp) Turner, her 1278 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY father coming to California across the plains when he was fifteen years of age, together with his father. After his marriage, William T. Turner went to Mariposa County, where he engaged in grain farming and cattle raising, and owned 2,000 acres of land at the time of his death in 1892. He also served as sheriff and constable of Mariposa County for many j'ears, and Mrs. Laird's brother, A. B. Turner, is sheriff of Mariposa County at the present time. Mrs. Laird is a native of Mariposa County. She is a graduate of San Jose State Normal and has a life diploma and taught nineteen years in Mariposa County. She is very loyal to all of California, and is particularly an enthu siastic booster for Stanislaus County. She is the mother of three children : Rita Mary and Terry Turner are students in the Ceres high school, and Jean Nevelle is still of grammar school age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Laird have a wide circle of friends and their home is known for its kindly hospitality. Politically Mr. Laird is a Democrat, but he supports clean, progressive measures in local affairs. JOE F. VINCENT. — An early pioneer, but still an energetic and industrious farmer, who is interesting as one of the very few surviving Portuguese settlers who came to Stanislaus County before the digging of, the Kings River Canal by Miller & Lux, is Joe F. Vincent, a native of the Azores, where he was born in Flores on February 1, 1855. His parents were Antone and Isabell Vincent, and his father came to America in 1865, a short time before his death. The subject of our sketch, when only twelve years of age, took a trip on a sailing vessel from the Azores to Boston, and then to New York, and next worked as a day laborer on a Massachusetts farm. Coming out to California in 1873, he spent his first two j'ears on a ranch in Alameda County, and later removed to Merced County, on the Dick Wilson ranch of 800 acres, where he went into the sheep business. He succeeded so well that he came to have as many as 5,000 head of sheep, and he drove his sheep over the Government range from the Coast Range to Nevada ; but the price dropped to practically nothing, and he lost so much that he had to quit that field. Mr. Vincent then went to work again for wages, and for six years labored on Badger Flat, near Los Banos. In 1898 he bought twenty acres of land from Mr. Cox, and set it out to alfalfa, and thoroughly satisfied with its favorable location — three miles southeast of Newman — he erected there a home and the necessary farm buildings, and made of it a splendid dairy farm. However, lately he is engaged in raising hay and dealing in cattle. At Mission San Jose, on July 7, 1884, Mr. Vincent was married to Miss Isabel Munyan, a native of Centerville, Alameda County, where she was reared and educated until she was nineteen. Eight children have blessed this union : Joseph is a graduate of Oakland Polytechnic, is now a bookkeeper for the Newman Dairy Company ; Mamie is Mrs. Almeda .of Santa Cruz; Morris became a sergeant in the hospital corps and served fourteen months overseas in the late war, and is now a mechanic in the Ford garage at Newman ; Delphina is Mrs. Machado of Newman ; Frank is also with the Ford Garage at Newman ; Rosa is a graduate of the Gustine high school and is now bookkeeper in the Bank of Gustine ; Lucinda is taking the course of the Gustine high school ; and Isabel is in the Canal grammar school. Mr. Vincent belongs to the I. D. E. S. Lodge in Newman. D. POWER BOOTHE. — The record of development and growth which has been made by Stanislaus County is largely due to the splendid type of public-spirited men who compose her citizenry, men of vision and ability, who have unselfishly given of their time and means to develop the natural resources of a region rich in promise and possibility, building for the welfare and happiness of future generations rather than for their own. Of such men is D. Power Boothe, engineer, mining and irriga tion expert, and owner of one of the most profitable orchards in the county, located two miles northeast of Ceres. D. Power Boothe, since coming to Stanislaus County in 1915, has been identified with its best interests and has taken an especially active part in irrigation development. A native of Illinois, Mr. Boothe was horn at Kinmundy, Marion County, August 22, 1881. His father was Lemon Ferris Boothe, also a native of Illinois, and his grandfather was J. W. Boothe, a veteran of the Civil War, tf HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1281 having served as a colonel in the Forty-fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. The mother was Miss Emma Power, also born in Illinois. Lemon Ferris Boothe moved his family to Eastern Washington in 1887, locating at Spokane, where he engaged in the wholesale grocery business. Here the mother passed away in 1900, leaving to mourn her loss her husband and three children. D. Power Boothe received his early education at Spokane, attending the grammar and high schools, which are noted for their excellence. Later he graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, taking his degree in the College of Mining Engineering in 1905. He followed the profession of mining engineer for a period of j'ears, winning for himself a most enviable reputation in his chosen work. He was for some time at Wallace, Idaho, and later at Tonopah, Nev., where he was engineer and geologist for the Tonopah Extension Mines and later superintendent of the Tonopah Victor Mining Company. In this capacity he was associated with manj- of the biggest minine men of the day, and his responsibilities were many and heavy. After ten years devoted to the mining industry, Mr. Boothe determined to make a change in his plans and came into Stanislaus County in 1915 and engaged in civil and irrigation engineering on an independent basis. He bought fifty-five acres of raw land just north of Ceres, and has improved and developed this property along the latest scientific lines, and has it planted to alfalfa, figs, grapes and other fruits. The marriage of Mr. Boothe occurred during his college career, uniting him with Miss Margaret Stewart, a native of Portland, Ore., and like himself a student at the University of California. Of their union have been born two sons, Dyas Power, Jr., and Thomas Wheeler. Both Mr. and Mrs. Boothe take an active part in social and civic life in Ceres, where they have a wide circle of friends. Mr. Boothe is a member of the Ceres Board of Trade, having served as treasurer since 1919. He was president of the Ceres Center Farm Bureau in 1920, and has done much to promote the interests of this organization. Mr. Boothe had charge of the engineering in connection with the construction of the Ceres sanitary sewer sj'Stem. In 1921 he was appointed a member of the board of trustees of the Ceres Union high school. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic Order, Modesto Lodge, and of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity of the University of California. ANTHONY A. FARLEY. — A successful merchant who has kept well abreast of the times and in affording a high grade mercantile service for Keyes has contributed definitely toward the expansion of Stanislaus County, is Anthony A. Farley, who was born near Bates, in Vernon County, Mo., on April 6, 1882, the son of Edward Farley, a farmer, a native of Illinois. He married Nora Hicklin, a native of Missouri, and thev now reside in Hanford, Kings County. All three of their children survive, and Anthony is both the eldest child and son. When thirteen years of age he accom panied his parents to Kings County and settled near Hanford, and there his boj'hood was spent upon his father's farm. On September 12, 1899, he enlisted in Company I, Fortieth U. S. Volunteers, and served in active warfare for eighteen months in the Philnnines ; and at San Francisco he was discharged on June 30, 1901. Upon returning to civil life, Mr. Farley entered the employ of Gravatt & Com pany, retail grocers at Hanford, and nine months later he went to Fresno to take a position for fifteen months in the Sperry Mills. From Fresno he went to the oil fields at Coalinga, where wages were higher and the future seemed brighter to him ; he was paid $250 per month, and that was then considered very fair remuneration. He became expert as a driller, as well as in the dressing and making of tools, and such was his proficiency that during the entire eight years he was connected with only two companies, the American Petroleum, now the Aztec Oil Company, and the Mercantile Crude Oil Company. On September 16, 1906, Mr. Farley was married to Miss Laura Wilson, whose parents, Egbert Livingstone and Mary (Thailer) Wilson, were numbered among the interesting pioneers of Sacramento. The father was born in Illinois, and in 1850 crossed the great plains to Sacramento with oxen and engaged in mining for several years before he entered into extensive stock raising and grain growing at Sacramento. Mrs. Wilson was born at Placerville, of parents who came from Missouri in 1848, 1282 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and early went into the mines. Mrs. Farley graduated from the grammar school at Folsom, attended a private academy and was granted her certificate as a school teacher at Sacramento in 1905. She taught school for four terms at the Harvard school in Sacramento County, for two terms at the Alphic school in Fresno, and for half a term at the Arena school in Merced County. In July, 1920, Mrs. Farley was commissioned postmaster at Kej'es; and she has also carried on the county librarian's work. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Farley: Ray and Ruby, who attend the Keyes grammar school. Mr. Farley is the successor to L. A. McMains in the general merchandise busi ness at Keyes, having bought out the latter in January, 1920, and he carries a com plete line of groceries, sundries and drygoods. Near Livingston, in Merced County, he owns twenty acres of raw land, and at Coalinga he owns a number of town lots, and he also has realty interests in Monterey County. He owns a half-acre of resi dential property in the city of Sacramento; and Mrs. Farley has one-third of a share in the stock farm near Folsom, known as the "Wilson Stock Farm." Mrs. Farley has one brother, who is manager of this farm. LEWIS H. RICKENBACHER.— The present water superintendent of the Turlock Irrigation District, Lewis H. Rickenbacher, has been a resident of Turlock since 1908. He was born at Topeka, Kans., November 10, 1885, the son of Wm. Rickenbacher, a native of Columbus, Ohio. Grandfather John Rickenbacher served in the Mexican War, was a merchant tailor in Columbus, Ohio, and served as sheriff of Franklin County, being a man of influence and prominence. Wm. Rickenbacher migrated to Kansas in 1875, where he entered the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad, becoming a trusted and valued clerk in the general offices until the fall of 1920, when he retired on a pension. His wife was Henrietta Dressel and she is the mother of seven children, of whom Lewis H. is the j'oungest. After completing the grammar schools, he entered Topeka high, where he was graduated in 1906, after which he attended Washburn College for a year. Next he spent one year in a mercantile establishment ; resigning his position he came to Tur lock, Cal., in 1908. The first year was spent working as a horticulturist, and then he came to be employed by the TurJock Irrigation District in the engineering department under Burton Smith, and he was made assistant engineer under him and continued in the same position until his successor was appointed. In 1915 Mr. Rickenbacher was transferred to the position of water superin tendent, which he held until the fall of 1918, when he resigned to accept the position of resident engineer for the State Highway Commission at Grass Valley, and was in charge of the district for nine months. Resigning, he went to Topeka, Kans., and engaged in the mercantile business until January, 1920, when he sold out and returned to California. After three months as engineer with the Oakdale Irrigation District, he returned to Turlock, since which time he has been water superintendent of the Turlock Irrigation District, to which he devotes all of his time, filling the position creditably and with satisfaction to everyone. In Turlock, in 1914, Mr. Rickenbacher was married to Miss Lutie Wasson, who was born in Minnesota, but reared in Seattle, the union having been blessed with two children, Richard and Maxine. Mr. Rickenbacher believes in the principles of protection for Americans and is naturally a Republican. JOHN SCERPELLA. — An industrious and progressive j'oung man, John Scer pella was born in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland, January 9, 1890, the son of James and Rosa Scerpella, who were the parents of ten children, John Scerpella being the fifth child. Having heard of the great opportunities afforded in California, he bade his parents good-bye in their Swiss home, never to see them again, as they have since passed away. Upon arriving in America, he proceeded to go direct to the cinnabar or quick silver mines at Mt. St. Helena, three miles northwest of Middletown, Lake County, Cal., and there engaged in the mining industry for Mr. Rocco about four months, then obtained a position in a wine cellar and worked there the rest of the year. Going HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1285 to Guadalupe, in Santa Barbara County, he engaged as a milker on the large farm of Mr. Rusconi there for a period of two years, then decided to go to the Imperial Valley, where he rented land and operated a dairy farm on a large scale, milking about eighty cows, where he continued three years. His next move took him to Tulare County, where he remained for ten months before coming to Oakdale, and here, in partnership with a younger brother, James, he rented the A. L. Gilbert ranch of 240 acres, two miles north of Oakdale, securing a three-year lease, obtaining possession October 15, 1919. They are now milking fifty cows, all high-grade Holsteins. The Scerpella brothers are among the most successful dairy farmers in the Oak dale section and are taking rank among the progressive j'oung men of the north eastern part of the county. They were fortunate in receiving good educations in their native Switzerland and since coming to this country they have, through their own efforts, acquired a knowledge of the English language. On December 23, 1920, Mr. Scerpella was united in marriage with Mary Lesnini, the daughter of Tobia Lesnini, whose biography appears on another page of this work, and their home is the center of a wide circle of friends. GEORGE D. TURNER. — Native son and son of a well-known pioneer family of the famous old gold days, George D. Turner has alwaj's believed implicitly in the future of California, and began to put his surplus cash into land when he was a young man. He has constantly added more land to his holdings, until today he owns 5,500 acres near Hornitos, Mariposa County, where for twenty-five years he has been engaged extensively in the cattle business, raising beef cattle, for the markets of the world. In 1920 he had on hand about 600 head of beef cattle of the highest grade, mostly Herefords and Durhams. Mr. Turner owns in Stanislaus County a splendid ranch of sixty acres, six miles southeast of Modesto, where he resides with his family, and rents several farms, totaling an acreage of about 800 acres. His farming industry for the past several years has been principally the raising of beans, in which he has been unusually successful. Mr. Turner was born in Mariposa County, in Hornitos, October 19, 1871. He was the second son of William T. Turner, who came to La Grange, Cal., with his father when a lad of fifteen years. Grandfather Turner had answered the call of the gold excitement and was for many years engaged in mining enterprises in the state. William T. Turner, however, turned to farming, and became an extensive stock raiser, owning 2,000 acres of good Mariposa County land at the time of his death. For a time he also engaged in the livery stable business in Hornitos, and in the buying and selling of livestock in the open markets. He died in 1892. Mr. Turner's mother was Mary Camp, who crossed the plains with her parents when she was a girl. She died in Turlock some years ago. Of their living children, George is the fourth. The boyhood days of Mr. Turner were much the same as those of any California boy of his age ; he helped his father on the farm, in the livery stable business, and with his livestock enterprises, attending the district school when it was in session. When he was only five years of age he was a capable horseman, and often rode out after the cattle. He engaged in the teaming business for his father, and when he was twenty-four he started teaming in the mountains, carrying supplies to and from the mines, negotiating the dangerous roads with safety and ease. It was while thus engaged that he bought his first land, 160 acres, the nucleus of his present vast ranges, in Mariposa County. In 1914 Mr. Turner came to Stanislaus County and bought his present home farm of sixty acres, located near Ceres, where he has since made his home. The marriage of Mr. Turner occurred at Hornitos, Mariposa County, January 26, 1896, his bride being Miss Nellie Shepherd, born near Redding, Cal., but reared in Fresno and Mariposa counties. Her father, Benjamin A. Shepherd, was an early pioneer, crossing the plains in a "prairie schooner" in 1849 from Nevada. After mining for some years in Northern California, he engaged in farming in Fresno County, afterwards taking up mining again. He married Jane Rule, a native of Kentucky, and she died in Shasta County when Mrs. Turner was a baby. Mr. and Mrs. Turner are the parents of nine sons and daughters : Ethel is a graduate of the State Normal School at San Jose, and a teacher in the Lowell district school, where she is regarded as 1286 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY an educator of more than ordinary ability; W. G. is associated with his father in the stock business. The younger children, all at home, are Mary, Clarence, Lena, Grace, Herbert, Elton and Alice. The home is a popular one in the community, and the scene of many a gay gathering of young people. Mr. Turner is regarded as a conservative business man, whose judgment is un usually well balanced, and whose ability in forecasting the market is a byword among his intimate friends. Politically he is a Republican and a strong party man. He has never sought public life, nor had time from his extensive business interests to accept the duties of public office, although he comes from a family that is well known for its splendid public service, his father having served as sheriff and constable of Mariposa County for many j'ears, while his youngest brother, A. B. Turner, is the sheriff of that county at this time, and has won an enviable reputation for the efficiency with which he discharges the duties of that office. It is such men as Mr. Turner who are so worthily upholding the traditions of California, having themselves inherited the sterling worth of their pioneer ancestors, which they bequeathed to their children. HERBERT D. FELLOWS.— The eldest son and third in the order of birth of a family of six, H. D. Fellows began life on June 13, 1871, at Petaluma, Sonoma County, the son of David S. and Zelpha (Raynard) Fellows. The advent of the Fellows in America was when some of that name came over from England soon after 1 620, since which time they and their descendants have been instrumental in the up building of America, some having served as legislators, while others have tilled the soil. A great-great-grandfather of H. D. Fellows was a grantee in New Hampshire, but on account of his services to the colonies in the army, lost his land by order of the British courts. D. S. Fellows is a native of New Hampshire, but his parents removed to Iowa when he was a babe in arms ; while Zelpha Raynard was born in North Caro lina, later removing with her parents to Missouri, and at the age of seven to California, where the family settled in Sonoma County. In the early pioneer days David S. Fellows, together with a brother and two sisters, crossed the plains with oxen and settled in Grass Valley, and being a harness maker by trade, established shops and taught the business to the Californians, later engaging in the same line of business as his father — that of dairying and making cheese on a large scale in Napa, Marin and Sonoma counties. Being a conservative and successful business man and the owner of a very productive ranch, he had the distinction of shipping the first cheese from Sonoma County to San Francisco. As a boy, H. D. Fellows attended the Eureka district school in Tulare County, where his parents removed when he was only six years of age, and after completing a course in the business college at Santa Cruz, cultivated his father's farm for years and was also engaged as a clerk for four years in a general merchandise business at Hanford. In addition to being the owner of 160 acres of the old Fellows farm, he has owned several different farms at different intervals, at one time owning and cultivating a farm in Kings County, always selling to good advantage. He is a pioneer of the Modesto Irrigation District, having settled there in 1902, and is actively identi fied in its development and advancement since the first water was turned into the ditches. During his residence in the latter mentioned place he was engaged as a clerk by B. Weil & Sons for seven years. In Hanford, in June, 1895, Mr. Fellows was united in marriage with Miss Susan Reed, a native of Wisconsin, who later came to California with her parents. Seven children have been born of this union: Carl D. enlisted on September 8, 1917, in the Three Hundred Sixty-third Infantry and was later transferred to the Thirty- ninth Infantry of the regular army, where he was soon made corporal, and after seventeen months of service was among the first thousand men to be sent to Coblentz, Germany, in the Army of Occupation, receiving his honorable discharge on August 18, 1919; Harold volunteered in the Three Hundred Nineteenth Engineers, was sent overseas the same month, stationed at Brest in the construction forces, and on April 23, 1919, was honorably discharged at the Presidio. After receiving his discharge he went to work in the harvest fields at Canada; Marjorie is the wife of A. A. Pitts, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1287 a rancher of Stanislaus County; Elizabeth, who is a stenographer and cashier at Modesto ; Doris, Gertrude and Marion in school, all four living at home. Mr. Fellows, though by no means a politician, believes in the Republican princi ples. With his brother, Charles Fellows, he was the first successful nursery salesman in the Modesto and Turlock Irrigation District of the county, and in 1920-21 he devoted his time to the planting of vineyards. Assisted by his eldest son, Mr. Fellows recently embarked in the dray and transfer business, in which enterprise he has met with marked success. Since June, 1920, Mr. Fellows and his family have been occupying their new residence, which he erected on his property south of Modesto, near Franklin Avenue. EDWIN A. PETERSON.— A resident of Stanislaus County since 1910, Edwin A. Peterson, proprietor of Peterson's Garage at Patterson, is one of the prosperous j'oung business men of his section. He has rendered invaluable service on various public movements, and at present is serving as city recorder, to which position he was appointed by the City Council. He is also secretary of the Board of Health and a deputy under Sheriff Dallas, and is regarded one of the city's valuable young citizens. Mr. Peterson is a Native Son of the Golden West, having been born in San Francisco, July 18, 1892, the son of George and Alma Peterson, both natives of Sweden, who came to California at an early age. They located in Oakland, where the father was a prosperous shoe merchant. The sons received their education in the schools of Oakland and Berkeley, and Edwin Peterson struck out for himself when little more than a lad. He was always interested in mechanical work of all kinds, and turned naturally to this line of activity. For a year and a half he was employed at the Loren Station Garage, going from there to Modesto, where he was with C. R. Zacharias for a time, and later with Litt Brothers, who then operated the place where the large cooperative garage is located today. Mr. Peterson is now recognized as one of the best mechanical men in this part of the state, thoroughly informed on every department and in every detail of such work. He has given his best efforts along this line since 1908, when, as a boy of sixteen years, he made his first independent venture into the world of business. In 1915 Mr. Peterson engaged in business in partnership with his brother, A. W. Peterson, and ran the Depot Garage at Modesto successfully for a year. In March, 1919, he came to Patterson and opened the Peterson Garage, still in partnership with his brother, and has since made this his home. They now have the agency for the Lexington, Reo and Dort cars and one of the best-equipped shops in the county. Mr. Peterson's marriage to Miss Alma Brunold took place in Modesto January 16, 1915. Mrs. Peterson is, like her husband, a native of California, born at Los Angeles. Her parents, Peter and Louise Brunold, are well-known pioneer settlers in this state, having come from their native Switzerland more than forty years ago. Her father has been engaged in farming since coming to California and still resides in Stanislaus County. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are the parents of one child, Maxine Theone, and they reside in their attractive residence on Third Street. ARTHUR W. PETERSON.— As the junior member of the enterprising firm of Peterson Brothers, proprietors of the Peterson Garage at Patterson, A. W. Peter son is recognized as one of the coming men of this part of the county. He is a native of California, having been born in San Francisco, January 10, 1894, his father being at that time a well-to-do shoe merchant at Oakland. His parents, George and Alma Peterson, are natives of Sweden, but came to California Bay District at an early date. A. W. Peterson attended the excellent schools of Oakland and Berkeley until he was eighteen years of age, at which time he decided to follow his natural bent for machinery and mechanics, and start out for himself. Accordingly, he secured employ ment at the Keystone Garage, in Oakland, where he remained for a short time, and then joined his brother in Modesto, where for three j'ears he was employed by C. R. Zacharias in the mechanical work of his garage. He then went to Texas and worked at various undertakings of a mechanical nature, in various parts of the state, starting at Wichita Falls and ending at Victoria, where he worked at his trade in 1913-14. 52 1288 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Returning eventually to California, he was employed with C. R. Zacharias for a period of two years, following which he and his brother, Ed. A. Peterson, ran the Depot Garage at Modesto for a year. After a short time at Stockton, he went into Klamath River country, where he was engaged in the truck hauling of chrome from the mines, an undertaking filled with hardship and requiring nerve and ability. The recent World War interrupted the chosen labor of Mr. Peterson, for he entered the service of the Government in 1918, serving in the Eight Hundred Sixty- ninth Aero Squadron as a mechanic on aeroplane motors, receiving his training at Kelly Field. He was honorably discharged at the Presidio at San Francisco, February 1, 1919. Since returning from the service Mr. Peterson has been identified with his brother in the business of the Peterson Bros. Garage. They have the agency for the Reo, Dort and Lexington cars, and are doing a splendid business. The marriage of Mr. Peterson, an event which occurred in Modesto in 1914, united him with Miss Ivy L. White, a native of Kansas, and the daughter of Aleck W. and Minnie (Dixon) White. Her parents came to California from Kansas when Mrs. Peterson was a very young girl, and located in Stanislaus County, where Mr. White for a time engaged in farming. He is now at the head of the Modesto Meat Packing Company. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson are the parents of one son, Richard A. CHRIS NICKERT. — An example of the man who came to Stanislaus County without capital, and through hard work, industry and application has become the owner of a 165-acre ranch, is Chris Nickert, who was twenty-three years of age when he came to California and located in Stanislaus County. He went to work im- ' mediately for Fred Bartch on his ranch just south of Westley for thirty dollars a month. For fourteen years he continued to work for Mr. Bartch, during which time he saved his money and was eventually able to buy his present ranch property, where he has since been engaged in raising grain. He has improved his property and owns a complete equipment of modern farm machinery. Mr. Nickert is a native of Germany, born at Laur, Baden, in 1862. His parents were Andrew and Katie (Moll) Nickert, both natives of Germany, his father being engaged in farming. He was a very capable man, and from him Mr. Nickert learned not only the art of successful farming, but to make many useful things for home and farm use. His boyhood days were passed on the home farm, where the op portunities for education were very limited, and as soon as he reached his majority, Mr. Nickert came to America. He spent two years in Michigan, where he worked on a farm for wages, and then answered the call of the far West and came to Stanis laus County, Cal., where his brother-in-law, Fred Bartch, resided. Mr. Nickert is a loyal and true American, and during the recent World War gave generous support to the Government of the United States in the matter of the purchase of Liberty Bonds, and in the support of other war activities, to all of which he subscribed generously. Politically, he is a Republican and supports the party prin ciples in all national issues. SWEN SWENSEN. — A successful rancher whose up-to-date methods of farm ing have brought him success, is Swen Swensen, who was born in Stavanger, Norway, on September 25, 1872, the son of a worthy farming couple, Swen and Bertha Swen sen of that section. He attended the excellent local schools for which his country is famous, and grew up on the home farm, where he remained until he was sixteen years old. In 1888 he migrated to America and settled at Madison, Wis., where he went to work for wages on a farm near McFarland. He also took up the raising of tobacco on shares, and cultivated for himself six acres between Stoughton and Madison, con tinuing at that place and work until 1893. Then, aware of the great educational benefit of a visit to and study of the World's Fair, he made the journey to Chicago,. and when he had enjoyed everything to his heart's content, he located for a winter at Ottawa, 111. When he left that town, he went to Joliet, in the same state, and for four j'ears was in the employ of the Illinois Steel Company. Just ten years after he had first landed in the United States, Mr. Swensen came to California, and at San Francisco he became a riveter in the Union Iron Works and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1291 was so emploj'ed until the devastating earthquake and fire, in 1906, when he went to Santa Barbara County and engaged in farming on Mission Hill. He devoted sixty acres to lima beans, and seventy acres to grain. In 1914 he came to Patterson and bought twenty-three- and one-half acres at Sequoia and Vineyard, devoted to alfalfa and placed there twenty head of milch cows. On April, 1918, he rented 300 acres at Westley, and that tract he farmed in connection with his Patterson enterprise. While at Joliet, 111., on February 3, 1900, Mr. Swensen was married to Miss Anna Stanglend, a native of Norway, who came from practically the same home dis trict where Mr. Swensen first saw the light ; she is a daughter of Jens and Marie Stanglend, worthy Norwegian folk. Seven children blessed this union: Selma has become a trained nurse at the Children's Hospital at San Francisco; Mildred is a student at the Patterson high school ; Sawyer, Kenneth, Verna and Lester are pupils of the Grayson school, and Ellen Katherine is at home. The family attend the Luth eran Church. Mr. Swensen in matters of national political moment has preferred to work for improved government along lines indicated in the Republican platform. ANTONIO M. SOUZA.— As an example of the opportunities offered by the Golden State to young men of ambition, the business career of Antonio M. Souza furnishes a fitting illustration. He. was born on Fayal, of the Azores Islands, on February 17, 1867, the son of Joseph and Rose Souza, farmers of that country. Mr. Souza left his native country for the shores of America when only fifteen years of age. He remained eleven months in Boston, Mass., and then came direct to Wat sonville, Cal., in 1883, where he forked in a store four years, then in Ryder's lum ber mills for three j'ears and then again four years in a store. He next formed a partnership with F. J. Bettencourt in the grocery and fruit business in Watsonville as Bettencourt & Souza, but two years later sold out his interest in same and went into the same business for himself, which he continued until the year 1904, when he disposed of all his interests in Watsonville and on July 16, 1904, he arrived in Newman, where he started a general merchandise business on a small scale. Through unceasing efforts and perseverance this business gradually grew until today Mr. Souza is numbered among the prosperous merchants of Stanislaus County. He also acts as local agent for two steamship companies between New York and the Azores — White Star and Fabre Lines. He is a director in the Bank of Newman. On October 10, 1893, his marriage united him with Miss Catherine Smith, born in Santa Cruz, the daughter of Frank and Margarette Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Souza are the parents of one son and two daughters: Antonio, who is employed in the Modesto Bank; Alvena, who keeps books in her father's business; and Cecilie, who is a graduate of the Newman high school and now attending Mills College. The family reside on their fine five-acre home place and are members of the Newman Catholic Church. Mr. Souza is an active member of the Foresters of America and also of the I. D. E. S. and the U. P. E. C, of which he is president. In national politics he is a Democrat and a member of the Newman Chamber of Commerce. ORE N. MINNIEAR. — A patriotic representative of a pioneer family is Ore Minniear, the well-known merchant of Westley, who served as a U. S. soldier both in the troubles with Mexico and also in the World War. He was born at McCook, Nebr., on April 25, 1893, the son of Charles W. and Nellie Minniear, and when only nine months old was brought to California by his parents, who settled at Modesto. There his father opened the Ramona barber shop, which he managed for seven years. Then he embarked in real estate and insurance, and in that field he is still active at Riverbank. Ore atended the grammar schools at Modesto, and later the Poly technic high school at Los Angeles, finishing off his education at a Los Angeles busi ness college. Thus well-equipped, he took a responsible position with Guy M. Rush, the dealer in realty at Los Angeles, and had charge of the rental department. Later, this was developed into the Flack Realty Company of Los Angeles, and with the Flacks he remained for a year. In 1916, Mr. Minniear enlisted in the service of the American Army as a mem ber of Company B of the Seventh California Infantry, and was sent to the Mexican 1292 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY border, and at Nogales, Ariz., he did duty from June to November 1. On his return, he received an extended furlough as a sergeant in Company B. After a year, how ever, he was transferred to the ambulance unit of the regular army and was sent to Monterey, Cal. There he held the rank of corporal chauffeur in the ambulance corps. He was later promoted to be sergeant as drill instructor and for six months remained at Monterey. His next appointment was to the officers' training school at Camp Kearney, and in the third school, on January 1, he was commissioned second lieutenant in the infantry. Then he was sent undetached to Camp Gordon, Ga., and after a month there he went to the machine-gun center of the technical school at Camp Han cock, Ga., where he graduated as a technical machine gun instructor. He staj'ed at Camp Hancock until he was discharged on December 24, and returned to Modesto on January 1, 1919. In February of that year Mr. Minniear went to work for Mr. McConnell in his general merchandise store at Westley, and after six months there he bought out Mr. McConnell, and he is today, therefore, the proprietor of that popular and pros perous emporium, the headquarters for many miles around. He carries a complete stock of. general merchandise, and has met with splendid success in anticipating wants. At San Jose, Cal., Mr. Minniear was married on October 27, 1917, to Miss Hazel D. Howard, the daughter of S. W. and Jennie Howard, early settlers in the Golden State. Mr. and Mrs. Minniear now have one child, Ore H. Mr. Minniear is a Republican, has served as deputy county clerk, and is a member of the Modesto Lodge of Masons, Chapter No. 49, R. A. M., and of the Sciots, Pyramid No. 15. EMANUEL V. CARLSON. — Ambitious, industrious and enterprising, Emanuel V. Carlson is actively identified with the farmers and dairymen of Patterson. The son of Lars E. and Christine Carlson, he was born in Smaland, in the southern part of Sweden, on February 13, 1880, and when only a lad of seven he migrated with his parents to America. On arriving in the States, the Carlson family went directly to Minnesota, where they settled on a farm in Polk County, where Emanuel V. Carlson attended the grammar school and later the high school at Fosston, Minn. He lived with his parents until he was twenty years of age, when he left home to teach school in Polk and Red Lake counties. During his residence in Red Lake County, he took up a homestead there and during his spare time, after his duties at school were over, he made improvements on his claim. He then went to Akely, Minn., where he had charge of a cooperative store for one year. In 1912, in company with his father, he visited Southern California, and they were so favorably impressed with the country that he purchased his present holdings of eighteen acres at the east end of Pome granate Avenue, while his father purchased the thirty acres adjoining, which he now leases, devoting twenty acres to alfalfa and ten acres to Egyptian corn. In 1914 he moved his family to Southern California. On December 24, 1903, Mr. Carlson was united in marriage with Miss Ida Estby, born near Fargo, N. D., the daughter of John and Christine (Nelson) Estby, the father a native of Norway, while the mother's birthplace was Sweden ; after com ing to America, Mr. Estby engaged in the lumber business at Crookston and Akely. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Carlson : Ora O, attending the University at Berkeley ; Beulah, in the Patterson high school ; Earl and Verna, students at the grammar school at Patterson, and Irma, Keith and Reuel. P. W. WITTEN. — A representative, leading business man of Crows Landing who lives comfortably on his own ranch, one of the best "show places" for its size in Stanislaus County, is P. W. Witten, a native of Pike County, Mo., where he was born at Bowling Green on January 4, 1861. His parents were K. D. and Annie Witten, and his father was a typical Middle West rancher following general farming. Our subject had little schooling save that which he obtained in the grammar grades at Bowling Green, and as he was the second son in a family of eight children, and his father died when the lad was fourteen years old, he early had to begin "hustling." By 1896, however, Mr. Witten managed to remove to California, and since coming here he has steadily prospered more and more. He settled for two and a half years in ^i^z-vS'tet.**-' HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1295 Kings County, and at Lemoore he worked, and worked hard, in the service of others for wages. After that he came to Stanislaus County, and here he purchased thirty acres of land east of Crows Landing. The land is all under irrigation, but he devotes some of it to grain. He has also a ranch east of Newman, where he has slaughter-pens for his butcher business established about fifteen years ago. He buj's all of his stock on the hoof, and has a shop in Crows Landing and one in Patterson. From the former place he runs a meat wagon into the farm country, purveying fresh meat, and offering only the best at reasonable prices, he enjoj'S a very satisfactory- patronage. Back in 1889, and at Bowling Green, Mr. Witten had married Miss Maggie Lewis, a native of Virginia, whose father, James H. Lewis, was a stockman operating extensively. They moved to Pike County, Mo., when she was a little girl — she never knew her mother — and there she went to school. Two children have blessed the union — Howard, who is at Stockton, and Beryl L., who is an instructor in the Patter son high school and makes her home with her parents. Mr. Witten marches under the banners of the Republicans, and he fraternizes with the Modesto B. P. O. Elks. EVERETT BOWMAN.— A native of Missouri, Everett Bowman was born at Cross Timbers, Hickory County, March 7, 1884, is the son of Samuel Bowman. The father was a native of Virginia and moved to Indiana, where his first wife died, leaving four children. Afterward he was married to Delilah Sarver, a native of Indiana, and they removed to Hickory County, Mo., where they were farmers until Samuel Bowman died. His widow survived him and came to California, making her home in Modesto until her death in 1910. Of the second union, there were five children, all of whom are living, Everett being the youngest of the family. He attended the public schools in Missouri and grew up on the farm at Cross Timbers, assisting his father and also his brother, who was a well driller, working for him and learning the business. He continued in Missouri until 1904, when he came to Modesto, where two of his brothers, John and U. G, had preceded him. Mr. Bowman went to work on a grain farm, but soon quit that to take up well drilling again, entering the employ of W. T. Howell. He became his foreman, running a well rig for him until he resigned in 1910 to engage in business on his own account. He built his well rig and entire outfit as well, using a gas engine for power, his rig being fully equipped for drilling both shallow and deep wells. While with W. T. Howell he put down three of the city wells in Modesto, each over 370 feet deep. In the fall of 1915 he put down five holes and did the sounding for the piers of the Tuolumne River bridge under Captain Annear. His residence and headquarters are at 217 California Street, his work being mostly in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. In 1918 Mr. Bowman responded to the call to the colors and was ordered tc a camp in Texas, but before he started the armistice was signed and the order can celled. His years of experience and natural mechanical ability are invaluable to him in making a success of well drilling, and through his efforts he has aided very mate-. rially in the development of the San Joaquin Valley by securing much water for irri gating from the deep wells he has been able to put down to a successful depth. He is well and favorably known and has alwaj's been ready to do his part as far as it is possible to aid in building up this favored section of the commonwealth and he is now the pioneer in his line of business in this county. ORA T. MEDLIN. — A native son, sprung from an early and honored pioneer, who has become a representative, influential and useful citizen, is Ora T. Medlin, who lives three miles to the west of Crows Landing. He was born on the old Day Ranch, three miles north from Crows Landing, -on September 17, 1894, the son of David G. Medlin, who came to California about forty-five j'ears ago, settled in this locality, married Miss Frances McMurtry, and then took up his residence on the Day farm, where he was actively engaged for twenty-nine successive j'ears. Ora Medlin attended the Bonita grammar school, then studied at the high school at Newman, and finally topped off his education in Heald's Business College of San Jose. He spent his early years on the home ranch with his parents until he was mm*- 1296 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY teen years old ; and then, when his father left the Day ranch, he and his brother Roy took charge there. The estate comprised 1,400 acres; and when his brother died in 1918, our subject shouldered the entire responsibility. The brothers had also farmed 1 ,640 acres south of Los Banos, in Merced County, and as raisers of a high grade of grain, they won an enviable- recognition among older ranchers. In the fall of 1918, Mr. Medlin leased the W. W. Bacon ranch of 1,165 acres, and in 1919, he raised a crop of wheat. This year he will plant wheat and barley, mixed. He has a full tractor equipment for grain farming on an extensive scale, and may well be considered one of the important producers of Stanislaus County. Rather surprising it must always be, therefore, that during the late World War, he was drafted despite the fact that he was an active farmer ; but luckily for the community, he was rejected by the examiners on account of a weak heart. As a side enterprise, Mr. Medlin buys and sells mules. On August 9, 1917, Mr. Medlin was married to Miss Laura Newman, who was born near,, Visalia, in Tulare County. Her father was W. B. Newman, and her mother, before marriage, was Lily Gilmore. Politically an independent, Mr. Medlin. believes in the fitness of man for office, and so is especially serviceable in supporting the best candidates and the best measures for local welfare. WILLIAM H. HURD. — A native-born son who has contributed his share to the development of Stanislaus County through his work as a well borer, having drilled mam* wells throughout the county, is William H. Hurd, the son of J. C. and Anna Hurd, who was born on November 21, 1877, in Modesto, Cal. His father, a native of Maine, where he was engaged in lumbering, came to California m 1873 and in 1882 took up a quarter section of land about thirteen miles southwest of Merced. William H. Hurd was reared on his father's ranch, attending the Lone Tree district school in Merced County until he was fifteen years of age, when he left school and for the next twelve years, followed farming, working for various ranchers. Desiring a change of occupation Mr. Hurd took up well boring and was engaged in that line of work for a period of eight years in Merced County. He then left the latter place and came to Turlock, where he was likewise employed for the next four years, one of the most successful wells he drilled while there being one for the Tur lock city waterworks, a seven-inch well giving 1,000 gallons of water a minute. Since 1909 he has been permanently located in Patterson, where he was married on December 1, of that year to Miss Ethel E. Osborn, and here he bought a lot and built a comfortable house. Mrs. Hurd is a native of Turlock and the daughter of William H. and Ella Osborn, the father being an early settler of California and a merchant of Turlock. She is the mother of three children: Elta, Irma and Fern. Mr. Hurd is a Republican in politics and in religious circles is identified with the Christian Church. In 1914 he purchased an acre of land at Atwater, Cal., which was later divided into six city lots, and is also the owner of twenty acres in the Tur- " lock Irrigation District near Hilmar. GARETT W. HOLDER. — A successful rancher who has recently taken up his residence and work in the Patterson Colony after years of experience with Orange County farming, is Garett W. Holder, the owner of fifteen well-kept acres of alfalfa land on Magnolia Avenue. He was born in the Hawkeye State, near Corydon, in Wayne County, on November 9, 1882, the son of a farmer, C. G. Holder, who had married Mary R. Rilea; and he attended the district school eight miles from Corydon, after which he spent years on the home farm with his father. On St. Valentine's Day, 1906, in Wayne County, Mr. Holder was married to Miss Olive Robinson, a native of that county and the daughter of Moody and Ella Robinson, a charming lady who had made a wide circle of friends through her teaching for several years, and the sister of Alvina Robinson, the successful Christian missionary to Burmah, India. He then farmed 140 acres adjoining his father's place three years. In 1911, Mr. Holder came out to California and settled at Fullerton, attracted by the resources of Orange County; and he had not been there long before he was engaged to work on the Gillman orange grove and ranch at Placentia, a post he filled dWya^ 0/^/Z4j-d>** — HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1299 to everybody's satisfaction for six years. In 1913 he took a trip to Patterson, and perceiving the still greater advantages, bought ten acres of raw land which he planted to alfalfa, and whereon he moved a house. In 1920, he purchased five acres adjoining the ten on the west, and now he has the entire tract sown to alfalfa. Returning to Southern California, Mr. Holder remained on the Gillman ranch until 1917, and after that he worked on the Berkenstick ranch on Valencia Avenue, and at the same time did considerable truck hauling for the farmers of Placentia. In the spring of 1920, he returned to Patterson for good, at the same time leasing eighteen acres, which he devotes to corn, at the rear of his fifteen. Three children make up the interesting family of Mr. and Mrs. Holder: Ila is the eldest, then comes Cleo, and Calvin is the youngest ; they are all in the grammar school at Patterson, and they attend the Sunday school of the Methodist Church, of which Mr. Holder is a member. In polities he is an independent. J. EDWARD PETERSON.— A resident of Turlock since 1907 who has done much to beautify the city in an artistic way as a painter and decorator, is J. Edward Peterson, who was born in Skaraborslan, Sweden, November 4, 1868. His father, J. G. Peterson, was also born there in 1828, and was one of the founders of the health resort known as Djursatra, which has become very popular and well patronized, particularly for the medicinal properties of its waters. He had married Christine Pear son, who was born in 1836. He was also engaged in farming until his death. His widow now resides at Hallock, Minn. There were eight children in the family, J. Edward being the fifth, and is the only one in California. He spent his childhood on the farm and attended the excellent public schools for which Sweden is noted until the age of 15, when he started out to make his own livelihood, being apprenticed to a painter and decorator for four years, after which he continued under the same instructions for another period of four years. During this time he served the regular time in the Swedish army and received an honorable discharge and, having fulfilled his duties, was free to travel. Having a desire to cast in his lot with the land of the Stars and Stripes, Mr. Peterson came to Kokomo, Ind., in 1893, where for a year he was employed at his trade, and then removed to Hallock, Minn., but after a short time returned east to Chicago and there followed his trade. However, he again returned to Hallock and engaged as a contracting painter until the fall of 1906, when he came to California, arriving in Los Angeles in November of that year. On his way out he had stopped off in Turlock and liking the place and its people, he located here in the spring of 1907 and since then has followed painting and paperhanging. While in the employ of Wakefield & Peterson he painted the Commercial Bank, two grammar schools, Geer building, and numerous fine residences. Since 1912 he has engaged in contracting painting and paperhanging. He is a member of the Vasa Order of America and joined the Good Templars in 1885 in Sweden. He has always been a strong tem perance man, and in politics is an independent. JOHN J. FAY.— Engaged in extensive grain farming near Westley since 1909, today John J. Fay is the owner of 500 acres of valuable lands which he farms to wheat and barley, and is regarded as one of the most substantial and reliable men of his community. Mr. Fay was born at Castle Bar, County Mayo, Ireland, June 24, 1869, on St. John's Day. He is the son of John and Mary (Connor) Fay, both members of old Irish families. Both lived their entire lives in Ireland, the father having passed away in 1914 and the mother in 1917. John J. Fay was a lad of spirit, with a keen love of adventure, and at the age of ten years he ran away from home and came to America with some friends, landing at Boston. Here he worked for his board and expenses and attended the public school for several years. But the spirit of adventure still called, and in 1888 he came to California, going to Sonoma County, where at Soby Vista he worked for Col. George Hooper for two years. It was while here that he took out his first citizenship papers, carrying his naturalization through in the shortest possible time. Following this he went to work for the Southern Pacific Railway Company on maintenance of way, 1300 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and six months later was made foreman, in 1895, being stationed at various points on the Western Division from Sacramento to Oakland. The marriage of Mr. Fay and Miss Mary Elizabeth McDonald occurred in San Francisco February 18, 1903. Mrs. Fay was the daughter of Charles and Cecelia (Ferguson) McDonald, and, like her husband, a native of Ireland, born in County Mayo, near Bally Castle. Her father was an extensive raiser of stock, prosperous and well known, and she received her education in the public schools of her native county. In 1898 she came to San Francisco, where she lived until her marriage. Following his marriage, Mr. Fay came to Stanislaus County, being transferred to Westley as section foreman for the Southern Pacific, in which capacity he served until November, 1909. He then bought the Ed. Richards ranch northwest of West- ley. Resigning his position, he engaged in grain farming, and has brought his land under a high state of productivity, raising principally grain. He has a complete tractor equipment and other modern machinery for scientific grain farming, and has greatly improved his property, making it an attractive home place. In 1917, he bought an additional 170 acres adjoining him on the west, and now owns one of the most valuable tracts in that section of the county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fay are communicants of the Patterson Catholic Church. They are the parents of a promising family of seven children. Of these, the two elder sons, John Charles and Francis Joseph, are students in the Patterson high school ; Edward Aloysius, Leo Stanislaus, Joseph Patrick and Marie M. Cecelia are attending the Westlej- school, while the youngest child, Fergus Donal, is not yet of school age. JESSE WILLIAM BLUE. — Another example of a self-made man who arrived in Stanislaus County a few j'ears ago with scarcely any means, and who is now one of the substantial and prosperous citizens of the growing municipality of Patterson, in the vicinity of which he owns real estate valued at well above $20,000, is Jesse William Blue. He is a deputy sheriff under Sheriff Dallas, and has served as deputy constable. Jesse William Blue is a native of Tioga County, Pa., born on Pine Creek, Sep tember 19, 1872, the son of William and Matilda (Lent) Blue. His father was a native of Pennsjlvania, while his mother's people came from Wisconsin. His paternal grandparents were very early settlers in Pennsylvania, his grandfather, John Blue, being a hunter who rode into Tioga County from Virginia in an early day and settled there. When he was seven years of age the family moved to Linn County, Iowa, residing near Cedar Rapids for two j'ears. From there they moved into Kansas and resided near Salinas for a year, during all of which time the father was engaged in farming. The following year they returned to Cedar Rapids, and here young Jesse William received much of his early training, attending the public school and assisting with the work on the farm. He is the second in a family of four boys, the youngest of whom passed away when he was a young man. The older brother, Bert L. Blue, is now head miller for one of the newer milling companies at Sioux Falls, S. D., and a $10,000 a year man. He learned his trade at Kansas City, where he commenced at $1.50 a day. The younger brother, Marion L., became a painter and at present is with the Iowa Railroad and Electric Company of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jesse W. Blue left home when he was eighteen years old, determined to see the world and to carve his fortune in his own way. For a j'ear he worked as a logger at Fife Lake, Mich. In 1895 he returned to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and became identified with the City Fire Department, serving for three years, the last two of which he was captain of the department. The war with Spain then came on, and during 1898 and 1899, he served his country in her military activity in Cuba in Company C, Forty- ninth Iowa Volunteers, being honorably discharged at Savannah, Ga., in 1899. He is a member of Thomas Enright Post, No. 97, Veterans of Foreign Wars, of Modesto. Returning again to Cedar Rapids, Mr. Blue became interested in building and fol lowed the carpenter's trade for a year, and in 1900 came west to Colorado, locating in Leadville, where he followed carpentering for nine months. In 1901 he went to Kansas City and for a j'ear and a half was employed as millwright with the Atlas Oats Company of that place. But the call of the West was heard again, and in 1902 he came to California, going into the building business, first at Santa Cruz and later on HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1301 at San Jose. In 1907 he accepted an appointment to the Government police service and sailed for the Panama Canal Zone, to be gone for two years. At the close of his service, however, he came again to California, reaching Hollister in January, 1910, where for a year he engaged in carpentry. It was in 1911, July 15, that Mr. Blue eventually came to Patterson, where he has since made his home. He immediately bought several town lots and erected dwell ings on them. Later he bought five acres just south of the Standard Oil station, which he has recently completed a charming modern bungalow, which he sold in 1920. In 1913 he filed on 160 acres of homestead land in the Del Porto Canyon, west of Patterson about twelve miles. A little later he was able to increase his holdings under the enlarged homestead act, and again under the grazing act, until today he has made his final proof for 640 acres of fine canyon land, which is of increasing value. The marriage of Mr. Blue and Miss Anna A. Hoffman was solemnized in Denver, Colo., October 3, 1909. Mrs. Blue is the daughter of John and Sophie (Byron) Hoffman, her father being a mining and cattle man of the Lake Vallev country in Colorado and of New Mexico, where he was one of the earlv pioneers. Mr. Blue's mother's father came to California during the gold rush of 1849, but was never heard from afterwards, and was supposed to have fallen victim to Indian savagery. Mrs. Blue has many interesting tales to recount of her girlhood among the Indians of New Mexico. She is a woman of rare strength of character and great courage, as is shown by one experience of her girlhood. She discovered a plot by- certain Indians to massacre a number of white settlers, and under cover of night she rode out to warn them. She rode her horse until he gave out, and then stole another from a convenient farm, being shot at in the darkness as a horse thief, but she rode on and notified the settlement in time for them to escape annihilation. ROLAND C. HUNT. — A self-made man who started out in life when little more than a lad to make his own fortune, and meeting with much well-deserved success and appreciation, is Roland C. Hunt, for a number of years past chief engineer of the Associated Pipe Line Company, located at the Patterson station. Mr. Hunt is an expert in his line of work, having acquired his knowledge in the school of prac tical experience, in which he has been an active student since he struck out for himself at the age of seventeen years. For fourteen years he was with the DuPont Powder Company, holding positions of responsibility and trust, and receiving a training in handling men under emergencies which has been of great value to him. He was with this company in a boiler explosion, when many men were killed, and earned a reputa tion for coolness and level-headedness under stress. A native of England, Mr. Hunt was born on the Trent, in Stratfordshire, January 11, 1881. His parents, Horace E. and Martha (Wallace) Hunt, migrated to America when the subject of this review was but four years of age, locating first in Denver, Colo., where they remained for six years. The father was a photographer by profession, and had a prosperous business in England. He opened up his business in Denver and prospered, but later determined to come on to California, and in 1891 located in Stockton, continuing in the photography business. He met with success. but moved to Crockett, Cal., where he passed away, June 21, 1920, and where Mrs. Hunt still makes her home. Roland C. Hunt received his education in the schools of Denver and Stockton, and when he was seventeen, he started out to win his own way in the world. He studied mechanics and soon secured a position with the DuPont Powder Company, at the works at Pinole, Cal. He was soon promoted to the position of engineer and for the fourteen succeeding years remained in this position. While with the DuPont Powder Company, Mr. Hunt met and married Miss Bertha Cook, their marriage being solemnized August 14, 1906, at Pinole. Mrs. Hunt is the daughter of C. P. and Ella Atterberry Cook, and a native of Missouri, where her father is a well-to-do farmer, and prominent in state politics, having served several years as representative of Lawrence County in the Missouri Legislature. Mrs. Hunt was in delicate health, and came to California to recuperate, visiting for a time 1302 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY with an uncle in Oakland. Upon her complete recovery she accepted a business posi tion in Pinole, where she met and married Mr. Hunt. Of their union have been born two children, Roland C, Jr., and Leland. Following his marriage Mr. Hunt took up a homestead on the Madaline Plains in Lassen County, and for a number of j ears resided there. He was proprietor of the general merchandise store at Ravendale, postmaster for two years under the Taft administration, and N. C. O. station agent for two years. At this time the position of assistant engineer with the Associated Pipe Line Company of California was offered Mr. Hunt and he accepted, and was at first sta tioned at Arbios Station south of Gustine, where he remained for a few months. He was then promoted to the position of chief engineer, and served for a few months each at Levis Station and at Silaxo and Arbios, coming at the end of that period to Vano- mar Station just north of Patterson, where he has been in charge as chief engineer since 1918. He is a Republican in his political affiliations, and is a Mason and a member of Pinole Lodge, No. 353, F. & A. M. WILLIAM ANNEAR. — A most dependable mechanic is William Annear, for the past score of years a Californian who has helped develop the state, and now, at the shop at 704 James Street, Modesto, he enjoys a patronage such as does not always reward even the intelligent and industrious after twenty years. A native of rugged Cornwall, he was born at St. Just, England, on August 25, 1873, the son of Simon and Ann (George) Annear, farmers who spent their entire lives in their native place. William went to the common schools in Cornwall, and at the age of fourteen years began working as a blacksmith, following that and mining until 1900, when he came out to the United States, where he worked for wages for some eight months in New Haven, Conn. He then moved westward to Cincinnati, Ohio, and continued to ply his trade there for about a year. In April, 1902, Mr. Annear came West to Modesto and took a position with T. K. Beard as foreman of construction, and was not only sent to various parts of the San Joaquin Valley, but different parts of California and into Nevada. He also worked with Mr. Beard on state highway building. Since 1914, however, he has been in charge of Mr. Beard's yards at Modesto, acting as yard foreman and mechanic, where he is looking after and renting out machinery. In addition to this responsibility, he has taken charge of Mr. Beard's blacksmith shop at the yards of the Modesto & Empire Traction Company. He has had plenty of opportunity for the display of his ability, and he has never been wanting. In 1918 he purchased six acres of land on James Street, devoted to a variety of fruit, including oranges, peaches, and olives, and he is succeeding equally well with this modest agricultural venture. In 1906 he was sent by Mr. Beard to King City, Monterey County, to superintend a gypsum mine, con tinuing in charge until 1912, when Mr. Beard's lease expired and he returned to Modesto and as above stated continued in the employ of Mr. Beard. Mr. Annear has been twice married. At Modesto, on June 13, 1908, he was united with Miss Minnie Juliff, who was born in Cornwall, the daughter of James and Mary Juliff. Her father was an expert trapper, and dealt in pelts and hides. Mrs. Annear, beloved by many, passed away in October, 1911, leaving one daughter, Ellen Annear; and in November of the following year Mr. Annear remarried, this time uniting himself with Mrs. Emma (Fisher) Graser. Mrs. Annear was born in New port, Ky., the daughter of Conrad Fisher, who was a merchant tailor. Her mother was Helena Snelter and both parents spent the remainder of their lives in Kentucky. Emma was the youngest of their ten children and spent her school days at Newport and there, too, occurred her marriage to Otto Graser, an electrician. After his demise, she migrated to Modesto, Cal., in 1912, with two children, Robert and Alice Graser, and renewed an acquaintance with Mr. Annear, whom she had met in Cincinnati, Ohio. The renewal of the friendship resulted in their marriage. Mr. Annear is a Methodist in religious faith. Fraternally, he was made a Mason in San Lucia Lodge No. 302, F. & A. M., at Kings City, Monterey County, and is also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose in Modesto. fyjf'T'f- ^^i^*z^2* HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1305 WILLIAM N. GRAYBIEL. — A successful lawyer with a large clientele and a wide influence, always exerted for the public good, is William N. Graybiel, the city attorney of Turlock, who came to California less than a decade and a half ago, and yet in that short time has identified himself in an enviable manner with the Golden State. He was born in Antelope County, Nebr., the son of Alexander Graybiel, a native of Ontario, who settled in the United States near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as a farmer, and later became a pioneer of Antelope County. There he homesteaded land, a year before the Elkhorn Valley Railroad, now known as the Northwestern, came through. He was a progressive agriculturist and also a member of the county board of supervisors, serving in that capacity for some years; but in 1906, appreciating the still greater possibilities for the farmer in California, he came west and located at Chico, where he engaged in horticulture. And there, in May, 1919, he died. He had married Miss Jannett Mitchell, a Scotch lady born near Glasgow, who came out to Iowa with her parents when she was eighteen years of age. She now resides with the subject of our interesting review at Turlock, the honored- mother of three sons, two of whom are still living. William N. Graybiel, the youngest in the family, spent his childhood on a farm in Nebraska, while he attended the public schools and Gates Academy at Neligh, in that state. During the year 1906-07, Mr. Graybiel taught school, and in 1907 he came to California, following his parents, and entered the Chico Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1908. He then served as principal of the Spreckels' School in Monterey County for two years, and during the same time studied law ; and after that he pursued the courses of the Law School of Stanford University, and on April 7, 1913, was admitted to the Bar, when he immediately located at Turlock and opened an office for law practice there. His straightforward and honest methods brought him excellent patronage, and he has been more than ordinarily successful. In 1916, Mr. Graybiel was appointed city attorney of Turlock, and since then he has been reappointed each year. He belongs to the Stanislaus County Bar Association, and is a member of the Democratic County Central Committee, and also serves on the Turlock grammar school board of trustees. Mr. Graybiel is interested, like everj'- one else who lives in this highly-favored country, in ranching, and owns forty-one acres east of Turlock, devoted to general farming; and he was one of the organizers of the Turlock Merchants & Growers, Inc., a cooperative marketing association for the handling of local products, and is a director ih the same and the company's attorney. At Fresno, on December 30, 1915, Mr. Graybiel was married to Miss Maud McCormick, a native of Monterey County, a lady of accomplishment who shares with Mr. Graybiel in the active work of the local Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Graybiel is chairman of its board of trustees. He was superintendent of its Sunday school four years. J. HALSET. — Starting out to seek his fortune when he was twenty-two years of age, J. Halset has had many interesting experiences in the long years that have stretched between that time and his present peaceful days on his beautiful little farm near Patterson, where he spends much time in experimental work in his gardens. A native of Norway, born near Christiansund, January 5, 1858, the son of Norwegian farmer folk, Mr. Halset passed his boyhood days on the farm and in attending the public schools of his vicinity. His parents were Ole and Gertrude Halset, of good old Norwegian stock. He assisted his father with the farm work and spent several years in the more hazardous life of a fisherman on the North Sea. In 1888 he came to Minnesota, locating in Polk County, where he homesteaded a quarter sec tion of farm land. Proving up on his farm, he worked it for seven years, improving it greatly, and sold at a good profit. While here Mr. Halset was married to Miss Marie Nelson, at Saint Helenas, Minn., also born near Christiansund, her father own ing a farm near the Halset farm, but the families being unacquainted. Following his marriage, Mr. Halset moved with his family to Washington, where he bought a farm near Montesano. Here he farmed for nearly twenty years, becoming thoroughly identified with the interests of his community and meeting with merited success. Two children were born to him before death called his faithful wife. 1306 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Jennie is now Mrs. Waldo Swenson, whose husband is engaged in farming near the old Halset ranch at Montesano, Wash., and Fred is engaged in farming with his father. In 1912 Mr. Halset came to California, locating at Patterson, where he bought fourteen acres of what was then a barley field. This he has improved himself, building a comfortable residence and farm buildings and planting several rows of beautiful trees. He raises principally alfalfa, and keeps a small dairy. In his garden, Mr. Halset has conducted a series of experiments with various fruits and vegetables, planting at various depths and at varying seasons, following each experiment with painstaking care; he is an expert on pear blight and has made this a special study. He is highly regarded by his neighbors and friends and is a loyal adopted American. CHARLES N. BOW. — A live wire with an artistic gift which he has been able to commercialize, to the advantage of others as well as himself, is Charles N. Bow, the partner of Cecil W. Janes in the sign-writing enterprise, well known throughout Stanis laus County. He was born in Chicago, on March 11, 1881, the son of Thomas C. and Augusta (Davies*) Bow. His father was an expert accountant with the Rock Island Railroad, and passed away in '83, after which Mrs. Bow came to California. Charles was sent to the grammar school in San Francisco, and when twenty j'ears old struck out for himself. He served for five years as an apprentice to sign-writing, and then established and maintained a business at Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Calgary, after which he came back to California. In 1915 he opened a sign-writer's shop at San Diego, on the same day when the gates of the San Diego Exposition were thrown open, but after a j'ear in the Southland, he came north to Modesto; and here he has been, prospering more and more, ever since. Mr. Bow formed a partnership with Cecil W. Janes, and opened a still finer sign-writing studio, well-equipped for any kind of work ; and these able and accom modating gentlemen have done so much to supply a want here that they receive a good share of the business of both the city and the county. Mr. Bow has been twice married. In 1911, at Montreal, he was joined in wed lock with Miss Stella Matheson, the daughter of a merchant of Prince Edward Island ; and after she died, lamented by all who knew her, he became the husband, at Modesto, of Miss Gerritena Harcksen, the daughter df S. Theodore and Albadena Harcksen, natives of Holland, who came direct from Europe to South Dakota. Mr. Harcksen was a merchant there, and in later j'ears he came to Modesto and settled on a farm three miles out on the Tully Road. Mr. Bow belongs to the subordinate lodge of Odd Fellows at Modesto as well as the Encampment, and also to the Canton at Stockton. He and his family attend the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Bow votes the Republican ticket. W. LESTER WILSON, M. D.— Distinguished as the eldest practicing physi cian and surgeon in Turlock, Dr. W. Lester Wilson, enjoying the esteem of a Chris tian gentleman, has been able to exert an enviable influence both for the building up and the upbuilding of the progressive and fast developing community. He was born in the historic town of Crawfordsville, Ind., on December 27, 1860, the son of Owen M. Wilson, a native of Ohio, who was a farmer near Crawfordsville and died where he tilled the soil. He had married Miss Susan Watkins, who was born at Crawfords ville, the granddaughter of a pioneer of the same name who came from Ohio, and as a pioneer settled in the undisturbed timberland of the Hoosier State. Three sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Owen Wilson, and all are still living. W. Lester Wilson, the only one in California, was brought up on a farm and educated at the public schools of his home district. Then he attended the normal school at Ladoga, from which he was graduated in 1883, when he began to study medi cine under a preceptor at Whitesville, Ind., continuing his studies at the Medical College at Indianapolis, from which he was graduated in 1887 with the degree of M.D. He practiced at Tiosa, Ind., and in September, 1888, he came West. For fifteen j-ears Dr. Wilson practiced medicine and surgery very successfully at Milpitas, in Santa Clara County, and then he removed to San Mateo, where he enjoyed a lucrative and agreeable practice for another four and a half years. After HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1309 that he spent a year at post-graduate work in Chicago and New York, attending lec tures and noted clinics, and on his return to California in June, 1910, located at Turlock, where he has ever since enjoyed the prominence due to one ever active for the benefit of the entire community. He has followed the general practice of medicine and surgery, and for three years was health officer of the town. He is also an examiner for various life insurance and fraternal associations, giving equal satisfaction to the companies and to their patrons. He is a member of the American Medical Associa tion, the State Medical Society, and the Stanislaus County Medical Society. As is natural with most professional people living in this favored Turlock environ ment, Dr. Wilson owns several ranches which he has improved from raw land and now devotes to general farming; and he also has title to a ranch of twenty acres at San Jose, where he grows choice prunes and apricots. He is a Republican in his choice of national political policies, but non-partisan in his advocacy of every good movement designed to advance the horticultural and other interests of the neighborhood. During his residence at Tiosa, Ind., Dr. Wilson was married on April 5, 1888, to Miss Sarah Luetta Miller, a native of that attractive town; and five children have blessed their union. Walter is an auto mechanic in Turlock; George is on a ranch near San Jose; Harry, who enlisted for war service, but was rejected, is also an auto mechanic near Turlock; Karl enlisted in March, 1917, as an aviator of the United States in the World War, and in January, 1918, went overseas, served under Captain Baker, was wounded, and is now at San Jose. Dr. Wilson and family are members of the Brethren Church, and he serves as treasurer of that congregation. GLEN E. THORNBURG.— A Stanislaus County rancher of whom Turlock in particular may well be proud is Glen E. Thornburg, who was born at Turlock on February 21, 1894. His father, L. E. Thornburg, set out from Iowa in 1860 and crossed the plains to California, and here he married Miss Hannah Crispin. who reached the Golden State in much the same manner, when she was a mere infant. They went through the trying and also the pleasurable experiences of pioneers in Stanislaus County, and sent Glen to school at Turlock. Now the devoted and esteemed parents live at Modesto, in the circle of devoted friends. When he had reacbed his eighteenth year, Glen Thornburg was engaged in dairying for himself on his father's farm, and there, under the kindly direction of his experienced father, he learned all about California ranching. In 1912, he took up general farming, and in 1916 he purchased twenty acres as the first ranch property of his own. This he has handsomely developed, and he has also rented outside acre age. He operates according to the latest word of science and with the most up-to-date appliances and methods; and he is a welcome stockholder in the T. M. & G. At Turlock, in 1914, Mr. Thornburg was married to" Miss Lulu Borden, who was born in San Diego in 1894, the daughter of J. H. and Mary Borden, well-known residents of Turlock. They have three children, who share their popularity, and their names are Merl, Laverne and John. Mr. Thornburg belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and no one in that excellent organization is more at home. RAY H. THORNBURG. — A veteran committeeman who can point with some pride to the war work accomplished by him or under his direction, is R. H. Thorn burg, the experienced and prosperous rancher, who was born in Turlock on November 30, 1889, thereby attaining, as by prophetic good-luck, the honor of a native son. His parents, now honored residents of Modesto, are L. E. and Hannah (Crispin) Thornburg, natives of Iowa, and his father came to Turlock as long ago as the '60s. There, too, in time, our subject spent his boyhood on his father's trim farm to the northwest of the prospective city. R. H. Thornburg's first business venture was a partnership with his older brother, D. C. Thornburg, in a dairy on their father's farm; but he made his first real start for himself when, in 1911, he purchased thirty acres, a short distance from the old-home place, up the State Highway three miles northwest of Turlock. He put intelligence as well as assiduous industry into the undertaking from the start; and from the beginning he was successful. He is still farming there, and still adding 1310 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY to his satisfactory results and to his prosperity. He has lately tacked on another twenty acres to the original tract, making half a hundred acres in all which he culti vates. He is a stockholder in the T. M. & G. which was incorporated in 19.15. On July 31, 1912, Mr. Thornburg was married at Sacramento to Miss Zeila Neville, a native of Oregon, where she was born near Le Grande. She is a daughter of S. H. and Julia (Hill) Neville, esteemed natives of the great Hawkeye State, Mrs. Thornburg has entered into the life and work of her husband, as is the usual tradition — and a most excellent one at that! — in the Thornburg families, and shares with him his popularity. Mr. Thornburg is a Republican, and both as such, and as a patriotic American, worked hard for Liberty Loan and Red Cross drives. CHRISTEN P. JORGENSEN.— The success Christen P. Jorgensen has achieved has been entirely the result of his own efforts and hard work, for he had only his energy and ambition upon which to build his hopes for the future. Born on the Island of Alsen, in Schleswig, on June 13, 1872, the son of Jacob P. and Anna D. (Schmidt) Jorgensen, farmers of that country, he was educated in the schools of his native land and in his youth helped his father on the farm. In 1889, when he was a lad of only seventeen, he left Schleswig to seek his fortune across the sea, landed in New York June 1, crossed the continent, and on June 13, 1889, arrived in San Fran cisco. Reared to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Jorgensen worked on a farm in Sutter County near Yuba City for one season. Then in 1890 he went to Modesto, where he again engaged in farm work, but owing to the wet season, at the end of six weeks was compelled to seek other employment. From Modesto he went to Newman, then a new town, and from February 20, 1890, to 1896 worked for Miller & Lux, who were engaged in stock raising on such an extensive scale at that time. After leaving the employ of Miller & Lux he accepted a position on the canal, where he remained until August 1, 1898, and then engaged as a tiller of the soil for himself on the Carlosolitos land grant of 22,000 acres west of Los iBanos. He cultivated 400 acres of this land until 1906, when he moved on the Hays ranch, located eleven miles north west of Newman, where for twelve years he farmed 800 acres belonging to the Simon Newman Company. In 1918 he purchased a ranch of 586 acres in partnership with Ben Peterson, devoted to grain farming and owns about fifty head of horses. He is raising horses and mules and for breeding purposes he owns a full-blooded Percheron stallion. Loyal to the land of his adoption and appreciating his many opportunities, Mr. Jorgensen has been a citizen of the United States for many j'ears, taking out his first papers May 12, 1902. Politically he is a Republican, and fraternally is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees of Dos Palos. DELWIN C. THORNBURG. — A progressive, successful native son of whom the county may well be proud, is Delwin C. Thornburg, who was born in Turlock on April 10, 1887, the eldest son of L. E. and Hannah (Crispin) Thornburg — now residents of Modesto- — by whom he was reared on a farm situated northwest of Turlock on the State Highway. He attended school at Turlock in the days when all the pupils were taught by one teacher. On attaining his twentieth year, Delwin Thornburg, with his brother, R. H. Thornburg, established a dairy on their home place, where they rented the land from their parents, but this enterprise they discontinued in 1908. The previous June, our subject had been married to Miss Petra Bella Sanders, who was born in Westport, Stanislaus County, and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Sanders, extensive landowners in Stanislaus County, having been pioneers at Westport, where they live. Two children sprang from the union — Vernon and Frances. Mr. and Mrs. Thornburg have a most attractive home place of fifty acres, which they handle in an admirable manner, and they own, besides, a handsome farm of twenty acres which they have recently purchased. Mr. Thornburg is a stockholder and also a trustee in the T. M. & G. Inc., and is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He prefers the political tenets of the Republican party; and he is repaying handsomely all that Stanislaus County ever did for him, thus setting an excel lent example, as a public-spirited citizen, for others. ^0%^4^-^2**-*^_- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1313 PETER MERMANN. — A native lowan who has become a successful Califor nia rancher is Peter Mermann, who was born near St. Marys, in the Hawkeye State, on August 12, 1857, the eldest son of Herman Mermann, who emigrated from Germany to America with his parents at the age of sixteen, and settled at Water- town, Wis., where his father, Peter Mermann, was a Baptist minister, with brothers-in-law who were preachers in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Later Herman Mermann, who had married Miss Margaret Sanborn, moved on into Iowa! Our subject grew up on this Iowa farm, attending the district school and filling in all the odd hours in hard labor. When school days were over, he set out into the wide world to depend upon his own resources; and about 1881, he reached Miner County in South Dakota, where he homesteaded. The hardships of this pioneer enterprise were many and severe, but Mr. Mermann was not the man to be downed. In 1905, Mr. Mermann came to Petaluma, Sonoma County, and engaged in raising chickens for two years, then spent four years in Santa Rosa. Six j'ears later, in 1911, he removed to Turlock and today, having made this wise and even momentous step, he is the owner of thirty acres of the finest ranch property one could wish for, one mile northwest of Turlock. At Dell Rapids, S. D., occurred the marriage of Mr. Mermann with Miss Clara Walters, a native of Iowa and the daughter of John and Mary J. Walters, an admi rable woman for a busy man's companion. They have six children. Lester E. is manager of the Stockton branch of the Western States Life Insurance Company. Bruce married Miss Iva Shaffer of Stockton, resides in that city, and is also very successful selling insurance, and George is also engaged in the same calling. The other members of the family are Gladys, who married Elmer Gilliland ; Carol and Opal. All the Mermanns belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Turlock, and Mr. Mermann has been a Prohibitionist for j'ears, while his devoted wife has been a member of the W. C. T. U. for years, also serving as president. CHARLES BONTADELLI.— A most worthy couple, well meriting all their prosperity as the fruits of long years of incessant toil and hardship, are Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bontadelli, who have forty choice acres at the corner of Lemon and Sycamore avenues" in Patterson, which they have brought to a high state of cultivation, and where they have their cosy home. Mr. Bontadelli was born in Personico, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, on December 21, 1880, the son of Charles and Ambroseni Bontadelli, and it was through his father's migration to America at such an early day that he at first left his family in Switzerland, that our subject eventually came to California. Mr. Bontadelli settled for a while in Salinas, and then for a period had a dairy at Virginia City, Nev., after which he returned to his home in Switzerland. He established the first post office the Swiss Government installed in Personico, and today, at the age of sixty-eight years, is still in active service as postmaster in his native town. Mrs. Bontadelli died in Switzerland in 1897, leaving five children. When he was eleven years old, Charles Bontadelli quit school, left his comfort able home, and went to Brussels, Belgium, and there, as grocery clerk, he worked for wages for six years. Then he went to London, and for thirteen years was in the hotel and restaurant business. While there, on November 18, 1906, Mr. Bontadelli married Miss Emma King, a native of London and the daughter of William King, who had taken for his wife Miss Mary A. Downej'. Emma was the third child, but the oldest daughter in a family of twelve children, and when she had gone through the fifth standard grade in the London schools, and was somewhat over twelve years of age, she had to leave her studies and help support her younger brothers and sisters. Mr. King was a skillful mechanic, living in Essex during the recent World War, and the vicinity of his home was under constant bombardment, so that the strain and terror of the experience caused his death. His good wife had passed away in London in 1905. A son is living today in Sydney, and two sisters are residents of New Zealand. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bontadelli spent two years on a trip through Belgium, France and Germany, and then they went to Mr. Bontadelb's native place in Switzerland intending to make their home there. After eleven months, however, they returned to London, from which city Mr. Bontadelli, after leaving his wife with her 1314 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY people, set out for California to establish here their home. He came to Crows Land ing, and took work on Jim Crow's farm, where he remained for eighteen months. Then he sent for his wife, and at the same time entered the service of the Parnell Ranch at Ingomar, where he stayed for eighteen months. Mr. Bontadelli then leased the Tom Bowles ranch of eighty acres, devoted to alfalfa, and placing there 105 cows and seven horses, established a first-class dairy. In the summer of 1900 he removed to Patterson and bought forty acres of alfalfa at the corner of Sycamore and Lemon avenues, out of which he has evolved a splendid ranch. He moved fifty-seven head of his stock to the Patterson ranch, and he still has about thirty head on the Bowles ranch, where he leases acreage for pasture purposes. His horses he has also brought over to the Patterson ranch. Two little girls, twins, aged six, named Alma Lina and Amelia Elveria, are the light of the Bontadelli household. CHARLES A. FIPPINS. — Another native son of California who has been actively and aggressively identified with the affairs of state and nation throughout the years of his maturity, is Charles A. Fippins, born near Penryn, Placer County, Novem ber 29, 1876. He has been a resident of Patterson since 1911, at which time he bought a fine ten-acre tract on Fig Avenue, which he has highly improved, building himself a comfortable modern residence, barns and outbuildings, and bringing the acreage under a high state of cultivation. For a time he engaged in the poultry busi ness with merited success, developing an extensive industry. Later he disposed of his fowls and engaged in double cropping, going largely to bean raising. Mr. Fippins' parents were William Wheeler and Mulvania (Duckworth) Fippins, who came to California in 1874, locating in Placer County, where they became prosperous farmers. Our Mr. Fippins attended the public schools of that county, and in 1898, when he was twenty-two years of age, he responded to the country's call to arms and enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps, in which he saw active service for five years, being engaged in the naval and military operations in the Philip pines during the Spanish-American War, and also in the Boxer uprising in China. Returning to San Francisco, he was employed in the navy yard at Mare Island for four years after his term of enlistment had expired, being engaged on construction work. From here he went with the Hogan Lumber Company of Oakland, in their mills, for four j'ears. At the end of that time he determined to seek the freer, more independent life of the farmer, and came to Patterson and bought his present property. The marriage of Mr. Fippins occurred in Oakland, October 12, 1908, uniting him with Miss Marie Smith, a native of Iowa, but a resident of California since her early girlhood. Her parents were Jacob E. and Jane (Salton) Smith, her father being a farmer. Her mother passed away when she was ten years of age, and soon afterwards she and her father came to this state, where the father was identified with r fruit ranching enterprise near Winters, Yolo County. He passed away when Mrs. Fippins was little past fourteen. Mr. and Mrs. Fippins are the parents of two chil dren, a son, Chester, and a daughter, Iola. In politics, Mr. Fippins believes in the individual fitness of the man for the office, making his decisions on character and princi ples of candidates. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Vallejo lodge, and also of the Stanislaus County Farmers Union. ANDRES PERSSON. — A ranchman who gets results of the kind which most progressive agriculturists are looking for, is Andres Persson, a native of Northern Sweden, who was born on March 13, 1861, the eldest son of Peter Erickson, who was born on April 13, 1827. He had married Miss Martha Anderson, who first saw the light on May 2, 1831. Mr. Erickson passed away in Sweden, and his devoted wife, who had crossed the ocean to make her home in Wisconsin, died more recently. Peter Erickson was both an experienced farmer and an expert shoemaker, and he lived his industrious life according to such ideals that our subject was given the best of schooling in the lower grades, and confirmed, in 1876, in the Lutheran Church. Starting out in life, he became a lumberman and proved himself serviceable in marking trees ready for felling and use in the mills; and at that trade he worked for four years prior to coming to America. In 1893 he reached Miner County, ^Sj JZ&Jy>&r*~ HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1317 S. D., and there rented land and farmed for ten years. In 1898, he purchased 160 .acres, and for five years he successfully farmed that to grain and stock. This addi tional experience prepared him for taking up ranching in California. In 1903, he came to Turlock, having the year before purchased thirty-five acres here, and in 1904 he added twenty acres to his tract. Nine years later, at considerable expense, he had his handsome ten-room residence built. On June 20 1905 at Modesto, he had been granted American citizenship, and having chosen to march with the Republican party, he has since contributed such influence as he could toward making Americans realize the precious legacy they have in a free country. On May 2, 1886, Mr. Persson was married to Miss Christine Anderson, whose birthplace was Bollnos, Sweden. There, on May 28, 1859, she became the daughter of Andres and Martha (Olson) Johnson, sturdy farmers who enjoyed everybody's esteem and good will. Eight children resulted from this happy marriage. Martha reached her fourteenth j'ear and died in South Dakota. Sadie is the wife of Walter Morton, of San Fernando, and the mother of one son. Annie is Mrs. Jack Cunning ham of Turlock. Eric W., the rancher, was over-seas for eighteen months and a noncommissioned officer in the army corps. Judith M. is attending the school for nurses in the French Hospital at San Francisco. Alvin P., the rancher, is an ex- service man and a member of the R. O. T. C. of Berkeley. Harry E. graduated from Turlock high school in 1920; and Rudolph, a rancher, lives at home. PETER PETERSON. — A progressive citizen of Turlock, whose success both as a contracting builder and as a rancher has given him great faith in the future of Stanislaus County, is Peter Peterson, who was born in Helsingland, Sweden, on March 28, 1874, the son of a farmer wfio was also a carpenter and blacksmith. The lad, therefore, was reared on a farm, and early learned the use of tools. The car penter trade he also began to learn while he was still attending school, and when he was seventeen years old, he started in earning for himself, at work for the sawmills. This he followed for some years, and made a specialty of running gang saws. He began as a helper, and in two years was pronounced a journeyman sa%vyer. His skill was appreciated by all of his employers, and eventually he worked in the largest mills ¦n that section, and for two years before coming out to America he carpentered. In 1900, Mr. Peterson crossed the ocean and made his way to Pierre, S. D., and as the times were very slack, he had to content himself with three days' work in the first three months he was under the Stars and Stripes. There was nothing doing at the carpenter trade, and when a farmer came in a distance of twenty-five miles and was seeking a man, he returned with him and hired out to ride after cattle, and to do other work. He continued five months, fixing all the buildings. Returning to Pierre and finding it still "as dead as a door-nail," he went to Youngstown, Ohio, and worked at the carpenter trade for one contractor for about two years; and not until 1903 did he come out to the land of opportunity and Turlock. He was one of the first men who bought a ranch in Youngstown Colony, located there on his thirty acres and started in to improve it; but he soon had to work at his trade to pay expenses, for he found that if he did raise a crop he could not sell it to advantage. So he went to Stockton and followed carpentering until building started up at Turlock, when he returned and began to contribute to the actual building up of the town. Things grew more hopeful, and while living on his land and working as a mechanic, he was able to pay what he had agreed. In 1907 Mr. Peterson set out an orchard of 1,400 trees, but most of the stock turned out to be practically worthless, though some apricot trees from Fancher Creek nursery turned out all right and they are still growing. He kept his ranch until the spring of 1915, and then he sold it, and soon after bought his present place. He has fifteen acres on Lander Avenue, about one mile south of the limits of Turlock, and this he has handsomely improved by setting out a vineyard and sowing alfalfa, the trim little place, being under the expert care of his son. Except for the three years of the war, when he also gave attention to farming and especially the raising of fruit and melons, Mr. Peterson has continued at contracting. 53 1318 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY This he began in earnest in the summer of 1906, when .he established himsell as a member of the firm cf Wakefield, Wimer & Company; and when Mr. Wimer dropped out, he and his partner went on as Wakefield & Peterson. They built the First National Bank building, the Geer Block, the Carolyn Hotel and the cannery, two of the grammar schools and much of the best business blocks and private resi dences in the town and throughout the county, and some of their best work may be seen at Delhi. The company is a member of the Turlock Chamber of Commerce. At Youngstown, Ohio, Mr. Peterson was married to Miss Christine Johnson, who came from the same section in Sweden in which our subject had been born; and five children have blessed their union. Rudolph has charge, as already stated, of his father's valuable ranch ; and Annie, Harold, Elsie and Astrid are all at home. Mr. Peterson belongs to Turlock Camp No. 795 Woodmen of the World, and is a member of Jenny Lind Vasa Lodge. P. N. OLSON. — A rancher who believes in strict attention to every detail of one's own business, and in never wasting time or thought about others' affairs, is P. N. Olson, who lives to the northwest of Turlock, where he is so much at home with his trim farm, his work and his problems, that he alwaj's has something to show well worth the seeing. He was born near Malmo, Sweden, on March 14, 1887, and grew up in the southern part of that attractive land. His father was Ole Anderson, a native of the same province, who had married Miss Elna Jeppson. She was born in Sweden on June 26, 1854, and is now a resident of Turlock, where she lives with her son. Mr. Anderson had been a farmer all his industrious life; and after he had died in Sweden in 1891, his widow married a Mr. Nelson, who is also deceased. When our subject came to America in 1902, he located at Potter, Nebr., and there for six j'ears labored on a farm and also rode the range on a stock farm in Montana. The year 1908 enabled him to realize one of his dreams and reach not only California but Turlock ; and in North Turlock he purchased a farm of twenty acres, which had been a grain field but now devoted to alfalfa and a dairy. Since then he has added to that holding two ten-acre tracts, and on this choice property he does general farming, cultivating beans, grain and melons. He belongs to the Central California Milk Producers' Association of Modesto, is a member and a stockholder of the Farmers' Union Warehouse of Turlock and T. M. & G, Inc. On December 17, 1917, Mr. Olson was married to Miss Ida Olson, a daughter of Ole Hansen and his wife, who was Miss Carlson before marriage, both of Sweden ; and Mr. and Mrs. Olson are both members of the Lutheran Church of Turlock. Mr. Olson received his final decree of citizenship in the United States in 1913, and he and his wife support energetically the platforms of the Republican party. GEORGE E. ALQUIST. — Prominent among the most progressive citizens ot Stanislaus County, George E. Alquist deserves honorable mention for having strug gled, as he once did; to overcome obstacles, and when success was attained, for his having sought to share some of his prosperity with others. He was born in Chicago, on August 11, 1872, the younger son of John Alquist, who was born in Southern Sweden in 1832, and in 1870 migrated to America and located in the city by the great lake. He was a stonemason by trade, and a good one, too, so that he lost no time in establishing himself as a master workman, and contracted to erect some of Chicago's large buildings, including the old court house and post office. When he was nine years of age George accompanied his parents into South Dakota, where they located near Spirit Lake and became genuine pioneers, the nearest station being forty miles distant, upon a homestead and tree claim of 160 acres. For the first three j'ears there were no schools for the lad to attend ; and when finally in the fourth year a school was established, he could not enjoy its benefits, as he bad previously agreed to herd cattle for a neighbor fcir eight months, in return fol- a total wage of fifty dollars, and the neighbor refused to allow him to throw up the job. When he reached the age of nineteen, he had already commenced to -farm on his own account, and he continued to put bis earnings into land investments until HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1319 he owned 390 acres of fine grain land. In recent j'ears Mr. Alquist has leased this farm, although living in California, preferring to hold on to it rather than dispose of an old holding. Later, Mr. Alquist took a live interest in this school, became a trustee and served as its treasurer for eight years. In 1903, Mr. Alquist's father came to Turlock, and two years later he died. Our subject, also, seeking milder climatic conditions more favorable to health, removed to Southern California, and in November, 1906, came to Stanislaus County and purchased twenty-five acres, devoted to fruit culture, northwest of Turlock ; in which town, in 1913, his beloved mother passed away. In 1907, he erected his residence, a very comfortable mod'ern dwelling, upon the ranch; for on December 5, 1897, he had been married to Miss Sadie Dwight, a descendant of the famous family which included Theodore William Dwight, the eminent jurist of New York; and also Timothy Dwight, president of Yale. She was born in Fillmore County, Minn., on September 13, 1878, the daughter of Dan Dwight, who was born in Pennsylvania on December 2, 1841, and married Miss Frances Amelia Owen, who first saw the light in Wis consin, on October 1, 1848. Many of her family were substantial farmer-folk, although there were also those who added lustre to the professions. Mrs. Alquist was reared in South Dakota, where she was married, and now she is the proud mother of six children : Dorothy Amelia and Lois Eleanor both graduated from Turlock high school with honors, and Dorothy A., a student at Oregon Agricultural College; J. Homer, Robert Gordon, George Dwight and Richard Everett Alquist. The family attend the First Methodist Church of Turlock. In 1911, Mr. Alquist made a transcontinental tour, by automobile, and return to South Dakota — a trip under conditions deemed at that time as hazardous as were those of many an early pioneer — and he derived the greatest benefit from the experi ence, and enjoyed every moment while away. As a committeeman on all the Liberty Loan drives he threw himself into the patriotic task and did commendable work. JOHN D. HALL. — A representative Swedish-American, who has done so well as a rancher in America that he is now able to live in comfortable retirement, is John D. Hall, who was born on January 7, 1866, at Ostergotland, a small place in Southern Sweden, next to the j'oungest son of Gustav F. Hall, a native of the same place. The mother, Anna Matilda Hall, was also born near by, in the same province. John attended both the public and private schools of his locality, and when sixteen years of age was confirmed in the Swedish Lutheran Church. When only nineteen years old, he crossed the wide ocean to America, and proceeding directly westward, located with relatives in Iowa, where he stayed a year. Then he took up farm work as a laborer, and at the same time, for three of the winter months, attended the country school and learned English. After having been in Boone County for five years, he removed, in 1890, to Pocahontas County, and there purchased a farm of eighty acres, where he raised corn and stock. In December of 1906, Mr. Hall came from Iowa to California with his family, and acquired his fine ranch about three and a half miles southwest of Turlock, now devoted to dairying and the raising of poultry and fruit, the whole managed mostly by Mr. Hall's son, now that the owner has retired, and it may be classed as one of the very desirable farms of the size in the county. In 1894, Mr. Hall was made an American citizen — an incident in his life which he welcomed with proper pride — and four years later he was married to Miss Emma Sophia Peterson, who was born in Buena Vista County,. Iowa, March 19, 1877. Three children blessed their fortunate union. Anna Neary, the eldest, presides over the home; Arthur P., the rancher, also lives at home; while the youngest was Esther. On December 19, 1920, when she was in her sixteenth year, she Was run down and almost instantly killed by an automobile, the accident occurring when she was on her way to the Youhg People's Circle meeting, in company with her sister and a girl friend. Her mother had died in Iowa on May 10, 1906, and no one can picture, save those most affected by the awful tragedy, how the departure of the maiden has darkened the once merry household. The girl was all that a daughter and a sister could be expected to be, and was a general favorite, and the memory of her life, 1320 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY hardly begun in its development, will be treasured forever by her intimates. Blessed are the dead who live in the hearts of others, Mr. Hall is a member and a deacon of the Swedish Mission Church of Turlock, and for a period of nine years he was a trustee of the school district of the Wash ington school, and twice president and clerk of the board. As a committeeman, he also did very commendable work during the war in the various Liberty Loan drives, dem onstrating his real patriotism, and his love for the land of his adoption. CHARLEY J. LEEDHOLM.— A rancher whose hard, intelligent work, and plenty of it through years of ups and downs, has met with success and financial rewards, is Charley J. Leedholm, who was born near Kalmar, in Southern Sweden, on September 20, 1867, the only son of J. and Anna (Jonson) Johnson, both natives of the same province. He went to school at Kalmar, and was in time duly confirmed in the Swedish Lutheran Church. At the age of sixteen, he came out to America, and for a while stopped with an uncle, John Eckstadt, at Fort Madison, Iowa. His first experiences proved a very hard trial ; he worked from early till late as a farm laborer, and received in money only ten dollars for the whole year. In 1890, he made a trip into Central Missouri, and the following year he came to the Pacific, pitching his tent at Le Grand in Merced County. There he took up dry farming on rented land, and did sufficiently well to be induced to stay there for fifteen years. In 1907 Mr. Leedholm came to Turlock and purchased a farm of forty acres two miles southwest of Turlock, which he developed and otherwise improved, and to this he added twenty acres, making sixty acres in all, and in 1913 sold forty acres at a decided advantage, retaining twenty acres and this farm, which he still owns. He brought this up to a high state of productivity. He belongs to the Stanislaus Farm Bureau, and is a stockholder in the Turlock Merchants & Growers, Inc., since 1915. While at Le Grand, Mr. Leedholm was married in 1907 to Miss Martha L. Snider, a native of Michigan, although she was reared in Western Kansas. She is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, and of the Stanislaus County Women's Chris tian Temperance Union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Leedholm are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Turlock, and as a committeeman, Mr. Leedholm did good work, during the World War, in helping along the Liberty Loan drives in the West Turlock district. This activity was not at all surprising, however, for Mr. Leedholm has always been a good "booster" for Stanislaus County. At Fort Madison, Iowa, in 1888, Mr. Leedholm was granted American citizenship; and since then he has marched with the Republicans. JOSEPH F. AND MARY L. A. FERNANDES.— After long and strenuous j'ears of labor, Joseph F. and Mary L. A. Fernandes, the well-known dairy-folk, are enjoying a comfortable, leisurely home life at their country residence off West Main Street, about three miles southwest of Turlock. Joseph Fernandes was born in the Island of Flores, in the Azores, on April 12, 1846, the eldest son of Manuel F. Fernandes, a native of the same isle, who had married Miss Mary Piver, of that locality. The father was a hard worker, and in order to support his large family he had to do much extra labor, besides attending to his farm duties, for outsiders. It may have been in part these modest conditions of the parents which urged Joseph early to leave home, and led to his sailing out upon the deep ; and when only sixteen years of age, he had "sailed the seven seas." At the age of twenty-five, he came to America, and he had the pleasure of crossing the great continent in the third train sent out from the East to the West. He located at first upon a mining claim in Osborne, Placer County, but owing to reverses, he had to abandon the claim three years later. He was also active for a while in the mines near Folsom, in Sacramento County. In 1875 he came into the San Joaquin Valley; he went in for sheep-raising on the West Side principally and the following eighteen years he spent as a very extensive owner of sheep, grow ing into the business gradually, and increasing his holding of stock until he had 6,000 head. From sheep raising he passed to dairying at Fruitvale, in .Alameda County,.. - where he carried on an extensive . and lucrative, retail trade. . . jWmmA /iff ' *%M&- ! *¦ -4ll|pr ' ^0&,&mm#'* mmwr Mw± A Bfa.. Br "1mr**- *'**jmm i ¦''JIM ^mmi*:tm^m\ {? ^&fl^4t*L£*t. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1323 In 1902, while they were living at Melrose, they suffered very heavy losses in the destruction of their property and the ruination of their business, through the Lukins Powder Plant catastrophe, which led them to move to Elmhurst with their stock where they remained until 1913, when the property was sold for subdivision. They then came to Stanislaus County, in 1913, with their stock and a resolution to yet win at any cost. Here Mr. Fernandes engaged in dairying in the Tegner district three miles southwest of Turlock ; and he did sufficiently well that he remained there for ten years. Now he is the owner of a fine farm of seventy-nine acres, the income from which has enabled him for the past five years to retire from hard work. He employs five men steadily, and sometimes as many as seven, to run the ranch for him. On June 28, 1886, Mr. Fernandes was married to Miss Mary L. A. Piver, a native of Providence, R. I., where she was born on October 18, 1871, who came to Alameda, Cal., when she was five years of age, with her parents, John and Margaret (Hart) Piver. Her father had been a Portuguese sailor and came from the Island of Flores and he served in the Civil War as a sailor; while her mother was a native of Liverpool, England. From 1876 they lived in Alameda County until they died. Mary Piver was reared in Alameda, and there attended both the public and the private schools. She is a member of the Ysabel Portuguese Society, and both she and her husband are Republicans. About forty years ago Mr. Fernandes was granted American citizenship, and ever since that time he has striven, especially among the Portuguese, to intensify American patriotism, and a love for all that is good here. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fernandes. Joseph, the first-born, died in infancy. Marguerite is the wife of Frank M. Leanhares of Turlock, and the mother of one child, William. Amalia is deceased. Then there is Josephine Marie, custodian of the books in the Tegner library; Mabel M. attends the Turlock high school, and Ferdinand Joseph goes to the Tegner school. CHARLES C. SORENSEN.— A popular caterer of Modesto, is Charles C. Sorensen, the enterprising proprietor of the Mint grill and restaurant, on I street near Tenth. He was born near Marne, Cass County, Iowa, in 1881, the son of Antone and Mary Sorensen, who are still living, the former ninety-three years of age, the latter eighty-seven. His father was a concrete contractor, and it is a matter of record that there was none better for miles around. Charles attended the grammar school of Marne, one of a family of six children who were cared for to the best of their parents' ability, and when fourteen began to earn his own living. For four years he worked for wages in Iowa, and then on April 23, 1899, while at Denver he enlisted and joined the U. S. Army, as a member of Company M of the Fourteenth Infantry, and during the three years that he served was in the Philippine Insurrection and in China during the "Boxer" rebellion. In 1902, when he received his discharge from the service, he followed the car penter's trade in Manila for a year, when he came to San Francisco, where he re mained for two years. Returning to Omaha, Nebr., he became cook in the Millard Hotel for a period of two years, then taking the position of cook on a Pullman diner running between Omaha and Oakland, Cal., until he quit the Pullman service to locate in California. Shortly after he quit the Pullman Company, the car he had run on for years was wrecked in the Rocky Mountains and two cooks and a waiter were killed, so he had a rather miraculous escape. On locating in California in 1914 he followed his line of work in Oakland for two years and then for about a year in San Francisco, when he opened a grill in that city at the corner of Third and Howard streets. Three years later, in 1917 he came to Modesto, where he established a still finer grill which he called the "Mint." In May, 1920, he built a second place called "Little Mint" on Ninth street. The "Mint" on I street is easily the finest restaurant in Modesto and Mr. Sorensen is a very busy man, giving it all of his time. Mr. Sorensen was never intended, with his genial, social temperament, to live alone, and it was quite natural that, at Centralia, Wash., on April 2, 1912, he should choose a life partner, Miss Catherine Brown, a native of Centralia, and the daughter of W. R. and Catherine Brown. Mr. Sorensen belongs to the Eagles, of Hoquiam, 1324 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Wash., and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and he is also a member of the Imperial Order of the Dragons, a military order of the Chinese Relief Expedition, as well as the military order of the "Coolie." Mr. Sorensen prefers the party platforms and organization of the Democrats and is a member of Modesto Chamber of Commerce and the Progressive Business Club of Modesto, and takes an active part in civic matters. EMANUEL M. LINDEN. — A representative rancher of Stanislaus County, interesting in particular because he belongs to the group of those who are aggressively progressive and working steadily to bring their favored locality into the front rank of agricultural sections in the Golden State, is Emanuel M. Linden, a native of Central Sweden, where he was born at Dalarne, west of Stockholm, on March 17, 1875. He is the eldest son of Magnus Magnusson, who was born in the same province in 1846 and married Miss Katherina Danielson, who first saw the light ten years later in that same neighborhood. Magnus Magnusson was the owner of a small farm; but he derived support for his family mainly from his work as superintendent for a lumber company. He -died in 1881, survived by a widow and five children. Mrs. Magnusson remarried, choosing for her second husband Lewis E. Lofven, and three sons and four daughters were born of her second union, one daughter being deceased. Although Emanuel could have remained at home until he was of age, he desired to make some mark in the world and so decided to come to America. In 1888 his stepfather came out to the United States and settled in Kerkhoven, Swift County, Minn., where he became a very extensive landowner and farmed some 400 acres, a stretch of choice land which he still owns. Emanuel, accompanied by his mother and other members of the family, came in 1889. He commenced as a farm hand and worked hard, meanwhile saving a portion of his earnings. In 1902, having, disposed of his land investments in Minnesota, where he had bought acreage, then rented it to others and continued to work for wages himself, he came to California and Hilmar, and a year later removed to Kingsburg, where for five years he engaged in fruit farming. In that town, too, on June 2, 1909, he was married to Miss Alma Victoria Anderson, the daughter of the late Lewis and Carolyn (Carlson) Anderson, farmers and early settlers who did much to found and develop Hilmar. Two children have been born of this happy marriage. The elder is Helen Dorothy, the jounger Valerie Evangeline, and both attend the Turlock grammar school. In 1910, Mr. Linden returned to Stanislaus County, where, until 1915, the late Mrs. Carolyn Andersen, the mother of Mrs. Linden, lived with them and her oldest daughter, Mrs. Risell, enjoying with them their fine ranch of eleven and a half acres, devoted to fruit cluture. Mr. Linden was made a citizen of the United States — to him a profound satis faction — at Modesto, in 1917, a date somewhat delayed, because he had always supposed that he was a citizen from the time when, while he was twenty-one years old, his stepfather took out for him his first papers. The final papers were, there fore, in some way or other delayed. He is a Republican, and under the banners of that party endeavors to work for still higher civic standards and a still healthier patriotism. Both he and his wife are with Turlock's Swedish Mission Church. HOMER HARPER. — How much of California's present-day prosperity is due to such successful ranchers as Homer Harper only those can tell who are familiar with such a man's accomplishment, year after year. He was born near Washington, in Daviess County, Ind., on October 22, 1882, the son of Charles W. Harper, also a native of that county, who farmed there for the major portion of his life where the Harpers are pioneers. He served as county supervisor in 1890, and still resides in the same place, hale and active. He had married Miss Joana B. Myers, another native of Daviess County, who resides near her birthplace. Both the Myers and the Harper families came from New York and brought with them the best that the Empire State could give. Of a family of eight children, Homer Harper is the eldest son among three sons and three daughters surviving, and he is the only son in California. A sister, Mrs. Pearl Beaty, lives at Wilmington, Los Angeles County. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1325 Homer attended school until he was twelve years of age, and then, under the instruction of his grandfather, and in the latter's large shop near Odon, Ind., he took up the carpenter's trade. When nineteen, at Evansville, Ind., he enlisted in the U. S. Army and was assigned to Company H of the Tenth Infantry, and after reaching the Philippines, he served for twenty-six months with Company H of the Tenth and the Fourth Infantry, suffering many hardships and privations in the service of Uncle Sam. He sustained serious injury, and was returned to San Francisco in 1904 as a convalescent. After spending seven months in the general hospitals of Manila and the Bay City, he received his honorable discharge at the Presidio at Monterey on Febru ary 9, 1905. Mr. Harper is a member of the Order of Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 1906, Mr. Harper came to Inyo County to help install a ten-stamp mill for the Great Western Ore Purchasing and Reduction Company, Inc., and there he remained for about a year. In 1908 he was married at Salinas to Miss Mabel M. Erwin, a native of Coalinga and the daughter of John and Mary Erwin. He then removed to Coalinga, and for seven years he was a driller in the service of the Shell Oil Company, and himself made notable progress in assisting the development work there. He went into the oil fields as a tool-dresser, and by hard, honest labor he became a trusted expert driller. Coming from Coalinga to Stanislaus County in 1914, Mr. Harper purchased a farm of thirty-one and three-fourths acres nine miles south of Modesto on the Crows Landing Road ; and since then, by level-headed procedure and hard work, availing himself of the last word of science and utilizing the most up-to-date methods and appli ances, he has developed his farm into a highly productive ranch and has even rented additional ground for his own farming. For four years he was engaged in dairying, but he sold this branch in 1918. He is still a member, however, of the Central Cali fornia Milk Producers Association, as he is also a member of the Stanislaus Farmers Union. He believes that the farmer's life and work is the best in the long run, and has turned down a number of flattering offers to re-engage as an expert driller. Two children have added joy to the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Harper: Clele attends the Mountain View school, and Helen. In national politics a progressive, Mr. Harper is especially broad-minded in relation to local problems, and is ever ready to support all that is best for his community. FRANK McVEY. — A highly esteemed, retired citizen of Stanislaus County who has always been interested in politics and political reforms, operating on such a broad basis that he has been more or less nonpartisan, although by preference a Democrat, is Frank McVey, who was born near Rochester, Cedar County, Iowa, February 9, 1860, second son of John McVey, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, who came to America when a very young man, a member of a family of Irish farmers. He settled in Pennsylvania and there married Miss Catherine Gallin, also a native of Northern Ire land. Later, the couple removed to Iowa; and during the Civil War, Mr. McVey served in the Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry for two years, returning to his family in Iowa in August, 1864. Six of their eight children, two sons and four daughters, now survive the parents, and among the eight Frank was the second eldest. At the age of eleven he accompanied his parents to Pottawattamie County- , Iowa, and he remained at home helping develop the raw country and enjoying but very lim ited schooling. At the age of twenty-two he made up his mind to strike out for him self, so he went into Lyon County, Iowa, where he rented for three years, then he spent a year in a lumber yard in Hastings, Neb. Locating in Pike County, 111., in the fall of '86, he became extensively interested in the raising and handling of stock, which he shipped direct to Chicago markets ; and during his twenty years there, he advanced to the desirable standing of a leading citizen and for nine years was a school trustee in Griggsville Township. He also served on the Democratic County Central Committee of Pike County. In 1906, coming to California on account of the milder climate, Mr. McVey chose Stanislaus County as the most desirable home place, and located permanently on 120 acres which he purchased of Waymire tract, and which lie some four miles from Turlock This land was then a mere desert waste; but with the aid of his sons, Mr. 1326 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY McVey converted it into a highly-developed and productive farm. Now, able to retire from farm work, Mr. McVey has leased the farm to his two sons who work it on shares with him. The ranch is devoted to vineyard fruit, alfalfa, and general diversi fied farming. Mr. McVey is a member of the Central California Milk Producers Association, and engages in dairying on his farm. He is one of the hardest of work ers among the members of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, and has also served as president of the Tegner local ; he also belongs to the Farm Bureau Exchange. The day after Christmas, in 1883, in Pike County, 111., Mr. McVey was mar ried to Miss Jennie Sweeting, who was born on January 4, 1861, the daughter of Richard and Dorothy (Marshall) Sweeting, of Perry, 111., of English stock; and nine children have blessed their union. Annie M. lives with her husband, Arthur Grieve, a retired farmer from Illinois, at Turlock, and has four children. Charles H. married Miss Ruth S. Douglas, by whom he has had one child, became a farmer and went overseas to participate in the World War. Russell F. is at home. Marshall F. married Miss Mildred Lundgren, and is farming near Parker, Ariz., with a family of four children. Arthur C. took for his wife Miss Lois Drew, and is also ranching near Parker ; he has three children. Edith M. has become the wife of Arnold Robinson, a farmer near Parker, and is the mother of two children. Ralph H., single, is a mechanical dentist of Turlock. Eva P., who married Dan Cook, resides at Kern- ville, and Alice D. attends the high school at Turlock. Besides being an organizer and a director of the Turlock Merchants & Growers, Inc., which was formed in 1915, Mr. McVey served for eleven years as a member of the board of trustees of the Tegner School District, acting as clerk of the board for nine years, and for three years he has been a director of the board of trustees of the Tur lock Union high school. He has served on the Democratic County Central Committee of Stanislaus County, and in 1910 he was census enumerator for the Madera County ¦ district, and helped out on the Federal census. Ten years later, as Federal enumerator, he was in charge of the Stanislaus territory. For the second and following Liberty Loans during the last war, he served as chairman of the Tegner district ; and for j'ears, in numerous ways, he has demonstrated his belief in the principle that a country worth living in is also worth living and working for. EDGAR E. CLAYTON. — An experienced rancher who has also become profi cient as a well-trained, clever carpenter, is Edgar E. Clayton, who was born, a native son proud of the Golden State, in San Benito County on May 8, 1876. He is the third son of Randolph S. R. Clayton, a native of Maryland, who came to California in 1850 and put in two years in the Southern mines, after which he engaged in stock raising in San Benito and Monterey counties. A man of integrity and alert, he proved successful; and as a testimonial of his real worth, he left his widow and ten children, at his demise in 1910, a handsome estate in San Benito and Monterey coun ties, of which about 1,000 acres yet remain. He had married Miss Sarah Cleveland, a native of Illinois, and she now resides in Coalinga. Edgar Clayton was reared on the range and even as a boy took a live interest in stock. He attended the Valley school, obtained there and on the home farm a good preparation for the various duties in life, and when twenty-one years of age home steaded, proved up on and sold 160 acres of land in Monterey County. Later, he identified himself with the opening of the Coalinga oil fields: he helped to bring in the second well on the West Side and for eight years worked in the oil fields. In 1906 Mr. Clayton came to Turlock, having purchased, the year previouslj', a forty-acre ranch about three miles southwest of Turlock, and since that date his developments, with improvements, have brought him a good return. Naturally, he is a member of the Stanislaus County Farm Union. He is a freeholder of one-tenth interest in one-half of his late father's estate, already referred to ; while as an expert carpenter, particularly able as a joiner, he has a small fortune in his useful trade. At San Jose, on July 14, 1898, Mr. Clayton was married to Miss Nellie Don nelly, a native of New York, by whom he has had seven children — Dorothy, Jeanie, Marie, Esther, June, Belle, and Edgar E., Jr. Mr. Clayton is a member of the Mod ern Woodmen of America, and a director of the Mitchell School District. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1327 FRANK C. DIAS. — A dairyman who is a credit to Turlock, as he has become well-known among the most successful of dairy ranchers in Stanislaus County, is Frank C. Dias, who was born on the Isle of Flores, in the Azores, on February 23, 1876, the youngest son of Manuel and Anna Dias, substantial farmer folk. For generations their ancestors followed agricultural pursuits; and being natives of Flores, they lived near the town of Eliza, on a farm long in the Dias family. When seventeen years of age Mr. Dias left the balmy Azores to come to Amer ica, and on the second of April, 1893, he landed in Boston. After a while he came to California and located at Centerville, Alameda County, in the dairy region. He spent three years there as a laborer, and then he removed to Siskiyou County, and for a couple of years worked in the hydraulic mines. When he returned to Center ville, he assisted his brother Manuel until 1905 to conduct his store. In the fall of 1905 Mr. Dias located at Turlock near where he eventually pur chased his forty acres; and having improved his farm, he leases it out to others. He also owns eighteen acres of land adjoining the Tegner school property on the south, upon which he has erected a fine residence. He has made his family as comfortable as possible, and expects to give each of his nine sons and daughters all the advantages of popular education. He belongs to the Farm Bureau, profits by the association with others, and contributes what he can to make the Bureau still more serviceable. His nine children are Anna, Louise, Joe, the twins Avelina and Agnes, Mary, Caroline, Clariss and Frances, all except the baby in school. Their mother was Miss Mary Goncalves before her marriage, a native of the Isle of Flores, where she was born in 1879, and Mr. Dias married her in 1904 while on a return trip to the Azores to visit his aged father, then eighty-four. The family attend the Catholic Church at Turlock. RICHARD HARDING. — A retired, independent rancher whose years _ of suc cessful labor have entitled him to step aside and view the passing show of California's ever-increasing greatness, is Richard Harding, who was born near Barnstable, Devon shire, England, on September 7, 1858. His father, William Harding, was a well-to- do farmer, owning his farm near Barnstable ; and his mother, before her marriage, was Miss Grace Burgess. They were both natives of Devonshire, and there the lad, Rich- and, was reared and attended the district school. For twelve years he worked on the home farm, starting as a laborer for wages, when he was only twelve years old and in 1880, or when he was twenty-two, he came out to America and located in Cres- ton, Ogle County, 111., where he worked for farm wages for another eight yeare. Then, for a couple of years, he rented land and farmed for grain and stock. In lb91. he located near Canton, in Lincoln County, S. D., where he worked on a farm for two years; and then he purchased a farm of 160 acres, which he farmed successfully for grain until coming to California in 1903. In that year, having leased his farm in South Dakota, Mr. Harding made a trip to Turlock, where he had already purchased 100 acres of land three miles south of Turlock, through his brother-in-law, Charles Cline ; and liking California, he sold ^h.s Dakota property and established himself permanently in Stanislaus County. In 19Ub, he sold his 100 acres, and straightway purchased forty acres across the road. Now, after twelve years of steady work in developing and improving this farm, he has leased his land and is living retired, enjoying the esteem of all who know him. On September 11, 1893, Mr. Harding was married to Miss Hattie Cl.ne of Can ton, S. D., a native of Sweden, from which country she came to America in 1880 On June 16, 1920, this estimable lady, beloved by so many, passed away, and I was bur d in the Turlock Cemetery. She and her husband were members of the Brethren Church of Turlock, where he is a trustee of the board of directors. On May 10, 1921, Mr. Harding was united in marriage with Nora Gow a native of Missouri, whose father, James M. Gow was presiding judge of Clay County, Mo., for seventeen years.. She came to California on a ™"%^J™™ and here was married. Mr. Harding did commendable service for ^ he ^ United States during the World War, successfully canvassing the territory on the loan drive, and contributing himself substantially to the funds of the Red Cross. 1328 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY FRANK G. JOHNSON.— The value of a record for years well lived and work well done has been well demonstrated in the case of Frank G. Johnson, the esteemed pioneer now residing west of Turlock on West Main Street, who was closely and most honorably associated with the development of a part of Fresno County until the summer of 1918. He was born near Lynsherpen, Central Sweden, on November 3, 1859, the son of John A. and Anna (Swanson) Johnson, natives of Sweden and members of the Swedish Lutheran Church ; and during the winter months attended the public schools in the district where he was reared. When thirteen years of age he had to begin to earn his own living, for his father had died nine years before ; and in 1 880 he came out to America, traveling in the company of a young friend. The two left their native land to escape military duty, and selected the United States as their goal. Mr. Johnson first located near Sheridan, ih Lucas County, Iowa, and while he was learning the English language, he spent his time working on farms for from eight to ten dollars a month. In October, 1880, he removed to Boone County, Iowa, and there he remained on one farm, working for three years, and four years more on other farms. On March 25, 1887, he was married to Miss Matilda Sakrison, also born in Sweden, who had come to America seven years before, and in 1888, he ventured his first important financial deal in the purchase of eighty acres of land in Pocahontas County, Iowa, adding forty acres to his holding the third year later. He went from one success to another ; but he was never so busy with his own affairs that he could not render service to the community when called upon to do so. He was made an Ameri can citizen in Boone County, Iowa, in April, 1887. In 1904, Mr. Johnson removed with his family to California and settled in Fresno County, continuing there until June, 1918, when he came to Stanislaus County, He proved himself enterprising, progressive and public-spirited, and soon won the highest respect of his fellow-citizens. In June, 1918, he came to Stanislaus County, having retired from farming when he sold his vineyard in the Garfield district near Clovis ; and he purchased ten acres from Mr. Horsman and built a very substantial residence. He belongs to the Farm Bureau of Stanislaus County. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. Hannah T., the eldest, died in Iowa at the age of six. Alma Helen lives at Fresno. Esther Matilda is the wife of Albert Peterson. Hannah T. is Mrs. M. V. Vestrom of Fresno. Martin D. is an ex-service man, and now resides at Clovis. Elmer J. is deceased. Ernest Lowell attends school. A. McGEORGE. — The advanced state of stock raising in Stanislaus County owes much to such aggressive pioneers as A. McGeorge, who was born in Lincoln County, Ohio, on July 6, 1851, the son of the Rev. Robert and Tilda (Van Meter) McGeorge, both native Pennsj'lvanians. The Rev. Mr. McGeorge was a minister of the Christian Church, and he also followed, for his own pleasure largely, limited farming. On the maternal side of their family, the ancestors were of Scottish birth, and one grandfather served in the Revolutionary War. When our subject was about a year and a half old, his parents removed to a farm in Michigan. When nineteen years of age, Mr. McGeorge left the paternal roof and came west to California and Inj'o County, where for eight j'ears he worked as a teamster, handling from sixteen to twenty-four head of mules hauling freight to the silver mines of the late Senator Jones in Southern Nevada. In Humboldt County he also worked at teaming, hauling out great trees used as piles on the Great Northern Railroad. Hoping to profit from a change of climate, he went to the Black Hills in Southern Dakota, and while there for fifteen years assisted in the construction of the Burling ton Railroad. He also became an extensive buyer of cattle and a stockman. In Guthrie County, Iowa, in 1872, Mr. McGeorge was married to Miss Jennie Titus, daughter of Zedic Titus, farmer. The children are; Ed, employee of the Southern Pacific Railroad at Fresno; Frank is superintendent of the San Joaquin Light & Power Company at Springville, he has two children; Jessie, wife of John Honea and mother of eight children, lives on a ranch nearby; Annie married B. S. Carman of Fresno and they have one child ; Bessie L. Nicholson resides at home and the mother of two children; Mabel, wife of H. Richardson, an oil man at Coalinga, they have one child. In 1910, with his family, he came to Turlock, Cal., and pur- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1329 chased twenty acres ten miles southwest of Turlock. He also leases eighty acres, and he raises beef cattle. But other luck came his way. In 1910, while trj'ing for artesian water, the drillers encountered gas and oily water at a depth of 300 feet. Mr. McGeorge was the promoter of the Turlock Land & Oil Company and ever since finding oil on the place he has been working to demonstrate that oil existed and finally was able to interest capital that began drilling and at this writing (1921) prospects are for a proven territory. The first rig erected stands 100 feet from the house of our subject — a fact of very exceptional interest to him, with all that it may portend. He has worked hard, and invested confidently in his time; and no one who knows him will begrudge any additional fortune that may fall to his lot. He is a member of the Modesto Mifk Producers Association. In national politics a Republican, Mr. McGeorge is first and last a good Ameri can and always ready to sidetrack partisanship and prove a good "booster" for the locality in which he lives, labors and prospers. OLE OLSON. — A successful, comfortably situated rancher whose prosperity is a source of satisfaction to his many friends, is Ole Olson, who was born in the province of Gestrikland, Northern Sweden, on December 3, 1868, the eldest son of Ole and Bertha (Olsen) Olson, both natives of the same province. The father was a car penter by trade and also a farmer, was active the major part of his life, and became a well-to-do citizen. He owned a model farm, and was selected as a juryman for eight years. Five children survive these worthy parents, and all the rest of the fam ily, save a sister, Mrs. Jerner of Turlock, are in Sweden. Ole finished with credit the required courses in the public schools, and was then, according to Swedish custom, confirmed in the Lutheran Church. After that he worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-four years of age. This was in the middle eighties, and three crowns, or about eighty cents was a day's wages. On November 15, 1892, Mr. Olson bade his folks and home adieu and sailed for Nova Scotia. He landed at Halifax, and in December, 1892, he reached Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa. He came to stay with an aunt, Mrs. A. P. Johnson; and he worked on her farm until 1894. Meanwhile he studied English, and in Minnesota, for fourteen years labored in lumber camps and on farms. The severe winters in the Middle West led him to come to California, and he first pitched his tent at San Diego. Then, in January, 1909, he came on to Stanis laus County, and bought eighty acres, seven miles west of Turlock. For four years he was employed by the Turlock Lumber Company, during which time he began to develop the raw land, made many improvements, and when it was ready as a very desirable home-place, he was married, on January 12, 1914, to Miss Ida Carlson, a native of Finland, where she was born in 1876. They came to their ranch and have since lived here. Her parents came from Sweden to Finland, and were named Herman and Etta (Isaacson) Carlson. In 1910, she came from her native land to California. Two children have blessed their union, Olaf Leonard and Eric Olva. HENRY EUSTICE. — An expert blacksmith whose skill has brought and held for him many satisfied patrons is Henry Eustice, who was born in Santa Clara County, thirty miles south of San Jose, in Gilroy, on July 28, 1880, the eldest son of John and Annie (Babb) Eustice— the former a native of Wisconsin, the latter of Tennessee. John Eustice's ancestors came from England in the Colonial period, from which it will be seen that the family has long been avowedly American. In 1870 — a very early date for this section of the countrj' — John Eustice established the second blacksmith shop in Gilroy, and for thirty years he worked industriously^ as a wheel wright and general blacksmith. Now, retired, he lives at Mountain View. After finishing the courses of the grade school, Henry Eustice became an appren tice in his father's shop, and at the age of twenty started out for himself. He spent fifteen years as a wage-earner in the shops of the San Joaquin Valley, and in 1916 came to Stanislaus County to locate permanently. On January 1, 1920, having made valuable connections here, he opened the blacksmith shop at Hatch, six miles west of Turlock, on the Turlock highway. Those 1330 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY who know the ability of Mr. Eustice and his reliability for first-class work will learn with interest that he plans to enlarge and still further equip his shop, and to open at Hatch what is very much needed there, a first-class garage. On October 21, 1920, at Stockton, Mr. Eustice was married to Miss Mattie Stephens, a daughter of John Stephens, a native of Kentucky who came to California with his family in 1916, from the Blue Grass State. Mr. and Mrs. Eustice are Republicans and are ever ready, both within and without that party, to work for the building up and the upbuilding of the growing district in which they live. G. SCHENONE. — Among the representative merchants in Modesto who has established a reputation for fair dealing and honesty of purpose is G. Schenone, who was born in the province of Genoa, Italy, October 16, 1879, a son of Giacomo and Rosa Schenone, farmer folk who spent their entire life in the sunny country on the Mediter ranean. Mr. Schenone was the youngest of their five children and naturally he learned farming as carried on in his native country, assisting his father until he reached his majority. He had excellent school advantages from which he has profited and he is today a well-informed and successful business man. When twenty years of age, Mr. Schenone entered the Italian army, serving in the Tenth Company of the Second Regiment, "Gerneto Genio," for three years, when he received an honorable discharge. After this he spent another year on the home farm. He had heard and read of the better opportunities afforded j'oung men of energy who were willing to apply them selves to their task in California and concluded that was the place for him and his ambition, so he emigrated to the Pacific Coast, arriving in San Francisco in 1904. Soon after his arrival he entered into partnership with others and leased 125 acres near the Cliff House and he was chosen manager of the business, which was continued for a period of three years, when they sold out. He then came to Stockton and with three others rented a ranch which was devoted to raising vegetables. He was again chosen as manager, a place he filled acceptably for six years, when they sold out and he located in Modesto in 1913.* Here Mr. Schenone purchased an interest in a grocery store on Ninth Street and later on purchased his partner's interest and has since continued at the helm, having built up a large business in groceries and general merchandise, making a specialty of imported Italian goods and delicacies. His business place is located at 606 Ninth Street, where he has a large patronage and steady customers, a matter in which he naturally takes much pride, for it shows the appreciation his patrons have for him when they trade with him year after year. Mr. Schenone is a self-made man, for he started without a dollar, but with an ambition and determination to succeed, which he has accomplished, as well as having the good will and esteem of his fellow-citizens. He is liberal and enterprising and is inter ested in and helpful to movements that have for their aim the upbuilding of the com munity and improving the condition of its citizens. He is a member of the Catholic Church and politically espouses the principles of the Republican platform. ALBERT T. PETERSON. — An enterprising, far-sighted native of Iowa who has made good in California is Albert Peterson, who was born near Albert City, Buena Vista County, on December 17, 1890, the only son of Albert Peterson, now deceased, who had married Miss Emma Nelson. His father came to America when he was twenty-five years of age, while the mother came here in 1881. He was em ployed at the Deering Implement factory in Chicago for many years as a shop worker, and married Miss Nelson in that city, and at once removed to the Hawkeye State, and they were farming in Buena Vista County when Mr. Peterson died in 1891. Albert T. Peterson, Jr., was then only five weeks old ; but being sturdier than the average, he grew up and at an early age was able to help his mother until they came West in 1910. He abandoned public school in his thirteenth year, and both acquired experience in farming and in business affairs. He took a business course in Highland Park Business College, at Des Moines, Iowa, and also a course in steam engineering at the University of Minnesota. On arriving in Turlock, he was able to begin ranch life under favorable auspices. He has made a specialty of the growing of melons and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1333 grain, and has progressed so well that he has not only been able to ship car-load lots of melons from his own farm, but has found it profitable to buy up melons in the surrounding district, and sell them also. The sub-station of the Tidewater Southern Railroad joins the Peterson farm on the south, and this has proven of great conven ience to the rancher. A live member of the Farm Bureau of Stanislaus County, it is just what one would expect of Mr. Peterson that he should be an enthusiastic "booster" for Turlock. He also handles farm properties and realty. In 1918, at Turlock, Mr. Peterson was married to Miss Esther Johnson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Johnson, who came to Stanislaus County from Fresno County in that year, and a mention of their lives is found on another page of this work. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, and Esther Mathilda was the third. One child, Elizabeth, has come to Mr. and Mrs. Peterson. They belong to Turlock Swedish Mission Church. Since locating on his thirty acres some, four miles west of Turlock, Mr. Peter son has added many improvements, including a thoroughly modern residence, sub stantially built, and has eleven acres in Thompson seedless grapes. He also owns twenty acres one and one-quarter miles west. When Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, the parents of Mrs. Peterson, came from Clovis, in Fresno County, Mr. Peterson sold them ten acres adjoining his ranch and they also made an attractive home place. FRED WILLIAM WALTI. — An experienced ranch executive whose industry, studies and foresight have contributed to advance California husbandry, is Fred Wm. Walti, a native son who was born at Santa Cruz on July 9, 1889, the son of Fred R. Walti, a native of Zurich, Switzerland, who settled at New York when he came out to America at the age of sixteen. Later he located in Nevada, where he did ranch work, and as a result, he continued ranching on moving west to Santa Cruz in the early eighties. He operated extensively, and also went in for the packing of meat. Mr. Walti's ancestors were professional men, and his grandfather was acting supreme judge of the Supreme Court of the Canton of Aargau, Switzerland, and most of these forebears were well-to-do. Theirs was not a military family, however. It was natural enough, therefore, that Frederick R. Walti should serve a number of j'ears on the city council of Santa Cruz, where his influence was alwaj's exerted in behalf of progressive movements and measures. He had married Miss Eliza Degner, a native of Santa Cruz, who died when our subject was still an infant. Then Mr. Walti remar ried, and the child found in the tender-hearted woman the only mother whom he knew. She passed away at Modesto, and now her husband lives retired at Santa Cruz. Fred, having finished the courses of the grammar school, in 1905, was graduated four years later from the Santa Cruz high school, after which he entered Throop College at Pasadena, and during 1909-10 studied electrical engineering. He then took up agriculture instead; and in 1914 he was graduated from the State University at Berkeley with the coveted degree of Bachelor of Science. The year following, he assisted his father in the wholesale and retail meat business at Santa Cruz. Mr. Walti then accepted the superintendency of a ranch of 8,000 acres at Spof- ford, Tex., 150 miles west of San Antonio, and for three years, or from 1915 through 1917, he engaged in development work there. This was a tri-partnership enterprise, and Fred R. Walti was a stockholder and director. In 1912, Mr. Walti's father acquired a fine farm of 100 acres in Stanislaus County, twelve miles south of Modesto and six and a half miles west of Turlock. In 1918 Fred W. became owner of the place and he has engaged in general diversified farming. He has spent a good deal of time also in his efforts to further the success of the Mountain View Farm Bureau, a branch of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, and he is now serving his second term as president, and he is also a member and one of the organizers of the Tri-Counties Farm Bureau Exchange. This activity on behalf of the best interests of the farmer generally may be taken as evidence of Mr. Walti's natural public-spiritedness. ---¦-: ;,-»,.„" - At-Uvab^e, Tex., on September 25, 1917, 'Mr. Walti was married tcr-Miss, Hat tie Leonore Coston, daughter- of H. T. and Le-onom (McLarin>- Coston, - bofbnatives of North Carolina, -She is. a graduated -Miss Harrison's widely-known- semina-ryvat 1334 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY San Antonio, and holds a Texas State certificate to teach ; and for a year she joined the pedagogical profession. She is also an accomplished musician. One daughter, Phyllis Leonore, has blessed this fortunate union. At college, Mr. Walti belonged to the Theta Chi fraternity, and he is a member of Lodge No. 824 of the B. P. O. Elks at Santa Cruz. In politics he believes in a liberal democratic principle, rather than in adherence to any party. While at Berkeley, ih 1914, Mr. Walti had a year of military training, and he took a keen interest in the late war and favored war work. WILLIAM GROTHMANN — Successful to an unusual degree as a practical rancher, William Grothmann, on his fine farm nearly ten miles south of Modesto on the Crows Landing Road, has been able amply to demonstrate the exceptional advantages of agriculture when pursued in Stanislaus County and according to the most up-to-date methods. He was born near Metropolis, in Massac County, 111., on January 28, 1876, the youngest son of Frederick Grothmann, a native German who migrated to America in the fifties. He was a baker by trade ; but he followed farm ing in America, and was known and honored as one of the sturdy pioneers in Massac County. He married Miss Sophia Bultdmann, a native of Southern Illinois. Botb parents are now dead, and of the family, only the sons, William and Henry, survive. The latter is a successful farmer in Massac County. William attended school until he was fourteen, when he was thrown upon his own resources, and he left the home of his uncle, where he had been reared when his father and mother passed away — the latter when he was only six months old. He worked as a farm laborer for wages until he was twenty-one, and then he removed to Perkins County, Nebr., and there engaged in general farming. Later, at Greelej', Colo., he was active in the potato industry; but owing to adverse climatic conditions, he was not successful. In 1907 Mr. Grothmann came West, and the following year he settled in Tur lock, where he purchased eighty acres on which he now resides. Later still, he added twenty acres, and now he farms 100 acres. He also leases farm land adjoining. He is a member of both the Farm Bureau and the Farmers Union, and is always ready to pull a hard and steady stroke for "the other fellow" in the farm world. A Republican in matters of national political import, Mr. Grothmann is always loyal to the community and vicinity in which he lives and earns his prosperity ; and those of his neighbors who know him best see in him the true American patriot, For j'ears he has been affiliated with the Modern Woodmen. MICHAEL JOSEPH McGEE.— An up-to-date dairyman who thoroughly understands the problems of his field of labor and best serves his increasing number of patrons by maintaining his dairy in the most sanitary condition possible, is Michael Joseph McGee, who was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, on December 6, 1873. His father was Patrick McGee, a farmer and a member of a well-to-do family of farmers in Northern Ireland; and his mother, who was Lucy McFarland before her marriage, was also of a circle in very comfortable circumstances. Both were members of the Roman Catholic Church. Mrs. McGee is still living, but Mr. McGee died in November, 1920. They had eight sons and two daughters, all still living. Michael attended the country public school of his neighborhood, and in 1898, when twenty-five years of age, he bade good-bye to his parents and friends, and crossed the ocean to America. Two brothers followed him to San Luis Obispo County, and there he remained for twenty-one years. His first engagement was as a laborer in the dairy of the William R. Hearst farm, and after that he leased for ten years a dairy of 140 head of cows on the Hearst Ranch, in the management of which he was very successful. He employed four men, and one of his brothers, as foreman, helped him. In 1919, Mr. McGee came to Stanislaus County, and now he owns a ranch of twenty-six acres eight miles from Modesto, off from the CroWs Landing Road. He maintains a dairy on this farm, aftd has built up a large and satisfying patronage; He is a member of tbe Central California Milk ProdUce-ft Association, and takes a thdr- ough interest in the Farmers Union. He uses the most modern equipmeiU Mi bis dairy HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1335 During 1918, Mr. McGee made an extensive tour of the Eastern States; and on October 2, while in Philadelphia, he was married to Miss Susan Toel, who had come to America from Ireland ten years before. They live in a comfortable resi dence on the ranch, for Mr. McGee believes in enjoying some of the fruits of toil. A year after his advent in California, Mr. McGee took out his naturalization papers; and at San Luis Obispo he was admitted to full citizenship. He belongs to the Roman Catholic Church, and also to the Knights of Columbus, and he has a brother — the youngest of the McGee family — who is a graduate of Dublin University and a Roman Catholic missionary in India. EDWARD E. BIESEMEIER.— Among the successful men of affairs of Stanis laus County whose ability and hard work have brought a substantial reward for them selves, while benefitting others in many waj's, must be mentioned Edward E. Biese- meier, who was born at St. Louis, Mo., in 1854, and there grew up to his nineteenth year in one of the most interesting periods of that historic city. Thrown upon his own resources when a lad, he learned the blacksmith and wagon-maker's trades. Then he went to Taylorville, Christian County, 111., and there set up his forge. At the time he learned to be a smith, he also hammered out tools and shaped steel plow shares, mould-boards and other implements, getting the wood from nearby timber. In 1872, he made a trip to Panama, and was emploj'ed in helping to construct the canal under the French engineer, De Lesseps. As a machinist he gained much experience. In 1874 he returned to Taylorville, 111., and then, for eight years, he worked in different parts of the state, until he removed to Hiawatha, Brown County, Kans., where he was successfully engaged in business until 1898. In that year, he moved on to the vicinity of Weatherford, Okla., and there he homesteaded and improved a farm, at the same time that he maintained on his farm a blacksmith shop and did general smithy work for the neighborhood. In 1906, he moved again, this time to Twin Falls County, Idaho, and there he also both farmed and ran a black smith shop. In 1908 Mr. Biesemeier came out to California and Modesto, and since that year he has been engaged here principally in the blacksmith trade, having bought a valuable lot on Seventh Street, where he built a commodious and well-fitted shop, and he also owns a comfortable home at 1321 Tenth Street. While in Illinois, Mr. Biesemeier was married to Miss Eliza Jones, a native of. London, England, and now the mother of ten children, seven of whom have gradu ated with honors from some educational institution. Robert graduated from the Lewis Institute, and is an instructor in the high school in a suburb of Chicago; two boys, Alfred and Charles, are with C. C. Parks, the Ford agent at Modesto, Alfred being manager of the sales department ; Harold is a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and is captain in command of submarine L-4 stationed at Norfolk, Va. ; Mrs. Rose A. Parks of Modesto; Nellie, Mrs. Mitchell, of North Yakima; Esther, Mrs. Rasmussen, of Waterbury, Conn.; Stella is attending the University of Cali fornia; Mary is in the Modesto high school, and Pearl in the grammar school. In 1874 Mr. Biesemeier joined the Odd Fellows through Taylorville Lodge No. 413, and in 1895 he demitted and became a member of Hiawatha Lodge No. 83, in Kansas, where he passed all the chairs. Later, while homesteading, he became a member of We&therford, Okla., Lodge, and when he moved to Idaho he became a charter member of Kimberly Lodge No. 123 at Kimberly, Idaho, where he was a representa tive to the Grand Lodge and deputy district grand master of the Grand Lodge of Idaho, from Twin Falls. Now he is a past chief patriarch of the Hiawatha Encamp ment of Odd Fellows and was formerly a member of the Rebekahs. He belongs to Diamond Lodge No. 236, K. of P., at Hiawatha, Kans., and was made a Mason in Cloud Chief Lodge No. 44, in Oklahoma, and when demitted joined the Western Star Lodge No. 46, now No. 138, at Weatherford, Okla. He is a member of Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M., and a member of Weatherford Commandery No. 7, K. T., Weatherford, Okla., and Ihdia Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. in Okla homa City, also a member of Guthrie Consistbry No. 1, in Guthrie Okla., and with his wife is a member of Occidental Chapter No. 71, O. E. S., at Weatherford, Okla. 1336 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY MANUEL FURTADO. — Among the esteemed citizens of foreign birth who have both "made good" in California and then contributed toward rendering the great commonwealth a still better place for those who, like himself, aspire to the best that life affords, is Manuel Furtado, who was born on the Isle of San Jorge, in the Azores, near Villa, at that time the island's.capital, on March 8, 1876. When he was fifteen j'ears old, his father, Joseph Furtado, passed away, and his good wife Maria was left with her three daughters and two sons. Mr. Furtado had been a cabinetmaker and finisher, and as an expert in his line he had amassed a comfortable competence. In 1891, Mrs. Furtado came out to America and that same year she sent for her three daughters, and during the following j'ear, Manuel Furtado followed, accom panied by his older brother Joseph. Our subject then, commenced to earn his first money in America^ working at odd jobs, for which he received about eight dollars per month. He spent about twelve j'ears laboring in the dairy center of Alameda and Contra Costa counties, and learned American methods. In 1910 Mr. Furtado first came to Turlock, and in the intervening decade he has come to enjoy the enviable reputation of a leader of leaders among the dairy ranchers. He has acquired extensive dairy interests in both Stanislaus and Merced counties and has 120 acres in the home ranch and thirty acres across the road, all developed and improved bj' himself, and owns 160 acres in Merced county all im proved for dairy ranches by himself, and is an influential member of both the Farm Bureau and the Central California Milk Producers Association. He is a stockholder and past director of the T. M. and G. Inc., which was organized at Turlock in 1915, and also a member of the Board of Trade. At Oakland on May 20, 1898, Mr. Furtado was married to Miss Isabel Silva, the attractive daughter of Frank and Andresa Silva, and their fortunate union has been richly blessed in three equally attractive children- — Mary, Isabel and Edward. Mr. Furtado belongs to the U. P. E. C, the I. D. E. S., the I. O. O. F. and the Rebekahs; and Mrs. Furtado is a member also of the Rebekahs, the S. P. R. S. I. and the U. P. P. E. C. Mr. Furtado was made a citizen of the United States at Modesto in 1915, and during the recent World War he did commendable work for the United States Gov ernment, thereby amply demonstrating his patriotism and love of adopted country. GEO. A. HODGES, D. D. S. — Prominent among the members of his fraternity of California who have contributed much to make Stanislaus County one of the most desirable of residential sections in all the Golden State is Dr. Geo. A. Hodges, the able and popular dentist, who was born a native son proud of his association with the Pacific commonwealth, at Del Rey, in Fresno County, Cal., on April 17, 1880. He attended the public schools, including the high school of Fresno, from which he was graduated in 1900, and then he entered the dental department of the University of California, which gave him, on graduating, in 1903 the degree of D. D. S. For a while he practiced in Oakland, and then he had an office in San Francisco, and next he came south to Modesto; and after a short period there, he established him self in Turlock, where he has been an exponent of the modern science of dentistry. From the beginning, Dr. Hodges met with pronounced success, through his pleasing personality and the thoroughness of his highly skillful work; and it is not surprising that he now enjoys a wide and lucrative practice. This prosperity in his professional work has enabled him to become interested in farming, and he owns a fine ranch in the Turlock district which he has developed from raw land and devotes to general farming, although he was at one time engaged in dairying, and had a herd of pure-bred Jerseys. He is a stockholder in the Turlock Theater Company and stands ready at all times to encourage all commercial and financial interests. For some years Dr. Hodges was a member of the Turlock Union high school board, and he is, of course, a member of the National Dental Association, the State Dental Association and the San Joaquin Valley Dental Association. When he was at the University, he belonged to the Psi Omega Fraternity, and he was made a Mason in Turlock Lodge No. 395 F. & A. M. He also belongs to the Modesto Chapter No. 49 of the R. A. M., and to the Eastern Star and Knights of Pythias. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1339 ASA SHINN FULKERTH.— A sturdy pioneer of Stanislaus County, whose upright life and thoroughly honest administration of public office gave him a strong following and made him mourned by many, when he closed his active career was Asa Shinn Fulkerth, the son of Henry and Sarah (Casner) Fulkerth. He was born in Woodsfield, Monroe County, Ohio, in 1833, and when seven years old removed with his parents to Morgan County, in the same State, where he was educated in the com mon schools. His father, Henry, was a blacksmith and at that trade, and under his father's tuition, he began one of those old-fashioned apprenticeships through which a boy learned something — and usually many things. In Morgan County he remained until 1855, and then he came to Van Buren County, Iowa. There he established himself as a smith, and continued at the forge until 1863, when his health began to fail. Having heard of the wonderful attractions of the Golden State, he crossed the great plains to California, braving the many inconveniences and dangers of that raw life and time, and after a hard pull, arrived in Waterloo, San Joaquin County, where, with his brothers, he started a blacksmith business. The firm name was styled Ful kerth Bros., and very successful the enterprising and reliable young Easterners were; but owing to his poor health, he abandoned the trade and in 1 866 began farming. Two years later, in 1868, Mr. Fulkerth came to Stanislaus County and com menced to ranch near Turlock; and there he continued until 1878, when he was elected sheriff of Stanislaus County. In 1880 and again in 1882 he was re-elected, serving with credit and to the entire satisfaction of the people and especially through this post of honor and responsibility, Mr. Fulkerth became well and favorably known through out Central California, where he was regarded as a most efficient and fearless officer, thoroughly reliable and deserving of the confidence of everyone. After his term of office expired, he followed the business of a realtor until he was appointed postmaster of Modesto, under President Cleveland, serving a term of four years, until the spring of 1898. He only lived until the same fall, his demise occurring October 17, 1898, leaving an honorable and enviable record. In Iowa, in 1855, Mr. Fulkerth was married to Catherine McBride, who was born there and crossed the plains with her husband, bringing their two-year-old son. Four of their children grew to maturity and each became the center of a circle of de voted friends. The three daughters are Emma F., Mrs. W. A. Harter, deceased ; Etta L. and Myrtize E., Mrs. W. L. Tregea; while the son, the eldest of the four, is the jurist, Loren W. Fulkerth, superior judge of Stanislaus County. The mother, Mrs. Catherine Fulkerth, survived her husband four years, passing away December 7, 1902, a woman much loved and esteemed for her many virtues. JAMES V. DATE. — As a prominent citizen and a well-known pioneer realtor and insurance man of Hughson, James V. Date's standing in his community is one of consequence, both for his association with the early days of this thriving town and the large part he has contributed to its development. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Williams) Date, natives of England, born near Land's End, Cornwall. They came to the United States about 1870, settling at Berea, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and Mr. Date, who was a stone mason, entered the employ of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad, as foreman of their bridge building depart ment. After twenty-five years of service with this company, he resigned to engage in farming, and both he and his wife continued to reside there until their demise. There were five children in the Date family, and of these, James V. was the youngest. He was born at Berea, Ohio, February 6, 1878, and there was reared, gaining his education in the public schools and graduating from the high school. After his school days were over, in 1896, he went to work with his father, assisting him in his construction jobs. Realizing the great opportunities in the West, he determined to cast in his lot here and came to Los Angeles, Cal., in 1899. He re mained in this vicinity for several years, engaging in various pursuits, removing to Tur lock County in 1907, where for two years he was in the real estate business at Angiola. In 1909, Mr. Date came to Hughson as proprietor of the Hughson Hotel, which he conducted successfully for four years, at the same time maintaining a real estate 54 1340 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY office in connection with it. When he arrived here at that time, there were no improvements to speak of, as the surrounding country was still vast grain farms. There were only a few buildings here and the railroad station was an old box car. Farsighted and optimistic, however, Mr. Date saw its possibilities and set about to make them realities, and the present growth can largely be attributed to his enthusiasm in those early days of development. It can probably best be perceived by the fine class of people who have settled here and the finely improved orchards and farms surround ing the town, which too, has been built up wonderfully. Outstanding among the new improvements which will reflect credit on the progressiveness of this community is the new high school, which will be enlarged to a fine group of buildings, $110,000 being expended on its construction. In 1914, Mr. Date built the "Date business block, and opening up an office in the building, he formed a partnership with Earl Sawdey, under the firm name of Date & Sawdey. Here they have developed a large real estate and insurance business, and with an increasing volume of transactions to their credit, they are contributing much to the steady, prosperous growth of both the town and the surrounding country. Mr. Date is the owner of a fine apricot orchard of ten acres, which he set out and improved, and besides, has a comfortable, attractive home place on Seventh street, where he resides with his family. On April 7, 1901, Mr. Date was married to Miss Lucy Brown, the ceremony taking place at Colton, Cal. She was born in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Angus M. and Lucy Brown, her father being a veteran of the Civil War. Three children have come to bless their union: Vivian, Lucille and Jessie. Mr. Date is a member of the Episcopal Church, a staunch Republican, and a wide-awake citizen, who takes a live interest in all moves for the good of the community in which he lives. During the late war, he was chairman of all th? Liberty Bond and Red Cross drives and had the satisfaction of seeing Hughson double its quota in most of the drives. He is a member and trustee of the Stanislaus County Board of Trade, and for a number of years was president of the Hughson Board of Trade. His fellow-townsmen of Hughson respect him, as do those with whom he has been connected throughout the county, and he is a representative, substantial man, who has profited by the advant ages of this great western country. Stanislaus County owes much to men of Mr. Date's caliber, who have not been afraid to trust to their judgment and put their shoulder to the wheel to confirm their faith, and so have helped the county to make the rapid strides that have put it among the foremost counties of the state. MRS. VEDA HATFIELD CALKINS.— The proprietor of the Turlock Tribune, who is a native daughter of California, is Mrs. Veda Hatfield Calkins, who was born in Tulare. Her father, Wm. R. Hatfield, was a native of Ohio, who was reared in Illinois, where he enlisted in an Illinois regiment and served in the Civil War, being wounded in battle during the great conflict. About 1870 he came to California, entering the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad shops in Sacra mento, where he became a locomotive engineer. He had his headquarters in Tur lock and had the distinction of running the first train through Turlock. He was married in Tulare to Miss Emma L. Hopper, who was born near Stockton. Later Mr. Hatfield's headquarters was moved to Fresno and then to Oakland, his active service continuing until he retired on a pension. Then made his home in Pacific Grove until his death. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and G. A. R., and was a past master of the Masonic lodge. His widow now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Calkins, being an active member of the Presbyterian church and the W. R. C. Veda was their only child, being graduated at the Oakland high school. In San Jose she wedded Malcolm F. Calkins, a newspaper man. In 1914 Mrs. Calkins pur chased the controlling interest in the Monterey Cypress Publishing Co., and continued an active member of the Company until she sold her interest in October, 1916, to W. C. Brown, of Pacific Grove, after which she came to Turlock and in partnership with S. K. Newfield, purchased the Turlock Weekly Tribune from H. W. Dockman. They made it a tri-weekly in June, 1919. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1341 April, 1920, Mrs. Calkins bought Mr: Newfield's interest and continues as sole ¦proprietor. The Tribune was established in 1911, by H. W. Dockman, who edited it until Calkins and Newfield purchased it in 1916. It is a six column quarto, devoted to the interests of Turlock and boosting Stanislaus County, and is independent Repub lican. The Tribune has a complete publishing plant with job printing department. Mrs. Calkins bas one son a very interesting and sturdy lad named Wm. M. Mrs. Calkins is an active member of the Presbyterian church and its Sunday school, in which she is a teacher. She is a member of the Turlock Woman's Club, the Delphian Society and the American Press Association. REV. CHAS. PHILIPPS. — A young man of scholarly attainments and deep religious convictions is Rev. Charles Philipps, rector of St. Anthony's Catholic Church at Hughson. He was born in Strasburg, Alsace Lorraine, in 1881, of French parent age. Being reared on the farm he is still interested in farming and building up of farming districts. He attended school at Besancon and then the French college in Belfort. He completed his classics and philosophy here, and after his graduation entered the University of ,Milan, Italy, where he studied languages for two years. He also studied in the seminary of Fribourg, Switzerland. On completing his studies in theology he was ordained a priest by Archbishop P. B. Riordan of San Francisco on July 9, 1991. Settling immediately in the metropolis of the Pacific Coast, he located in September, and became assistant at St. Bridget's Parish, on Van Ness avenue, where he spent five years and then was assistant two years at St. Anthony's Church, in East Oakland, and another two years at St. Mary's Church in Oakland's down town district. Meanwhile he had become a naturalized citizen. In 1920, Father Philipps made a trip to Europe, spending almost a year at the University of Lisbon in the study of the Portuguese language, literature and history. He visited Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, Spain and France, recalling the scenes so dear to his childhood. Then, too, he saw the devastation caused in France and the havoc wrought to Rheims and other places by the big guns in the World War. He returned to San Francisco after a very profitable year of study and research and soon was appointed by Archbishop Edward J. Hanna as the first rector of St. Anthony's Parish at Hughson on August 9, 1921, the parish having been officially established the day before. St. Anthony parish embraces about twelve square miles. As a mission it had been attended by priests from St. Stanislaus parish until the appoint ment of Father Philipps, and the first parochial mass was said by the Rector August 14, 1921. Father Philipps immediately began to plan for a new edifice. A lot has been secured on the State Highway opposite the grammar school and on this central location the Catholics expect to erect a fine church at a cost of about $10,000, with a seating capacity of 400. Father Philipps has had ten years experience in the diocese, is talented as a public speaker and his years of experience as a clergyman qualify him to assume the responsible duties of rector of the nev/ parish of St. Anthony. He is a popular member of the Knights of Columbus and the Young Men's Institute. MRS. ANNA C. ERICKSON— One of the old residents in Turlock who with her late husband, John Erickson, did much to aid in building up intensive farming is Mrs. Anna C. Erickson, who was born in Smaland, Sweden, in 1858. Sheis a daughter of Andreas and Johanna (Stenson) Appelquist, who also came to Minne apolis, where the mother died, after which Andres Appelquist returned to Sweden and spent the remainder of his days. Anna C. is the oldest of their seven children and the only one living in California. She was schooled in Sweden and in her twentieth year, in 1878, came to Goodhue County, Minn. The next year she was married in . Red Wing, Minn., to John Erickson, who was born in Westergotland and had come to Minnesota in 1869. After their marriage they purchased eighty acres in Goodhue County, which they farmed for five years and then sold. They removed to the Red River Valley of the North, purchasing 160 acres of railroad land sixty miles northeast of Crookston, later purchasing another quarter section and for nineteen years farmed and raised stock. They read good reports of California and particularly Turlock, so they sold out and moved hither, February 23, 1903. They immediately bought 120 acres four 1342 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY miles southwest of Turlock, at $25 an acre, which they improved to orchard, vineyard and alfalfa. The first couple of years their crop and some of the trees were des troyed by grasshoppers and rabbits, but they fought the pests and replanted and in time succeeded, raising the trees and vines. They also did dairying. In 1909 they rented the ranch and moved to Turlock, building a residence at 301 South West avenue, and here Mr. Erickson passed away on April 21, 1910. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Erickson was blessed with seven children: Esther Josephine, Mrs. Egvall of Turlock; Enoch Theo., with the Turlock postoffice; Phillip in an oil station in Turlock; David Herbert who died in 1920, aged thirty- one years; Lydia Ruth, with her "mother; Hilda Elizabeth of San Francisco; Alice Rebecca a graduate of the San Jose State Normal, now teaching. Since her husband died Mrs. Erickson continues to reside at the old family home, looking after the valuable holdings left by her husband. She belongs to the Swedish Mission Church. NATHAN HARVEY KING. — A prosperous business man of Modesto is Nathan Harvey King, who enjoj's the distinction of being a pioneer spring manu facturer, catering to one of the most important of present-day industries. He comes of an old San Joaquin Valley family, and hence it is only natural that he is first, last and all the time for the Golden State. He was born at Stockton on April 20, 1892, the son of Nathan Harvey King, who made three trrs across the great plains, coming West on the first occasion with the gold rush of '49, and becoming, with thousands of others, an early prospector. He also helped to build the Quien Sabe Canal. As a farmer and a stockman, he acquired large tracts of land, and grew to operate extensively. When he died, he left our subject, a mere baby, and a widow, nee Anna Bustard, who survived until 1910. Nathan Harvey, Jr., attended the grammar schools of the countv, and when twelve years old started to hoe his own row in the world. He took up the trade of a blacksmith and a machinist, worked at the same in Stockton, in Johnson's shop, and in 1905 came to Modesto, where he found employment for a couple of vears with M. H. Noonan. In 1907, he formed a partnership with Roy Reynolds and for several years ran a blacksmith shop. Then he sold his interest to Severin, and later bought out Severin's holding. By this time, his business was so well established that he could afford to try a specialty; and in 1915 he commenced the manufacture of springs. Being very expert, he starts from the beginning, uses the best of raw materials, and makes entire any form of springs needed for autos or trailers. He was the first man in this part of the country to establish a factory exclusively for the making of springs, and it is not surprising that his patrons come from all over the San Joaquin Valley. At Modesto, on April 18, 1918, Mr. King was married to Miss Frances Beneter, who was born and reared at Los Banos, the daughter of Fred and Bertha Beneter. Her father came to San Joaquin County in 1885, and as a farmer was one of the first settlers in Stockton, and afterward was a successful grain rancher in Merced County. Mildred, Frances and Walter are the three children born to this worthy couple. In national politics, Mr. King is a Democrat. LA GRANGE GOLD DREDGING COMPANY.— A prime factor in the development of the La Grange section is the La Grange Gold Dredging Com pany, a continuation of the old La Grange Ditch & Hydraulic Mining Company. As early as 1869-70, the La Grange Ditch & Hydraulic Mining Company had taken over a small private ditch and enlarged it, and began using it for hydraulicing on what was called French Hill diggings, meeting with good success. They also hydrauliced at Don Pedro, a town of 500 to 600 people in early days, now the site of the great reservoir being built. After mining operations ceased, most of the people moved away and the town was entirely wiped out by fire. The old company also mined at Patricksville. In 1905 the capital stock and holdings of the La Grange Ditch & Hydraulic Mining Company were purchased by John Hays Hammond, the world-renowned mining engineer, and J. E. Doolittle, and they incorporated two companies— the La HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1343 Grange Gold Dredging Company and the La Grange Water & Power Company. They spent two years in careful prospecting and development work, Keystone drilling the holdings, and they also built an electric power plant at La Grange, generating power for their own use in operating the dredges. In 1906 the dredge was built and started in March of that year. Finding that they had considerable excess electric power, they proceeded to install power lines throughout the county, distributing power and light to La Grange, Modesto, Turlock, Hickman, Waterford, Ceres and Keyes. About 1917 a sale was made of the power plant to the Sierra & San Francisco Power Company, reserving sufficient water to operate their dredges and to irrigate their olive grove consisting of 250 acres, containing 10,000 olive trees, 1,000 English walnuts, 500 pecans and 3,000 prune trees. This large orchard is planted on virgin soil on a level plateau above La Grange, is four years old, and is irrigated bv an underground concrete conduit system. It is the intention of the company to build a plant for pickling the olives and extracting oil. This will give La Grange a perma nent industry and as other groves are planted, will give employment to many people. The olives grown in this orchard are large and of fine quality, and will be put on the market under the name of the La Grange Superior Brand. As the success of this orchard is shown, it will open the way for others in this section to grow olives, as the soil and other conditions are particularly adapted to this tree. The present ownership of the company is now vested in John Hays Hammond of Washington, D. O, and John G. Barker, the latter being the president and man ager. A new dredge is being built by the company which will be in operation in December, 1921. It will have a capacity of nine cubic feet per bucket and will handle 2,000,000 cubic yards of gravel per year. It will be used on their La Grange hold ings, and the dredge formerly operated here will be transported to their property lying between Snelling and Merced Falls. The Merced property of 1,000 acres was formerly known as the Mather land, and was purchased by the company after finding 400 acres of valuable land for dredging. The housing facilities of the company are most excellent ; they have built a modern camp on the old company road above the Tomlinson River. The location is sightly and most sanitary, with its- modern cottages, dining hall and clubhouse. Water for domestic use is obtained from a well 180 feet deep and the analysis of the U. S. chemist gave a flattering report of its excellence. It has certain medicinal properties, being strong with sulphur and iron, and is, in addi tion, pleasant to the taste, so that many employes, after leaving, send for it to use in their homes. ALBERT H. GIOVANETTI.— A representative of an old pioneer family, Albert H. Giovanetti is the son of Angelo and Fidelia (Prescott) Giovanetti. He has been reared in Prescott precinct, this county, where his father's wide acres lie, although he was born at the home of his maternal grandparents, near Columbia, in Tuolumne County, where his mother was visiting at the time of his birth, April 4, 1894. He grew up on the old Giovanetti place, attended the public schools in Stanislaus school district, and at an early age took an active part in the farm affairs. His father was a grain farmer on an extensive scale and with the aid of his three stalwart sons became one of the leading grain growers of the county and one of its influential men. At the age of twenty-six years, Albert H. Giovanetti has already taken his place in the community as a progressive rancher. Besides the home place of 900 acres, which he runs in partnership with his brother Frank, they also farm an additional 1,500 acres which they have leased, raising principally barley. With the details of grain farming Mr. Giovanetti became familiar at an early age, under the capable tutelage of his father, and was a capable driver at fourteen years of age, driving the great combined harvesters and reapers and threshers, drawn often by as high as from sixteen to thirty-six head of horses or mules. The Giovanetti ranch, however, has always been kept fully abreast of the times, and with the advent of motor-driven machinery, the dav of the horse has passed. Caterpillar tractors are used to propel the two great combined harvesters and threshers, the cutting, elevating and threshing being done by auxiliary motors stationed on each harvester and thresher. These machines can cut and thresh fifty acres a day each. 1344 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. Giovanetti not only understands every detail of the farm, but is an accom plished mechanical engineer as well, his practical knowledge of machinery having been supplemented by a mechanical engineering course in the International Corre spondence School. The Giovanetti brothers employ from seven to thirty men. They are enterprising, industrious and frugal, and are always ready to do their duty in the community where they reside. Through carefully scientific methods they get a yield per acre of about as great as thirty years ago, on land that has been farmed every year. They are also extensively engaged in dairying, and their stock is all high grade, while they also have three registered Holstein cows and a registered Holstein bull from the best milk strains of that excellent breed. Like his father, Albert Giovanetti is a consistent Republican and associated with the progressive movements for the better ment of farm conditions. ERICK W. OHLSSON.— A prominent member of the Swedish Mission Church whose success as a dairy rancher with one of the choicest stretches of alfalfa land in the Patterson Colony has made him, rather naturally, a public-spirited man interested in local history, past and that which is daily and hourly being made, is Erick W. Ohlsson, who was born in Smaland, Sweden, on July 15, 1884, the son of A. P. and Hedvik Ulrika Ohlsson. At the age of seven the family went to Norkoping, where his father was engaged in commercial gardening. There Erick gained his education in the public schools, also attending the evening school, and here he was confirmed. He remained at home until he was twenty years old, and then set sail for America in 1904. He first located in Kane County, 111., where he worked on a dairy farm for a year, and then for a year in the Peterson Nursery in Chicago. The fol lowing year he spent in Oklahoma, then went to Denver, Colo., for a six months' stay, returning from there to Chicago, where he remained until 1909. During this year he came to California, and took up gardening at Montecito, Santa Barbara County, where he had charge of the famous Bingham estate for a time, going from there to Oakland, where he spent a year at gardening. On May 4, 1910, Mr. Ohlsson was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Westa- borg, a native of Moline, 111., the daughter of Magnus and Matilda Westaborg, old residents of that place. Both parents are now deceased, the father having met his death in an accident. Mrs. Ohlsson came to Santa Barbara County, and here she met Mr. Ohlsson. Meanwhile, he had purchased twenty acres at Patterson on Elm Avenue, north of Las Palmas, devoted to alfalfa. Here he built himself a cosy home, and put up the necessary farm buildings to maintain a choice herd of twenty dairy cows. In 1916 he bought an additional ten acres. Five children have blessed their fortunate union : Edith E. is a pupil in the grammar schools, and Alvin Erick, Herman Axel, Marion M. and Lloyd Milton are at home. Mr. Ohlsson finds satisfaction with the platforms of the Republican party, and great hope, through the principles and ideals of the land of his adoption, for the future. He believes in Stanislaus County, as he has great faith particularly in Patterson; and Stanislaus will take more and more stock in him, the better she gets acquainted with his ambitions, his experience and his capacity for hard, effective work. ARLO V. TURNER.— The manager of the Oakdale Milling Company, Arlo Verner Turner was born at Modesto on May 22, 1891, the second son and third child of Henry Garrison and Emma Catherine (Rice) Turner, the well-known pioneers, who were the parents of four children. He completed the course of the Modesto high school in 1909 and four years later was graduated from the University of California with the Liberal Arts degree of B.L. Then he matriculated at the Law School of the University of Washington, at Seattle, and in 1915 was graduated there, receiving the degree of LL.B. Mr. Turner became a member of the law firm of Turner, Hartge & Turner of Seattle, and in that city on June 15, 1915, he was married to Miss Gladys Wood, the daughter of Judge W. D. Wood, ex-mayor of Seattle, who established the first regular line of steamships to Alaska during the gold rush of 1896-99. One child was born to this union — Henry Garrison Turner. Mr. Turner practiced law in HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1345 Seattle for some time, and then came south to California to become resident manager of the Oakdale Milling Company, whose history is full of interest. In the late seventies, Messrs. Haslacher & Kahn ran a bank and a grain business here, and in 1895, Haslacher having previously withdrawn, Kahn failed, and the warehouses were bought at receiver's sale by the Oakdale Milling Company, which also bought the mill from Haslacher, and the warehouses and the mill were then run by Oakdale Milling Company. On February 15, 1917, the Oakdale Milling Com pany sold all its stock to The Grange Company of Modesto, and this led to Mr. Turner's coming here. The Oakdale Milling Company operates warehouses at the following place: Athlone and Merced, in Merced County; Paulsell, Arnold, War- nerville, Oakdale, Claribel, Burnetts, now known as Adela, and Valley Home, and at Cometa, Farmington and Escalon, in San Joaquin County. The company buys hay, corn, barley, beans, wheat and alfalfa seed, and is also engaged in insurance. PETER AHLBERG.— One of the early settlers of Turlock who has set out and improved an orchard and helped to make a success of this growing town is Peter Ahlberg, a native of Sweden, born May 11, 1862, the sixth oldest of a family of eight children, born to Elias and Britta Christine Ahlberg, an estimable couple of that north country. There Peter attended the public schools, securing a good educa tion, and after school days were over he learned the carpenter's trade under his father. When twenty-two he began serving in the Swedish army, and after two years, having filled the required term of service, he received an honorable discharge, thus enabling him to migrate to any country without hindrance from his native land. Continuing the carpenter trade, he finally resolved to cast in his lot with the land of the Stars and Stripes, and came forthwith to Wisconsin in 1890, locating at Marinette, where he followed carpentering and lumbering for a period of twelve years. Having became interested in Turlock from reading of the cheap land with its irrigation possibilities, Mr. Ahlberg purchased land in Hilmar Colony, and in the fall of 1903, he arrived in Turlock with his family. Wishing to be nearer town he bought ten acres just south of Turlock and built a residence and began the improve ments of his ranch, later on selling his Hilmar land. He has now a well improved place with a splendid peach orchard. About six years ago his residence was totally destroyed by fire, but he immediately built a new, comfortable residence. While living in Marinette, Wis., Mr. Ahlberg was married to Miss Anna Christine Isgren, who was also born in Sweden and had come to Marinette, Wis., when a young lady and they have twelve living children, a splendid family. Ruth assists her mother in presiding over the house; Levi is engaged in the garage business at Ripon; Astri resides in Oakland; Hilga, a student at the nurses' training school in Merritt Hospital, Oakland; Paul is with the Turlock Mercantile Company; Sarah, Anna and Alice are attending Turlock high school; Hildur, Carl and Linnea. Mr. Ahlberg is a member of the California Peach Growers, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Ahlberg, as well as the children are members of the Swedish Mission Church and contribute to its benev olences and charities, while Mrs. Ahlberg is also a member of the Dorcas Society. J. W. HUSSEY.— In Springfield, the capital of the state of Illinois, J. W. Hussey first saw the light in 1866. His father, Stephen A., is also a native of that state, and served throughout the Civil War as a volunteer in the Thirty-second Infan try, which was later consolidated with the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry. During his service for his country he was offered a commission at various times, once by General Grant, but in each instance refused the honor, preferring the position of a private. Two of his brothers, Jacob and Frank, were also in the service with him. He married Miss Mary Darnell, a native of Illinois, whose mother, Agnes Simpson before her marriage, still living in Williamsville, 111., was a cousin of General Ulysses S. Grant, her mother and General Grant's mother being sisters. In 1878, Stephen A. Hussey removed to Nebraska and bought 16,000 acres of land in Nuckolls and Clay counties when land was cheap. The greatest price he paid for any of it was $435 for a quarter section, and most of it was purchased for much less. Later he disposed of the property at thirty-five dollars per acre. He is. now living in Hastings, Nebr. 1346 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY J. W. Hussey is the oldest child in a family of five children, three of whom are living. He was brought up at Williamsville, Sangamon County, 111., on a farm and was educated in the public schools of his native state. When sixteen years old he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade for three years in Red Oak, Iowa, and afterwards started for himself in the contracting and building business in Edgar, Clay County, Nebr. Later he returned to Illinois and followed the business of contracting and building at Middletown, and still later continued the occupation in Kentucky. He formed domestic ties while living in Brownsville, Ky., and was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Been, a native of the Blue Grass State, and they became the parents of seven children : E. F., Julia May, now Mrs. Davis ; Albert, Alfred, John, Ollie and Clyde, all of whom live in Modesto. In 1906, the year of the earthquake at San Francisco, Cal., they came to that city, where Mr. Hussey worked at his trade and helped build up the stricken city after the disastrous fire. From there they went to Santa Cruz, where he continued to follow the building and contracting trade until he came to Modesto and located in 1914. He has been successful in following his vocation in Modesto and vicinity. He resides on a five-acre orange grove and in addition to the contracting and building business runs a dairy very appropriately named the Orange Blossom Dairy. He has a fine herd of milch cows and is doing a satisfactory business delivering milk in Modesto. In his political views Mr. Hussey adheres to the principles of the Socialist party. CHESTER G. SNYDER. — An enterprising firm which may justly claim much of the credit for improved conditions in the Stanislaus County automobile world, is that of Snyder Bros., whose senior member, Chester G. Snyder, worked for several years in a factory where the block for the Ford engine was manufactured. The brothers are well and favorably known in the county, where they grew up to farm work and attended the public schools. They were worthy sons of an honored pioneer in Stanislaus County, with his devoted wife good, honest farmer folk. Chester Snyder went East in 1915 and remained there until 1919. He was fond of machinery since his boyhood, and he set out to get the most practical knowledge of motor work and construction, and to get it as accurately as possible. He engaged with the Michigan Steel Manufacturing Company and there worked on the construction of the famous French seventy-five-centimeter guns. He worked on the lower part, or the gun-mount portion, and also made munitions for that gun. He next engaged with the Campbell, Wyant & Cannon Manufacturing Company at Muskegon, Mich., and then helped to manufacture Ford motor blocks. After that he was with the Continental Motor Works at the same place, and then helped to make four and six-cylinder motor cars, and progressed so well with that firm that he was made inspector. While in Muske gon, he married Mrs. Hilda Fisher. Mr. Snyder is a Modern Woodman. The Snyder Garage building was bought by the father, and the firm of Snyder & Son was started in June, 1919, made up of the father, Charles B. Snyder, and the subject of this review. When the father died in November, 1919, the brother, Norman J. Snyder, became a partner. Both brothers maintain separate residences in Riverbank, where they are welcomed and honored members of the community. In addition to the regular garage, they also maintain an auto livery, and they have the contract to take the children to and from the high school at Oakdale. They are equipped with three Chevrolet machines, one being a very large auto stage, capable of carrying forty students at a time, and they have another large stage and a large passenger auto. The firm of Snyder Bros, deals in Ford cars, Fordson tractors, and Ford equipment and extras, and they also deal in automobile accessories, gasoline and oils, and do a general garage business, having a well-equipped machine shop and competent mechanics. The garage of Snyder Bros, is the authorized Ford service station, being a Ford sub-agency located at Riverbank. The two proprietors are Chester G. and Norman James Snyder, sons of Charles B. Snyder, who came to California in 1860, settled in Stanislaus County, and for many years ran a large grain farm near Crows Landing. An uncle, J. F. Snyder, usually called "Frank" Snyder, owns a section of land near Newman ; he was formerly a partner with Charles B. Snyder, and together for many j'ears they were numbered among the most extensive and successful grain farmers. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1347 Charles B. Snyder was married in Stanislaus County to Miss Nellie Meek, a native of Jackson County, Mo., who came to California with her folks. There were three children in the family — Chester G, Norman James, and a daughter, Lucile, now sixteen years old, and living with her stepmother, Mrs. Catherine K. Snyder, at River bank, her own mother having died in 1908. Charles B. Snyder died in November, 1919, about sixty years old. Chester G. Snyder was born near Crows Landing on November 26, 1896, and his ' brother, Norman, was born at the same place on June 23, 1898. The latter was mar ried at Modesto on August 30, 1920, to Miss Mildred Johnson, who was born at Mc Cabe, Ariz., graduated from the Phoenix high school in 1920, and then took a business course at the same institution, through which she became very proficient in shorthand and typewriting, and took the first prize in stenography in the state contest held at the University of Arizona at Tucson in 1920. JACOB BUCHER. — The assistant superintendent of the Borden Company of California at Modesto, Jacob Bucher is a native of Lucerne, Canton Zug, Switzer land, born August 7, 1865. He is one of three sons born to Jacob and Anna (Lesher) Bucher, who were born in that canton, where the father was the proprietor of a large flour mill until he retired. He passed away some years ago, being survived by his widow, now nearly eighty years of age. On completing his studies in the high school, Jacob Bucher entered the employ of the condensed milk factory at Cham, working until he learned every detail and process in the manufacture of condensed milk until the company sent him to Dixon, 111., as head condenser for the Anglo Swiss Company. He continued with them from 1889 until 1902, when he entered the employ of the Borden Company, working in the different departments until the company sent him on the road as sanitary inspector, and for a period of four years he traveled for them, visiting their different factories in New York and the Middle West, when he was appointed superintendent of the plant at Genoa Junction, Wis. One year lafer he was sent to Monroe, Wis., where for a year he was assistant superintendent and then appointed to the same position at Modesto, Cal., arriving with his family October 6, 1919, since which time he has given it his time and experience. The marriage of Mr. Bucher occurred at Cham, Switzerland, November 14, 1884, when he was united with Miss Fredericka Voight, who was born in Wohlen, Canton Aargau, Switzerland. Her father, Casper Voight, was a blacksmith and had married Farnia Gerig, both now deceased. Their union has been blessed with three children : Joseph, served in the aviation section of the U. S. Army in the World War, and is now with the Borden Company; Freda is Mrs. Cary; Jacob, Jr., is also with the Borden Company. All make their home in Modesto. Mr. Bucher is a man of forty years experience in the manufacture of condensed milk and one of the oldest in the business in the United States. His years of experience makes him an important factor in the industry. Mr. Bucher is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Court of Honor and with his wife is a member of the Mutual Protective Association and Mrs. Bucher is a member of the Royal Neighbors. Mr. Bucher is a strong Republican in national politics. B. G. DROUILLARD.— A native of Michigan, B. G. Drouillard was born in Algonac, St. Clair County, May 11, 1883. His grandfather, Thos. Drouillard, of French, descent, was born in Montreal, Canada, and he settled in Michigan, where Jno. M. Drouillard, the father of B. G., was born. One of the ancestors of Drouillard was a member of the Lewis & Clark expedition to Oregon. They were pioneers in that region which was inhabited largely by Indians of the Potawatomie and Chippewa tribes, and the Drouillards learned to speak the language of these tribes. John M. Drouillard was a contractor and builder in Algonac and still resides there with his wife, who- was in maidenhood, Mary J. Dubeau, a native of Buffalo, N. Y., whose father, Edward Dubeau, born in Quebec, was an early settler of Buffalo, N. Y., where he was a shipbuilder. Later he moved to Algonac, Mich., where he was fore man of a shipyard. 1348 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. and Mrs. Jno. M. Drouillard had three children, of whom B. G. is the oldest. He attended the same public school in Algonac, Mich., that his father and mother had attended, and then entered the Algonac high school, where he was gradu ated in 1901. During the summer vacations after he was fourteen years old he followed sailing on the lakes in the northern and northwest lake survey, under the U. S. War Department, continuing up until the summer of 1902. He had also learned the painter's trade while in the government employ. In 1903 he came to Los Angeles, where he followed this trade for three years'. Mr. Drouillard was married in Los Angeles on July 25, 1906, to Miss Mary E. Swain, who was born in McLouth, Kans., a daughter of Loring R. and Lucy (Rice) Swain, natives of Indiana and Kansas, respectively. They came to Whittier in 1893, where Mr. Swain, who was also a painter, followed his trade and there his wife died in 1895. In 1909 Mr. Swain came to Modesto, and he now resides on his ranch on the Waterford road. Grandfather Swain served as a. captain in the Civil War, was captured and never returned, so it is presumed he died in Libby Prison. After his marriage Mr. Drouillard returned to Algonac, Mich., with his bride and there followed his trade until 1908, when he returned to Los Angeles and in 1909 he came to Modesto, where he has since been engaged in contracting and painting. Among some of the work he has done is the county jail, Lesher Apartments, science wing and manual arts building of the high school, and many residences in Modesto, Turlock and Ceres, as well as work throughout the county. He has erected a resi dence at 406 Melrose, where he resides with his wife and two children : Elma M. and Loring, Jr. Mr. Drouillard was one of the organizers and is president of the Master Painters Association in Turlock, and is a member of St. §tanislaus Catholic Church. JAMES C BERG. — A young man of enterprising and progressive ideas is James C. Berg, a dairyman on Bangs avenue, in McHenry precinct. He was born in Birkelse, Jylland, Denmark, July 14, 1891. His father was named Christian Bjerg, but on account of the difficulty in pronouncing the name in this country James dropped the j and made it Berg when he took his citizen's papers. Christian Bjerg is a farmer in Denmark where he was married to Thomina Jensen of whom he was bereaved in February, 1897, leaving eight children: Christene is Mrs. Klit of Denmark; Anna is Mrs. Louis Larsen of Paso Robles; Christ Christensen is a rancher on the Coffee road; Jensina, Mrs. Joseph Rafter, resides on the Waterford road; Louis served in the Eighty-eighth Division, over seas in the World War and now resides on the Coffee road; James C. is the subject of this review; Anton is a farmer in Denmark; Neil, a minister in the Baptist Church in Nebraska, also served overseas in the U. S. Army and was gassed while at the front. James Berg was early thrown on his own resources and from a lad of nine years made his own way, working on farms during the summers, and winters attending school. Some of his brothers and sisters had immigrated to Iowa, so he naturally came to have an admiration for and a desire to come to the land of the Stars and Stripes; so when eighteen years of age, in 1909, he arrived in Walnut, Iowa, going to work on a farm and attending public school the first winter. In 1910 he came to Salinas, Cal., where he was employed at teaming for eighteen months, and then returned to Iowa, and that winter attended college in Harlan. After a period of two years in that state he again came to Salinas and spent a year working on a farm. April 1, 1916 he came to Stanislaus County and engaged in farming with his brother, Christ Christensen, for eighteen months. He then leased a farm at Salida, until he entered the U. S. service, serving in the Twenty-fifth Coast Artillery, stationed at Ft. Rosecrans, until after the armistice, being honorably discharged February 18, 1919, after which he resumed farming in Stanislaus County. In September, 1920, he purchased his present ranch of twenty-two and one-half acres on Bangs avenue, which he is rapidly improving to an alfalfa and dairy farm, having a herd of high-grade Holsteins and Jerseys. He is a member of the Stanislaus Milk Producers Association of Central California at Modesto. Mr. Berg was married in Modesto, July 24, 1919, to Miss Bertha Christensen, who is a native of Tennessee, the adopted daughter of Andrew Christensen, a farmer HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1349 in McHenry precinct, with whom she came from Iowa to California in 1913; they have been blessed with one child, Edith M. He is a member of the American Legion at Modesto, and is a member of the Baptist Church at Modesto, while politically he is an ardent Republican. C. WILFRID MATLOCK.— A member of the firm of Matlock & King, gen eral contractors, leaders in their line is C. Wilfrid Matlock, a native of England, born in the large manufacturing city of Leicester, April 28, 1882, and there he attended the Sir Isaac Newton school, where he completed the scientific course. After his school days were over he apprenticed under his father, who was a general con tractor, continuing with his for six years, during which time he took a course in architectural drawing. He then engaged in the business of contracting for a short while until he decided to cast in his lot on the Pacific Coast, of which he had read and heard such good reports. Arriving in San Francisco, Cal., in August, 1906, for a few months he was employed as a journeyman, when he became superintendent for O. E. Brady & Son, continuing with them for nine years; during which time he assisted actively and enthusiastically in the rebuilding of San Francisco, from the ruins of the big fire, superintending some of the largest buildings erected in the Bay cities. He then accepted a position as superintendent with W. C. Duncan & Company for four and one-half years, from 1915 to 1920, on the construction of buildings in different parts of the state, among them being the Bank of Eureka, the American Sugar Company's plant at Oxnard, Bankers Hotel in Oakland, Children's Hospital in San Francisco, Western States Life Building in San Francisco, Turbine Machine Shops of the Bethlehem Ship Corporation plant in Oakland and the construction of Camp Fremont. In January, 1921, Mr. Matlock resigned his position with W. C. Duncan & Company to engage in the general contracting business, forming the present partner ship with Mr. King, and under the firm name of Matlock & King, opened offices in Modesto, from which city as a headquarters they are successfully engaged in general contracting. ERNEST METTLER.— A member of the busy firm of Mettler & Binder, Ernest Mettler was born in Herisau, Canton Appenzell, Switzerland, October 18, 1894, the son of Conrad and Elizabeth (Rutz) Mettler, who are still living in Herisau, where the father, a machinist, is foreman of a factory ; of their nine children, Ernest is the youngest, and the only one in the United States. He received his education in the local schools and after two years in the high school, he quit to work in a chemical laboratory, but after six months concluded to come to the United States. In 1911, when only sixteen years of age, he arrived at New Glarus, Wis., and began working for an implement company, repairing agricultural machinery, continu ing there for a period of four and one-half years, when he came to San Jose, Cal., January 3, 1916. With a partner he leased land and ran a dairy for eighteen months, until he enlisted in Company Twenty-nine of the Coast Artillery, being sent to Ft. Scott, where he remained nine months and then to Camp Eustace, Va., and from there was sent overseas, being stationed at Mars-sur-Allier, when the armistice was signed. On his return to the United States he was honorably discharged at the Presidio at San Francisco, April 1, 1919, with the rank of sergeant. Until October 1, 1919, Mr. Mettler was marine machinist at the Union Iron Works, and during this time attended the marine engineering school; next he was with the Palo Alto Stock Farm, where he ran a Holt tractor until March, 1920, and then entered Heald's Engineering College in San Francisco, where he completed- an electrical engineering course. After this he was engaged as an automobile mechanic in San Jose, until January, 1921, when he came to Turlock and formed the present partnership of Mettler & Binder, as proprietors of the Carolyn Garage, where they do general automobile repairing, both being first-class automobile electricians and auto mobile mechanics. They also have a battery and ignition works. Enterprising and progressive young men, they are meeting with deserved success. A loyal citizen of his adopted country and a firm beliver in protection for Americans, Mr. Mettler is an ardent Republican- 1350 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY NICKELS NICKELSEN. — Among the successful farmers and dairymen in the vicinity of Ceres is Nickels Nickelsen, who was born in Fohr, Denmark, on June 12, 1866, the son of John and Christina (Hendricksen) Nickelsen. The father was a sea captain and, as master, sailed into the various distant ports pf the world, rounding Cape Horn and Cape Good Hope many times. He was in San Francisco at various times in the early days. On his last voyage, during a severe storm, he fell and broke his leg, after which he quit the sea and resided on his farm until he died, aged sixty- seven years. His wife had preceded him, aged 53 years. Of their seven children, all of whom are living, Nickels is the next to the young est. He had no liking for sailing on the sea so he remained on the home farm and attended the local school. A strong desire to come to California resulted in his coming to San Francisco when fifteen years of age, in April, 1882. He immediately went to work on a farm at Haywrads, for two years, thence to Blocksburg, Hum boldt County, where he rode the range on the Fairbanks cattle ranch for nine years. He then came to Petaluma, where he followed dairying for a few years. In 1910 he came to Stanislaus County and purchased land near Ceres, and later bought forty acres more, now the home place, two and one-half miles south of Ceres, and still later added twenty acres to it, and now he owns ninety acres, which is devoted to raising alfalfa and beans and he also maintains a small dairy. In San Francisco, October 3, 1903, Mr. Nickelsen was married, being united with Miss Adelheid Meyer, who was born in Bremervorde, Hanover, Germany, the daughter of Cord and Lucy Meyer. Her father was also the master of a sailing vessel, and was in the coasting trade. He died at eighty-four, being survived by his widow. Mrs. Nickelsen is the next to the youngest of their seven children, and received a good education in Hanover. She came to San Francisco in 1896; their union has been blessed with three children, Frank, and Nickels and Pauline, twins. Mr. Nickelsen is a member of the Milk Producers Association of Central California. Politically he is a Republican, and fraternally a member of the Druids. GEO. ASQUITH. — Born in Bruntleff, near Leeds, England, September 23, 1841, only two and one-half miles from Morley, where Herbert Asquith was born, George Asquith is the son of Francis Asquith, a native of Netherton, England, where he was superintendent of one of the largest woolen mills in England; while Grandfather Wm. Asquith, was a boot and shoe manufacturer at Netherton. The mother of our subject was Jane Walker, a daughter of Geo. Walker, a malster, and sbe was the mother of eight children, of whom Geo. is the second oldest. He was reared at Batleycar, where he attended public school, though after he was eight years of age he went to school but half a day, while the other half he worked in the woolen mill. Later he went to work steadily in the mill learning the business under his father, and for a while during his apprenticeship he went to night school, a thing he has never regretted as it has been of great aid. In 1853 Mr. Asquith took charge of a set of machines at Marfield, and con tinued in that line until he decided to migrate to Lawrence, Mass-> >n 1863. The first year was spent in the Washington Woolen Mills ; then he became a foreman in the Everett Mills, then at Methuen, until he was solicited to return to Lawrence at advanced wages. Later he spent a year at Lisbon Falls, Me., but he found the climate too cold, so he went to Baltimore, Md., as foreman, then to Frederick, where he remained for two years. In 1868 Mr. Asquith removed to Auburn, Ky., then on to Bowling Green, remaining until 1870, when he went to Fayetteville, Lincoln County, Tenn., remaining with the woolen mills of that place nine years, advancing to superintendent. He resigned and removed to Maryville, Blount County, Tenn., where he was foreman of woolen mills for five and one-half years. Next he was superintendent of a mill at Knoxville, Tenn., from 1885 until 1914. Resigning his position after a long and satisfactory career he came to Los Angeles, where he lived retired until May, 1918, since then he made his home in Turlock. Mr. Asquith's marriage occurred in England, with Miss Hannah Hirst, who was born at Hopton. Their union proved a very happy one until her death at Knox ville, February 14, 1904. She was the mother of nine children: John W., died in HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1351 Maine; Frank died in Lawrence; Ella passed away in Tennessee; Harry is superin tendent of the water works in Knoxville; Ida is Mrs. Rowland, residing near Modesto; Joe died in Knoxville in 1894; Fannie is the wife of Jno. H. Hunter of Washington, D. C. ; Geo. H. lives in Rochester, N. Y., while the youngest, Annie, presides grace fully over her father's home, looking after his welfare and ministering to his wants. She is a graduate of the Knoxville Business College and is now bookkeeper for the Turlock Merchants and Growers Association. Mr. Asquith is a member of the Knights of the Golden Cross. Miss Annie Asquith attends the Christian church, is a member of the Ladies' Aid and the Missionary Society and is the pianist for the congregation. Mr. Asquith has indeed had a long, eventful and useful life and now lives retired in comfort and peace, knowing that he has done his duty. C. L. TORGESON. — A representative citizen who has resided in Turlock since 1907 is C. L. Torgeson, who was born in Christiania, Norway, September 3, 1871. He is a son of Gustav C. Torgeson, who was engaged in the manufacture of orna mental iron work until he passed away in 1878, leaving a widow, Martha Torgeson, and three children, one of whom passed away soon after the father. The others are, Inga of St. Louis, Mo. ; Amanda, who died in El Paso, Texas ; Axel O, who is also in St. Louis. Mrs. Torgeson brought the family to the United States in 1883, locating first in Minnesota, but soon moved to St. Louis, where she married John Borgstrom. She passed away in 1907. C. L. Torgeson attended the Christiania grammar schools three years, and in 1883 he came with his mother to Pope County, Minn., where he immediately went to work to support himself. Later he went to Alexandria, Douglas County, where he had an opportunity to attend school. Return ing to Pope County, he engaged in farming with his brother until he moved to Minneapolis, where at the age of twenty-four, he was married to Christine Eksstrom, who was born in Sweden, but grew up in Douglas County, Minn. After his marriage Mr. Torgeson engaged in the grocery business in Minneapolis for two years, when he returned to Pope County, where he was foreman for the Sault Ste. Marie Railroad for ten years. In 1907 he brought his family to California and located at Turlock, since which time he has seen the place grow from sand dunes to a veritable garden spot. He resides with his family at 433 High street. Mr. and Mrs. Torgeson are the parents of two children, Arthur and Ruth. ANTHON G. HARVE. — A young man who saw service overseas during the World War is Anthon G. Harve, who Was born in Isanti, Isanti County, Minn., October 1, 1892. His father, L. O., was born in Helsingland, Sweden, September 22, 1849, and when a young man located in Isanti, in 1882. There he was married in 1889, being united with Freda Carlson, who was born in Ostergotland, Sweden. They became possessors of a nice farm near Isanti. Disposing of their holdings, Mr. and Mrs. Harve brought their family to Patterson, Stanislaus County in 1912, where they bought 20 acres which they improved to alfalfa. In 1912 they sold out and located in Turlock, where they own ten acres devoted to raising alfalfa and grain. They had six children, four of whom are living: Anthon, the subject of this re view; David is in the employ of the Don Pedro dam project, who served in a California regiment and was stationed at San Diego until the armistice, and Signa, with the Peoples' Cash Grocery at Turlock ; Esther died when eighteen. Anthon G. Harve received his education in the public Schools of Minnesota. He came to Patterson in 1912, where he was employed on his father's farm until 1914, then the family moved to Turlock, when with his father he engaged in raising cantaloupes, peaches and apricots. On September 23, 1917, he entered the Three hundred sixty-third U. S. Infantry, Company B, being stationed at Camp Lewis, until the Transport Carpathia carried them to France, April 5 1918, when he was transferred to Company A, Seventh Infantry, Third Division, serving in the front line trenches and went over the top at Chateau Thierry. Afterwards he was on the St. Mihiel front and then in the Argonne Forest, where he went over the top five times. He was not wounded, but October 12, 1918, he was gassed, and ordered into the hospital, and had recovered sufficiently to go back to the front when the armistice 1352 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY was signed. Returning to the United States he arrived in San Francisco, February 19, 1919, and on March 1, 1919, he was honorably discharged. The young veteran returned to his home in Turlock after an honorable and valiant military service. Since then he operates his father's ranch and in winter is also a cement worker. He is decidedly a Republican. Mr. Harve is a member of the Rex Ish Post No. 88, Ameri can Legion at Turlock, a member of the Swedish Baptist Church, and vice-president of the Young People's Society. FRED CARLSON.— Born in Ostergotland, Sweden, June 2, 1872, Fred Carl son was the promising son of John and Helena Christene (Peterson) Carlson, who came to Minnesota in 1887, locating in Isanti County where they were pioneer farmers and land owners, until their demise. They were the parents of five children: Mrs. Freda Harve, of Turlock; Gabriel of South Dakota; Mrs. Louise Soderquist and Mrs. Helena Bergstrum of St. Paul, and Fred the subject of this review. The latter was educated in the public schools in Sweden, but when fifteen years of age he came to Minnesota. He immediately went to work in a sash and door factory in St. Paul and there learned the carpenter's trade. After ten years he removed to Isanti, where he farmed, in time becoming owner of 125 acres. Mr. Carlson was married in 1899, being united with Miss Ida Peterson, born in Isanti County, a daughter of August Peterson, pioneer homesteader of Minnesota. They continued to farm their place, meeting with success. Having become interested in Turlock, they came hither and purchased ten acres, where they erected a com fortable residence and raised peaches, apricots, cantaloupes and grapes. Their marriage has been blessed with four children: Esther Henrietta; Ralph Gordan ; Reynold Frederick and Inez Vivian. In Minnesota Mr. Carlson served for six years as a school director. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Vasa Society, and the family are Swedish Lutherans. Mr. Carlson is a Republican. WILSON W. LEWALLEN.— The broad 640 acres picturesquely lying between two summits in the region of the hills west of Newman in Los Garsas Creek vicinity, and owned by Wilson W. Lewallen, was originally a portion of Government land that was thrown open for settlement under the homestead and grazing act. Mr. Lewallen recalls riding into the region of the hills where the Los Garsas Creek runs in 1886, as a young man just attaining his majority, and gazing with admiring and longing eyes at the unimproved, splendid lay of the land with its abundant springs and wild grass, and years later his wish to' possess some of this rich land was gratified. Mr. Lewallen was born December 11, 1865, at Owenton, Owen County, ill the state of Kentucky, and is the son of John A. and Margarette J. (Hearn) Lewallen. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother's people were early settlers in Kentucky. His mother is a sister of John Hearn, a pioneer of Newman. Wilson W. was one of a family of seven children, and when he was two years old in 1867 the father removed with his family to Cedar County, Mo., and settled in the neigh borhood of Stockton, which was their post office. The father, a miller by trade, took a certain percent of grain ground for pay for grinding grain. The grandfather died during the Civil War, which left the country a wreck from its ravages. Wilson W. attended school in a log cabin school house, whose benches for the accommodation of the pupils were half rounded logs. His father came to California in 1880, and the next year, in 1881, Wilson, then a lad in his sixteenth year, accompanied his mother and brothers and sisters to the new home on the coast. They were nine days accom plishing the journey from Sedalia, Mo., to California by way of the slow overland train, and arrived at Stockton, January 9, 1881. The following day, January 10, the lad rode behind the first four-horse team he had ever seen in making the journey from Stockton to Hill's Ferry in a three-seated wagon. The family lived one mile below Hill's Ferry on the John Hearn ranch. The following spring young Wilson went to Crow's Landing, where he engaged to work for wages herding horses for James T. Crow and son. He next engaged in the butcher business at Stockton. His father, who owned a ranch back of Crow's Landing, disposed of his interest in 1888 and returned East. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1353 Mr. Lewallen was married October 20, 1901, to Mrs. Allie Sweem, a widow with one son, Orel C. She is the daughter of George and Caroline (Finney) Sutherland, and they are the parents of one child, a daughter named Velma. Mrs. Lewallen's father came to California during the gold rush of early days, and engaged in farming and raising cattle, horses and mules. Mr. Lewallen was interested in the butcher business after his marriage, having a business at Stockton, and also worked at Newman for a while. He disposed of his Stockton interest in 1905, and in that year took charge of the cattle on Mrs. McDougall's ranch, where for two years he ran 1300 head of cattle. In the clean-up sale he sold 480 head of cattle. While with Mrs. McDougall he took the position with the California Fish and Game Commission of California, as field deputy at large with headquarters at Stock ton. After disposing of his interest with Mrs. McDougall he put in all of his time as deputy in working for the state, and often had charge of the chain gang on the San Joaquin County road building. He served as deputy sheriff under Walter Sibley and Tom Cunningham, and is now deputy sheriff under Mr. Dallas. When the Los Garsas Creek land was thrown open for development he availed himself of the opportunity to possess the much coveted land, and has put $2000 worth of improve ment on his property in building a dwelling and fencing and building roads. He has an abundance of feed and water on the ranch and purposes to raise polo horses. In his political views Mr. Lewallen is a stanch Democrat. He is a useful citizen and has many warm friends. G. E. WICKSTROM. — An enterprising rancher who has been a resident of Turlock since the spring of 1904, is G. E. Wickstrom, who came here from St. Hilaire, Pennington County, Minn., where he had been reared on the farm of his father, L. J. Wickstrom, who was engaged in grain and stock raising and who passed away in 1894. G. E. was educated in the public schools after which he continued on the home farm and an adjoining farm until 1903, when he removed to Seattle, being employed there and in Tacoma until 1904, when he came to Turlock, when he was twenty-three years of age, Liking the country and its soil and conditions, Mr. Wickstrom purchased twenty acres of land which now adjoins the city on the southeast. He immediately set to work to improve the place, leveling and checking the place. He put half of it in alfalfa and the balance in peaches and grapes. However, when the trees and vines began bearing there was no sale for the fruit, so he pulled them out and continued to raise alfalfa and grain and for a time ran a small dairy. He now devotes his ranch to general farming, in which he is very successful. Mr. Wickstrom was married in Turlock to Miss Anna Johnson, of Marshall County, Minn., and they have been blessed with two children, Doris and Betty Ann. Mr. Wickstrom is a member of the Swedish Mission Church in Turlock and Mrs. Wickstrom of the Dorcas Society of the church. Politically Mr. Wickstrom is a Prohibitionist, being a strong advocate of temperance. CLAUD WRIGHT.— Coming to Stanislaus County in 1917, Claud Wright, in the few years which have intervened since that time, has won his way to success through his hard work and ability as a farmer and an executive. He ran the Hus- man place on shares for two j'ears, and in 1919 leased this property, which consists of sixty acres in alfalfa and a dairy of twenty cows. His enterprise met with such success that he was soon in a position to purchase forty acres of fine land at the junction of Sycamore and Pomelo avenues, thirty of which are devoted to alfalfa and ten to Egyptian corn, where he resides there with his family. Mr. Wright was born April 26, 1885, the son of Lewis H. and Jennie (Parker) Wright, his father a native of Illinois, and his mother of Rochester, Minn. The early years of Claud Wright were spent at various places in the Middle West. When he was two years old his father moved to Rochester, Minn., where for a year he en gaged in farming. He then moved to Baraboo, Wis., where he went to work for the railroad company, remaining for seven years, returning at the end of that period to Rochester, Minn., where he again became a farmer. The wife and mother passed 1354 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY away when Claud was but twelve years of age, and shortly afterwards he came with his father to California, which he has since made his home. The father settled first in Amador County, near Plymouth, where he engaged in farming and mining. It was in 1906 that Mr. Wright first came into Stanislaus County, where he is so well and favorably known. He located at Newman, where he was connected with the Ordway Brothers for a time in the butcher business, butchering veal for the wholesale market. Following this he was for three years with the Associated Oil Company at Newman, at the close of which time he came to Patterson and entered upon his splendid period of successful farming. On July 6 Mr. Wright was married to Miss Iva Pettit, at Stockton. Mrs. Wright is the daughter of Jerry and Julia (Woodworth) Pettit. They have been blessed with two children, Lois and Melville, attending the Patterson grammar school. DAVID G. ERICKSON. — A young man of splendid business qualifications with a pleasing personality is David G. Erickson, a native of the Keystone state, born at Dagus Mines in 1892. He is the third oldest of a family of six children born to C. W. and Hannah (Haroldson) Erickson, who brought their family from Penn sylvania to Turlock in 1907, since which time the father has been in the employ of the Turlock Lumber Company. David G. was reared in Pennsylvania, attending school at Anita. After com pleting the grammar school he began working in the coal mines. Later he was employed in the planing mill, so when he reached Turlock in 1909 he entered the employ of the Turlock planing mill as stationary engineer, running the gas engine until 1911. Then he became automobile machinist in the Carolyn Garage, and afterwards with the Mission Garage, becoming foreman under Jack Denio, con tinuing until he resigned and became proprietor of the St. Elmo Garage & Repair Shop, continuing for a period of one year when he again worked under Jack Denio. In June, 1918, Mr. Erickson entered the U. S. Service School in Los Angeles, taking charge of electric ignition on automobiles and was assistant instructor until he was transferred to the artillery at Ft. Rosecrans. One month later when a casualty company in artillery was formed for immediate service in France he joined it and was sent overseas. Then he was transferred to the motor department in the Officers' Training School, handling trucks and teaching driving of convoys. In February, 1919, Mr. Erickson was taken ill and came home as patient to Camp Kearney, remaining in the hospital until May> 1919, when he was honorably discharged. After spending three months as a foreman of a garage in Alameda he returned to Turlock and had charge of the Broadway Machine Shop until December, 1920, when he resigned, forming the present partnership, Erickson & Carlson, and estab lished the Buick Service Station on North Broadway. They do general automotive repairing and electrical work and are meeting with deserved success and increasing patronage. Mr. Erickson married at Santa Cruz in June, 1920, his bride being Miss Estella Violet Swanson who was born in Nebraska. He is a member of Turlock Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and was a charter member of the Independent Order of Redmen, serving as sachem at the time he entered the United States service. CARL VICTOR BRODEN.— A young man of much artistic ability and business acumen is Carl Victor Broden who is a successful businessman as well as interested in horticulture. He is a native of Sweden, having been born on a farm near Skara, April 17, 1881. He grew up on his father's farm, receiving a good education in the excellent public schools of that country. Hearing as well as reading of the greater opportunities that awaited young men of energy who were ambitious and willing to work he decided to cast in his lot with the land of the Stars and Stripes, so at the age of 19 in 1900, he came to Rockford, 111. Then he began the study of photography with John Rosenquist, one of the leading photographers of northern Illinois, where Carl had a most excellent chance to learn the very latest in photography as John Rosenquist had the knack of imparting to the young the art of posing subjects and developing and making of photos. Carl HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1355 was an adept pupil, worked diligently and at the end of three jears went out as a journeyman. Coming to San Francisco he remained only a short time, when he moved on to Seattle, Wash., where he was employed as a photographer until 1904, when he made the voyage to Nome, Alaska. He prospected and mined in that northern country with very good success. After spending two years in the frozen north he returned to San Francisco and soon afterwards returned East, locating in St. Paul and opened a studio. He soon established a record as a leading photogrpher in the twin cities. While there he was married in 1907, being united with Miss Ida Benson, also a native of Sweden, who had made her home in St. Paul for years. In 1917 Mr. Broden disposed of his business interests and came to California, purchasing a studio in Vallejo. He conducted it for one year and then sold it to Mr. Boussum, and removing to Fresno became manager of Boussum's Studio in Fresno, a position he filled until the spring of 1919. Then he resigned and came to Modesto and opened Broden's Studio at 1019 H St. He has fitted the studio up very artistically and beautifully, the whole presenting a classy appearance. The photos on display demonstrate his ability as one of the leading artists, not only in the valley but in the state. Mr. Broden, aside from his business as a photographer is interested in horti culture, owning a ten-acre ranch on the Paradise road, just south of the city, devoted to peaches and vineyard in the development of which he takes great pleasure and finds recreation. Mr. and Mrs. Broden have three children, Claude, Gladys and Ethel. Fraternally Mr. Broden is a member of Wildey Lodge No. 149 I. O. O. F., and the Encampment of Odd Fellows, in both of which he is popular. Being intensely interested in civics and the growth of the city he is naturally a member of the Chamber of Commerce. CHARLES EMIL ELLSBURG. — An enthusiastic supporter of every movement for the building up of the city of Turlock is Charles Emil Ellsburg, the president of the wide-awake incorporation, the C. E. Ellsburg Company, who was born at Braham, Isanti County, Minn., on February 13, 1874, the son of Gustaf and Ulricka Ellsburg, early settlers at Braham, where they homesteaded and improved farm land. His father raised grain and stock until his death, and was esteemed as an agriculturist of the most progressive type. There were six children in the family, and Charles, who is the only one in California, is the youngest of them all. He was brought up on the home farm, while he attended the local public schools, and he assisted his father until he was twenty-four years of age, when he launched into business on his own account. He opened a general merchandise store at Braham, and when he sold out, he removed to Fort Dodge, Iowa, for eighteen months. In the fall of 1907, he was fortunate to come to California and to locate at Turlock, where he entered the employ of M. M. Berg and was for nearly three years implement salesman. Mr. Ellsburg's own enterprise, now so widely and popularly known as the C. E. Ellsburg Company, he started in 1917, accepting therein the double position of presi dent and manager. The company sells hardware, house furnishing goods, and farm implements of all kinds, and also sells wagons, tractors and tractor tools, easily carrying on the largest trade of the kind in Turlock. The company is the exclusive agent of the International Harvester Company in Turlock, and also handles the McCormick and Deering lines of farm implements and Titan tractors. Their ware- rooms are at the corner of Line and South Broadway, where they have a front of 106 feet. They also occupy a building 25x140 feet in the center of the town at 130 West Main Street, used for hardware and house furnishing goods. Partly because of their superior and extensive stock, but particularly on account of their exemplary methods in the transaction of business, the C. E. Ellsburg Company have made a most enviable name for themselves as the best kind of a business house with which to deal, and the people of not only Turlock, but much of Stanislaus County, have been quick and generous in their response with patronage. Mr. Ellsburg is a member of Turlock's Board of Trade trustees and a stockholder in the Yosemite Hotel Co. While in Minnesota, he was married to Miss Anna Marie Rodberg, a native of Maple Ridge, Minn., and the daughter of the Rev. J. P. Rodberg, a pioneer min- 55 1356 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ister who contributed much toward the great work and accomplishments of the Swedish Mission Church in that state. Four daughters and one son have blessed this fortunate union. The eldest is Virginia ; then come Ingeborg, Ragnhild and Alfhild, and the youngest is Rowland. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsburg are active and promi nent members of the Swedish Mission Church, and for some years Mr. Ellsburg was both a trustee of and treasurer for that congregation. JOE P. MENDOSA. — A native son of California who is prospering as a dairy farmer in Stanislaus County, is Joe P. Mendosa, owner of fifty acres of fine land two miles southeast of Ceres, on the Highway, where he has a fine dairy herd. Mr. Mendosa was born at Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, Cal., February 23, 1887. His father, Manuel P. Mendosa, was a native of the Azores Islands, and a pioneer farmer of San Jose, Santa Clara County, Cal. The mother was Miss Frances Gomes, also a native of the Azores. She met Manuel P. Mendosa in Honolulu, where they were married, coming soon after to California, where they engaged in farming. Joe P. Mendosa passed his boyhood daj's in Santa Clara County, where he early assumed a large share of the farm work in an effort to aid in the support of the family, being the fifth child and third oldest son. He started regularly to work on the farm at thirteen, and at fifteen, for neighbors. When twenty-three he engaged in the dairy business in Tulare for four years, owning a one-half interest in the business. Here he prospered and really got his first substantial start. In 1913 he came to Stanislaus County, where he- bought his present property and has done much for its rapid development, making it a valuable and attractive place. The marriage of Mr. Mendosa occurred in Santa' Clara, in Santa Clara County, uniting him with Miss Mary C. Enos, the daughter of J. C. Enos, and a native of Portugal. Of their union have been born seven children, all living at home with their parents. They are : Lawrence, Mabel, Elverta, Arthur, Eva, Erma and Ernest. Mr. Mendosa is interested in all that pertains to the well being of Ceres and Stanislaus County, and among the farmers who hail from Portugal, or are descended from Portuguese ancestry, he is especially prominent. ERICK G. PETERSON. — An esteemed citizen of Turlock who is very enthusi astic as to the future of Stanislaus County, and particularly of the fast-developing town in which he lives and thrives, is Erick G. Peterson, who was born in Gestrik- land, Sweden, on March 10, 1857, and there sent to the public schools and reared on a farm. In 1881 he came out to the United States, and on September 19 arrived at Kewanee, 111., where he went to work in a coal mine. The following spring he came out to Stevens County, Minn., and there worked on a farm until the fall of the year, when he went to Galva, 111., and once more labored in a coal mine. Then he returned again to Minnesota and in Traverse County, in 1883, resumed farm labor. That same summer, he bought a piece of land on the installment plan, and in 1887 he moved onto it and there built a residence and made other improvements. He had 160 acres which he broke up by means of oxen, and as it was favorably situated near Dumont, at the southern end of the Red River Valley, he raised grain successfully and continued there for ten years. When he sold out, he moved twelve miles to the north, near Clifton, in Traverse County, and there he bought 160 acres, and later fifty-three and one half, so that eventually he had 213y2 acres in grain and stock. He helped start the Swedish Mission, acting as a trustee while the edifice was being put up. After ten years more, Mr. Peterson sold out and came to California, having already visited the state in 1905, when he bought a farm of eighty acres at Hilmar, paying twenty-five dollars an acre; and when, in 1907, he really decided to locate here, he bought forty acres more, and improved and farmed the same. Two years later, he sold one-fourth of the eighty acres at fifty-five dollars an acre, and the next year another twenty acres at sixty dollars an acre; and in August, 1919, he disposed of forty acres, for $14,000. The remaining forty is in grain and alfalfa. At Dumont, Traverse County, Minn., Mr. Peterson was married in 1889 to Miss Christene Larson, a native of the bridegroom's birthplace in Sweden, and seven children have blessed their union. Ellen is with her father; Albert is in Oakland; HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1357 Esther is employed by the Crocker National Bank of San Francisco and resides at Oakland; Fred is on the home farm; Walter, a graduate of the Hilmar high school, was in the U. S. Naval Reserve Corps in the World War and served on the Alaska, and is now a student at the University of California; Ruth was graduated from the State University with the class of '20; and Daniel is in the Turlock Union High School. A member in excellent standing in the Swedish Mission Church for years, Mr. Peterson is now a member of the Swedish Mission at Turlock. In national political affairs he is a Republican, but he does not allow partisanship to interfere with his support of worthy local movements. Having bought five acres just south of Turlock in 1918, Mr. Peterson lives there retired, and devotes part of his time to the growing of alfalfa and otherwise improving the place. ARTHUR C. LUNDGREN. — A progressive young man whose capable salesman ship has enabled him the better to succeed in movements for the building up of Tur lock, is Arthur C. Lundgren, the junior member of the firm of Sandberg & Lund gren, proprietors of "The Reliable" store. He was born in Worcester, Mass., on December 15, 1886, the son of G. A. Lundgren, who was "boss roller" in the steel rolling mills at that place. In 1905 he brought his family out to California and Tur lock, where he bought a ranch three and a half miles southwest of Turlock. This he improved in the most scientific manner and has since devoted it to the raising of alfalfa, grapes and cantaloupes. He had married Amelia Pierrou, who is also still living, the honored mother of six children. The youngest in the familj', Arthur was brought up in Massachusetts, until he removed with his parents to Cleveland and then Youngstown, Ohio, where he went to school. At the age of sixteen, he was apprenticed as a pattern-maker in a large shop in Youngstown, and there he remained for a couple of years. In 1905, he came out to California and helped his father on the farm, and after that he worked for A. Hallner. Then he was in the employ of the B. Weill Hardware Companj*, and next, for five years, in the clothing department of M. M. Berg, leaving him to go for four years to the clothing department of the Turlock Mercantile Company. In 1917, Mr. Lundgren became associated with Mr. Sandberg in business, and together they built up the popular men's furnishing goods store known throughout Stanislaus County as "The Reliable." They have not only endeavored to carry the largest stock of superior, strictly up-to-date goods, but they have inaugurated and maintained the practice of giving conscientious attention to the individual wants of each customer. Besides being a live-wire member of the Turlock Board of Trade, Mr. Lundgren is a stockholder in the Yosemite Hotel Company. At Turlock, Mr. Lundgren was married to Miss Esther Hilma Hultgren, a native of Kent City, Mich., and they have one child, Tillman. Mr. and Mrs. Lund gren are members of the Swedish Mission Church, and Mr. Lundgren is the tenor of that church's well-organized choir. OTTO JOHNSON. — A farmer whose well-earned success has made him an influ ential citizen, first, last and all the time loyal to California, is Otto Johnson, who was born in Skane, Sweden, on June 8, 1862, attended the excellent public schools there, and was reared on a farm where he also received some of his valuable training for future tussles with the world. A brother and a sister had already crossed the ocean and settled in Wyoming, and in 1886 he migrated hither also, settling at Rawlins in Carbon County. He secured employment in the operating department of the Union Pacific Railroad, and for eight years was fireman on that line. In 1894, however, he quit the railroad service, and the next year removed to Gothen burg, Dawson County, Nebr., where he bought a farm and went in for grain and stock raising. He added more acreage, until he finally owned 480 acres. Five years later he leased out the farm and removed to Potter, Cheyenne County, and again he entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company and running cattle there. In 1904 he came to California and located at Turlock, and at once bought a ranch of forty acres half a mile south of the town, on Lander Avenue. He engaged in general farming, and he also bought another thirty acres across the road. He 1358 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY planted alfalfa, and he set out both a vineyard and a peach orchard. He made many improvements on the forty, and built a fine residence. In 1908 he sold off twelve of the thirty acres, and he still owns the balance of eighteen acres. In 1920 he disposed of his forty-acre place and then bought his present place of ten acres, made improvements there, and now has a fine ranch of twenty-eight acres. During his residence at. Rawlins, Wyo., Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Sophia W. Johnson, also a native of Sweden, where she was born in Westergotland ; and they have been blessed with seven children: Hilma O. is Mrs. Daniel Lee of Turlock ; Effie is a graduate of the Chiropractic College in Davenport and is now Mrs. Melvin Lundgren of Turlock; Arthur, a graduate of Heald's Business College at Stockton and of the S. F. Auto School, owns a garage at Ripon ; Elida is likewise a graduate of the Heald's Business College at Stockton; Edith is in Munson's Busi ness College, San Francisco ; Victor and Flora are at home. In Nebraska, Mr. John son was a school trustee, and he is now a trustee of the Swedish Mission Church. Politically he is a Republican, and a strong advocate of temperance. O. D. WILLIAMS. — A Californian who is a successful contracting builder, and who, as a loyal native son, is equally energetic as an upbuilder, is Osbert Duray Williams, who was born in old Los Banos, Merced County, on November 24, 1873, the son ot Cyrus Williams, a native of the Old Dominion. He crossed the plains in 1849 in an ox-team train, and went in for mining and pioneering; and in Cali fornia he married Miss Rosie Soper, who was born in Merced County of an old pioneer family. He then engaged in stock raising on the San Joaquin River, Merced County, and after that undertook grain farming near what is now Livingston, where he continued until 1916, when he retired and lived in Turlock with his son, O. D. Williams, until his death on March 13 of that year. His good wife, the mother of our subject, now makes her home in Richmond. The second eldest of four children, O. D. Williams was brought up on the farm near Livingston, where from a youth he made himself useful, early learning to drive the big teams in the grain fields. In the meantime, too, his education was not neg lected, and when twenty-one years of age, he was able to start out for himself. He leased land near Livingston and tilled a section of land until 1903, when he gave up ranching and located at Merced. There, for three years, he was employed at the carpenter trade, and such was his success that in 1906 he located in Turlock and engaged in contracting and building, a line of activity which he has since fol lowed, and for which he has become better and more favorably known as the years have gone by. He has also built about five different residences, each of_ which he has sold ; and many fine residences and bungalows in the city and nearby country. At Stockton, Mr. Williams was married to Miss Lula Richey, a native of Amador County, and they have had three children. Osbert Duray, Jr., is assisting his father; and the others are Arthur Ellery and Elgin Fay. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and while at Livingston Mr. Williams served as a school trustee. He is a member of the Turlock lodge of Odd Fellows, and of the Woodmen of the World, Modern Woodmen, Royal Neighbors and the I. D. E. S. ANDREAS ERICKSON.— An esteemed couple of Turlock whose reward for years of conscientious labor has been retirement in one of the garden spots of the world, coupled with some opportunities for travel, are Mr. and Mrs. Andreas Erickson, who came to California from Idaho. He was born at St. Peter's Parish, Elsborslan, Swe den, July 9, 1833, and there, in Ostergotland, learned the machinist's trade" in one of the largest machine shops in that country. During his eleven years there, he came to know John Ericsson, the builder of the famous "Monitor," the first turreted vessel of the kind in any navy, and had the honor to help bore the cylinders of cannon used on the Monitor, which, under the command of John Lorimer Worden, on March 9, 1862, met and defeated the Confederate ironclad ram, "Merrimac," in Chesapeake Bay and thereby fought one of the decisive naval battles of history. John Ericsson was born in Langbanshyttan, in the province of Wermland, Sweden, and moved back .and forth between his native land and New York City, where he died in 1889. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1359 In 1868 Mr. Erickson migrated to America and Chicago; and being an expert machinist, he was steadily employed, at good wages, for eleven years. He then removed to Phelps County, Nebr., in 1879, where he homesteaded 160 acres; and as fast as he succeeded, he bought land adjoining until he owned 1,120 acres which he devoted to grain and stock raising. He attained to an enviable position of usefulness and influ ence, and was elected one of the supervisors of Phelps County. Turning the ranch over to his children, Mr. Erickson in 1894 removed to Idaho Falls, Idaho, and there purchased and improved 360 acres of land, which he later sold. Then he bought 240 acres in the same vicinity, which he farmed until 1912. In that year he came out to California and located in Turlock; and here he and his good wife now live, retired. He made his first trip to Turlock in 1909, when he bought 140 acres south of the town, which he improved and sold. Mr. Erickson has been thrice married. His first marriage occurred in Sweden, when he was wedded to Miss Amelia Hammerstrand, who died in Chicago, leaving him five children: Fred, an Idaho rancher; Andrew, a merchant and lumber dealer at Funk, Nebr. ; John, a stockman at Aurora, 111. ; Henning, a banker at Holdrege, Nebr. ; and Charles, a farmer in Oklahoma. His second marriage took place in Chi cago, when he was joined to Mathilda Johanna Larsen, a native of Sweden ; she died in Idaho, leaving two children : Theodore, who resides in Turlock, and Marie, who has become Mrs. Ed. Johnson of Turlock. Mr. Erickson's third marriage was also in Chicago, when Miss Anna Garberg became his wife. She was born in Hudiksvall, Helsingland, Sweden, and in 1869 crossed the ocean with her parents to Rhode Island, where they died. In 1900 she came to Chicago; she had been a fashionable dress maker in Providence, R. I., for many years, and was established in the same business in Chicago, where she met Mr. Erickson. He made a trip back to his old home in Sweden in 1893, and Mrs. Erickson has three times revisited her native country. She has enjoj'ed the experience and voyage, but she has also been glad to return here. Mr. Erickson helped to build up the Swedish Mission Church in Chicago, where he became a stockholder in the Missions Vannen, the popular Swedish paper, and he helped to start the Swedish Mission Church in Nebraska and at Idaho Falls, Idaho. Mrs. Erickson also participates actively in the work of this church and both are active in the Swedish Mission Church in Turlock and Mrs. Erickson is a member of the Dorcas Society. He is a standpat Republican, and has always believed in protection. C. O. STRANDBERG. — An enterprising contractor operating on a large scale, doubtless because he has well established his reputation for thoroughly understanding the science and art of concrete construction, is C. O. Strandberg, who was born at Westergotland, Sweden, May 20, 1869, and there, under an environment bound to be helpful in many waj's to every industrious lad, he was brought up and educated. In 1888, he crossed the Atlantic to New York City, where he was in the employ of the Scandinavian Emigrant Company for several months, acting for them at Castle Garden, and then he went on to Philadelphia and secured work in the Bradford oil fields. He made foundations for the oil tanks and soon demonstrated his ability for responsible commissions. In 1892 he came to Chicago, where he lost no time getting into the service of the Pullman Car Company's planing mill. He remained there until the great strike; but when things got too rough, and stones began to fly, he concluded it was time to quit and he went to Madison, Wis., and engaged to quarry stone for a company having contracts for road work. Mr. Strandberg next went to Red Wing, Minn., where he resumed stone- quarrying, and besides cutting some of the best blocks for the new Reform School there, he learned the putting in of cement work, and learned it thoroughly in all of its details, later removing to St. Paul to continue with the Portland Stone Company. While at Red Wing he had gone to Milaca in Millelacs County, Minn., and bought a farm ; and he also took a timber claim and worked at it in his spare time. He went through the terrible fire at Milaca in 1894, when 700 were killed at Hinckley. He had a very narrow escape but saved his house. After removing to St. Paul, he worked at quarrying and cement construction for other stone companies, and later he went to Seattle Wash., and engaged for himself in contracting to do cement work. 1360 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY In 1903, Mr. Strandberg came to California and proceeded on to Merced. There he located and engaged in contracting for five j'ears, and during that time he built thirteen miles of sidewalks and curbs. Then he removed to San Diego County and for six years followed contracting, then stopped in Los Angeles and for two years was a successful contractor there. In 1917, Mr. Strandberg located in Turlock and engaged in building sidewalks, curbs and foundations, and also to make and lay cement pipe. His pipe-yard is situated on North Center Street, where he has a lot 90x200 feet in size, and there he is fullj- equipped to make pipe from ten inches in diameter to two and a half feet. He has made a specialty of laying these pipes on ranches, and has not only thereby increased the volume of his business considerably, but he has done something definite to advance local agricultural enterprise. He is the agent for two Los Angeles companies that make gates and valves in pipe lines for irriga tion, and this connection has enabled him to easily equip the farmer. He also did some cement work for the Geckler Building. Speaking of his service to the farmer, it is interesting to record that Mr. Strandberg was the first man to introduce and install irrigation gates and valves in this locality for private persons. At St. Paul, Minn., November 30, 1893, Mr. Strandberg was married to Miss Ida Swanson, a native of Blekinge, Sweden, and five children have blessed their for tunate union. Harriet C. M. Strandberg is the eldest; Walter is an automobile mechanic; George, who assisted his father, died May 21, 1920; Frank died at St. Paul, aged five months; and Elmer. The family attend the Swedish Mission Church. EDWIN ULLBERG. — A wide-awake, public-spirited journalist, Edwin Ullberg is the editor and proprietor of California and formerly of the Turlock Daily Journal, which was sold to the Farmers' Press Association of Stanislaus County in December, 1920. He founded the former, and he made of the latter one of the livest, most up-to-date daily newspapers in all the state. He was born in Minne apolis on October 30, 1875, and there reared and educated; and at the age of fifteen entered the office of the Daily Produce Bulletin where, under the leadership of Charles Y. Knight, the owner and now famous as the inventor of the Silent Knight motor, he started on the lowest round and learned the newspaper business thoroughly. In time, he became foreman of the Produce Bulletin plant, and he continued there for seven years, until Mr. Knight sold out and went to Chicago. Mr. Ullberg then took a business course in a commercial college in Minne apolis, after which he worked on different papers in that city. In 1910, he removed to Spokane, Wash., where he was foreman for a year of the Swedish North-West, and at the same time he started a job printery. Later, he became interested in the American-Scandinavian Publishing Company as half owner and manager. In 1914, Mr. Ullberg sold his interest and came to San Francisco, residing there until 1916, when he located in Turlock and founded the publication, California, in response to the solicitation of the California Missionary Society, a Swedish organ ization. The first issue of the California, of which he is both editor and propri etor, appeared on March 10, 1916, and the weekly has been published ever since as a six-column folio devoted to the interests of the Swedish Evangelical Mission Society of California, attaining a larger and larger circulation with each passing year. Mr. Ullberg also had a music business here, for the sale of pianos, phono graphs and other musical instruments, but this he sold in the spring of 1920. On June 1, 1919, Mr. Ullberg bought the Turlock Weekly Journal, and twelve dajs later he started it as the Turlock Daily Journal, making it up as a six-column quarto. He is also publisher of the Hilmar Enterprise, a six-column folio weekly, which he established in March, 1919. In connection with these enterprises, he has a job-printing office. In politics, Mr. Ullberg is independent. At Minneapolis, Mr. Ullberg was married to Miss Carrie L. Johnson. Mr. Ullberg has been a member of the Swedish Mission Church for years, and has been a very active worker therein, especially as a musical director and organist. He is extremely fond of music, and has found much pleasure in giving, with the aid of local talent, some fine concerts in the places where he has lived. He is also interested in ranching, owning a fine piece of land near Crows Landing, devoted to grain. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1361 CARL N. P. AHLGREN. — A comfortably retired contractor and rancher is Carl N. P. Ahlgren, who came to California about the middle of the eighties, just thirty- years after he was born in Gothland, Sweden, in 1854. His father was a merchant tailor, but Carl was reared on a farm, while he attended the good public schools of that country. When twenty-one, he elected to learn the millwright's trade; and on becoming a journeyman, he came, in 1882, to America and Wisconsin. There he followed millwrighting, and then he' was a saw-filer at Porterville, near Eau Claire. In 1884, he came to San Francisco and was emploj'ed as a carpenter, and later he was engaged in contracting and building. At the time of the great fire in 1906, he had a large house, to cost $24,000, under way and nearly completed ; but he had only received $9,600 in payment, and lost most of the balance. A payment was to have been made him on April 17; but as the architect had not inspected the job and could not O. K. the work, Mr. Ahlgren was unable to collect the amount due him, and when he sued the party, it was seven years before he got a hearing in the superior court. The other party then carried the case to the supreme court, and another three years went by before he was awarded $2,500 — about one-half the amount he lost. He had this job insured in the Austrian-Phoenix Company for $3,000 and after suing and winning judgment has been unable to collect. After the fire, he engaged for eighteen months in contracting, and did a huge business, having seven jobs at one time; and afterwards he took a trip to Sweden to revisit his old home, returning to San Francisco after ten months' absence. There he again contracted for a time in building, but in 1912 he came to Hilmar and bought twenty acres, which he devoted from the start to alfalfa. In 1916, he sold out and located in Turlock, where he built his comfortable residence at 174 Angeles Street. Mr. Ahlgren's first marriage occurred in San Francisco, when he chose Miss Ella Peterson, a native of Sweden who died at San Francisco in 1908, the mother of two children, both of whom are deceased. Carl Emil died when he was twelve and one- half years old, and Esther, who graduated when only seventeen from the San Fran cisco high school, died two years later. In 1911, Mr. Ahlgren was married to Miss Emma Jacobson, a native of Gothland. Mr. and Mrs. Ahlgren are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church, and wherever he has lived Mr. Ahlgren has always been active in that organization. He was deacon in the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in San Francisco, and for many years was superintendent of the Sunday school there. In Turlock, also, he was deacon and Sunday school superintendent. A. SODERQUIST.— The proprietor of the Rose Hill Poultry Farm and Hatch ery, A. Soderquist, has been a resident of Turlock for nearly twenty years. He was born in Westergotland, Elsborslan, Sweden, on July 20, 1863, and was reared on the farm of his parents, well-to-do farmers, and enjoyed the best of educational ad vantages. As a boy, he had had his interest in America awakened; and when twenty years of age, he set sail for the New World. He traveled by way of Philadelphia, Chicago and Minneapolis, and in the fall of 1884 reached Minnesota. There he was employed in a furniture factory for three years, and then he put in some time on a farm and learned American husbandry. He next bought 160 acres of railroad land in Renville County — raw prairie into which he put the first plow, and where he turned the first furrow; and he was unusually successful as a grain raiser. He owned the farm three years, then sold it and engaged in the hard ware business for several years at Buffalo Lake and later went back- to the farm. In 1902, he rented out his farm and brought his family to California; and at Turlock he bought sixty acres two miles west of the town which he leveled and checked. Then he sowed alfalfa, and also set out oranges and a vineyard ; and having farmed this land until 1908, he rented it five j'ears, and in 1913 sold it. Meantime, he had bought his present ten acres adjoining Turlock on the west. He built a comfortable residence there and moved onto the ranch ; and there he raises alfalfa and cantaloupes. Mr. Soderquist also owns forty acres one mile and a quarter southwest of Tur lock, where he had a notable apiary; for he was the first man in this vicinity to engage in bee culture, and he had two apiaries built up to 150 stands, which he finally sold in order to devote his time to poultry. In 1909 he took up that inter- 1362 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY esting branch, and established the Rose Hill Poultry Farm and Hatchery. He has twenty incubators, each with a capacity of 540 eggs, and during the spring of 1920, turned out over 40,000 chicks. This is the largest hatchery here, and it is interesting to note that all the hatchery's product is sold in the locality. He breeds from Hoganized stock, and raises high, pure-bred White Leghorns. He is a member of the Turlock Farmers Union and the Tegner Farm Bureau. In Renville County, Minn., Mr. Soderquist was married to Miss Emma Lund gren, a native of Sweden, by whom he has had^ three children. They are Mamie, Reuben and Edwin. Mr. Soderquist is a member of the Swedish Mission Church, and was a trustee of that organization for six years. He has been active and promi nent in various movements for the upbuilding of Turlock, and his strongly patriotic American sentiments lead him often to lend a helping hand. ALVIN DAVID PETTIT. — A machinist and inventor of exceptional ability, who has a fine record in Turlock as a machinist and an assistant manager with the desired executive talent, is Alvin D. Pettit, who was born at Convoy, Ohio, on June 2, 1880. His father, David, was born at Ithaca, N. Y., and came to Ohio, where he was first a merchant and then a farmer. He also dealt in agricultural implements, and bought and sold timber. And after a busy life, known for its industry and honesty to all men, he passed away in Ohio. He had married Miss Anna Beamer, a native of Ohio, and there she died, the mother of two children, Alvin being the only son. He attended the grammar and high schools of Convoy, and when eighteen was apprenticed to learn the machinist's trade, after which he worked with his father in the handling of implements, and was next a machinist in a cooperage plant. He then went to Indiana, and labored in the same line until he came to California. In 1910, Mr. Pettit found it necessary to change his residence on account of ' his wife's health; and having two brothers-in-law here, he also came to Turlock. The next year he entered the employ of the G. W. Hume Company, and he has been with them steadily ever since. He was made machinist and foreman of the plant soon after it was started; and he filled those responsible posts until 1916, when he was made general foreman, and in 1918 he was made assistant manager of the plant. In 1906 Mr. Pettit was married to Zelda M. Brown, a native of Indiana and a lady of many attractive qualities, who in time contracted a serious cough, from which she suffered for a year and a half. Two months after coming to Turlock the indisposition left her and she was apparently strong and healthy. At the end of six years, however, -her health again failed and she passed away in August 1919, leaving three children, Alvin, Doj't and Thelma, to mourn her loss. FREE DELBERT FORDHAM.— A native son and the representative of a fine old family, Free Deibert Fordham was born at. Chico on May 14, 1880, the son of J. F. Fordham, a native of New York state, who crossed the great plains to Cali fornia in 1852, as one of a party in an ox-team train, when he was eighteen years of age. His grandfather, Frederick Fordham, was mining in Shasta County, and so his father followed mining there and became a contractor and builder in Shasta, and later in Red Bluff. Later still, he settled at Chico, where he had a brickyard and was one of the earliest contractors and builders, and helped to erect the Bidwell mansion. He is now living retired, at the fine old age of eighty-seven. He married Miss Louise Goodrich, a native of Wisconsin, who crossed the plains in 1862 with her parents; her Great-grandfather Goodrich came in the train, and having crossed the plains in 1850, he piloted the party. Grandfather William Goodrich and his father brought a band of sheep across the plains in 18,62, and Dan Goodrich became a prominent sheepman. He also served in the Indian War, and was a deputy sheriff of Butte County. The eldest of the three children in the family, Free Deibert Fordham was brought up in Chico and sent to both the grammar and high school. From his twelfth year, during the vacations he worked in the Chico Cannery ; and after com pleting his high school course, he took up the mechanical part of the cannery. Later he went to Marysville and was employed by the California Fruit Canners Associa- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1363 tion as mechanical engineer, a post he continued to fill for three years; and after that he went to Oakland and was in the shops of the California Fruit Canners Association as mechanical engineer. He went to different parts of the state to install machinery, and helped, in 1906-07, to install the North Beach Cannery. In 1908 Mr. Fordham resigned and was then employed by the Gold Dredging Company at Hammond City, and for a year he assisted in putting in the machinery He resigned -again and went to Los Angeles, where he helped erect a sawmill He was next in the service of the Colton precooling plant and after that with the Central California Canneries at Yuba City as construction engineer, working also at San Lorenzo, San Jose and Sacramento, and when the California Packing Corporation was formed in 1916, he entered their employ and continued with them as construct ing engineer. In February, 1919, he entered the employ of the G. W. Hume Com pany, as chief engineer at the Turlock plant, which is now in their new building Wherever he has worked, Mr. Fordham has made improvement or new inventions, and it is not surprising that his dependable service should be duly appreciated. At Oakland, Mr. Fordham was married to Mrs. Nellie Orr, a native of Illi nois, and a woman of worth. He was made a Mason in Corinthian lodge No. 9, F. & A. M., at Marysville. Mrs. Fordham shares her husband's popularity, and both rejoice in a wide circle of friends. ALBERT WILLIAM JOHNSON.— A first-class mechanic who thoroughly understands his duties as steam engineer in charge of the boilers of the G. W. Hume Company, is Albert William Johnson, who was born in Essex, Page County, Iowa, on October 16, 1877, and came to Turlock nearly a decade and a half ago. His father, A. G. Johnson, was a farmer and a pioneer, who removed to Holdrege, in Phelps County, Nebr., bought 160 acres of land, resided there for years, and was interested in the manufacture of windmills. He established a factory, began with a wooden mill, then had steel works, and in 1896 removed to Raton, N. M., where for thirteen years he was at the head of the mechanical department ,of the Santa Fe Railroad. In 1909 he came to Turlock, and in this delightfully situated town he now resides, retired and comfortable. He had married Miss Sophia Johnson, but she passed to her eternal reward in Iowa, when Albert was nine or ten years of age. The oldest of five children, he was brought up in Iowa until 1890, when he removed to Holdrege, Nebr., where he went to school until he was fourteen years of age. Then he was employed in his father's factory until he was sixteen, and on accompanying him to Raton, N. M., he was employed in the store department of the Santa Fe Railroad there for a year, when he became a fireman, running out of Raton, and later engineer. In 1900, he resigned and entered the employ of the Colorado & Southern Railroad at Denver, and after firing for that company for a while, he later ran a switch engine on their road. After a j'ear he was employed for a short time by the Denver Gas & Electric Company, in its electrical power house ; and in 1901 he made his first trip to California, remaining for a week at Turlock, when he bought twenty acres of land, after which he returned East again. In 1903 he enlisted in the U. S. Navy for four years, as a fireman of the first class, and going into the engine room, he was promoted to be oiler, and then machin ist's mate of the second class, and that position he held until March, 1907, when the term of his enlistment ended. He returned to Raton, and in the fall of that year located in Turlock, where he farmed in a small way. At that time there were no improvements, and not much that was inviting or encouraging; wild poppies met the eye for miles around, and jack rabbits abounded everywhere. After a while he was employed by the Turlock Grape Juice Company as their chief engineer, and he ran their steam boilers until 1910, when the G. W. Hume Company started to build their plant. Then he entered their employ, and installed the first large boiler plant here. It had 140 horsepower, which in 1914 was increased to 210, and three years later to 350 horsepower, its present size, supplied by oil fuel. And in charge of this responsibility Mr. Johnson has been ever since. He is there fore one of the pioneers longest here. In 1901 he bought twenty acres near Tur lock, and kept the same until 1910, when he sold the tract; and in 1907 he bought 1364 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY another twenty acres at Hughson, which he has also since sold, both sales netting him a handsome profit and showing his good judgment as to land values. Mr. Johnson was made a Mason in Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., and is a past master there, having served in 1916, and he belongs to Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M., and was a Royal Arch captain. He also belongs to the Modesto Commandery No. 57, of the Knights Templar, and to Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. at Oakland, and is a member of Stanislaus Camp No. 8367 of the Modern Woodmen of America, in which he is a past consul. The Republicans and their party platforms have generally appealed most successfully to Mr. Johnson; but he is too much interested in the broad and permanent development of Turlock to allow partisanship to interfere with his giving his earnest support to the best men. MISS FRANCES KIERNAN.— A fashionable milliner known throughout Stan islaus County for her artistic, up-to-date modes and the novelty of her new and unique creations, is Miss Frances Kiernan, who enjoys a wide circle of patrons and friends. Her father was Edward Kiernan, a native of Massachusetts, while her grandfather on the paternal side was of the same name. He brought his family to California in pioneer, gold-digging days, and himself followed mining in Columbia, Tuolumne County ; and as an early settler of Stanislaus County, he became a suc cessful farmer. Edward Kiernan, the father of our subject, was just a lad when he first saw California, and so he completed his studies at the public schools here. Then he engaged in farming at Salida, and was afterwards an extensive grain farmer at Tur lock. While there and so engaged, he was one of the most prominent men in agitat ing the movement to establish the Turlock Irrigation District, and as a member of the board of directors, was active in the building of its canal system. At the time of his death, on August 13, 1915, he was president of the board. One of his favorite projects was the damming of the Tuolumne River six miles above La Grange — a splendid work now at last about consummated, in a dam that stretches across the Tuolumne River in a natural gorge 280 feet high and is able to impound 260,000 acre feet of water, sufficient to supply water, the year around, to both the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts. Mr. Kiernan married Miss Annie Smith, a native of Massachusetts, who crossed the plains with her parents in pioneer days, and passed away eighteen months after her husband. They had five children, four of whom are still living. The second youngest of these is the subject of our review, and she was born at Salida, in Stanis laus County. There she attended the Mitchell school, after which she entered St. Agnes Academy at Stockton, from which she was graduated with honors. At San Jose she learned the millinery trade, and in 1912 she established herself in business at Modesto, and since then she has been very successful, acquiring an increasing prestige. Miss Kiernan's store is popularly known as The Hat Shop, and is the largest establishment of the kind in the county. As a live business woman, Miss Kiernan is a very wide-awake member of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, and so directly cooperates with all seeking the rapid development of Modesto on substantial lines. E. J. CADWALLADER. — An old-timer who has such great faith in the future of Stanislaus County as one of the most productive and most promising regions in all California, and who, therefore, has become both an upbuilder and a "booster of Turlock and vicinity, is E. J. Cadwallader, who came to California in the fall of the famous boom year in. Southland realty, 1887. He was born near Buckley, 111., in June, 1865, and was left an orphan at the age of twelve. His early life was spent in Ohio and Indiana, and he attended the Indianapolis public schools. Having arrived here in Los Angeles when the bubble created by unnatural rise in land values burst, the bottom fell out of the boom, and there was nothing to do, Mr. Cadwallader went north to Fresno, and in March, 1888, engaged in farming. He was made foreman of a large grain ranch, and in that position discharged satis factorily considerable responsibility for seven jears. Then, for another seven years, he engaged in farming and viticulture. In 1902, he removed to San Jose, and in HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1365 1904 he located in Stanislaus County. He purchased land at Denair, and improved it, devoting the acreage to dairying, and it fell to his pleasurable experience to build the first residence in Denair. He was the representative of the C. N. Whitmore Company in the sale of the Elmwood Colony lands, and since 1905, he has engaged in handling real estate, with well-appointed offices in Turlock, and is now one of the oldest as well as the most reliable real estate men in Turlock. With E. P. Mains, he laid out and sold, for example, the Gallo Tract of 320 acres near Keyes, in Stanislaus County, and was very successful in each and every sale; and with the same partner he owns the northeast corner of Main and First Streets, Turlock, now built up with business houses. He is naturally an enthusiastic member of the Tur lock Chamber of Commerce. At Fresno, Mr. Cadwallader was married to Miss Mamie Miles, a native of Kansas, and three children have blessed their union. E. Miles and Beulah Cadwal lader are graduates of Pacific Union College, and Leona is a student at the Denair high school. In national politics preferring generally the platforms of the Republi can party, Mr. Cadwallader is broad-minded enough to work without partisan ham- perings for the best local men and measures, while fraternally he gives generously to the Woodmen of the World, where he is an honored and a popular member. JOSEPH C. GOTOBED. — A long-headed, successful business man whose acquirements after a start from almost nothing would seem phenomenal were not the history of California replete with similar instances of winning out for the far- sighted and the courageous, is J. C. Gotobed, of Turlock, popular as a public-spirited, large-hearted citizen willing to give back to the community in which he has so greatly prospered. He was born in Bowland Township, Rock Island County, 111., seven miles south of Rock Island, on September 5, 1878, the son of Joseph Gotobed, a native of Cambridgeshire, Eng., who had married Miss Betsy Barnes in 1854 and migrated with her the next day for the United States. His wife's parents came with them and four others, there being eight in the party, and when they arrived in Cleveland their funds were exhausted except twenty-five cents mustered by the whole party. They settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where Mr. Gotobed was emploj'ed with the Lake Erie Railroad at as low wages as seventy-five cents a day. Then he resigned from his position with the railroad, and in 1857 made the trip to Iowa City, Iowa. The depot of Iowa City at that time was in a freight car, and as he did not like the looks of things, although land was offered for twenty-five cents an acre, and he could have purchased land in the heart of Iowa City for fifty cents an acre, instead he went back to Cleveland, where he worked for two years. He then came west again to Rock Island, 111., and bought fifty acres and made his home there ; he improved the land and set out a iru* orchard, and engaged in the fruit business. He also grew grain, and made a succes* of that. And there he died, being survived by his widow, who lived until 1910. She was the mother of four boys and a girl, all of whom are living. The youngest in the family, and the only one in California, J. C. Gotobed was reared on an Illinois farm and until he was sixteen years old attended the school at Milan, 111. In 1894, he came out to Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa, and there he both learned the butcher's trade and worked on a farm. When he was eighteen, he started butchering and selling for himself, and he also soon turned mam* a dollar by buying and shipping cattle. He purchased a farm of eighty acres, and engaged in the raising of grain and cattle. Then he bought and shipped cattle to Omaha. At Red Oak, December 24, 1901, he was married to Miss Adah M. Johnson, a native of that town and a daughter of Andrew Johnson, an early settler and prom inent business man, later, in Turlock; and in 1908 Mr. Gotobed also came west to California and located at Turlock, where he was employed for a while bv the Turlock Lumber Company. In 1910 he started a butcher business on East Main Street, and for that purpose "formed a partnership with Geo. Schearer, under the firm name of Schearer & Gotobed, and they called the establishment the Palace Market. For eight years these well-mated partners continued together, and during that time they moved to Mr. Gotobed's present business location on South Center Street. 1366 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY In 1918, Mr. Gotobed bought out the interest of Mr. Schearer, and continued the business alone. He has built his slaughter-house, one and three-quarters miles south of Turlock, just off the State Highway, where he owns five acres for stockyards and there he feeds his cattle and hogs. His Palace Market place is fitted up in the most modern style, with a Remington ice machine and four-ton compressor, and a large cold storage room with a capacity of twenty beeves and ten hogs, as well as plenty of other meat. He has a manufacturing room, and a pickling room, and the machinery is run by electric power, all in a very fine plant. Mr. Gotobed also owns other valuable city property in Turlock, among others, in partnership with L. N. Johnson, a lot 144x180 feet in size at the corner of East Main Street and Thor, which he expects soon to improve with a brick block. He is also interested in other properties, and is a stock holder in the Turlock Theater Company and the Stanislaus Hotel Company. Three children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gotobed, and they are George, Grace and Evelyn. He was made a Mason in Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., and he is also a member of the Knights of Pj'thias, the Modern Woodmen of America, the K. O. T. M., and the Board of Trade. Mr. and Mrs. Gotobed attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they belong to the Eastern Star. R. V. MEIKLE. — Chief engineer of the Turlock Irrigation District since 1914, R. V. Meikle was born in Ohio in 1884 and attended school in Portland, Ore. On completing the course at the Portland high school, he entered Stanford University and completed the civil engineering course. After spending several years on different large engineering projects in the West, Mr. Meikle came to Turlock in 1914 and since then has been in charge of all the engineering work for the board of directors of the above district. In March, 1920, he was also appointed chief engineer for the Turlock and Modesto Irrigation districts for the construction of the Don Pedro dam. M. M. BERG. — Prominent among the business men of Turlock, M. M. Berg is always found in the fore of any movement for both the building up and the upbuilding of the town. Arriving in California in 1901, he was not long in selecting Turlock, after carefully looking over the entire state, as the most desirable place of residence for one wishing to transact his business; and ever since 1903 he has participated very actively in the development of the city and its environing district. On coming here from San Francisco, where he pitched his tent for a while, Mr. Berg established what was to be the nucleus of his present large department store business — the most extensive in town — purchasing the corner of West Main Street and Broadway; and there in 1912 he built the substantial block, 100x140 feet in size, with an annex on Broadway, 28x150 feet in size, known as the Berg Block. It is one of the most creditable structures in the city, and indeed would do honor to any city of the same size anywhere in the world; it contains a variety and a high grade of stock offered at such moderate prices as to enable the public to help itself somewhat in the great struggle against an increased cost of living; and Mr. Berg, as well as the town of Turlock, may be congratulated for what is daily there achieved. In view of the success of this broad-minded, far-sighted man of commercial affairs, it is not surprising to find Mr. Berg one of the organizers, as far back as 1907, of the People's State Bank, and a director in the same since the time of its organiza tion. Nor can one doubt that, as the years go by, he will identify himself more and more intimately and serviceably with the town and broad and rapid development. MRS. ANNA SORENSEN. — A wide-awake business woman of exceptional abil ity who, as a splendid type of the progressive California womanhood of today is highly regarded in Turlock and Modesto by a wide circle of friends, is Mrs. Anna Sorensen, secretary of Turlock Irrigation District. She was born near Trier (Treves), famous as the oldest town in all Germany, and most picturesquely situated on the bank of the River Moselle, a daughter of Philip Simon, for fifty years a school teacher in that place, who lived to celebrate his golden jubilee as an educator of note. Her grandfather was also a teacher in the same school, as was her great-grandfather; and she has a brother who is a graduate of the University of Strassburg. Her mother, Miss Elizabeth Christoffel before her marriage, died, like her father, at the old HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1367 home. They had nine children, and four of them came to California — Amelia, Charlotte, now Mrs. Christ, Anna and a brother, August, settling at Modesto. Mrs. Sorensen was educated at the school of, and under the personal super vision of, her father, and in 1873 reached Modesto, just when the Court House was completed. There, too, she was married to Martin I. Sorensen, a native of Slesvig, Denmark, who had come to California when he was eighteen years of age, and was a bookkeeper in the lumber yard. In .1888, he was elected county recorder on the Democratic ticket, following C. S. Abbott, and took the oath of office in January, 1889. He was reelected in 1890, and again in 1892, and he served until January, 1895. Then, for four years, he became deputy county recorder, after which he was the expert accountant and bookkeeper for the Turlock Irrigation District. His office and books were then in Modesto, and he served with singular capacity and integrity until his death, on November 24, 1902, at the age of forty-two years. He was promi nent as a past grand of the Odd Fellows, and chief patriarch of the Encampment, and belonged to the Rebekahs, while he was a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and a past officer of the Druids, and a past noble Grand Arch of the Grand Grove of California, from 1891 to 1892. After Mr. Sorensen's death, Mrs. Sorensen, who had often helped him in his work, was selected by the directors of the district to succeed him as bookkeeper. And she served faithfully as such until, in 1905, she was selected by the directors as the Irrigation District's secretary. In 1903, the office was in Ceres, but in June, 1910, it was removed to Turlock, and since then her home has been there. On June 1, 1908, wishing to return to Modesto, she resigned from her office; but in 1910 the directors again induced her to accept the secretaryship, and she resumed her duties on the first of September of that year, and she has been at the helm ever since. Two children sprang from the happy union of Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen — Elise, or Mrs. W. O. Oliver, of Merced, and Edward P., who lives in Modesto. Mrs. Sorensen is a charter member of the Golden State Rebekah Lodge No. 110, which she joined in 1887, at Modesto, and she is also a past noble grand, having served several terms, and she has also been a district deputy. She belongs to the Mistletoe Circle, No. 9 of the U. A. O. Druids, and is a past officer, with several terms to her credit, and grand arch druidess of California in 1901-02. C. A. TORNELL. — An exemplary business man who enjoys the reputation of baving become the leading contractor and builder at Turlock, is C. A. Tornell, who was born near Stockholm, Sweden, on July 6, 1878, and when he was fifteen years old crossed the ocean to the United States and settled at Fort Dodge, Iowa. There he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade, while working ten hours for one dollar a day and boarding himself; and on completing his trade, he joined his brother, Charles, at Fort Dodge and worked at contracting to build for three jears. In 1903, Mr. Tornell came out to Oakland; Cal., and accepted the position of foreman for Ben O. Johnson, a large contractor who employed about sixty hands, and during the three j-ears in which he was with him, they built, among other notable edifices, the Polytechnic School. This was just before the earthquake, and he and his brother had commenced two buildings, one on Wisconsin Hill and the other near the Golden Gate, and when the earthquake occurred, the dismayed populace carried all rhe lumber, representing about half of what was needed for the jobs, away, without giving any compensation for it, and they had to buy new materials for building. It thus took them several months longer to finish the jobs, but they completed the work, although at a loss. In the fall of 1906, the brothers came to Turlock and bought a farm, and our subject bought a second, west of Turlock, for himself; but he soon found that ranch ing was not to his liking, and again he engaged in contracting and building, joining Peter Larson in the formation of a firm known as Tornell & Larson, which was car ried on for ten years, when they dissolved. Since that time, often employing from twenty to forty men, Mr. Tornell has been contracting for himself ; and among, the local buildings of note due to his skill may be mentioned the Enterprise Building, the addition to the People's Bank, the Berg Block, the Union Block, the Swedish Mis- 1368 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY sion Church, Hale Bros. Garage, and the Turlock Theater, while he also erected the Merced Hotel at a cost of $90,000. He also put up the Broadway Garage and the Hedman Building, and hundreds of smaller business buildings and residences. For himself, he erected the Tornell Building, which he later sold. He still owns a farm but he rents it out to others. He has just completed a new residence at 827 West Main Street, one of the most artistic in the city, for his family home. At Fort Dodge, Mr. Tornell was married to Miss Selma Eugenia Eckstrom, and they have been blessed with four children — Alvick, who assists his father, and Evelyn, Edgar and Violet. The family are members of the Swedish Mission Church; and Mr. Tornell belongs to the Woodmen of the World, and takes an active interest in all civic movements that have for their aim the improvement of his community. ERNEST A. HALE. — A far-seeing, optimistic and successful business man of Turlock is E. A. Hale, copartner with his brother, C. C. Hale, in Hale's Garage, the wide-awake agency of Ford motor cars and tractors. He was born at Baldwin, Jackson County, Iowa, the son of Alexander Hale, a native of Scotland, who came as a j'oung man to Iowa and went to school near Baldwin. He grew up a farmer and married Miss Augusta Tabor, a member of an old. Iowa family, after which he re moved to the vicinity of Fort Dodge. Then he went to Woodbury County, still in the same state, and as late as 1912 came out to Turlock, where he engaged in farming. He is still living there, although his devoted wife passed away in Iowa. Their one child is the subject of our story. Mr. Hale married a second time and had two children, a daughter and a son, C. C. Hale. E. A. Hale was brought up in Jackson and Webster counties, Iowa, and there attended the public schools, and at twenty-one he married in Iowa Miss Lucy Burdick, a native Hawkeye. Then he engaged in business as a merchant in Baldwin, and continued in business in Woodbury. At Luverne, Minn., later he embarked in the lumber trade, laying the foundation for his success as a lumber dealer, at Wenatchee, Wash. The year following in which his father removed to Turlock, he also came south to Stanislaus County, convinced of the far greater opportunities in California. With his brother, he secured the Ford agency, and at Turlock, under the firm name cf Hale Bros., they established the first representation of this now world-famous and all-around satisfactory car. In 1917, they built their garage at the corner of South Broadway and A street, and there they have a splendid patronage. Three children — Ruth, Howard and Helen — complete the family circle. Mr. and Mrs. Hale and the family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hale was made a Mason in Wenatchee, Wash., Lodge, and is now a member of Turlock Lodge No. 385, F. & A. M. He is still a member of Wenatchee Chapter No. 22, R. A. M. He belongs to Modesto Commandery No. 57, K. T, and to Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., San Francisco, and to the Knights of Pythias in Turlock. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hale are members of Wistaria Chapter No. 296, O. E. S., of which Mr. Hale is a past patron. ANDY THORSEN. — A thoroughly trained, expert mechanic who understands his business because he began at the lowest round on the ladder and has worked his way up by hard, intelligent labor, is Andy Thorsen, proprietor of the largest plumbing establishment in Turlock. He was born in Norway, on March 14, 1884, and came to the United States and Illinois with his parents in 1893. They were Ammund and Dorothy (Oglen) Thorsen, and they eventually removed from Illinois to San Jose to join their son, who had preceded them to the Pacific Coast, and had located there. Later still, they came south to Turlock, where Mr. Thorsen died, survived by the mother, who is still living here. The maternal grandfather, Andres Hansen Oglen, was a sea-faring man, and as a sailor before the mast, sailed around Cape Horn in those early days, buying tallow and hides on the West Coast, and then returning to Boston. In 1847, he was wrecked on the Pacific Coast, and managed to put in to San Francisco, at that time called Yerba Buena. He remained there a while, and the next year gold was discovered, and he and a friend named Petersen obtained a boat and went up river to the mines, and were among the earliest of the gold diggers. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1369 He obtained the gold longed for and was successful, and started to return to Norway for his family. Crossing the plains, he made his way to New York and there he was murdered, and the party or parties guilty of the crime are supposed to have obtained his gold. All of his children who grew up came to the United States, and those that lived came to California, and all of his grandchildren but two are in California. Andy Thorsen was educated in the public schools of Pontiac, 111., and in 1895 accompanied his folks on their removal to Joliet, where he continued his studies until he was thirteen. Then he was apprenticed to learn the plumber's trade ; and on being declared a journeyman, he came out to California in 1900. On account of his youth- fulness, he served again an apprenticeship, this time with George Humphreys at Sar Francisco; and then he worked in different shops in that city until 1910. In May of that year he came down to Turlock to enter the employ of the Turlock Hardwart Company; but in October, 1911, he resigned to start in business for himself. Mr. Thorsen's first location was on High Street; but when his trade expanded, he purchased, in July, 1917, his present site on Lander Avenue, ahd built the structure into which he moved — its large, ample quarters for work and supplies making appeal to an appreciative, knowing public demanding the most up-to-date, satisfactory service. Among other contracts undertaken and faithfully carried out by Mr. Thorsen, may be mentioned both theatres in Turlock, the Emanuel Hospital — both plumbing and heating — the Salberg Block, and the Broadway Garage. At San Jose, Mr. Thorsen was united in marriage with Miss Bertha N. Anderson, a native of Sweden, who came out to San Francisco to join her brother. Two children have been granted the happy couple — Rodney Bjorn and Esther Dorothj*. Mr. Thorsen is interested in ranching, and owns a farm of some twenty acres near Turlock, on which he raises the choicest of cantaloupes and the greenest of alfalfa. HARRY FOLETTA. — A progressive dairyman whose success has been due to his keen insight into business, and his constructive methods, is Harry Foletta, who was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, on March 25, 1876, the fourth son of a family of six boys and four girls. His father was Gasper Foletta, also a native of Switzer land. The maiden name of the mother was Filomina Patrazzi, a native of Italian Switzerland. Gasper Foletta was both a farmer who devoted himself to dairying and to general farming, secretary and director of the town council of Garra, Ver- zasia. Harry Foletta attended the district school in that delightful region known as Italian Switzerland, and under the experienced guidance of his father, learned agriculture as the Swiss practice it. When seventeen years old, he bade good-bj'e to his home and made his way to the coast and across the Atlantic to America. He had worked hard for what he thus spent on his journey, and he took particular pride in the venture, as it was the result of his own hard toil. Coming West to California, Mr. Foletta settled with three brothers who had already located at Pescadero, in San Mateo County, and there took up the work of dairy farming under American conditions, while he went to school for a couple of months to learn English. At the end of a year with his brothers, he started out for himself, and for nine years he worked for wages. Then he leased 1,300 acres at White House Ranch, in San Mateo County, formerly owned by Mrs. Ella Brown, and kept the lease for five years. He was so successful, as the result of his consci entious, honest work, that at the end of the period of lease he owned forty head of cattle of his own breeding. He went in for cheese and butter-making, and sold his entire output to a San Francisco commission house. In 1907, Mr. Foletta purchased sixty-eight and a half acres near Los Banos, Merced County, which he devoted to the raising of alfalfa and dairying, selling his cream in Los Banos, and becoming a director of the First National Bank of that town; and he is still interested in Merced County real estate and securities, having 160 acres in one tract, and retaining an equity in stock raising. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Los Banos, and so may be said to have done what he could to more rapidly develop a town that has been retarded through a combination of circumstances peculiar to that locality and period. In March, 1920, 1370 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. Foletta came to Modesto and located on a ranch of forty acres five miles to the southwest of the town, and here he has since engaged in dairy farming. At Gonzales, in Monterey County, on April 23, 1905, Mr. Foletta was mar ried to Miss Annie Giacometti, a native of that town and the daughter of Gaetano Giacometti, who was born in Mogheno, Switzerland, and married Miss Laura Rianda, also of that place. Mr. Giacometti came out to California in the early seventies and settled first at Watsonville, and then at Gonzales, where he devoted 400 acres to grain farming. He had six children, and they were all "native sons and daughters." After a while, he removed to Modesto, and here he ranched until his death, on October 9, 1917, twelve years after his devoted wife had passed away. Three sons have blessed this fortunate union of Mr. and Mrs. Foletta. Leo Harry attends the Jones School in the Westport district ; and the others are Elmer Raymond and Wilbur Ernest — all three also native sons. He belongs to the Foresters of America and the U. P. E. C. in Los Banos. Mrs. Foletta belongs to the Woman's Improvement Club of the Westport district. Mr. Foletta received his naturaliza tion papers at Santa Cruz on August 19, 1904. LARS EKLUND. — An esteemed resident at Turlock who has the distinction of being the father of one of the boys who made the supreme sacrifice in the World War, among the first to be "gassed" and then wounded at the battle of the Argonne, is Lars Eklund, who first came to California in 1906, although he did not locate at Turlock until seven years later. He was born in Vermland, Sweden, on June 10, 1847, the son of Peter and Christine (Olson) Eklund, both of whom died in Sweden. He attended the public schools for which Sweden is so ramed, and after that was apprenticed to learn the tailor's trade, at which he continued for a year. Then he took up the shoemaker's trade, which he took five years to learn thoroughly, and for two years he worked as a journeyman. In 1868, Mr. Eklund came to the United States, sailing on the steamer "Que bec," and in due time he reached Chicago and later St. Paul. In Minnesota he worked in the harvest fields and the pineries, and for ten years he chopped cord wood. In 1870 he went to Becker County, Minn., and homesteaded ninety acres, after which he bought land adjoining until he had 140 acres, all well improved. For a while it was uphill business, and hard times and grasshoppers conspired to set him back; and in 1880 he sold his farm and removed to Kittson County, where he was a pioneer and where he bought a farm in Red River Valley, and later was in Red River town ship and had 160 acres, which he devoted to the raising of wheat, oats and barlej'. He built a comfortable residence, and then bought the balance of the section, giving him in all 640 acres, 400 of which are in one body. He raised cattle and horses, became a school trustee, was township supervisor for eleven years and also served as chairman of the board, and filled that office when the court house was built. In 1906, Mr. Eklund removed to California, and since 1913 he has resided in Turlock, where he owns a comfortable residence on West Main Street, looking after his various financial interests and contributing, in whatever way he may be able, under the banners of the Republican party, toward a better citizenship. In 1870 he was married for the first time, his bride being Mary Olson; but she died in 1893, the mother of seven children. Victor, Peter and William are in Portland, Ore.; Ervin and Mamie are in Minnesota; Betsy is in Spokane, and Anna is in Turlock. In Kittson County, Minn., Mr. Eklund was married the second time on June 16, 1894, being united with Miss Magdalena Stafanson, who was born in Gemtland, Sweden, on April 11, 1867, and came out to Minnesota and Douglas County with her folks in 1869. Her parents were Mons and Mary Stafanson. worthy settlers respected by all who knew them. Seven more children blessed this second union. Martin, the eldest, lives in Minnesota ; then came Herman, the soldier boy ; Amanda graduated from the normal school and is a teacher at Orleans, Minn. ; Fred is on the farm ; Mary resides at Turlock and is emploj'ed in a photo studio ; Esther is in the high school; and the youngest of the family is Eldora. Particular honor and everlasting remembrance should be tendered Herman Eklund, who so freely and so bravely gave his life for his country. He was in the HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1371 employ of the bank at Hallock, Minn., when the World War broke out, and when the United States declared war on Germany, he enlisted in a Minnesota regiment and joined the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Infantry Regiment. He served over seas, and was one of the first American soldiers "gassed" at the Argonne ; was at St. Mihiel, and in the defense sector; after which he was mortally injured while in action by the explosion of a bomb, from the effects of which he died r>r> October 2, 1918. He lies buried in the Argonne American cemetery; and as long as men tell af American heroism at the front, the name of Herman Eklund will be repeated with pious reverence. Mr. and Mrs. Eklund have always stood for the best in the community, and Mrs. Eklund has been active for years in the W. C. T. U. JOSEPH GRONQUIST.— Of sturdy old Norse ancestry, Joseph Gronquist was horn in Saint Sigfried parish, Sweden, June 14/1875. His parents were Johan and Amelia Gronquist, both descended from well-established families of Sweden, when they have always resided. The father was a minister of the Swedish Lutheran Church and our Mr. Gronquist was reared in the simple atmosphere of that faith. He at tended the public grammar and high schools of Kalmar, and after his education was completed found employment on a farm near there. But the opportunities were limited and in 1903 he came to America to seek his fortune in more productive fields. Mr. Gronquist located for a time at Boston, Mass., where he was variously em ploj'ed. Three years later he came on to California, going first to San Francisco, where he arrived early in 1907. For five years he remained in the Bay District, the first year in San Francisco and the following four in Oakland. During all this time he had worked hard, saved his money, and in 1912 came to Stanislaus County and bought nine acres near Patterson, which he planted to alfalfa and peaches. In 1919 he pur chased an additional seven acres, and now farms in all sixteen acres, located at the corner of Fig and Sycamore streets. Since acquiring this property Mr. Gronquist has transformed it from an open field into one of the most attractive homes in the vicinity. He has built a beautiful modern bungalow, together with barn and other outbuildings, and has planted gardens and trees, and is from time to time adding other improvements which go to make a modern California country home. His land lies under the Patterson Irrigation Dis trict's irrigation canals, and is verj' valuable. It was at San Francisco that Mr. Gronquist was married to Miss Ellen Peter son, on June 2, 1917. Mrs. Gronquist is also a native of Sweden, born in Grondal, Oland, where she grew to young womanhood. When she was twenty years of age she came to America, stopping but a short time in New York, and then coming on to Patterson, where she has since made her home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gronquist have many friends in Patterson, where they are recognized as progressive and worthy citi zens, giving of their best effort for the upbuilding of the community. MRS. CAROLINE OLSON. — An enterprising business woman who is a native daughter of the Golden West is Mrs. Caroline Olson, born in San Francisco, Cal, April 24, 1859, a daughter of Charles and Gertrude (Whippier) Bloed, natives of Germany who, on immigrating to the United States, came to Boston and in the early fifties came to California and located in San Francisco, and later came to Mariposa County, where they engaged in the hotel business at Mt. Bullion, also called Prince ton. This worthy couple had nine children, of whom three are still living, Caroline being the fifth in order of birth. Afterwards her parents moved to Merced Falls, where they followed the same line of business until they retired. After a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Olson, and while crossing the Tuolumne River on his return home, the father was accidentally drowned February 17, 1881, aged fifty-five years. His widow, after this, made her home with Mrs. Olson until her death February 6, 1893, being over sixty-six years of age. Caroline Bloed attended the public schools in Princeton, Mariposa County, re moving with her parents to Merced Falls, and in that place, on March 22, 1880, she was married to Jacob Olson, a native of Sweden, born May 22, 1852. Coming- to Wisconsin with his parents when twelve years of age, he obtained his education in the 56 1372 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY public schools of that state. On arriving at young manhood he came to California, accompanied by his parents, in 1870, locating at La Grange, where he followed team ing, hauling heavy freight between Stockton and Coulterville and other Mariposa County points, by way of La Grange and Snelling. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Olson located on a farm near Snelling, Merced County, where they engaged in grain raising. In 1905 they came to Stanislaus County and purchased 640 acres in Montpellier Township, which they devoted to grain raising, and here Mr. Olson was actively engaged until the time of his passing away, September 12, 1913, being deeply mourned by his family and friends, and particularly by his fellow members in the Odd Fellows, Encampment and Rebekah lodges, his membership being in Snelling. Mr. and Mrs. Olson were blessed with seven children: Chas. W., who died from an accident ; Edward G. resides in San Jose ; Gussie E., deceased, was the wife of Herman Harder; Elmer died in infancy; Fred resides in Montpellier; Luella G. assists her mother in presiding over the home, and Ozeila Della, while attending the Stockton Normal, was taken ill and died six weeks before her father. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Olson continued to operate the ranch until 1918, when she disposed of her holdings and located in Modesto, where she lives in her comfortable residence on McHenry Avenue, and also owns a fifteen-acre ranch near Ceres devoted to alfalfa. An accomplished and energetic business woman, she is looking after and managing the property she and her husband accumulated and is giv ing a good account of her stewardship. She is a native daughter of whom the state may well be proud and in turn she appreciates the land of sunshine and flowers. JAMES S. ROBERTS. — A native son and, therefore, one of a very goodly comoany, James S. Roberts was born near Salida on October 8, 1886, the son of William Sperry Roberts, who crossed the great plains to California in 1850. He married Miss Viretta Durst, who had come to Stanislaus County in the '80s; and he died when our subject was six j'ears old. James was then taken by the family of Charles D. Butler, a pioneer of Salida, mentioned elsewhere in this volume, and attended school until the end of the eighth grade, after which he was thrown upon his own resources. He hired out on farms and in lumber mills; and on returning to Modesto was married, on April 24, 1910, to Miss Sadie Sale, who was born near La Grange in 1890, the daughter of William H. Sale, a pioneer of mining days at La Grange and now a retired resident of Denair. Mildred and Floyd, the older of the three chil dren, are. students, and the youngest is Dorothy. Mr. Roberts is a Mason. Besides cultivating twenty acres in the Gratton Tract at Denair devoted to gen eral farming, Mr. Roberts has served as superintendent of the county roads at Denair for the past eight years, has been a deputy sheriff, and is now acting deputy assessor of the Turlock district. In national politics a Republican, he is broad-minded and large-hearted in his attitude toward local issues, exerting a wide and helpful influence. WALTER C. FILIPPINI. — A native son who, having had a long and valuable experience in the repairing of automobiles, was able to render exceptional service to his Government in the recent World War, is Walter C. Filippini, the wide-awake and accommodating proprietor of the popular garage at Crows Landing. He was born in Salinas, Monterey County, Cal., on June 4, 1896, the son of Charles and Chastie Filippini ; his father, who was a native of Paris, France, came to America when he was seventeen years old. He eventually settled at Point Reyes, Marin County, Cal., where he worked on a dairy ranch; and when our subject was three years old, his father moved to Crows Landing and stayed another three years. Then he and his fam ily moved back to Point Reyes, where he again took up dairying. After four years there, Mr. Filippini once more moved back to the Crows Landing country. Having had all the schooling possible at the Bonita grammar school, Walter Filip pini commenced work as an auto mechanic when the old side-crank cars first came into the market, and he may be said to have been mastering auto-mechanic science since he was ten years of age. Seven years ago he wisely took the step of starting a repair shop of his own in Crows Landing, and since then-he has built up a flourishing trade HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1373 in general and first-class shop work. No one who ever takes his car there fails to at least wish to return there again, for he makes it a principle to inspect each machine in such a thorough manner that nothing is left undone which he may be expected to mend or set in order. He uses only the best of materials and parts, employs the latest machinery and tools, and works for results of a permanent character rather than to make a record for speed. Yet the speed is there, also, and no one complains of having to wait needlessly in his garage. On February 13, 1918, Mr. Filippini was married to Miss Lucile McAulay, the ceremony taking place at Crows Landing. The bride's parents were Lloyd and Carrie McAulay, well-known pioneers of the San Joaquin Valley. One son, Elmer Lloyd, has blessed this union. Mr. Filippini is a Republican, and also a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West. When the World War was so far advanced that the United States had need of men, Mr. Filippini enlisted and served as sergeant, from June 24, 1918, to the following February. He was with aero squadrons Two Hundred Eighty-three and Two Hundred One, and was expert mechanic on aeroplane motors. GEORGE B. ANSPACH. — A successful alfalfa farmer and a public-spirited citizen who is ever ready to work for the advancement of others, as well as himself, is George B. Anspach, who was born in Ida County, Iowa, on March 29, 1879, the son of Levi and Carrie Anspach, early settlers and farmer-folk of the Hawkeye State. He was sent to the Iowa common schools, and spent his early days on the home farm ; and when he had attained his twenty-first year he set out for himself. For a year he worked for wages, and then for a year he farmed 100 acres of his father's land. The third year he took up 160 acres. After that, he moved to Cherokee County, Iowa, and rented a half-section for general agriculture. At the end of four years, he came west to California and at Long Beach embarked in cement contracting. He made it a rule, when he first started out, to do whatever he agreed to do in the most thorough manner possible, and it is not surprising that in the three years of his activity at Long Beach, he should make for himself an enviable reputation. In 1915, Mr. Anspach came to Patterson and worked on his father's farm in the Patterson Colony, on the San Joaquin River, and at the end of the year he engaged as a machinist on the pipe line for the Standard Oil Company, where he remained for eighteen months. Then he purchased ten acres on Walnut Street devoted to alfalfa, and the next season set the same out to Thompson Seedless grapes. After that he bought his father's farm of forty-nine acres on Apricot Avenue, one miles east of Elm, a fine ranch near the river devoted to alfalfa, and he at present intends to plow up the alfalfa on Walnut Street and set out there an orchard. He has built for himself a home, a. barn, a tank house and erected a serviceable windmill. At his farm, near Aurelia, Iowa, on June 6, 1908, Mr. Anspach was married to Miss Florence Lane, a native of Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Sarah Lane, an attractive and gifted lady who became the mother of two children — Meredith Fay and Dorance Dubes, both now at school. She passed away at Aurelia in 1910. In national politics a Republican, Mr. Anspach is nonpartisan in all local movements. ROY A. CROUCH. — An experienced, progressive merchant to whose happy combination of inspiriting aggressiveness and sensible conservatism Denair owes much, is Roy A. Crouch, the senior member of the Crouch & Johnson Mercantile Company, who was born near St. Edwards in Boone County, Nebr., on October 1, 1883, the second son of William and Florence (Tiedeman) Crouch, natives of Wis consin who now live in Denair. He attended the public schools, and later enjoyed a business college course, from which he was graduated in 1903. The following year Mr. Crouch came out to California and settled at Ceres, where he joined a brother, William E. Crouch, then a rancher near that town; and with him he remained until he returned to Nebraska in 1905. On coming back to California, he settled at Denair; for his brother in the meantime had established a mercantile store there, with a partner named Warren. To the proprietorship of this business our subject and N. E. Johnson have in time succeeded. William Crouch, his father, was the eighth child of William and Sarah (Hickmott) Crouch, who came 1374 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY from Kent, England, in 1842; and it is not surprising that with such sturdy ancestry, Mr. Crouch should be prominent in civic and patriotic affairs, and in anything and everything likely to "boost" and to benefit the community. He served, for example, as chairman of the Liberty Lean Drive committees of the Denair district and saw to it that this section went "over the top." In 1908 Mr. Crouch was married to Miss Elsie Cottle, a native of Los Angeles and the daughter of W. W. and Sallie W. (Parish) Cottle, who came from Missouri 'o Southern California about 1880, and now reside at Turlock. Their union has been blessed with three children — Roy W., Edward R. and Robert C. Crouch. HARRY O. PERRY. — A broad-minded, far-seeing rancher who is ever ready to serve the best interests of the community at large, is Harry O. Perry, who was born in Marshall County, 111., on December 20, 1886, the son of Samuel Perry, a native of Illinois, whose family is related to that of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, and who was himself an old-fashioned, standpat Republican. He married Miss Emma Luella Hattan, of Kentucky, who came to Illinois with her parents when a girl. When Harry was ten months old his parents removed with him to Fillmore County, Nebr., and until he was twelve years old he spent his boyhood there on the home farm. Then Mr. and Mrs. Perry moved into the city, where they retired, and Harry continued his schooling at the Shickley high school, from which he was gradu ated with the class of '03. After a while the family removed to Lincoln, Nebr., and there in 1912, Mrs. Perry passed away, mourned by all who knew her. Mr. Perry -till resides in Lincoln. Availing himself of the opportunity to graduate from the Lincoln high school, also, he received his diploma there in 1905. Harry Perry* then taught school for a term in Fillmore, and later entered the State University at Lincoln, where he pursued the academic course and majored in mathematics. Three jears later he began a six-years' course in law ; but after a year of study, he dropped the subject, and in 1910 was graduated with the degree of A.B. During his college career he was active in athletics, prominent in field and track events, and captain of the basket-ball team. Having finished his studies, he was super intendent of city schools at Utica, Seward County, Nebr., for a couple of years; and upon his retirement he came out to California and gave up the teaching profession. In the fall of 1912, Mr. Perry came to Denair, where he now owns a farm of twenty acres. He is a director in the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, also in the Tri-County Farm Bureau Exchange, and also of the California Farm Bureau Market ing Association. He is clerk of the board of trustees of Denair, having charge of both the grammar and the high schools, and has thus seen active and responsible duty in the erection of the new high school building at Denair. During the World War, also, he was a deputy sheriff. His public-spiritedness has repeatedly found expression when something worth while had to be done and he was one of the first to volunteer to do it. In 1910, Mr. Perry was married to Miss Stella N. Lull, who was born in Fill more County, Nebr., on October 13, 1885, "of parents now deceased. She graduated from the Nebraska State Normal in 1908, and was for some time active in her pro fession of teaching prior to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have four children — Emma Gene, Margaret Luella, Francis and Harry O. Perry, Jr. Mr. Perry belongs to the Woodmen of the World, and at Lincoln, Nebr., was elected to the "Honorary Senior Order of Innocents," of the University of Nebraska. ZEARLE A. KINSER. — An experienced ditch tender is Zearle A. Kinser who was born southeast of Montpellier on June 26, 1891, the oldest son of James B. and Laura (Davis) Kinser, now residents of Denair. Zearle attended school for a year at Montpellier, then went to the Madison School at Merced, and finally finished his schooling at Denair. After that, he helped to run his father's farm of 160 acres, north of Denair in the Elmwood Colony. In 1911, he went east to Fort Wayne, Ind., and for three years he attended the Mission Church Association Bible Training School; and when he came back to Denair, on June 5, 1914, he was married to Miss Ethel Moore, who was born near Humboldt, Tenn., of parents who died when she was six years of age. Once more going east, Mr. Kinser took up his residence at HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1375 Sterling, Kans., and for a year served as the pastor of the Mission Church there; then, removing to Groveland, 111., he was the pastor of a Mission Church for a couple of years, or until it seemed desirable to seek again the balmier climate of California. In May, 1917, Mr. Kinser returned to Denair, and since that time he has been in the employ of the Turlock Irrigation District as ditch tender in charge of Lateral No. 2 and Lateral No. 3. He owns twenty acres of land north of Denair, which he is fast developing into a vineyard. Two children add to the attractions of home life for the Kinsers — James Alvin and Harold Davis. Mr. Kinser is a Republican. MRS. ROMA J. HOLLINGSWORTH.— Prominent among the successful women of affairs in Stanislaus County, Mrs. Roma J. Hollingsworth, although retired, still enjoys the enviable status of a natural leader, to whom many look for guidance or encouragement. She was born near Ridge Farm, 111., on July 24, 1860, the daugh ter of John and Elizabeth A. (Reynolds) Folger — the former a native of Vermilion County, 111., the latter a native of Parke County, Ind. Roma attended the local public schools, and for three winters the Friends Academy at Vermilion Grove. On June 6, 1883, she was married to Jacob Mark Hollingsworth, who was born in Vermilion County, 111., on September 26, 1858, educated in part in the public schools and in part in Michigan Agricultural College, from which he was graduated in 1882. He took a keen interest in his chosen field, and as a trustee of the school board and a member of the Farmers Institute, he was able to do much toward the building of the Agricultural Building for the University of Illinois. His own opera tions as a farmer were in grain and stock, and as a Republican he was able to exert i sound and helpful influence in civic affairs. In 1906, the Hollingsworths removed to the Pacific Coast, and located at Whit tier, in Los Angeles County; and there, on April 18, 1907, he passed peacefully away", thus closing a true Christian life. He left, besides a devoted widow, eight children. Harry C. Hollingsworth married, but both he and his wife are now deceased, and 'heir two children, Ruth and Grace, are being reared by their grandmother. Lester F. is manager of the Hollingsworth ranches at Denair. Elsie; Alice (deceased) ; Mildred and Christine are teachers; Louise; Warren F. served as an artilleryman in the Philip pines for three years. In 1907, after a careful survey of San Joaquin Valley lands, Lester purchased 135 acres northwest of Denair; and there is the present residence of the family. Since buying the above, the Hollingsworths have sold some eighty acres, so that they retain only fifty-five; and this tract is devoted to general farming. More recently, Mrs. Hollingsworth and Lester have purchased forty acres four miles north of Denair, and this land Mr. Hollingsworth is checking in order to seed it to alfalfa and set it out with fruit trees. The Hollingsworths belong to the Milk Producers Association. CHARLES H. ERWAY. — A worthy representative of a most interesting his toric family of English origin is Charles H. Erway, the rancher living to the east of Turlock, who was born in Hastings, Mich., on September 1, 1879, the oldest son of Owen and Mary J. (Shively) Erway, members of a family founded in this country hy ten brothers who came from England, and on establishing themselves in the New World, changed their name, by common agreement, from Auway to Erway. When Owen Erway was fourteen j'ears of age, his parents migrated from New York to Michigan, .and there he was reared,- a farmer. There, also, he married Miss Shively, one of the attractive belles of her time, and a cousin of the famous lawyer, Benjamin F. Shively, a member of Congress from Indiana for several terms. Charles spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and when he had graduated from the graded schools, he left home to make his way in the world. He had developed sufficiently strong to do hard work, and so accepted a post as brakeman on the Toledo, Ann Arbor and Michigan Railroad, an activity which* he followed on the same line until 1905, sometimes acting as conductor. In 1905, Mr. Erway came to Oakland and entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad, in their western division; but owing to an accident he was later given yard service. Retiring from railroad work in 1912, he worked at carpentering for 1376 HISTORY Ol STANISLAUS COUNTY three years in San Francisco ; and then he came to reside on his ranch, which he had purchased near Turlock in 1907 while still railroading. Into the work of the new field he threw himself enthusiastically; and with his intelligence and experience, it would have been strange if he had not succeeded in an enviable manner. Now he is a live wire in the Farm Bureau, the Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union of America. He is also one of the seven men on the state board of -the Turlock Farmers Union of which he is the local president. At Durand, Mich., in 1903, Mr. Erway was married to Miss Anna Marie Paisley, a native of Ontario, Canada, where she was born on April 11, 1877, the descendant of a distinguished line of Scotch ancestry. Mr. Erway is connected with the Farmers Warehouse Association, and is a director of the Turlock Journal, a paper owned by the farmers. He is also a stockholder of the T. M. & G. LESTER J. NEILL. — A public-spirited citizen having no aspirations for official position of any sort, but untiring in his efforts, whenever the opportunity is presented, to boost Stanislaus County, is Lester J. Neill. He was born in Jennings County, Ind., on March 5, 1870, and is today comfortably settled about one mile to the west of Denair on the State highway. He was reared in Jennings County and there attended the public schools, after which, in 1891, he was graduated from Earlham College at Richmond, Ind. The next year he was married to Miss Isabella Bewley, a native of Jennings County, by whom he has had three children, all a credit to the family name. Clayton, who is attending Stanford University, served for six months as seaman in the U. S. Merchant Marine ; Margaret is the wife of Merle L. Harmon of Denair, and the mother of one child ; and Roberta is a student. Following his marriage, Mr. Neill was railroad agent, and later merchant, in Butlerville and Westfield, Ind.; and in 1908 he came west to California and selected Denair as the place of greatest appeal. He took up ranching, buying twenty acres west of Denair which he sold, and then bought another tract of twenty acres. He joined the Denair local of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau at its inception in 1915, and is (1921) local chairman of the Bureau at Denair. Mr. Neill has become more and more interested in and identified with the development of this section of Stanislaus County, and it is not surprising that whenever any movement of importance affecting Denair is proposed, the citizens there look to Mr. Neill to assist in seeing it through. WARREN L. TRUMBLY.— A worthy successor of an able blacksmith is Warren L. Trumbly, who bought out W. F. Young at Montpellier. He was born on the old Fanning farm, near La Grange, on September 8, 1884, the son of Edward Trumbly, who was born in Stanislaus County about 1854 and grew up to be a farmer. He married Miss Margaret Davis, who was also born in this county, the daughter of Harvey Bates Davis, a native of Virginia who migrated to California in 1849, became a large landowner, and at one time owned thousands of acres in Stanislaus County, as well as in surrounding territory. The Baggs Ranch, for example, is one portion of the original Davis Ranch. Mr. Davis was both a public-spirited and a public man, and served his fellow-citizens in the State Legislature from 1856 to the early seventies. Warren Trumbly attended the local school, and then worked on his father's ranch until he was nineteen years of age. In 1910, he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith trade in a shop at La Grange ; and three years later he set up a smithy on his own account at the same place, and there remained for five j'ears. In 1918, he purchased the blacksmith business of W. F. Young at Montpellier, and there he has since continued, his trade growing with each year. Able and willing to maintain the high standard set by Mr. Young, and having additional experience and ideas of his own, he has been fortunate in giving to Montpellier and vicinity the best service. At Modesto, on March 3, 1915, Mr. Trumbly was married to Miss Ellen Uhlinger, a native of Amador County and the daughter of Jacob and Ellen Uhlinger, pioneers of '49 who came to Amador County and there did their part as settlers in helping to develop the agricultural industry of the state. Two children sprang from this union, and they bear the names of Earl and Louisa. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1377 ARTHUR M. WATSON.-Occupying an enviable position among those in dustrious and thrifty ranchers whose hard, intelligent labor and consequent success have contributed to swell the general prosperity of the state, thereby adding blessings tor others as well as for his family and himself, Arthur M. Watson was born near Oakdale on September 20, 1878, and grew up proud of his relation as a native son to the great Pacific commonyvealth. His father was John Watson, a native of Penn sylvania who migrated with his parents to California in the historic year of 1849 and located at Copperopolis, where he tried his luck seeking gold in 'the Southern mines He married Miss Lizzie Gatzman, a native of the Golden State, having been born in Stanislaus County. John Watson is now deceased ; but his devoted widow resides, retired, at Fresno. Arthur spent his boyhood on his father's farm near Oakdale, where he attended the grammar schools; and later, in 1893, he finished his studies at Modesto. As soon as he was able, he began to farm on his own account and cultivated seven hundred acres near La Grange. Now he is located on a fine grain ranch of 1 ,600 acres, known as the Evans & Harder tract, near Montpellier, raising barley and oats. He employs three men steadily, and during the harvest time, six men; and he uses the most improved machinery and methods, and so gets the most satisfactory results. On March 3, 1919, Mr. Watson was married at Modesto to Miss Elsie (West- fall) Green, a native of Amador County, where she was born near lone on February 9, 1889. Her father was John Westfall, a native of West Virginia, and her mother, before her marriage, was Miss Ella Smith, a native of Iowa. By her marriage with J. W. Green one child, a son, Wallace, was born. By a former marriage with Beatrice Trumbly of La Grange, Mr. Watson was the father of four children : Vernon, Arthur, Nadine, and Marguerite. Mr. Watson takes a live interest in the cause of popular education, and was on the board of trustees of Montpellier Union grammar school. JOHN WINSON QUINLEY.— A representative California citizen keenly in terested in all the problems pertaining to progressive agriculture and the development and advancement of country life, is John Winson Quinley, the rancher living east of Montpellier. He was born near Waterford, on May 6, 1866, the son -of John Cinclar Quinley, who was born in Kentucky and migrated to California in 1857 from Mis souri. He spent the better part of six months in crossing the plains by ox-teams and mules, and among those in the same wagon-train were the Quinleys, the Hudelsons, the Turpens and the Davis families, all of whom settled in Stanislaus County. Mr. Quinley located first of all near Knights Ferry on the south bank of the Stanislaus River ; and while there he was able to help materially in the establishing of the county government. He married, in 1855, Miss Martha Matilda Turpen, in Missouri, and together they became substantial farmer folk. Mr. Quinley died on Washington's Birthday, 1898, and his estimable widow passed away at the home of our subject near Montpellier, on June 19, 1919. She had lived for years a retired life at Modesto, and finally wished to return to the country, but she died soon after making the change. John Winson Quinley, the fourth child and the third eldest son in a family of nine children, spent his boyhood on the home farm ; and since then, with the excep tion of four years spent in mining at Copperopolis, he has always been a grain farmer in Stanislaus County. He attended the Rinehart school, seven miles east of Modesto, and is a graduate of the Tilden district school. When twenty-three, Mr. Quinley assumed the responsibilities in the management of his father's grain farm, and since 1917 he has farmed the 800 acres three and a half miles east of Montpellier, growing there both barley, and oats with a marked degree of success. He is a stockholder in the California Farm Bureau Elevator Corporation at Montpellier. At Ceres, on September 27, 1893, Mr. Quinley was married to Miss Cora Belle McCoy, a native of Ashland, Ore., where she was born on July 28, 1878, the daugh ter of Silas and Martha (Frier) McCoy, the former a native of Missouri, the latter of Arkansas, who migrated to Oregon in the early seventies. The union has resulted in the birth of eleven children. Ormal Alvin lives with his wife and a child at Fresno. Clarence Winson and his wife are residents of Keyes. Lester Herbert is a student at the College of the Pacific at San Jose, and so is Esther Vivian. John Cinclar 1378 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY is a student at the Turlock high school. Ora Viola, George William and Martha Almeda are pupils in the Union district school. And the little folks of the family are Mildred Carlyle, Cecil Woodrow, and Corabel. Mr. Quinley's father taught school for years in Stanislaus County, and was a well-educated man ; and Mr. Quinley has found pleasure in serving as a director in the Union grammar school board. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Quinley usually votes and acts with the Democratic party, but is not bound in slavish fashion on local issuse. ABNER M. BARNES. — A live wire from Montpellier in the Farm Bureau Exchange is A. M. Barnes, who was born at Albany, Shackelford County, Tex., -on November 2, 1884, the son of A. J. and Frances (Yancey) Barnes, who migrated to California in 1895 and located at Modesto. In 1902 Mr. Barnes purchased 1,000 acres three miles from Montpellier; and after finishing school in 1900, our subject was initiated into dry farming, and for the last seven j'ears has engaged in the raising of grain at Montpellier on his father's ranch. In 1906, at Modesto, Mr. Barnes was married to Miss Ethel. Thorne, and they have two children, Frances and Mildred, the pride and the life of the household. Mr. Barnes, who is a Democrat, takes an enthusiastic interest in public education, and he is serving as a clerk of the board of trustees of Montpellier Union school. Although busy enough, from morning till night, with his own investments and enterprises, Mr. Barnes affords an excellent example of the broad-minded and public- spirited citizen who somehow or other always finds time to render civic service for the benefit of the community at large. His farm is a model in many respects, and he is happy when he sees others ambitious to strive for, and attaining, what he also, by his intelligent, steady labor, has come to enjoy. JOHN CLEVEN. — A Norwegian-American who has "made good" to such an extent in California that he enjoys the esteem of a wide circle of acquaintances, is John Cleven, the rancher, who lives about two miles east of Montpellier. He was born in Guldbrandsdal, Norway, on November 27, 1882, the son of Engebrit and Carrie (Olsen) Cleven, both natives of Norway, who became substantial farmer-folk. Mr. Cleven died about 1898 at his old home; and his good wife is still living in Nor- waj , making her home with a younger sister of our subject. Of the six surviving children, four are in California. A daughter is now Mrs. W. A. Dinkelman ; Claus resides at Montpellier, and Caren lives near by, while John is the enterprising agri culturist of whom we are writing. The oldest of these children, Mrs. Dinkelman, came to America in 1890, locating at Modesto; and the last of those who came, John and Caren, arrived in 1904. Mr. Cleven first worked for wages on ranches. Since 1913, Mr. Cleven has farmed 720 acres, helped by his brothers and the sister, Caren, who is in charge of the home ; and he has become a very successful grain farmer, and is a stockholder in the California Farm Bureau Elevator Corporation at Montpellier. He endeavors to operate according to the last word of science, with the most modern and approved machinery and implements ; and whatever may be said of his methods or aims, he certainly gets results. At Modesto, in 1915, on one of the proudest days of his life, Mr. Cleven was made an American citizen ; and as such he rendered good service as a fire warden dur ing the war period when many fires occurred on the Montpellier ranches, the cause or origin of which was very difficult to explain. LEON K. FARGO. — Although one of the more recent arrivals in Stanislaus County, Leon K. Fargo, engaged in the handling of trucks and used automobiles, in partnership with C. R. Strait, has a high standing in Modesto among the leading business men of the city and enjoj's a large patronage. He is a skilled mechanician and thoroughly understands every detail of repair or construction on his cars, and is recognized as an excellent judge of motors and all other mechanical construction. A native of South Dakota, Mr. Fargo was born in Aberdeen, May 25, 1888, the con of E. H. and Nina Frances (King) Fargo. His father was a railroad man, and drove the first freight train into Aberdeen, S. D., over the tracks of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, with which road he was employed for fifty-two HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1379 years previous to his coming to California. It was in Aberdeen that our Mr. Fargo passed his boyhood and youth, receiving his early education in the grammar and high schools of that city. He was ever energetic and ambitious, with a natural bent for mechanics, and at the age of nineteen years he started out to win his fortune, his first venture being as a mechanic in an Aberdeen bicycle shop. It was on December 2, 1905, that Mr. Fargo came to California with his par ents, locating in Santa Cruz, where he made his start in the automobile business, being engaged as a mechanic in the Santa Cruz Garage. He remained in this con nection until he came to Modesto in November, 1909, where he has since made his home. He was engaged for a time with the Roy Mires Garage on Ninth Street, now- known as the Overland Garage, where he established an enviable reputation for effi ciency and dependability in all his work. The opportunities offered in this rapidly developing city soon became apparent to Mr. Fargo, and after a few years' successful service with Mr. Mires, he determined to go into business for himself. Accordingly the present partnership with C. R. Strait was entered into, and today he enjoys a flourishing business, handling Traffic and Moreland trucks and used cars, with com modious quarters at 526 Tenth Street. The marriage of Mr. Fargo and Miss Avis Rossel was celebrated in Modesto, January 20, 1913. Mrs. Fargo is the daughter of Charles and Jessie Rossel, one of the early pioneer families of Stanislaus County, and herself a native daughter of Modesto, where she was reared and educated. Her father was for many jears one of the well-known dairy farmers of this vicinity, but is now retired and living in Modesto. Mr. and Mrs. Fargo own an attractive home on Virginia Avenue. Dur ing the World War, Mr. Fargo rendered excellent service as a deputy sheriff. Politi cally he is a Republican and a stanch party man, although in local matters he stands strongly for businesslike administration and progressive legislation. CHARLES S. KERR. — The motorist in Stanislaus County owes much to such broad-minded, far-seeing representatives of the automobile industry as Charles S. Kerr for the betterment of conditions making motoring more than ever a safe attraction. He was born in the historic city of Edinburgh, Scotland, on April 19, 1882, the son of Robert J. Kerr, a Scotch veterinary surgeon of wide repute, who had married Miss Annie Forbes, like himself still a resident of the land of Burns; and he attended the George Watson College at Edinburgh, and also studied for a j-ear at the university there. He took up medicine, but with the outbreak of the Boer War he joined the field intelligence department of the British forces in South Africa, and did his duty by his native land. This experience alone contributed much to enable Mr. Kerr, in subsequent years, to take part in affairs in whatever corner of the world he was found ; and it was also of value to him when the recent World War broke out, and he was called upon to assume a new and responsible leadership. In 1905 Mr. Kerr came out to the United States and settled in Los Angeles, where he engaged for a few months with Hyman & Pearson in the automobile trade. Then he went to San Francisco and joined Norman DeVaux and the Auburn Motor Company, and after that he migrated from San Jose to Fresno and other points in Central and Northern California, always identified with the handling of motor cars. On February 15, 1918, Mr. Kerr came to Modesto, and started with the Stephens; and the next year he took up the distribution of Marmon cars. He is now president of the Stanislaus Auto Trade Association. On February 22, 1910, at Pacific Grove, Mr. Kerr was married to Miss Philippa Folger, a native of Jackson, Amador County, Cal, and the daughter of Henry Folger, who had married Margaret Brown. Her father, Judge Brown, was a prominent early settler in Amador County, while Mr. Folger, a member of the Nantucket fam ily, of that name, was a mining man and came to California in the stirring days of 1850. In 1904, after the death of her husband, Mrs. Folger moved to Pacific Grove, and there Mrs. Kerr attended the high school. Both husband and wife belong to the Episcopal Church, but Mr. Kerr keeps himself independent of political party affilia tion. He belongs to Kerman Lodge No. 420 F. & A. M., and to Stanislaus Chapter No. 49 R. A. M., also Pyramid No. 15 A. E. O. S., and of the Modesto Chamber of 1380 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Commerce. During the World War, Mr. Kerr organized the Stanislaus Motor Reserves, which acted as a home defense council, and he commenced aviation activities and was instrumental in successfully putting through the project of a local aviation field. Mr. Kerr was the prime mover in having the board of supervisors pass ordi nances on the burning of stubble; also having tractors equipped with spark arresters. These, county measures were carried to the Legislature, passed by the law-making body and are now part of the laws of the state. O. SCOTT HURLBUT. — A rising young business man who has been very successful in the electrical field is O. Scott Hurlbut, the partner of W. B. Mahoney in the well-known battery and ignition works. He was born in New Hartford, But ler County, Iowa, on November 13, 1889, the son of E. J. and Trilla E. Hurlbut, and his father was an Iowa farmer who came to the Hawkeye State with his father when a boy, at which time Grandfather Hurlbut took up Government land. The Hurlbuts originally came from New York, with which family William Henry Hurl but, the eminent journalist, was so prominently connected, and they were of the timber with which great commonwealths such as Iowa and California have been built. O. Scott Hurlbut attended both the grammar and high schools at New Hart ford, Iowa, and when eighteen years of age, on the threshold of manhood, came West to the Golden State and settled at Modesto, where for a couple of years he clerked for the Morris Bros., the booksellers. At the same time, he pursued a course at the Modesto Business College. Then, in 1910, he became deputy county assessor, under J. F. Campbell; and on Mr. Campbell's retirement from office, he engaged to clerk for the Weils Furniture Company, remaining with that enterprising concern for a year and a half. Next he had a furniture business of his own for a couple of years in Patterson, and on his return to Modesto, he undertook the sale of Dodge motor cars, It was only a step to embark in storage battery work, and his subsequent move was the formation, in January, 1919, of the partnership with Mr. Mahoney. On June 16, 1912, Mr. Hurlbut was married near Ceres to Miss Eva Case, a native of Minnesota and the daughter of F. B. and Elizabeth Case, who came to Cali fornia from Minnesota in 1910. Miss Case was educated in the North Star State, and for several years before her marriage taught school herself. Two children have blessed this fortunate union : the one is Orrin and the other Enid. The family reside at 201 Orange Avenue, Modesto, where Mr. and Mrs. Hurlbut own their home, and they attend the Baptist Church at Modesto. Mr. Hurlbut belongs to the Mod ern Woodmen, Modesto Lodge. EMIL BERNARD BOHN. — A highly-esteemed young man who is modestly proud of his overseas service during the late war is Emil Bernard Bohn. He was born in Eau Claire, Wis., on March 5, 1887, the son of Christian Bohn, who was born in Christiania, Norwaj', where he was reared on the farm and received a good education. At the age of twenty-two he migrated to the United States, locating in Eau Claire, Wis., where he met Miss Anna Johnson, the lady who afterwards became his wife. She was also born in Norway and came with her parents on a sailer to the United States in 1867, the trip consuming three months. They located at Eau Claire, where Anna attended the public schools. Mr. Bohn, after many years of successful business, was taken away in 1898, aged fifty years. Emil attended the Eau Claire grammar schools, and on attaining his thirteenth year, struck out for himself, working for a year in a dry goods store. Then he entered the wholesale grocery trade as an order clerk, and soon after became the shipping clerk of the concern ; but neither employ ment appealed to him, and at eighteen he took up the painting trade, and served his apprenticeship under A. Hansen of Eau Claire. Since then he has been very active in both the painting and paperhanging lines. It was in April, 1906, that his mother and sister, Cornelia, came out to Cali fornia, and three years later he followed them. At first Mrs. Bohn and her daughter settled at Oakdale, but in March, 1907, they moved to Modesto. In February, 1909, they made a trip back to the old home in Wisconsin, remaining until June, when, accompanied by Emil, they returned to Modesto and the three have since made this HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1381 city their place of residence, dwelling together. Mrs. Bohn is a member of the W. R. C, while Cornelia Bohn is a member of Golden State Rebekah Lodge No. 10. In June, 1918, Mr. Bohn entered the service of the U. S. Army and after twenty-six days of training at Camp Kearney was sent overseas to France. He trained at La Chatelle with the One Hundred Fifteenth Trench Mortar Battery, and was in reserve for the drives. Such hardships were encountered by him and his fellows„how- ever, that he was taken sick from exceptional exposure and for many months was in hospitals near Paris, Chaumont and Bordeaux. In April, 1919, Mr. Bohn returned ro the United States, and on the third of May he was discharged at the Presidio. Then he returned to civilian life at Modesto; but still suffering somewhat through impaired health, he has been able to work only occasionally at his trade, and is only slowly regaining his former strength, thus affording an admirable illustration of the personal sacrifices made by many to attain a victory by which the world is expected so greatly to profit. He is naturally deeply interested in patriotic societies, so we find him with Thos. Enright Post No. 97, Veterans of Foreign Wars. WILLIAM N. YOUNG. — An esteemed executive who is filling a position of responsibility requiring tact, courtesy and sympathy, is William N. Young, the super intendent of the Roman Catholic Cemetery, who was born in Allen County, Ky., on December 13, 1864, the son of Oscar and Mary Young. His father was a farmer in the Blue Grass State; and while William enjoyed for awhile the comforts of a country home, he attended the district schools. He was deprived of a mother's care, however, for she died when he was a little boy; and being one of a large family, he began to earn his own living at the tender age of twelve. He worked for his father at first, and then he was employed on other tobacco plantations. On April 22, 1912, he landed in California and settled in Stanislaus County, and for six years he was employed at various kinds of labor requiring more than ordi nary intelligence. Since 1918, he has had entire charge of the beautiful Roman Catholic burial grounds, and has thus, while performing his duties, been able to render a service appreciated by all who come in contact with him. During April, 1893, Mr. Young was married, in Sumner County, Tenn., to Miss Sallie Young, a native of Sumner County in the same state, and the daughter of Wright and Narcissa Young, Tennessee farmer folk. Five children have blessed their union. Lucian Purvis is at La Grange. Chester Wright is with the Power Company of Modesto, and so is John William, his brother. Avie has become Mrs. A. W. Hall, and Fannie is Mrs. A. N. Phillips, both of Modesto. The family live at 323 Kimble Street, where Mr. and Mrs. Young own their home. Mr. Young is a standpat Democrat, but is ever ready to view local questions from the broader standpoint. RALPH VAN WAGNER. — Prominent among the leaders of dairying interests in California, Ralph Van Wagner has worked not only constantly but intelligently, and today, as foreman of the extensive Milk Producers Association of Modesto, he is well known as an expert in the manufacture of milk sugar. He was born at South Edmeston, Otsego County, N. Y., on April 11, 1877, the grandson of a merchant of the well-known Van Wagner family of New York, and the son of an agriculturist who had a farm on which the lad grew up ; and while doing the usual chores about the farm, he attended both the grammer and the high schools of New Berlin, and not until he was twenty did he strike out for himself. Then he was emploj'ed in a cheese factory, and worked up to the position of foreman. This factory was at South Edmes ton, and was owned by the Phoenix Cheese Company; and he remained there for eight years, superintending the output, a full line of fancy cheese. Taking up the manufacture of certain milk products, Mr. Van Wagner was for a j'ear with the National Milk Sugar Company of Edmeston, and then he made milk sugar for the Phoenix Cheese Company for six years. Next, migrating to California and settling at Gustine, in Merced County, he worked for Smith, Kline & French, a Philadelphia concern; and in May, 1919, he came over to Modesto and assumed the responsibilities of foreman of the milk sugar department of the Milk Producers Asso ciation of Modesto. He also had charge of the powdered milk product of the same 1382 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY corporation, and turned out about 3,000 pounds of milk sugar a day. The concern also manufactures about 1,000 pounds of albumen daily for poultry food, and has a large capacity for dry milk. At South Edmeston on July 25, 1900, Mr. Van Wagner married Miss Jennie Katherine Vidler, a native of South Edmeston, N. Y., and the daughter of Joseph and Alberta Vidler. She, too, enjoj'ed a high school training, and their one child, Elwj'n Van Wagner, is now a student at the Modesto high school. The family make their home in Modesto, where Mr. Van Wagner is the owner of town property. Mr. Van Wagner is a Republican. WALLACE H. HUBBERT. — A gifted young man whose association with the leading architects of California has been but preliminary to his promising work as a rising architect in the Valley, is Wallace H. Hubbert, who was born at San Francisco on May 29, 1891, the son of Nathaniel Hubbert, a native of Kansas who came out to the Coast and established himself in business in the Bay City. He married Miss Jeanette Carey, a native daughter born in San Francisco, and a member of a family- known for their work as pioneer contractors, builders and designers. Wallace attended the grammar and high schools of San Francisco, and then took a course offered by the American Society of Beaux Arts — an international system equivalent to a university course in architectural instruction. In San Francisco he had a valuable experience with the Exposition Company, and he has worked for or with such leading architects as B. R. Maybeck, Willis Polk, G. Albert Lanzburgh and J. R. Miller. He spent six years in San Francisco, and then went to Fresno, where he became office manager for four years for Ernest J. Kump. From Fresno, in 1918, Mr. Hubbert came to Modesto and opened an architec tural office for himself ; and since then he has designed, among many others, the Ramont Building, the C. R. Tillson Apartment House, the Covell Garage, the Cen tenary Methodist Church, the residence of Dr. Reamer, the Waterford and the -Fair- view schoolhouses, the Thomas Griffin Building, the Ripon Garage and other notable structures. He has always taken a keen interest in local development, and while hold ing himself independent in politics, has sought to elevate the standard of citizenship. At Waterford, Cal., on December 18, 1920, Mr. Hubbert was married to Miss Alice McConnick, a native of Tennessee, and the daughter of John and Louisa McConnick, early settlers of Waterford, where Mr. McConnick held and developed much land. Besides the usual elementary studies, Miss McConnick completed the course of the Oakdale high school and so laid the foundation for that preparation by which she has been of such help to her husband. H. E. ZIMMERMAN. — An interesting family organization that has become one of the important business enterprises of Stanislaus County is the Stanislaus Imple ment & Hardware Company, which is ably managed by H. E. Zimmerman. He was born in Stockton, Cal., on March 14, 1891, the son of Louis W. Zimmerman, a native of Bavaria, Southern Germany, who, after migrating to America, spent a few years in New York and Illinois and then came to California and settled in San Joaquin County in the early seventies. It was here that he married Miss Bena Tischbein, who migrated from his old home. For a number of years he engaged in stock- raising and dairying and later went into the grape industry and had a nice vineyard near Stockton. He passed away in 1904, but his good wife is still living and now resides at 509 Fourteenth Street, Modesto, where she makes a comfortable home for her sons, although having attained her sixtieth year. The worthy couple raised seven children, two girls and five boys, all of whom are still living. The father died when his son, H. E. Zimmerman, was thirteen years of age, and ever since that time our subject has been steadily making his own way in the world. After finishing grammar school he took a course in a business college in Stockton and after some preparation took a position with the California Moline Plow Company, a factory branch of the Moline Plow Company, Moline, 111., at Stockton. After some years with this firm, he took further training in a business college in San Francisco **() better equip himself for his line of occupation. After that he went with the Cali- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1383 fornia Moline Plow Company at Los Angeles for five years, then for three jears in a retail business handling the same goods as the Moline in San Jose, and then he had an interest in a firm of this kind for one year in Orland, Glenn County, Cal. At the end of a j'ear he gave up this business and enlisted in the World War. On his return to California he came to Modesto, and with his two brothers, Louis W. and Otto E., and in association with M. M. Berg of Turlock, formed the Stanislaus Implement & Hardware Company. This firm has for its territory the northern half of Stanislaus County, while M. M. Berg, who is president of this firm, also has a separate business at Turlock under his own name which handles the same lines out of there and has for its territory the southern half of the county. Entirely conversant with the many ins and outs of this important line of business, the Zimmerman brothers have already built up a nice business in Modesto and each day they are adding more pleased cus tomers to their list. L. W. Zimmerman and Otto E. Zimmerman both hold positions with this firm and as their training was almost identical with that of H. E. Zimmer man, it makes a very strong combination of young men who are thoroughly posted. The war record of the Zimmerman brothers is also enviable. H. E. Zimmerman enlisted on June 28, 1917, and after a few weeks' training at Camp Kearney he went overseas with the Fortieth Division. His unit received final training at the artillery range at Camp de Souge, near Bordeaux, France. After the armistice he transferred to a transportation unit at Bordeaux. While he did not get into any actual fighting, ne had many experiences and was able to do considerable traveling while in the service. He went through England, France, Belgium and the occupied territory in Germany from Cologne in Germany to Strassburg in Alsace-Lorraine. He was discharged at the Presidio on July 1, 1919, and came to Modesto in October. Louis W. Zimmerman entered the service at Camp Lewis in September, 1917, and trained with the famous Three Hundred Sixty-third Infantry of the Ninety-first Division. He saw service with them at St. Mihiel, the Meuse-Argonne offensive and the drive in Belgium. He rose to the rank of battalion sergeant major. He returned to the United States and was discharged at the Presidio in April, 1919. Otto E. Zimmerman entered the Navy and trained at Point Lorna, near San Diego. He later went to San Francisco and then was sent to New York and served on a cruiser doing convoy duty for troop and supply ships out of there. He was mus tered out of service on Thanksgiving Day in 1918. Another younger brother, Charles S. Zimmerman, who follows this same line of business in Fresno, enlisted in the merchant marine during the war and made a number of trips to Honolulu and the Philippines. His work and training has been the same as his brothers at Modesto and he later intends to be with them here. An older brother, George, is farming near Stockton. All the boys are earnest boosters for Modesto and feel that it has a great future. C. LESLIE SWAN. — An enterprising and promising young man of particular interest in part as the son of a well-known pioneer of Stanislaus County and prom inent banker of Modesto is C. Leslie Swan, who was born, a native son, in Mont pellier, Stanislaus County, on June 24, 1897. His father was Charles D. Swan, the financier, and his mother, in her maidenhood, was Miss May Jones. Leslie Swan finished the usual grammar school course in Modesto, and then graduated from the high school of the same city; and having equipped himself for responsible work, he joined the staff of the Union Savings Bank of Modesto as book keeper. He was well established there when the great World War involved the United States ; and in defense of his country, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy on June 30, 1917, and was trained at the San Pedro Naval Base. In February, 1918, he was transferred to Cape May, N. J., and on May 18 of that same year he sailed from New London, Conn., for the Bermuda Islands, and then on to Ponta Delgada in the Azores, from which he proceeded on to Brest and was finally landed at Plymouth, England, where he served at the Naval Base Camp. He returned to New York on May 23, 1919, and was released from active duty in the Naval Reserve on June 12, 1919. On his return to Modesto, Mr. Swan took a position as bookkeeper with the California National Bank ; but since the organization of the American National Bank, 1384 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY he has become one of its assistant cashiers. His ability and his affability unite to at tract and to hold the desired patron, who rejoices in the excellent banking facilities furnished in the growing city of Modesto. On September 22, 1920, Mr. Swan was married at San Francisco to Miss Eleanor Green, a native of Pocatello, Idaho, and the daughter of John A. and Maude O. Green. Her father has retired from active business, and now resides at San Francisco. He gave his daughter every educational advantage, and she attended the best schools available in Denver, British Columbia and Seattle. MODESTO MILK COMPANY.— Modesto owes much to such well- organized, well-conducted business concerns as the Modesto Milk Company, which has plajed an honorable role in the local commercial world," affecting personally, and in a far-reaching manner, the well-being of thousands. It was incorporated in 1919, and its officers are: President, James T. Irvin; vice-president, Nels Nyborg; secretary and treasurer, John A. Wenger. Mr. Irvin is a Mason, and has been very active in the building up of the venture. Mr. Nyborg, also a Mason, is an expert on dairy products, and has hitherto been greatly sought for by creameries of the valley. Mr. Wenger is a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born near Lebanon on the estate of his father, who was a prosperous farmer ; he attended both the grammar and high schools of Lebanon, and topped off his studies with a course in a business college. In 1909, he came to Modesto, and for nine years he was with the Modseto Creamery. In April, 1918, Mr. Wenger entered the military service of the nation and trained in the Supply Company of the Three Hundred Sixty-third Infantry at Camp Lewis. He sailed for France in June, 1918, and further trained in France at Camp Nojent. He participated in the St. Mihiel and the first Meuse-Argonne drives, and was then with the United States forces in Belgium, which operated about twenty miles east of Brussels. He returned to the United States in May, 1919, and received his discharge at Camp Dix on May 22, 1919. Coming back to Modesto, he arrived at the lucky moment of the inception of the Modesto Milk Company, and at once became the secretary and treasurer of the organization. Mr. Wenger belongs to the Odd Fellows, and he enjoys there an enviable popularity. The Modesto Milk Company's building and equipment were installed at an approximate cost of $75,000, and is, therefore, modern throughout. The company draws its supply of milk from San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, and it was started for the purpose of pasteurizing milk and making ice cream. During the past year, the company has been making butter on an extensive scale, but the wholesaling of ice cream remains the main business. DRUA J. DAVIS. — A deputy in the sheriff's office at one time actively engaged in the maintenance of law and order and now participating in one of the great move ments for the blessing of millions, the development of irrigation, is Drua J. Davis, who was born at Le Roy, Coffey County, Kans., on March 22, 1863. His father, Ehod Davis, came there from West Virginia in 1857, a millwright, carpenter and stair builder by trade, and he built the first flour mill in Coffey County. He married Edith Gappen, who died in 1906, Mr. Davis surviving two years; both died in Kansas. Drua attended the grammar school at Le Roy, and when twenty-two years old started out for himself, when he took up carpentering in Oklahoma with his father when the boom was on there and did well from the start. At the end of six months, however, he left Oklahoma City and went on to Texas, where he worked for the Santa Fe Railroad in bridge and depot construction at Gainesville ; but in four months he was off for Colorado, and there he remained for four years in the Pueblo car shops of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. On his return to his old home in Kansas, he followed the carpenter trade for five years. Coming to Southern California in 1908, he stopped at Riverside, but immediately pushed on to Oregon and for two years ranched abput twenty-five miles northeast of Portland, raising principally crops of potatoes; and from there he and his wife and Mrs. Davis' father and mother drove in lumber wagons to the Klamath Valley, and from there to Stanislaus County, arriving at Modesto in 1911. Mr. Davis soon HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1385 found work with the Home Construction Company, and assisted to erect some of the fine residences in the city. For a while, too, he served as deputy sheriff under Sheriff George T. Davis, and in 1920 he became an employee of the Modesto Irrigation District and worked at installing concrete weirs. He owns ten acres of fine land about eleven miles out on the Crows Landing Boulevard, half a mile from Mountain View schoolhouse, in Glendora Colony. In Iola, Allen County, Kans., on December 8, 1906, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Nova Darr, a native of Jasper County, Mo., and the daughter of David Darr, a native of Missouri and a farmer, who moved to Oklahoma, where he preempted Government land and raised stock. His health failed him, and for three years the Darr family lived in Washington, Oregon and California, when they again returned to Missouri, and it was then that Mrs. Davis was married. They later came to California, where Mr. Darr died in Modesto. Her mother was a native of Texas, who came to Missouri directly after the Civil War, and is now making her home with her only child, Mrs. Davis. Mrs. Davis attended school in Oklahoma and Missouri. Upon arriving in Modesto Mr. Davis bought some lots on Second Street, erected two houses, one for himself and the other for Mr. Darr, but sold that property and at present he and his family are living at 831 Sixth Street. He is a Democrat and a member of the American Yeomen. JOSEPH R. WARD. — Modesto, the favorite City of Homes, owes much for its modern conveniences and comforts to such men of enterprise as Joseph R. Ward, who has charge of the local trade of the Modesto Ice Delivery, and oversees the de livery of ice to the ever-increasing customers. He was born at Toronto, Ontario, on May 13, 1876, and is the son of William and Sarah Ann Ward. Mr. Ward was a farmer and a stockman, and on removing from Canada to the United States in 1891, he came to California and settled in Fresno County, at Fowler, where he continued ranching, making a specialty of fruit culture. He died in 1912, a year after the death of his devoted wife. Joseph Ward attended the excellent grammar schools of Toronto, and soon after coming to California with his father, launched out for himself. He farmed until 1900, and then took up the ice business in Fresno, becoming manager of the Con sumers Ice Company's plant, which position he filled with ability until 1916. Then he accepted the post he now fills with the Modesto Ice Delivery. Descending from the well-known Ward family of England, which came to America in the stirring days of the British Colonies, some remaining in the United States, some going north of the line into Canada, Mr. Ward has never had any diffi culty in adapting himself to American or California ways, and it is not surprising that he and his service are so acceptable to all who deal with or through him. He also owns an oil service station in Fresno. On September 13, 1896, Mr. Ward was married to Miss Rose Ann Adams, a native of Leamington, Canada, and the daughter of William and Mary Adams, who came to California in 1892 and settled in Fresno County. Mrs. Ward enjoyed the best public school advantages in Canada, and so has been able to do well by her two children: Edith, who is Mrs. A. Beeskow of Fresno, and Ruth Helen, who lives at home and attends the high school. Mr. Ward belongs to the Masons of Modesto and the Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World in Fresno. RICHARD KEITH, WHITMORE.— A worthy representative of a distin guished family of the San Joaquin Valley, Richard Keith Whitmore, cashier of the thriving Bank of Hughson, may well be proud of the civic and the military record of his father, Col. R. K. Whitmore, of the Spanish-American War. He came from New Jersey to California about 1875, and while still a young man undertook the farming of grain at Stockton. After a while, he moved to Ceres, and quite naturally assumed leadership in the early days of that town. He married Miss Annie Pagels, and she, too, has her share of the credit as a founder of the promising town. More and more he became active in public affairs, and for twenty-five years he served in the California National Guards. He was for a while major of infantry, and he was 1386 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY mustered out as colonel of the Sixth California Regiment Infantry after. seeing credit able Spanish War service. In Ceres, honored of all, he passed away in 1911. Richard Whitmore attended both the grammar and the high schools of Ceres, and was graduated from the latter institution when he was eighteen years old, where upon he at once tried his hand at farming, and cultivated the old Whitmore ranch; and when the World War broke out he entered the service of the United States. He enlisted in November, 1918, trained at Kelly Field, at San Antonio, Texas, as a mem ber of the Six Hundred Sixty-sixth Aero Squadron, and at the end of three months was transferred, first to one and then to another aero squadron. He spent four months at the camp at Garden City, on Long Island, when he was sent overseas, where he served eight months. Returning to Camp Kearney, Cal., in April, 1919, he received his honorable discharge. In 1920, Mr. Whitmore came to Hughson and entered upon the duties of teller in the Bank of Hughson ; and after a short service he was promoted to be the cashier. His natural ability, experience and tact all have combined to make him helpful and congenial to the patrons of the bank, and also to the general public, and has meant increased growth in the business of the institution. A Republican in matters of national political import, Mr. Whitmore is too broad- minded a citizen to allow party ties to impede him in supporting the best candidates and the best measures for the community in which he lives, works and thrives. He belongs to the Baptist Church of Ceres, and is a welcome member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. WILLIAM M. REPASS.— A thoroughly-trained, all-around mechanic, Wil liam M. Repass, proprietor of the bustling garage at Hughson, furnishes a reliable service which not only the citizens of the town, but also motorists for miles around fully appreciate. He was born at Canton, Fulton County, 111., on September 5, 1894, the son of William M. Repass, a farmer, who had married Miss Mary Inez Wilcoxen ; and when our subject was thirteen years old, his parents came out to California, in 1907, and settled on a ranch of forty acres near Turlock, devoted to fruit. Thus William attended the grammar school at Denair and the high school at Turlock. When eighteen years of age, he started a motorcycle shop at Hughson — the first estab lished in the town; he began with the Thor agency, then added that of the Indian, and finally had the Harlej'-Davidson. He was also often called upon to do repair work on automobiles, and such were the demands upon his time and resources, that he was compelled to seek more room and a better equipment. In 1920, Mr. Repass purchased the old Hughson Garage and its outfit — a structure of corrugated steel, 50x80 feet in size, and at the same time he took into partnership J. B. Fritts, also a competent mechanic ; and now together they do all kinds of automobile repair work, as well as battery and ignition work. They know their business, and they seek and merit the patronage they enjoy by giving individual and patient attention to each person in need of their services. Hughson may well be congratulated on the excellent garage service made possible by the combined efforts and experience of these talented mechanics, Messrs. Repass & Fritts. At Hughson, on December 6, 1916, Mr. Repass was married to Miss Stella Swagerty, a native of Fresno and the daughter of S. C. Swagerty, a highly-respected citizen of that city. One son has blessed their union — Marion Clayton by name. HARRY P. ALGAR. — The successful proprietor of a thriving drug store at Hughson, Harry P. Algar was born near Seattle, Wash., on March 9, 1884, the son of James Nelson and Rosanna (McKinnell) Algar, farmer folk who hailed from Ontario, Canada, and came out to Washington in the seventies. When Harry was six years old, his parents moved to Vancouver Island, and there, near Nanaimo, took up farming; and in time they had one of the best grain farms for many miles around. Harry Algar attended both the grammar and the high schools of Nanaimo, and then he matriculated at the Ontario College of Pharmacy in Toronto, Canada, from which he was graduated in 1907. He returned to the United States on graduating, coming to Santa Cruz, Cal., and for four j'ears he worked as a pharmacist. He then HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1387 came to Modesto in 1911 to take charge of Mr. Player's drug store, in the absence of that gentleman, while he was pursuing his medical studies; and he liked the town so well that he remained there for four years. In 1915, Mr. Algar removed to Hughson, and immediately he established the Algar Drug Store, which he has conducted so successfully for several years, being now located in his own building on Main Street. His thorough knowledge of the drug trade, viewed both scientifically and commercially, has operated to draw steadily in creasing patronage; with the result that while building for himself, Mr. Algar has been able to equip his establishment better and better, and to expand to the great advantage of the community at large. He seeks to anticipate the wants and the wishes of all classes, and visitors from other and larger towns are often agreeably surprised to learn what the modest but carefully stocked drug store affords. At Modesto, on June 28, 1911, Mr. Algar was married to Miss Jennie L. Jones, a native of Westport, Stanislaus County, and the daughter of J. I. and Lilly (Hilyard) Jones. Her grandfather, Humphrey Jones, was a plantation owner in Missouri in ante-bellum days, and as a genuine '49er, he left Missouri and came out to California. Her maternal grandfather, Leonard Hilyard, came from Virginia and settled near Stockton, and he grew to be interested heavily in farming and stock raising. Later, the Hilyards removed to Westport. Mrs. Algar enjoyed both grammar and high school advantages, attending the schools of Modesto. Mr. and Mrs. Algar have two chil dren, James Nelson and Philip Morris Algar. Mr. Algar is a member of the Elks, belonging to Modesto Lodge No. 1282 of the B. P. O. E. ; and he was made a Mason in Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., at Modesto, and is a member of the California State Pharmaceutical Association. Putting aside all partisanship when broad and generous support are necessary to local success and growth, he marches with the Republicans in national processions. JUDSON W. MANNING.— An old-timer in California, who retraced his steps to the Golden State when the lure of the Pacific was greatest, is Judson W. Manning, the well-known real estate broker, who is opening a new tract bearing his name. He was born at Catskill, Greene County, N. Y., on the banks of the Hudson, November 14, 1864, the son of John and Lana (DuBoise) Manning, worthy folks who always well represented the Empire State ; but while he was still very small his father, who had been the captain of a Hudson River boat, removed his family to Kansas and settled near Clyde, and Judson attended the district schools of Cloud County. In 1888, about the time of the great "boom" in realty here, Mr. Manning left Kansas and came to California, settling in Mendocino County; and for two years he worked in the lumber mills at Usal, where he helped to haul the machinery from Rockport to build the first mill at Usal. Then he went to the Hawaiian Islands, in 1891, and became the overseer of a sugar plantation; and he spent eighteen years there, during part of that time superintending a cattle ranch, itself a part of an immense sugar and rice plantation. Toward the end of his stay in Hawaii, he was shipping clerk for an inter-island steamship company. In 1904, Mr. Manning returned to California and Modesto and purchased a ranch of thirty-three acres on McHenry Avenue, devoted to alfalfa, about a mile and a half from town. He paid fifty-five dollars per acre for the land, or considerably less than $2,000, and in 1913, less than ten years later, he sold the ranch for $12,000. The same year he made a second trip to Hawaii; and having purchased a tract of land, he spent four years there in raising bananas and pineapples. In 1917, Mr. Manning was back again in Modesto, and it did not take long for him to buy a twelve-acre ranch in the Wood Colony, devoted to alfalfa; and three years later he disposed of this ranch and purchased a five-acre tract on Semple Avenue in the town. Early in 1920 he opened a real estate office on J and Eleventh streets, where he handles city and country property. In the fall of that year he laid out his five acres as the Manning Addition to Modesto, and he is selling it off rapidly in town lots. He believes in the fitness of men for office, not in mere party endorsement of them ; and while pursuing his course as a man of business affairs, he uses such political influence as he may have for the benefit of the entire community. 57 1388 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY During his residence in the Hawaiian Islands, Mr. Manning was married, on January 9, 1891, to Miss Margretha Malzau, a native of Christiania, Norway; and when the knot had been duly tied, the happy couple sped off on their honeymoon trip, traveling in a two-wheel cart (at the time the best conveyance to be had in the district of Kau) thirty miles to the Volcano House at Kilauea. Two children have blessed this union, and both of them have done well in the world. Ralph is a mechanic in Modesto, and Frances M. is employed in the Commercial Savings & Loan Bank in Stockton. Mr. Manning, always popular among his associates, is a Mason, a member of Stanislaus Lodge No. 206 of Modesto, and with his wife and daughter belongs to the Eastern Star of the same city. The Sciots and Redmen, in addition, are as proud to claim him one of their own as he is to be fraternally among them. DAVID LEE REYNOLDS. — A business man of Hughson, whose interest in the growing town led his fellow-citizens to reciprocate with a helpful interest in him, is David Lee Reynolds, who was born in Sumner County, Tenn., on April 27, 1876. His father was Nathaniel Reynolds, a native of Tennessee and a man interested in both farming and the raising of stock ; and he married "Miss Lucy McMurtery, also a native of that state. David Reynolds went to the grammar schools in Sumner County, and when fifteen years old started to work out on farms and in sawmills in his native state, and so continued there until 1900. Whatever he did, he did willingly and thoroughly, and in that way he prepared himself for the greater venture of a move to the Pacific West. In 1900, he came out to California, and for a while, drawn to Stanislaus County from the start, settled at Modesto. In 1906, after the earthquake and fire, he went to San Francisco, where he took up teaming; and having continued active and success ful at that until 1909, he returned to Modesto. There he was so unfortunate as to meet with an accident which caused him the loss of a foot ; and from this he suffered so much that he was in the hospital, off and on, for about three years. This of itself was a test of his better and enduring qualities; but being of the sort who are bound to win out, Mr. Reynolds stuck to his guns, and in 1912, or thereabouts, came to Hughson to reside. For four years he worked for J. V. Date, making friends for his employer as well as for himself; then purchasing Mr. Date's business, he now has one of the best-conducted tobacco and pool-rooms in the county. At Stockton, on April 7, 1909, Mr. Reynolds was married to Miss Lilly Rose, a native of Fresno County, and the daughter of Lewis Rose, a farmer well known in earlier days, and his good wife, who was Josephine Sanders in her maidenhood. Two children have blessed the happy union: Margaret and Jane. ARCHIE L. SWEENEY. — A worthy representative of an interesting family hailing from the vicinity of Louisville, Kj'., and associated with Missouri as pioneers, is Archie L. Sweeney, who was born in Boone County, Mo., on November 13, 1867, at Sturgeon, and is now a well-situated rancher, owning twenty choice acres on Sylvan Avenue, and residing at 618 Fourteenth Street, Modesto. His great-grandfather was the first man to have an iron cookstove in Missouri, and was also the first man in the state to run a sawmill. This mill eventually made the ties that went into the early Missouri railroads. His son was Archie Lee Sweeney, an attorney, and for years justice of the peace at Sturgeon, who went into Texas with a Mr. Robinson and obtained a large tract of land where the present city of El Paso stands. This land was obtained under a Spanish grant, and now many of the heirs are attempting to regain possession. Archie Lee Sweeney had a son, Lacy, who married Miss Nancy L. Webster, and they became the parents of our subject. The lad attended the public schools at Sturgeon, Mo., and then he went for a j'ear to a Methodist institution at Fayette. He continued his studies until he was seventeen, and then entered upon an apprenticeship to the printing trade. Discerning, however, that the typesetting machine would take the place of the human compositor, he abandoned the printer's trade and took up harness making instead. A year at that proved to him that he had not yet found just what he wanted, and then he learned the blacksmith trade thoroughly and followed it. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1389 On November 22, 1889, Mr. Sweeney came to San Jose and opened a blacksmith shop ; and this smithy he had there for nine years. He then went to San Francisco and worked for a Mr. Ralston, at the corner of Howard and Beale streets; and he was busy at his trade at the time of the earthquake. Locating at Modesto on August 24, 1906, Mr. Sweeney bought the shop of John Richards at the corner of Ninth and J streets ; and he had this blacksmith shop for about a month when he was burned out. Then he bought the shop across the corner from Mr. Newland, and maintained a forge there for two and a half years ; and when he sold out he took a post with the city water works of Modesto as superintendent under W. E. Davis, and he remained in that capacity until about November, 1919. In the latter j'ear, Mr. Sweeney purchased twenty acres on Sylvan Avenue, which he is setting out to Thompson Seedless grapes ; and having already purchased his home at 618 Fourteenth Street, he finds himself in very comfortable circumstances. He served as a deputy sheriff under Robert Dallas, and so has been able, while attending to material interests, to contribute toward law and order. He is a Republican. At San Francisco, in 1902, Mr. Sweeney was married to Miss Florence Wallace, a native of Hanover, Germany, and the daughter of Charles and Ann Wallace. Her father was a native of London, who came to Germany when he was a young man, and there established himself as a prosperous merchant ; and when his daughter grew to maturity, she crossed the ocean and continent to California, and lived at the corner of Sutter and Laguna streets in San Francisco, with an uncle, and studied at the high school in Oakland. Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney have two children — Henrietta Evelyn and Melvin J. Sweeney. Mr. Sweeney is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen, of Modesto, and he has been an officer in both lodges. EDWARD MEINECKE.— The descendant of a California pioneer, and him self a native son, Edward Meinecke can look back with pride and gratitude on the work of his forebears, whose work had its part in the development of this progressive section of California. He was born in Stockton, San Joaquin County, December 31, 1862, the son of Frederick and Sophia (Hayssen) Meinecke. The father was a native of Hanover, Germany, born April 28, 1823. His father, Frederick Meinecke, was married to Margaret Allmeras, and he served as a first lieutenant in the Prussian army at the Battle of Waterloo; he died at the age of forty-eight, while his widow lived to be ninety years old. In 1848, when twenty-five years old, Frederick Meinecke, our subject's father, came to Wisconsin, and in 1849, in a company of sixty-five, crossed the plains, arriv ing at Hangtown, now Placerville, in October of that year. He mined on the north branch of the Calaveras and with his partner discovered O'Neal's bar and took out much gold, but some of this was spent in prospecting for better diggings, which they failed to find. In 1850 he located on the Calaveras River near Stockton and engaged in freighting from that city to the camps in the mountains. In 1852 he returned East via Nicaragua and in Wisconsin bought 150 milk cows, paying from fourteen to eighteen dollars apiece for them, and the next year drove them across the plains, wintering at Salt Lake City, arriving in California the following spring, where he sold most of the cows at from $100 to $150 each. After a short stay at Liberty, he went to Georgetown, Eldorado County, where he ran a meat market, and subsequently at Murphy, Calaveras County, where he engaged in dairying until 1858, when he returned to Germany. On October 15 of that year he was married to Miss Sophia Hayssen, born 'in Oldenburg, a daughter of Heyo and Catherine (Libben) Hayssen, farmer folk. Returning to California with his bride, he operated the ferry across the Stanislaus River ten miles north of what is now Modesto, and known as the Meinecke & Taylor ferry. He operated it for three years, when he purchased the old Meinecke ranch, which eventually comprised 800 acres in Stanislaus County, six miles south of Oakdale. Engaging extensively in ranching, he made this his home until February 18, 1907, when he passed away. He was a member of Morning Star Lodge, F. & A. M., Stockton, and Modesto Chapter, R. A. M. Growing up on the home ranch, Edward Meinecke attended the Rinehart school, Stanislaus County, now called the New Hope school, and after finishing the course 1390 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY here, he supplemented his education with a course at the Stockton Business College. From his earliest years he had always helped his father in the manifold duties con nected with operating a great acreage like this, and being the only son, naturally much of the responsibility devolved upon him. After his father's death, in 1907, he con tinued to run the ranch with splendid results until January, 1919, when the place was sold. Mr. Meinecke then purchased a home on McHenry Road, about one-half mile north of town, and here he has since made his home with his mother and sisters, Katie, Meta and Sophia. Although eighty-nine years of age, the mother is still hale, hearty and active, and she can look back on residence of sixty-five years in this valley, since she came here as a bride — years fraught with many interesting memories. HOWARD HENRY MORSE. — A wide-awake, conscientious business man with executive ability, Howard H. Morse gives satisfaction to many as the accom modating manager of the Ward Lumber Company at Hughson. He was born in Iowa, at Marion, in Linn County, on September 17, 1892, the son of E. B. and Mary Elizabeth (Gray) Morse. His father carried on general farming and stock raising, and when our subject was four years old, he located in Santa Ana, Cal., in 1898, and engaged in carpenter work. He came to Hughson in 1910, and died on September 15, 1917, highly esteemed by those who had been privileged to know him, and survived by his devoted wife, with whom our subject now makes his home. Howard H. Morse attended the grammar school at Santa Ana, and when seven teen years of age, started out into the world for himself. In 1910, he came to Stanis laus County and took a position with the Tuolumne Lumber Company at Hughson. In August, 1919, he became manager of the yard, and in May, 1920, the Tuolumne Lumber Company was dissolved, and the Ward Lumber Company was organized. Throughout this change, Mr. Morse kept his place — a fact which speaks as well for the good sense of the new lumber merchants as for the fidelity and experience of their employee. He finds entire satisfaction in the service of the new concern, and this means that he will also find his highest pleasure in advancing their best interests by extending as widely and as rapidly as possible their growing trade. He gives all of his attention to the lumber trade, where he handles every variety of lumber and other building material, and which adequately serves the entire Hughson district. A Republican in national politics, Mr. Morse is a member of the Hughson lodge Modern Woodmen of America, and Modesto lodge, Fraternal Brotherhood. GEORGE P. WEICHERT.— One of the most successful and honored mer chants and farmers in his section of the county, is George P. Weichert, who was born at Pittsburgh, Pa., July 27, 1857, the son of Phil J. and Cecelia (Weigley) Weichert. His father was a blacksmith and a mechanic who had a shop in Pittsburgh. When he was ten years old his parents moved to Janesville, Wis., where they lived for one and a half years, then they went to Iowa in 1869, to Boone County; here his father followed the blacksmith trade. When only twelve years old, George began making his own way, attending public school winters and working summers. On leaving his home he worked on a farm for the next nine years. In 1878, accompanied by his father and family, he went to Smith Center, Smith County, Kans., and it was in this county that he and his father took up homesteads and began farming. Mr. Weichert worked for four years with the Chicago Lumber Company's branch at Smith Center, then spent one year with his father in the blacksmith shop and another year with a hardware firm at Smith Center, then going to Franklin County, Kans., he spent two years in a machine shop at Ottawa. Then he went to Omaha, Nebr., and for the next ten years was connected with the railroad depart ment of the Union Stockyards Company as locomotive engineer. In 1900 he came to California and settled at Morgan Hill, in Santa Clara County, and was there for the following eleven years. He purchased a thirty-acre prune orchard, and in 1910 traded this for a forty-acre ranch four miles east of Hughson. This he leveled and checked and devoted to raising alfalfa and dairying. When he had it improved, in 1911 he moved into Hughson, purchasing a five-acre ranch adjoining Hughson on the north, which he has set to apricots. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1391 Mr. Weichert's marriage, June 18, 1882, united him with Miss Belle Engle, and she passed away in Omaha in 1897. His second marriage, which occurred on March 15, 1898, united him with Miss Nellie Applegrath, born in Janesville, Wis., and a daughter of John W. and Mary Applegrath. They are the parents of three children : Grace Dorothy was educated at the University of California and at the Armstrong Secretarial School at Berkeley, where she graduated ; she is bookkeeper for the Arts and Crafts School at Berkeley; Glenn Donald was in the class of 1921 of the Hugh- son high school, and is the owner of a five-acre Thompson Seedless vineyard, adjoin ing his father; David Mortimer is in the class of 1923, Hughson high school. Both sons are interested with their father in business, Glenn being the manager of the busi ness. He had been in the employ of Warren- Johnson, merchants at Hughson, and in the latter part of 1920, Mr. Weichert purchased the business and established the firm of G. P. Weichert & Son's. Under their unremitting attention, the business is prospering^ splendidly and they have a trade that is bringing in a fine income. Mr. Weichert is now reaping a harvest from his persistent labor and frugality that would be gratifying to any man who had succeeded entirely by his own efforts. JOHN MORRIS. — An enterprising merchant, thoroughly initiated into the many-sidedness of the furniture business, is John Morris, whose establishment at the corner of Sixth and H streets is one of the important commercial centers of fast- developing Modesto. He was born at Dodgeville, Wis., on November 21, 1856, the son of Robert L. and Maria (Williams) Morris, both born in Wales. At that time, his father was a caretaker in an asylum; but in 1858 he removed with his family to Emporia, Kans., where he became a building contractor and put up the large court house and normal school there. He and his good wife lived and died in Kansas. Of their eleven children, John was second eldest. He attended the grammar school at Emporia, and when twenty-one started away from home to care for himself. He established himself in the livery business at Osage City, Kans., and continued there for three years, and then for the same period of time he was in the butcher business in the same place. From there he came out to California with his family in 1888, and settled at Santa Cruz, where he spent one j'ear handling furniture. Mr. Morris then removed to Oregon, and at Medford had new and second-hand furniture for sale ; and he liked the town so well, and the town was so satisfied with his way of doing things, that he remained there for eight years. After that, he trans ferred his business to Ashland, in the same state, and there he spent the next two years, then moved to Chautauqua County, Kans., where he was in business for three years, and then returned to Ashland, where he spent six more years in the furniture business. From Ashland, in 1912, he went to San Diego, Cal., for a j'ear's work in the same field ; and the next year he spent at Long Beach, also in the furniture trade. Then he purchased a ranch east of Escalon ; but he farmed for only six months. In 1914, Mr. Morris came to Modesto and opened a well-stocked store for both new and second-hand furniture, and here he has been ever since. He owns the building, 50x130 feet, at the corner of Sixth and H streets, which affords more floor space for furniture than does any other establishment in the city. He also owns his home and other town property. At Carthage, Mo., March 17, 1880, Mr. Morris was married to Miss Eda Cop- pock, a native of New London, Ind., the daughter of Irvin and Ruth (Marshall) Coppock, born in Ohio and Indiana, who were early settlers in Missouri, where Mr. Coppock plied his trade as a carpenter and builder. Mrs. Morris was educated at Carthage, Mo. Six children blessed the union: Grace is Mrs. Millsap of Los Angeles ; Ethel is Mrs. Stanton Rice of Modesto ; Muriel is Mrs. Hopkins of Hunt ington Beach; Willard E. Morris is in the furniture business at Modesto; Ruth is Mrs. Amos and resides in Whittier; and Earl is with his father. Mr. Morris was a member of the common council of Cedar Vale, Kans., where he filled that office for a year. He was a charter member of the Medford, Ore., lodge of the Woodmen of the World, and has continued such for twenty-eight years. In national politics he is a Republican, while Mrs. Morris is a member.of the Methodist Church in Modesto. 1392 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY CARL F. ECKFORD. — The importance of a good hostelry to a growing town, in the expert hands of an accommodating host, is demonstrated through the success of the comfortable Hughson Hotel, ably managed by Carl F. Eckford, among the enthu siastic admirers of Stanislaus County, albeit his residence here has been brief. He was born a Hawkeye, in Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa, on May 9, 1892, the son of John and Augusta (Freitag) Eckford — the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Germany. His father first settled in the vicinity of Chicago, 111., on coming to the United States, but later he removed to Mitchell County, Iowa. Carl attended the grammar school at Osage, and later studied at Cedar Valley Seminary in the same place ; and shortly after finishing the course in that excellent institution, he passed the civil service examinations necessary to admit him to the postal service. Coming to California in November, 1913, he was for five years iden tified with the postal service at Escondido, where he had charge of the dispatching of the mails. He left the postal service to go into the U. S. Army, and in October, 1918, he entered the Twenty-fifth Regiment of the Heavy Coast Artillery and trained for two months at Fort Rosecrans. There he was also discharged, with the credentials for honorable performance of duty, in December, 1918, returning to Escondido. The next two years Mr. Eckford spent in Escondido working as a carpenter, wishing to get outside work and recover from the ill effects of the influenza ; and feel ing much improved, he came to Hughson in December, 1920, as manager for Mrs. Aukerman of Los Angeles, of her property here, the Hughson Hotel. He is doing well with a popular resort for those in need of good hotel accommodations ; but he has professional ambitions, and expecls eventually to study law and to take his place at the California Bar. He expects to enter the State University, and will no doubt make as many friends there as at Hughson. In politics, Mr. Eckford is a Republican. ROBERT CRUSE. — A newcomer to Stanislaus County and a far-sighted, successful rancher, pointing the way to others, and lending a hand to any willing to follow his lead, is Robert Cruse, who lives to the south of Hughson. He was born in Lexington, Ky., on February 9, 1855, the son of James and Mary (Shaw) Cruse, representatives of old-time Kentucky families. When Robert was six years old, his parents removed to near Atlanta, 111., and went to farming in McLean County, on a farm lying partly in Tazewell County, 111., and partly in McLean County, but lived on the Tazewell and McLean County line. In 1878, James Cruse removed to Pawnee County, Nebr., where he purchased a farm twelve miles west of Pawnee City, where he farmed until he retired. He now resides in Pawnee City, aged eighty-six years. His wife passed away in Illinois in 1877. Robert Cruse attended the Tazewell County schools, and remained on his father's farm until he was married. Then he took up farming for himself, but in October, 1899, came to California and settled near Bakersfield. He worked for the Kern County Land Company for two years, and then the oil boom struck Bakersfield. From the latter place he went to Tulare County and tried dairying; and in 1908 he removed to Sonoma County and for seven years was on a chicken ranch. He next farmed for three jears at Hilmar, in Merced County; and in the fall of 1919 he removed to Stanislaus County, and here purchased twenty acres of alfalfa and fruit directly south of Hughson. He carries on general farming, gives some attention to dairying, has about 900 White Leghorns, and keeps thirty swarms of bees. ' Mr. Cruse's marriage took place at Pawnee City, Nebr., on October 18, 1876, when he was joined in wedlock to Miss Louisa Hitchcock, a native of Perry County, Ohio, who came from the Buckeye State with her parents to Tazewell County, 111. Her father, Caleb Hitchcock, was the son of Lucien and Penelope (Marshall) Hitchcock, who were farmers in Perry County, Ohio. Caleb Hitchcock married Mary Brown, a daughter of Joseph and Ann (Kelly) Brown, the former having served in the War of 1812 as a drummer boy. In 1863, Caleb Hitchcock removed to Taze well County, 111., and in 1876 to Pawnee County, Nebr. His wife died in 1884, and he passed away about the year 1907. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cruse, seven of whom are still living: Nora is the wife of Joseph F. Bookwalter of Pawnee City, Nebr. ; Maude is the widow of Nathan Wilbur Thomas and resides at HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1393 Hanford; Earl is in Bakersfield; Emma is Mrs. Silas Wright of Shatter; Lulu is Mrs. Wm. H. Smith of Fellows ; James is married and lives at Sebastopol, Sonoma County ; Merrill died when three years old; and Robert Cruse, Jr., is at Stockton. lames Cruse entered for service in the World War in September, 1917; trained in Company K of the Three Hundred Sixty-third Infantry, Ninety-first Division, at Camp Lewis ; and served in France with his regiment, being discharged in April, 1919. JAMES H. RICHARDS. — A native son, proud of his association with Cali fornia, James H. Richards has become well known at Hughson, not only as the one blacksmith of the growing, lively town, but as one who so thoroughly understands his trade that citizens of other communities come to him to benefit from his skill and conscientious labor. He was born near Soulsbyville, Tuolumne County, Cal, on January 4, 1873, the son of William and Mary (Lanyon) Richards, earnest and hard-working people. His father was a native of Illinois, of English parents, while the mother was born in England. They came to California in 1872, and Mr. Richards went to work at the Soulsbyville mines; when James was four jears old, his folks moved to a ranch about six miles south of Sonora, and there he attended the Blanket Creek school, and spent his early days on this ranch. On January 1, 1890, four days before he was seventeen years old, James Richards started out to make his own living. He had been helping to raise grain and stock on his father's ranch of 160 acres, and going to Sonora, he learned the blacksmith trade under Fred Dambacher, a pioneer blacksmith, with whom he spent a couple of years. Then he worked for about ten years with various other good blacksmiths, and at the end of this period he opened a shop for himself in Sonora, and stayed with the enter prise for over five years. Then he sold out and went to Grass Valley, Nevada County. There he opened a blacksmith shop, but continued to manage it only for a year and a half. The severe winters, with the heavy snows, were not to his liking, and he moved to Los Angeles. There his health did not improve ; and after five months he came to Hughson. He bought out the business formerly conducted by Robt. Langill, and in April, 1910, opened his blacksmith shop which has since become locally famous. Having worked at all kinds of blacksmithing, from the sharpening of miners' tools to the building of wagons, Mr. Richards is ready to meet any emergency. On May 31, 1903, Mr. Richards was married to Miss Mabel Harris, the cere mony taking place at Sonora. Miss Harris was a native of England, and the daughter of Jack and Malinda Harris. Her father came alone from England to California at an early date, and was a worker in the gold mines ; and only several years later was he followed by his wife and family. The eldest of the four children springing from this happy union is Clifford W. Richards, and he is at the high school at Hughson, class of 1921. James and Thelma are at the grammar school, and little Mabel is at home. Mr. Richards is by no means a partisan in politics, and much prefers, at each campaigning, to make his own selection of candidate and proposition. WILLIAM SWICKARD WYANT.— A far-seeing, up-to-date rancher is Wil liam Swickard Wyant, a native of Ohio, where he was born at Toronto, in Jefferson County, on the Ohio River, on December 17, 1869, the son of Samuel Hastings Wyant, a carpenter and mechanic, who followed building in Toronto. He had mar ried Miss Nancy Swickard, like himself born and reared in Jefferson County. William Wj'ant attended both the district school near their home and the gram mar school at Toronto, and when thirteen years old started out into the world to pro vide for himself. He learned the bakery trade in New Cumberland, Va., across the river from Toronto, serving an apprenticeship of three years at it, and before the three years had been rounded out, he had a shop of his own. He was doing well, but when he was twenty-one, he sold out and made tracks for California, arriving in 1890. For a short time after his arrival, Mr. Wyant worked on ranches in Sacramento County, then he married, and after his marriage he purchased a bakery which he managed at Pacific Grove for four j'ears. On selling out, he returned to Ohio for a short visit, and then he came back to Pacific Grove again. He resumed carpentering; but in 1914 he came to Hughson and purchased twenty-five acres. He has a vine- J'ard of six acres, a double-crop of alfalfa, and ten cows to consume it. 1394 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Miss Katherine Monroe was the name of the estimable lady whom Mr. Wyant took for his wife at Modesto on October 1, 1897, the adopted daughter of Ishmael and Annie E. (Slaymaker) Monroe, extensive ranchers at Burwood, San Joaquin County, Cal. She was born in San Bernardino, Cal., attended the grammar school a.t Burwood, and the Oakdale high school. One child has blessed this union — Ray mond by name. Mr. Wyant and his wife and son are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hughson. He is a member of the Milk Producers' Association of Central California, the California Associated Raisin Company and the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau. ORVILLE DEVILLA FISHER.— An intelligent, industrious rancher known to his friends and patrons as a level-headed man whose ambition it is to be a good citizen and neighbor, is Orville Devilla Fisher, who was born in Washington County, Iowa/ on September 12, 1861, the son of Albert McNeilly Fisher of Ohio, who went into Kentucky, then moved to Washington County, Iowa, where he was in the com missary department of the Union army during the Civil War. There he married Miss Agnes McKittrick, who was born in Ohio, and after the war closed they removed to Kansas City, Mo., and built the Fisher sawmill. All in all, he put up three mills — one on the Kansas side and two on the Missouri side ; and he sawed the timber that built the first railway bridge across the Missouri River. He then moved to Park- ville and engaged in the nursery business with George Parks and Walter Gano arid propagated the Ben Davis apple ; later he moved to Springfield, Mo., and with Mr. Gano propagated the Gano, Arkansas Black and Welcome apples, and set out an orchard of 900 acres. Their first big orchard, however, was one of 800 acres, set out to Ben Davis apples, in the Salt Creek Valley near Leavenworth, Kans., at that time probably the largest apple orchard in the world. Albert M. Fisher died in Kansas City, while his wife passed away in Johnson County, Kans. Orville Fisher went to the grammar school in Kansas City and also to the Spaulding Commercial College, where he graduated, and later he took a course in the Trueblood School of Elocution. Then he spent many j-ears traveling throughout the country, and visited many places, far and wide, including South America, Africa, Australia, India and the islands of the Pacific, and spent several years in British Columbia, mining and lumbering. In 1911, he came to Pleasanton, Cal., and about five months later in the same year he reached Hughson, Stanislaus County, where he bought twenty acres situated a mile south of the town. He has some choice fruit, and fine alfalfa from which he gets several crops a year ; his improvements are substantial and his home comfortable and attractive. Mr. Fisher was married at North Yakima, Wash., on June 16, 1891, to Miss Ida M. Gleed, a native of Kansas and the daughter of James C. and Sarah (Tilton) Gleed, born in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, respectivelj'. They located in Illi nois, where Mr. Gleed served in the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry in the Civil War, after which they moved to Kansas, later to Colorado, and then on to North Yakima, Wash., where Mr. Gleed passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher were granted one child, Iri Maurice, who made many friends by a winning personality which promised much for the future. Their lives were saddened when he was taken from them some years ago, having lost his life when overtaken by a landslide in the state of Washington. HENRY BOSS. — An enterprising, industrious citizen who, as an expert auto mobile painter, has proven of real value to the local industrial world, is Henry Boss. He was born in Schenectady, N. Y., on November 15, 1858, the son of Henry Boss, a general mechanic of much original ability and cleverness, who was particularly proficient as a blacksmith and wagonmaker. He was born in Darmstadt, Germany, and his training as a consequence was very thorough. When a lad he came to the United States with his father, our subject's grandfather, who was also a blacksmith with a mechanical ingenuity sufficient for many problems and much difficult work. Henry Boss had ten children, and the subject of this review is the only survivor of the family. He attended both the grammar and the high schools near Schenectady, and when twenty j'ears of age he had gradually worked into blacksmithing, wood- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1395 working and painting. In 1895, he left New York State and migrated westward to Colorado, and having established himself as a blacksmith at Fort Collins he stayed there for five years. In 1900, Mr. Boss came out to California and settled at Healdsburg; and during the fifteen years of his residence and labor there, he little by little grew more and more active in the auto-painting trade. In May, 1917, he came to Modesto and built for himself a home on the corner of McHenry and Almond streets; and there he also erected a painting shop. He attended strictly to business, studied and antici pated the wants of his patrons, did his best to serve and to please, and for many months has been drawing business from Merced to Stockton. -At Schenectady, on June 7, 1882, Mr. Boss was married to Miss Sarah Gardi- nier a native of that city and the daughter of James and Elizabeth Gardinier Her mother is still living, at the age of ninety years, and makes her home with Mr and Mrs. Boss. One daughter and one granddaughter enliven the home circle The family attend the Modesto Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Boss works for civic better ment under the banners of the Republican party. ORRIN R. FELLOWS.— A progressive farmer who has worked hard and operated intelligently all his life, with the result that he now owns a comfortable home on a ten-acre ranch and is interested in realty, is O. R. Fellows, of Westport precinct. A native son, he was born in Sonoma County, near Petaluma, 'on November 22, 1876, and when he was only a year old, he was brought to Hanford, in Kings County, by his parents, David S. and Zelpha (Rennard) Fellows. His father had come out to California in the early fifties, and had engaged in stock and dairy farm ing, and he made the first cheese to be displaj'ed in San Francisco as a product of Sonoma County. As the years went on, he became more and more an extensive dealer in dairy products, owning 160 acres of valuable dairy land near Petaluma. Orrin R. Fellows attended both the district grammar and the high schools, and after that spent all of his time on the home farm until he was twenty-four years old. Then he rented the farm for two years from his father, and in 1901 was married at Hanford to Miss Mattie Reid, a native of Wisconsin. Her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Reid, now resides in Modesto. Mr. and Mrs. Fellows have two children, Mildred and Vernon, a source of happiness to their friends as well as to themselves. In 1902 Mr. Fellows and his family moved to Stanislaus. County, and in that year he erected a very comfortable residence on a well-selected farm of ten acres in Westport, which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. He has been sufficiently prosperous that he could also invest in Modesto real estate. He takes a keen interest m all that pertains to the rapid and permanent development of Stanislaus County, and has shown bis live interest in the cause of popular education by serving for ten j'ears as a Fairview school trustee. HENRY FORD. — For twenty-five years a newspaper man, publisher and printer in the Middle West and South, Henry Ford, one of the newcomers in Modesto vicinity, is fast making for himself a place in the county. He has made a thorough study of the different forms of cooperative marketing associations, and is keenly inter ested in all matters pertaining thereto. He is an influential member of the Stanislaus County Cooperative Marketing Association, and, although 1920 marks his first season as a farmer, he has met with marked success in his various enterprises, his vineyard yielding as high as fourteen tons of Thompson Seedless grapes to the acre, with other products showing a similar abundance. His property is a splendid sixty-acre tract in Hart precinct, Wood Colony, a part of the old Wood Ranch, formerly owned by E. L. Newell, and purchased by Mr. Ford in February, 1920. Mr. Ford is a native of Michigan, born in Kalamazoo County, April 18, 1875. He is the only son of G. D. and Katherine (Myers) Ford, both natives of New York state, his father having pioneered into Michigan when a lad of fifteen years, where he became a successful farmer. Our Mr. Ford was reared on the farm, but did not take kindly to farm life. He attended Albion College for two years, but the lure of business was too strong to allow him to continue through the entire course. As a lad 1396 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY he had developed a natural ability for printing, and rigged up a crude print shop in his father's barn. This little shop was supplanted by a regular print shop in the basement of a business block in Galesburg, Mich., from which the business grew to such proportions that Mr. Ford launched into the publication of a semi-weekly news paper. For a time he met with serious difficulties, but finally met with merited suc cess, owning and editing the Semi-Weekly Argus, which he sold in 1919. The busi ness was made doubly profitable by his job printing business, including the state and county printing, and an extensive binding business. In 1916 Mr. Ford had established himself in Fort Myers, Fia., and launched a daily and a semi-weekly paper in that city. Incidentally, it was here that he made the acquaintance of his distinguished namesake of automobile fame, who has a beautiful winter home at Fort Myers. After three years in Florida, Mr. Ford disposed of all his newspaper and printing interests and came to California. He has a very inti mate knowledge of the entire Atlantic coast and of the Middle West and South, hav ing traveled through these sections bv automobile, but he found in California and in Stanislaus County the conditions which exactly satisfied him. Mr. Ford is turning his attention to agriculture and horticulture and his attractive ranch, which he calls Hermosa Rancho, has fifteen acres of almonds, and thirty-seven acres in grapes. Mr. Ford's marriage to Miss Nellie A. Clark took place at Kalamazoo, his bride's native city, October 3, 1900. Mrs. Ford is the daughter of Thomas O. Clark, a farmer and lumberman of Vicksburg, Mich., her brother, Harry T. Clark, of Tully Avenue, being one of the well-known ranchers of this district. She has borne her husband two children, a son, Everett, and a daughter, Alberta, both students in high school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ford are members of the Methodist Church of Modesto, and Mr. Ford is a Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias. HARRY E. CRISPIN. — The son of one of the best-known and highly respected pioneers of California, Harry E. Crispin was born near Turlock, July 26, 1886, the son of Thomas J. Crispin and his wife, Mae Milton, and has been a resident of this county for practically his entire life. Always filled with energy and ambition, he started out to "paddle his own canoe" (to quote Mr. Crispin himself) at the early age of seventeen, soon after he had completed the public schools. He became a carpenter, and soon gained a high degree of efficiency and was able to carry on his own contract ing jobs. He became identified with the leading building contractors of Tuolumne County, and also for a number of years was in the contracting business in Stockton, where he was very successful. His marriage took place in 1910, when he was united to Miss Jeannett Grant, a native of California, and the daughter of Allen and Ann (Breckle) Grant, the father a pioneer Stanislaus grain farmer, and the mother a native of Germany, who came to America with her parents when a j'oung girl, locat ing in California. Mrs. Crispin, then Miss Grant, attended the old Junction school, which stood near the Grant Rancho in Hart precinct. Mr. and Mrs. Crispin are the parents of one daughter, Mae Adeline, now in grammar school. Mr. Crispin makes his home in Salida precinct, a few miles from Modesto, on the 'Beckwith Road, where he owns twenty acres of fine land. He farms in all 100 acres, eighty being leased from his father. Formerly Mr. Crispin was in the dairy business, owning some fifty head of high-grade stock, but in 1915 he sold his dairy stock and is now engaged in general farming. He has been for several years president of the board of trustees for the Jackson district school, is fire warden of Salida pre cinct, and also a deputy sheriff. He is a genuine sportsman, fond of the great outdoors, a member of the Owl Rod and Gun Club, and a frequenter of the fishing and hunting districts in the high Sierras. He has a reputation as an excellent marksman, his friends declaring that he only avoids bagging more than his limit of deer each season by taking "two loaded shells and his trusty rifle," on his deer hunting trips. Mr. Crispin's father, Thomas J. Crispin, is one of the old pioneer settlers of the state and county, and has been intimately identified with the growth and upbuild ing of this part of the state for more than forty years. He is the owner of valuable property, an authority on land and land values, and a man of great integrity and influ ence in all local affairs. An account of his interesting career appears in this volume. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1397 CARL R. TAYLOR. — A young man who has acquired the true farm-spirit, which is the salvation of present-day America, is Carl R. Taylor, owner of valuable property in Paradise precinct, where he is engaged in diversified farming. His prop erty consists of twenty-two acres, where he conducts a first-class dairy ranch, having a herd of thirty high-grade milch cows and a registered Guernsey bull. He is also engaged in poultry raising, having two strains of fowls, white and brown Leghorns, numbering several hundred hens each. He is now planning a new and thoroughly scientific hatching and brooding house, which he believes will add materially to the profit's of his poultry business. He also keeps ten or fifteen swarms of bees, which prove very profitable. Mr. Taylor is a native of California, born in Pleasant Valley, Eldorado County, June 4, 1884,. the fourth son in a family of six brothers. His father, Wm. H. Taj'lor, was a pioneer fruit and stock raiser in Eldorado County, where his sons were reared and educated. The subject of this sketch worked on the farm much of his boj'hood, occasionally hiring out to the neighbors to make extra spending money. His first individual enterprise was general farming at Mountain View school district, Stanis laus County, where he purchased thirty acres of fine land, remaining for a year and a half before he sold and removed to his present location, in May, 1919. The marriage of Mr. Taylor and Miss Clara Wright occurred September 3, 1916, at Modesto. Mrs. Taylor is the daughter of J. E. Wright of Eagle, Nebr., and was visiting her sister, Mrs. Ouken, in Mountain View district, when the energetic young rancher won her affections and induced her to remain in California. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have one son, Norman, and a daughter, Carol. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers' Union, and of the local Paradise Farmers' Union, of which he is vice-president. This union has sent its representative to Washington, D. C, in 1920, and will receive much aid from gov ernment sources, in both scientific and practical farming methods. Mr. Taylor is also a stockholder in the Milk Producers Association, which markets his dairy products. LAMBERT SCHMITZ. — The son of sturdy pioneer settlers of Wisconsin, Lambert Schmitz was born in Fond du Lac County, Wis., April 27, 1865, the eldest son of Paul and Eva (Daun) Schmitz, both natives of Germany. Mr. Schmitz's father and grandfather, also Lambert Schmitz, came to America in the early '50s. The grandfather, a splendid, high-spirited man, father of four sons, did not wish them reared under the militaristic rule of the Fatherland, and so migrated to the New World, where he might find freedom and opportunity. He settled in the wilds of Wisconsin, and no tale of fiction could equal the struggles through which they passed. Paul Schmitz was a lad of thirteen when the family came from Germany, and located in Fond du Lac County, Wis. The west side of the township in which they settled was inhabited by Indians, but they were peaceable and assisted them in the farm work. When twenty-six j'ears old he bought a place of fifty acres in Brother- town, Calumet County, to which he added, and there he farmed until his death, March 21, 1878, aged forty, leaving a widow and seven children: Lambert, of this review; Annie died at eighteen; Christ died at twenty-four; Kate died at twenty- four; Mary was Mrs. Winkel and died at forty-three; Joseph resides in Modesto. The mother died in Brothertown in 1908, sixty-eight years old. After his father's death the burden of the support of his mother, brothers and sisters fell upon young Lambert. The farm labor was hard and constant, but eventually he cleared 100 acres and bought twenty acres more, which he farmed to grain and in dairying, and so won his way to independence, and a farm of his own. Mr. Schmitz remained on the home farm with his mother in his native state until he was twenty-one, when he started out for himself, engaging in farming enterprises. He met with severe reverses in Minnesota, where he had tried farming in Renville County, and again in Wisconsin, and in 1910 he came to Los Angeles, Cal, and for several j'ears worked for wages. In 1912 he came to Stanislaus County, where he has since made his home. He purchased forty acres in the Wood Colony district, three miles northwest of Modesto, and here he has turned misfortune into fortune, having accumulated a considerable amount of wealth through hard work, honesty, 1398 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY integrity and business application and good judgment. In 1917 he erected a beautiful pressed brick residence, which stands a monument to the united efforts of himself, his wife and sons. The property has been improved in every way until it is one of the most attractive in the county and of great value. Mr. Schmitz engages in dairying, having a herd of fifteen registered Holstein cows, with De Kol Rag Apple as herd sire. He is a member of the Farmers Union and the Milk Producers Association. The marriage of Mr. Schmitz occurred at Russell, Calumet County, Wis., February 3, 1897, uniting him with Miss Lizzie Conrad, a native of Holstein, Wis., and daughter of Nicholas and Virginia (Noal) Conrad, both natives of Belgium and pioneer farmers in Wisconsin, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz have three children, two sons, Sylvester N., now employed in the great oil fields of Texas, and Edward, who assists his father on the farm ; and one daughter, Lena, a graduate of Modesto Business College. JAKE M. OLDS. — The wide plains of Minnesota have given to California many a stanch son, and among them is J. M. Olds, owner of a typical California ranch of five acres on the Paradise Road, one mile from the post office at Modesto, where he has made a decided success of intensive farming, proving that it is care, cultivation and scientific methods, and not extensive acreage, which are essential to success. Mr. Olds is especially interested in dairying and has a herd of seven blooded Jersey cows, of which he is justly proud. In addition to his home place he owns a ten-acre farm in Wood Colony, where he also formerly owned a twenty-acre tract, which he sold in 1918. Mr. Olds was next to the youngest in a family of five boys, his father being S. S. Olds, a native of New York State, a farmer and railroad engineer in the em ploy of the Burlington Railroad for many years. The family removed from New York to Minnesota when Jake M. was a child. Our fellow-citizen was born in New York City, February 23, 1879. When he was but five j'ears of age, both his parents died. His boyhood was passed largely on a farm in Spring Valley, Minn., and where, after completing his education, he leased land and commenced farming on his own resources, raising grain and livestock on an extensive scale. The marriage of Mr. Olds and Miss Edna C. Paul occurred at Spring Valley, Minn., in 1899. Their union has been blessed with two children, Pauline, now a student in the Modesto high school, and Frances, still in grammar school. The family came to California in 1908 and located on Paradise Road, where they have since made their home. Mr. Olds is a progressive and wide-awake citizen, highly respected and greatly trusted by all who know him, and one of the most loyal sup porters of war activities during the strenuous days of 1917-1918. SAMUEL MONTGOMERY.— A descendant of a long line of Southern an cestry, the distinguished Scotch-Irish family, the Montgomerys of Virginia, Samuel Montgomery was born in Jewell County, Kans., near Jewell, November 24, 1883. His father, George Montgomery, a native of Virginia, migrated to Indiana at a very early date, and again in 1872, followed the western trend of migration into Kansas, where on a farm of 160 acres, near Jewell, he raised grain and bred fine stock. Remaining on the farm with his father until he was twenty-two, Samuel Mont gomery made his first independent business venture at that age, farming 300 acres of land to corn, and meeting with such success that he was soon able to take unto himself a wife, and on March 22, 1905, was married to Miss Alma Reystead, at Mankato. Mrs. Montgomery is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Reystead, her mother, who still resides in Mankato, having recently been her guest at the Mont gomery home in Carmichael precinct. It was in 1912 that Mr. Montgomery came to Modesto, looking for a location in California where soil, climate and general living conditions should meet with his approval for a permanent home, and soon purchased twenty acres on Kansas Avenue, Carmichael precinct, two and a half miles west of Modesto. Here he is engaged in dairying, at one time having a herd of forty head of stock, including about twenty- nine milch cows and a registered herd sire, all of high grade Jersey stock. He is also HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1399 engaged in poultry farming, which he is finding a very profitable business. He has 1,000 White Leghorn hens and an especially well-equipped hennery. He takes an active part in the doings of the Association of Milk Producers of Central California, and of the Poultry Producers Association of Central California, of which organiza tions he is an influential member. He is also a member of the Farmers' Federation of Stanislaus County. Believing in making home the pleasantest place of all, Mr. Montgomery has a beautiful country place, with all modern conveniences and comforts. Of their three sons and two daughters, Rollo S. and Dorothy D. are natives of Kansas, while Wil lard S., Bessie I. and Donald R. are natives of California and of Stanislaus County. Mr. Montgomery believes in the old adage that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and he enjoys hunting and fishing for his recreation. LOUIS A. PODESTA. — Engaged in one of the important industries of the state — truck gardening — Louis A. Podesta's gardens form one of the attractive sights on Woodland Road, a mile west of Modesto. Mr. Podesta, while an Italian in name and in antecedents, is a native son of California, and a genuine American in every sense of the word. He was born in Merced, April 4, 1877, the eldest son of Antone Podesta, pioneer vineyardist and truck gardener of Merced County, who planted one of the first vineyards therein, and which still is bearing luscious grapes on the old home place near Merced. Antone Podesta, a native of sunny Italy, came to California at an early age and was actively identified with the development of the state for many j'ears. He married Theresa Casazza, also a native of Italy, at Coulterville, and settled at Merced in the early '70s. Previous to this they were identified with the gold mining ventures of Mt. Bullion, in Mariposa County, but failed to find the riches for which they hoped and which were afterward found there. Both Antone Podesta and his wife passed away, the mother in 1886 and the father in 1887. Louis A. Podesta attended the public schools of Merced, and after the death of his parents he went to live with his uncle, Andrea Casazza, a farmer at Coulterville, where he cormleted his education. For several years he worked in the Mary Harri son mines, and later in the Princeton mines. Tiring of this occupation, he came to Modesto in 1903 and bought thirteen acres on the Woodland Road, which he planted to vineyard and fruit and engaged in dairying, in addition to his truck gardening. Mr. Podesta has been very successful in his enterprises, and owns other real estate in Mariposa County. He has one brother, John Podesta, an engineer with the Sierra Power Company in Modesto, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Brown, of La Grange, whose husband is also an engineer. RALPH C. DOOLITTLE. — One of the leading merchants of Ceres, proprietor of the principal confectionery, book and stationery store in that thriving little city, Ralph C. Doolittle stands high in the confidence and esteem of his fellows. He moved into Ceres in 1909 and he engaged in the confectionery business with some $300 invested, covering stock and fixtures. From the very first he won the co-operation of the townspeople in his determination to establish a confectionery business along the latest high-grade lines, and they gave him their practical support. From this small beginning he has rapidly developed his business until today he has a variety store, including a complete line of books and stationery, office supplies, toys and novelties, as well as a full line of confections and a modern soda fountain, worthy_ of any modern city of many times the size of Ceres. He has always taken an active part in local affairs, and for five j'ears served on the sanitary board of the city. During the war he was prominent for his labors in the war loan and Red Cross drives. Mr. Doolittle is a native of Massachusetts, born at Great Barrington, August 25, 1878. His parents were Augustus Albertus and Margaret E. (Hobson) Doo little, the father a carpenter. They moved to Detroit when our subject was a baby of two years, and there he was reared and educated, attending the public schools and working with his father in vacations. He came to California with his parents in 1893 locating in Oakland, whither his brothers and sisters had come some six j'ears 1400 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY before. The father passed away in Los Angeles in 1918, where the mother still resides. She is well known in Ceres, where she frequently visits her son, and where she has some property interests. Soon after coming to Oakland Mr. Doolittle entered the employ of Tillman & Bendel, in San Francisco, wholesale grocers, remaining for six years. The following six years he was with Hill Brothers, in the same line of business in San Francisco. He started his career in the Bay City at twenty dollars per month, and ended as an expert in the tea business, and was so engaged at the time of the fire in 1906. Follow ing this great catastrophe, which so disrupted the business conditions of San Francisco, Mr. Doolittle moved with his wife and mother to Stanislaus County, where he bought a ranch of twenty-two acres in the dairy section near Ceres, and for three years engaged in the dairy business. In this he was very successful, but the business opportunities offered by the growing city of Ceres interested him more than the farming .industry, presenting, as he believed, greater chances for successful endeavor. The marriage of Mr. Doolittle occurred in Oakland in 1900, when he was united with Miss Sadie Harvej', the daughter of George and Frances (Burdette) Harvey, and a native of Illinois. Her father was descended from an old English family, and came to Ohio when he was a youth. The mother was a native of Virginia, a mem ber of an old and honored family, one of Mrs. Doolittle's uncles, Judge Samuel Bur dette, being now circuit judge in the district court in Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey and their daughter came to California in 1893 and located in Oakland. Mrs. Doo little has borne her husband one child, Dorothy Frances, of Ceres Union high school. Politically Mr. Doolittle is a Republican, but in all local affairs he discounts party lines for sound principles and progressive movements. He was one of the most active supporters of the bond drive in the sewer construction plans for Ceres in 1920. He is a member of the United Artisans of Ceres and of the local Board of Trade. JOHN W. VETTER. — A man of executive ability and of a manly, moral character, John W. Vetter is indeed deserving of the success he has achieved. Having lost his mother at an early age, he realized more than most what it meant to be with out a home, and this with his conversion to the true Christian life and membership in the Church of the Brethren since 1884 has well qualified him to hold the position of superintendent of the Old People's Home located at Empire, Cal. He was born at Aetna Mills, Clinton County, Ind., September 24, 1869, the son of John Vetter, a native of Germany. He came to the United States in 1854 and here he married, his wife being of Scotch descent. She died when John was only fifteen months old and her six little children were put out in different families. John W. Vetter was brought up in the family of Jno. J. Wagoner, a farmer at Pyrmont, Ind., where he remained until he had reached the age of twenty-one. While there he had the advantages of the public schools, then attending Mt. Morris College, meanwhile assisting on the farm. On reaching his majority, he received from his foster father the sum of $500, which was to give him a start in life. As a young man he engaged in various pursuits : at making carpets, weaving rugs, and at times worked at the tinsmith's trade. His marriage united him with Miss Elzina P. Mellinger on December 22, 1892, at Pyrmont, Ind., who was born at Aetna ,Mills, Ind., January 6, 1874, and grew up in the same community as her husband. An estimable Christian woman, she is a true helpmate to her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Vetter have become parents of two: a boy who died in infancy, and Della Esther, now Mrs. C. C. Jamison of Empire. Mr. Vetter has recently purchased a three-acre tract -near Empire, which he is farming and improving. His first trip to California was in 1912, then they went back to Indiana before the year was over and lived there for five years, then came back to California December 1, 1917, and settled in Lake County, taking charge of a pear orchard south of Kelseyville for a year, then came to Stanislaus County after a short stay in Oakland. For about a year he was employed in Wood Colony by Chas. B. Rumble, when he was called to the superintendency of the Old People's Home at Empire and took charge of it November 1, 1919. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1401 Mr. Vetter was converted in January, 1884, at the early age of fourteen, and later in life continued his studies and obtained an education by strenuous self sacri fice at Mt. Morris College, located at Mt. Morris, 111., a college of the Church of the Brethren. The Old People's Home at Empire was established six j'ears ago and is maintained by the Church of the Brethren. Mr. Vetter is an extensive reader and a constant student. His private library is well selected; he has a large collection of excellent works and has done considerable work in compiling data for the history of the Church of the Brethren and is now preparing a history of the Empire Church. He is also a deacon in the church, which has a large membership and has the second largest Sunday School of any church in Stanislaus County. He takes a great interest in all the various activities of his church and for years was a Sunday school teacher. WILLIAM EDGAR HALL. — A successful young rancher who is fast acquiring an enviable reputation both as a scientific agriculturist and also as an economic man ager, is William Edgar Hall, known to his Hickman friends as a patriotic, public- spirited citizen willing to work for the rapid development of Stanislaus County's resources. He is a son of the late W. W. Hall, who was born in San Joaquin County but grew up to become a well-known Stanislaus County farmer, and eventually married Orilla A. Rowe, now Mrs. Hugh Head, written of elsewhere in this work; and a grandson of E. A. Hall and S. T. Rowe, and a great-grandson of John Jones, the bonanza wheat grower, famous in his time throughout San Joaquin County. He was born on the Hall ranch on October 10, 1899, and was twelve years old when his father died. He was educated in the public schools, and at an early age began to work on the Hall ranch, where he learned to run tractors. Now he is part owner with his mother, Mrs. Hugh Head, of a Holt tractor of seventy-five horsepower and a Harris combined tractor and thresher. In 1918, Mr. Hall was married to Miss Verna Knowles, a daughter of Ansel L. Knowles, whose life-story is given on another page of our history; and they have one child, Cecilia Adeline, enjoying with them their beautiful bungalow home erected on the 640 acres reserved for him by his mother. He raises barley and oats, and seeks to apply a mixture of practical common sense with the "last word" of science to the successful solution of all knotty problems. Mr. Hall is a Republican in matters of national political moment ; but when it comes to boosting Hickman precinct or even Stanislaus County, he is always willing to throw aside narrow partisanship if by so doing he may be able to advance any good cause. IRA S. TOMBAUGH. — Numbered among the successful ranchers and business men of Stanislaus County is Ira S. Tombaugh, who was born in Hancock County, Ohio, thirteen miles south of Findlay, March 19, 1872, the son of John and Emaline (Wheeler) Tombaugh, both now deceased. Their only daughter, Mary Candace Baughman, resides at Turlock. Ira S. Tombaugh's boyhood days were spent on his father's Ohio farm of 100 acres, enjoying the educational advantages of the district schools of that locality, and helping his father on the farm, gaining while very young a knowledge of what it takes to make a good farmer. At the age of twenty-three, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Baughman of Hancock County, Ohio. They became the parents of two children : Marie is the wife of F. C. Mosier, a rancher in East Empire Pre cinct, and they are the parents of one child, Dorris L. ; Gladys died in infancy. After hearing wonderful tales of the opportunities in the West, Mr. Tombaugh decided to go to Colorado and after spending two years in that state, he came on to Modesto in the year of 1909, and although he only had a small amount of money, he bought a piece of land and began farming; then when he had lived there two years, he came on to Empire and being apt, able and willing to work, he is becoming more prosperous all the time. He is now well to do, owning twenty-two and a half acres in three different ranches. He has improved the five-acre tract at Empire, has it planted to alfalfa and this he makes his home. He is seeding another ten acres to alfalfa this spring and has 288 four-year-old apricot trees in splendid bearing. Mrs. Tombaugh passed away about three and a half years ago, after a long illness. 1402 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY SIDDALL YANCEY BARNES.— A progressive young rancher, Siddall Yancey Barnes is the representative of one of the historic families of the South. He was born at Albany, Texas, a son of A. J. and Fannie (Yancey) Barnes, natives of Georgia, who are now living retired at 117 Poplar Avenue, Modesto; they used to farm east of Montpellier, in Stanislaus County, and there our subject grew up. He was three years old when he came to California from Texas with his parents and the rest of the family. A. M. Barnes was the oldest of the five children, and he is now running the old home Barnes ranch with his brother, R. H. Barnes, who was the third in the order of birth. D. A. Barnes was the first of the family to be born in Stanislaus County; Mary Belle is bookkeeper for C. E. Donley, the hardware mer chant at Modesto. Siddall Barnes is a nephew of Mrs. R. T. Hawkins, who was Miss Mary Siddall Yancey of Georgia before her marriage, the daughter of the valiant Lieutenant Abner Yancey who fell on the Jonesboro battlefield. Siddall, the second oldest in the family, was born on January 10, 1887, and when old enough to go to school, was sent to the schoolhouse in the Montpellier dis trict. He began farm work on his father's ranch, and then attended Heald's Busi ness College at Stockton. On completing the course there he returned to farming, renting land for three years and went in for the raising of grain; and as he was farming a part of the 2,600 acres famous as the W. W. Hall ranch, he enjoyed superior harvests. In time, this land had a greater interest for him, for it was deeded by Mrs. Head, formerly Mrs. Hall, to her daughter, whom Mr. Barnes married. In 1910 the marriage of Miss .Georgia Hall and Siddall Barnes was consum mated, the bride being a granddaughter of E. A. Hall and S. T. Rowe, both well- known Stanislaus County pioneers, and a great-granddaughter of John Jones, Cali fornia's largest wheat raiser. Mr. Barnes has built for himself and family both an attractive dwelling house and the necessary farm buildings; and they have one child, Andrew Wheeler. He is a member of Twintown Lodge K. P., at Waterford, of which he is a trustee. In national politics a standpat Democrat, Mr. Barnes favors nonpartisanship in local affairs. GUY NELSON LA SOURCE. — A prosperous farmer and business man of Modesto and Hickman is Guy Nelson La Source, who was born at Piano, in Tulare County, the son of Thaddeus Warsaw La Source, a native of Illinois, who served through the Civil War and on his return from the battlefields, came out to Cali fornia. Now he resides at Oakdale, retired, at the age of seventy. At Hickman he married Miss Clara Hunt, a native of Oakdale, who passed away at the age of fifty- four years. Guy La Source, who lives with his family on his father-in-law's place, rents and farms thirty-five acres, the large Mires farm being rented at present to Guy Laughlin. He also owns and works twelve mules, and he does a good deal of farm work and grading for other people. He has worked for the Turlock Irrigation District for five years, and is thoroughly posted as to irrigation problems. Mr. La Source was married at Hickman to Miss Hazel Adell Mires, the daugh ter of Lewis Napoleon Mires, one of the great bonanza farmers in the Hickman section, where he owns 916 acres. He was born at Stockton on November 17, 1856, the son of Sanford Mires, a native of Ohio, who married Sophronia Deardorff, in Indiana, in which state the bride was born. They crossed the plains with an ox team in 1852, and settled at Stockton; and Mr. Mires ranched as a grain farmer twelve miles east on the Copperopolis Road, in which section Lewis Napoleon grew up. When twenty-two years of age he was married in Oregon to Miss Elvira Kate Rycraft, who was born and reared in Oregon; and after their marriage the couple came south to California, and Mr. Mires went to work near Waterford. He worked for Coggswell for eight years, and for Dallas for five years, and then, for several years, rented the Coggswell ranch. He made his first investment in land in 1892, when he purchased 916 acres; and he not only farmed this, but other lands. All in all, he rented about 3,000 acres, used sixty head of mules and employed a combined harvester and a caterpillar tractor. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mires. The eldest, Hazel, is Mrs. Guy N. La Source of Hickman. Arthur Roy is distributor of the Lexington automobile at San Francisco and vice-president of the IS HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1403 Charles H. Kaar Company. Edson Lewis lives at Modesto. Mr. Mires has always taken a live interest in civic affairs, and as a standpat Republican has done what he could to improve political conditions. He was on the Turlock Irrigation Board for seven years, and for three years served as its president. Some years ago, he bought Smith's Garage, on Ninth Street in Modesto, which he has made one of' the best in the city. Mr. and Mrs. La Source have three children: Loren M., Orville Edwin and Martha E. La Source. JOHN GROSSMAN. — An extensive dairy farmer, John Grossman, and h.„ partner, Herman Michel of Venice and Santa Monica, Cal., are operating 290 choice acres in the Waterford Irrigation district just three and a half miles west of Water ford, Cal. He was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, October 13, 1868, the son of Heinrich and Margaret (Schild) Grossman, who were natives of Switzerland, where his father was the proprietor of a hardware store at Brienz. After attending the public schools of Switzerland, he took a two-year course in one of the agricultural schools of that canton. Having heard so much of America from his fellow country men who had found greater opportunities here, when he reached the age of nineteen he sailed for America, landing in New York in 1888. He went direct to Santa Ana, Cal., and began working out upon dairy ranches, having learned farming and dairying in Switzerland. He was accompanied to this country by his present part ner, Herman Michel, and together they came to Merced County and began by work ing out on large dairy ranches, later settling near Newman, where they bought a good 260-acre dairy farm and by making substantial improvements, working hard, saving and good management, they became very successful in their undertaking, so much so that in 1915 they added another ranch of 290 acres to their holdings. They raise alfalfa and milk sixty head of high-grade Holstein cows. They are also the owners of two registered Friesian-Holstein bulls. Within the past two years they have made great improvements, having built a farmhouse and tankhouse on the Waterford ranch, and seeded nearly all of it to alfalfa, which is growing nicely, and in this way the soil fertility of the 290-acre ranch is being restored. It had been farmed to wheat and barley for many years before they bought it, which took much of the substance from the soil, and this will bring it back to its original productiveness. Mr. Grossman is a very well-informed man, a good manager, working in accord with the country of his adoption and making a good citizen. He has met with such a degree of success that he is now well-to-do and in comfortable circumstances. ARAM H. YERAM.— A successful merchant, enjoying a thriving business, who has contributed his share to the building up of Modesto, is Aram H. Yeram, the up-to- date merchant tailor, whose place of business is in the Hotel Modesto building. He was born in Malatia, Armenia, on July 15, 1893, the son of John and Maryam (Kevorkian) Yeram. His father contracted for soldiers' supplies, but having a large family and dying when Aram was only fourteen years old, our subject had but very limited opportunities for schooling. From that time, indeed, he made his way in the world, and this fact adds interest to his absorbing story. For two years he was apprenticed at Malatia to the tailor's trade, and when he was declared adept, he left his native country, often so torn by internal strife, and came to America with its greater opportunities. He continued westward until he reached California and Fresno, and for three years he worked for Braves Bros, as a tailor. Then he removed to Modesto, and for a year and a half worked for the tailor having the shop in the Modesto Hotel. In 1916 he purchased the business, and since that date, operating for himself, he has extended his fast-growing trade throughout Stanislaus County. He is a member of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, and deeply interested in all that may work for the building up of Modesto. Mr. Yeram is held in such high esteem by all who know him that it is doubly a matter of regret he and his family should have suffered so by the late war. His people, pursuing agriculture in Armenia, have been subjected to indescribable hard ships, and one of his two brothers was massacred. 58 1404 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY GEORGE A. BROWN.— A self-made man who has developed himself as a first-class mechanic is George A. Brown, a native of Sabinal, Uvalde County, Texas, where he was born on July 17, 1888, the son of George A. and Cora Brown. His father was also a native of Texas, and was a stockman; and while riding a horse on his ranch he was killed. When he was ten years of age, George A. )Brown, Jr., accompanied by his mother, three brothers and a sister, removed to Riverside, Cal., to live; and having finished the grammar school courses there, he also attended the high school. At fourteen, however, he had to quit studj'ing and begin to earn his own living. Finding that he had special aptitude for mechanical work, he went into the automobile industry and for a number of years worked for the Detroit Motor Company at Riverside. He then removed to Willits, Mendocino County, and worked for two years. On coming to Modesto in 1902, he took up tractor driving and the running of stationary engines on ranches in the vicinity of Modesto, and that kind of labor also kept him busy for years. • In 1916, Mr. Brown took a position with the Ford Garage, and soon he became foreman of Parks Garage; and ever since he has been with C. C. Parks, as foreman of his machine shop. He has found it comparatively easy to demonstrate his particu lar fitness for the work in that field, with the result that patrons have grown in number and in their appreciation of his skill. On January 31, 1910, Mr. Brown was married at Madera to Miss Lillian Burnham, the daughter of Eugene L. and Sarah Burnham. Her father, who came to California when eighteen j'ears old, was a rancher of Fresno, who farmed extensively on about 3,000 acres; in later years he went into business and now is a wholesaler of- groceries and meats at Taft. He came to California as a young man of eighteen. Mr. and Mrs. Brown live very comfortably in their home at 1005 Fourth Street, enjoying the companionship of their five children — Gladys, Dorothy and Thelma, who are pupils of the grammar school, and George A., 3rd, and Raymond Clarence. In politics, Mr. Brown is an independent; fraternally he is a member of the Wood men of the World of Modesto. A. C. WOOLSEY. — Among the early settlers that have had a hand in the up building of Stanislaus County is A. C. Woolsey, who has rented and is operating the sixty-acre tract known as the Hanson ranch on the Tuolumne River in East Empire precinct. He was born May 28, 1868, in Cass County, Mo., the son of Eugene D. Woolsey, whose biography appears on another page of this work. His mother was Amanda Beck before her marriage and both parents were natives of Missouri. He is a member of the great Woolsey family, which has left its impress on English-speaking nations by virtue of the life of Cardinal Wolsey of England. Mr. Woolsey was the eldest of six children and therefore much of the responsi bility of the farm work fell on him, as the father was engaged as a drover, which took him away from his farm work. He moved his family to Stafford County, Kans., when Alfred was about eighteen years old. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-one, then wishing for a home of his own, he married Miss Annie Currence, who was born in Missouri. They became the parents of three children : Denton, who died when he was twenty years old ; Grace, became the wife of J. D. Garber, a rancher near Modesto ; and John W., of Modesto. Mr. and Mrs. Woolsey continued to live in the state of Kansas for seven years after their marriage, then he and his family came to California, settling at first in San Luis Obispo County, in the fall of 1896. They had not lived there long when he was bereaved by the loss of his wife, who died in San Luis Obispo County. His second marriage, which occurred at Nipomo, Cal., united him with Miss Edna Grafft, a sister of Herbert Grafft, a well-known citizen of San Luis Obispo County. Mrs. Woolsey is of a family of eleven children, all living. She was born and reared in Jones County, Iowa, and is the daughter of James and Marietta (Foreman) Grafft. Her maternal grandparents were John and Nancy Foreman and it was the former who instituted the celebrated "Jones County Calf Case" against Robert Johnson, which unfortunately broke up not only John Foreman but an entire com munity in Iowa. It was in the courts for twenty-eight years, and cost both sides HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1405 approximately $1,500,000. Mr. and Mrs. Woolsey have become the parents of three children: two of them died in infancy while a fate sadder still befell the third, Eldon, who grew to be a bright, strong boy of eleven, became the victim of a reckless speeder, having been run over on his eleventh birthday by an automobile. Mr. Woolsey came to Stanislaus County in 1904, settling in Wood Colony, where he had rented a farm, and was very successful in all his undertakings. Ambi tion had led him to venture into larger farming operations, so he went to San Juan County, expecting to make money farming on a large scale, but owing to a combina tion of circumstances set against him, unfortunately he lost the gains of several years of hard work. Undaunted in courage, he resumed farming operations, again in Stanislaus County, about five years ago and in the fall of 1920 rented the Hanson ranch and began to work up again. Mr. and Mrs. Woolsey through all their ups and downs have kept unswervingly to the right path and have many friends. EDWARD A. UHL. — A public-spirited citizen of Stanislaus County is Edward A. Uhi, who was born in Rochester, N. Y., on November 22, 1887, the son of Peter Uhi, a painting contractor and interior decorator, who had married Miss Abbie Gangloff. Both were estimable folk, descended of New England stock who had a high regard for the way in which their children should be brought up, and who did the best they could for the subject of our review. After attending the grammar school he learned the painter's trade, and for some years worked at it. He then took a posi tion as a traveling salesman for the Alexander Supply Company of Chicago, covering the Central States, and for several years traveled through the Pacific Coast region every winter, spending some time in California, his first trip being in 1906. This company handled novelties, but nothing appealed to him so much as the greatest of all novelties, California or the Golden State itself. It is not surprising, therefore, that in 1915 he should settle at Modesto and become distributor in Stanislaus County for the People's Baking Company of San Francisco. At the end of a year and a half, he took up the taxi service enterprise, and he also embarked in real estate. He purchased ten acres of land, west of the town, and this he again sold at a handsome profit in the fall of 1920. Since then he has been buying and selling Modesto town property; and having well established a reputation for both experience and fair dealing, he has steadily added to his patronage. At York, Neb., Mr. Uhi was married to Miss Tillie B. Thompson, a native of Gresham, Nebr., and a daughter of Jas. D. and Ida E. (Decker) Thompson, natives of Ohio who were early homesteaders in York County, Nebr., where they located in 1872. Grandfather David Thompson was born in New York and married Rosanna Davis, and they located in Ohio where they raised their family. On her maternal side Mrs. Uhi is descended from the De Vinnie family, who were of Holland and French extraction. Mrs. Uhi was a graduate of the Gresham high school and after a year in educational work established herself in the millinery business in Gresham. In 1912, with her mother, she spent a year in Pasadena, Cal., where she met Mr. Uhi, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage in York, Nebr., August 19, 1913; and two daughters have been born to them: Evarista Lucille is in the Modesto grammar school, and the younger is Leona Belle. A Republican in matters of national political import, Mr. Uhi is a Moose of Modesto. FRED. J. MARSHALL. — An experienced vulcanizer and wide-awake dealer in tires, who has built up the best business of its kind in Stanislaus County, is Fred J. Marshall, of 926 Ninth Street, Modesto, a native son proud of his state, having been born in Oakland on June 1, 1886. His parents were Joseph and Frances (Jus- lin) Marshall, and his father was a native of Boston who early came out West. Fred enjoyed both grammar and high school training, at the well-known foun tains of knowledge in Oakland, and when old enough assisted his father, who was in the general teaming business. After some years he quit and entered the employ of the Oakland Gas Company, and later was fireman on the Sierra Railway, running out of Sonora. In 1910, he removed to Stockton for a year, and then had the California Vulcanizing Works. In 1911 he came to Modesto and started business for himself 1406 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY as the Marshall Vulcanizing Works, and under his direction it has grown to be the largest business in its line in the county. Mr. Marshall deals in only the highest grade of tires and tire accessories, and he also does all kinds of vulcanizing. His plant is splendidly equipped, and it is no exaggeration to say that he gets a very large share of the city and county trade, and that he is well and favorably known for his ability to repair the largest and most expensive tires. At Sacramento, on April 12, 1910, Mr. Marshall was married to Miss Orpha Ivy, who was born in Tennessee and has made her home since marrying at Modesto. Two daughters blessed the union, Ivy Frances and Betty Joe. In national politics a Republican, Mr. Marshall is too broad-minded to permit partisanship to interfere with the most enthusiastic and intelligent support of every measure, movement and candidate likely to benefit the locality in which he lives, works and prospers. He is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce. JOSEPH W. FOX. — An industrious native son who has contributed his share toward the development of California's agriculture, is Joseph W. Fox, who was born in Santa Ana, Orange County, on January 5, 1877, the son of John S. and Margaret Fox. The father hailed from England, and when a mere lad was brought across the ocean to Indiana, and there reared. In 1875 he came to California and settled in the Delhi district in Orange County, and on the Irvine Ranch he took up farming. Just prior to that he was located near Waco, Texas, where he raised corn and cotton. Joseph W. Fox attended the district school at Delhi and spent his early days with his father, working side by side on the home farm with his brother, George K. Fox. In 1903, he learned the barber trade and spent a j'ear at Calexico in the Imperial Valley; and on his return to Southern California, he had a shop of his own for three years at Downey. In 1908, he came to Modesto and opened a barber shop; but four years later he sold out his business and, in partnership with his brother-in-law, Geo. T. Adams, bought sixty acres of the J. G. Elmore Ranch at Salida, and farmed the same for six years. They then sold the sixty acres and went to Yolo County, where they leased 300 acres near Davis; and for the past two winters farmed this land, planting it to grain and beans. Now, however, having given up the lease, they expect to do contract tractor plowing with their seventy-five horsepower Holt tractor, and also a full tractor equipment — machinery and implements representing the last word of the age. The business is conducted as Fox and Adams and they are well and favorably known, their headquarters being at 931 Eighth Street, Modesto. On May 23, 1905, Mr. Fox was married at Santa Ana to Miss Lora Adams, a native of Lake County, Cal., and the daughter of George and Lucetta Adams. This happy union has been blessed with the birth of one child, Velma, now in the grammar school at Modesto. SILAS EVERINGTON ULREY.— A man who is contributing his share in the development of Hughson, is Silas Everington Ulrey, the proprietor of the local trucking agency, who, with the aid of his sons, is steadily building up a large patron age. He was born at Martinsville, Clark County, 111., in March, 1873, the son of Eli and Angelina (Ulrey) Ulrey, good folk from Ohio, who came to Illinois at such an early date that they were able to do much of the path-breaking required there and then. In 1844, Mr. Ulrey took up Government land in Clark County, and so it happened that Silas went to the district school at Martinsville. In 1892, he joined the U. S. Army, wishing some military experience, and he was sent to the Presidio at San Francisco. On retiring from the army, he accepted a position with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, in the car department at Sacramento ; and so well satisfied was he with that great concern, that he spent the following twenty-three years in its service, at Sacramento and in San Francisco. In 1916, however, wishing to get out into the open, Mr. Ulrey purchased a ranch of twenty acres half a mile south of Hughson, and there ran a dairy and alfalfa farm for three years, keeping about twenty head of cattle. In 1919, he sold this ranch and came to Hughson, and having purchased trucks, he embarked in transportation of HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1407 freight and other commodities and goods. In this useful enterprise he has been ably assisted by his two sons, Harold P. and Wayne F. Ulrey. The firm is styled Ulrey & Ulrey, and they carry on trucking over the entire state, making their headquarters at Hughson. They use two G. M. C. trucks, one Lane truck, one Ford truck, a touring car and a roadster. Mr. Ulrey was married on February 22, 1896, when, at Sacramento, he took for his wife Miss Jessie Ross. She was born in Iowa, the daughter of Abraham and Mary (Long) Ross. He was an early settler of Placer County, to which district he came from Farmington, Iowa. Harold P. Ulrey was born in Roseville, Cal., and his brother, Wayne F., first saw the light at Red Bluff, in the same state. Harold enlisted on December 15, 1917, trained in the Eleventh Ambulance Company of the Eighth Division, and was three months at the Presidio. Then he was sent to Camp Fremont at Palo Alto, and on October 28 went to Long Island. Later he went to Camp Lee, in Virginia, and there he stayed for two months; and then he returned to the Presidio, where he was discharged in February, 1919. He was married at Berkeley on September 20, 1920, to Miss Louise Bianc, a native of Louisiana and the daughter of Frank Biane. He belongs to the American Legion. Wayne F. Ulrey enlisted in the aviation corps, to be trained as a flyer, and was held in reserve for five months. Then, on Armistice Day, he was called upon to report at Garden City, N. Y. ; but he never got on the way. He is a Mason, affiliated with the lodge at Modesto. His father is also a member of the Masonic order and is affili ated with the lodge at Red Bluff. JOHN E. FREITAS. — A modest, but popular young man whose heroic service for his country in the late World War — in which he was wounded three times — will be sure to entitle him always to the good-will and esteem of his fellowmen, John E. Freitas, the Hughson rancher, is also fortunate in such returns from his hard work as may fairly be considered the evidence of real success. He was born in Boston on July 29, 1891, the son of Lewis and Ida (Correia) Freitas, and his father was a merchant of New Bedford, Mass., where John attended the common schools. When only seventeen years old, in 1908, he left home and came to California. He settled at Hollister in San Benito County," and worked for wages on farms ; and after eight years of such ranch labor, in which he pretty thoroughly mastered the ins and outs of California agriculture, in 1916, he located in Stockton and entered a grocery store as a clerk and continued there until he enlisted in the Army in June, 1918, leaving his wife and infant son, two weeks old, with her brother. He trained for three weeks at Camp Lewis, in Company B of the Thirty-seventh Infantry of the Seventh Division; and from Camp Lewis went to Camp Fremont, where he stayed a short time before going to Long Island, in New York State. Thence he sailed for Brussels; and immediately after the arrival of his regiment in France, they went into action, so that he was in the St. Mihiel, the Argonne and several other drives, in each of which he was over the top several times. He was wounded by both shrapnel and bayonet; but he was able to make some counter-strokes. In America he had won the rank of a sharpshooter, and he was made a sniper at the front. Once, when out on advance sharpshooting, one of the enemy crawled up behind him, that is, behind the rocks where he was concealing himself, and Mr. Freitas turned just in time to dodge a thrust of the bayonet, which made an ugly gash in his leg, but which would otherwise have pierced his body; and in the fight that followed, he at last got his man. Another time three of the enemy had stolen upon him unawares; he discovered the first in time to get him, when two others appeared over the boulder, the first of them throwing his bayonet at him, but Mr. Freitas caught it in his hand and stopped the force ; a comrade in the rear got this man, while Mr. Freitas got the third one. As proofs of his participation, Mr. Freitas carries scars of three wounds. In February, 1919, he was honorably discharged as a corporal. Returning to California and taking up his duties, Mr. Freitas went to farming on a ranch of twenty acres, two miles south of Hughson, where he is engaged in raising sweet potatoes and melons. He had married in Stockton before the war on 1408 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY January 10, 1917, Miss Mamie Macedo, a native of New Bedford, Mass., the daughter of Tony and Amelia Macedo, now of Turlock; and their union has been fruitful of two children, Ernest L. and Loraine Freitas. Mr. Freitas prefers the platforms of the Republican party in all matters pertaining to national politics, but he is always ready to put aside partisan claims in order to support the best local candidates. He is a member of the U. P. E. C. and Farm Bureau of Hughson, and there is no one more popular. Mrs. Freitas is a member of the U. P. P. E. C. FRANK L. HEINZLE. — It is interesting to note that many of the prosperous business and professional men of Stanislaus County are also engaged in farming enter prises of various sorts, and among them is Frank L. Heinzle, who is engaged in the tailoring business in Patterson, where he enjoys a large patronage, and also owns and operates a ranch of ten acres on Eucalyptus Avenue, which he farms to alfalfa. Mr. Heinzle is a native of Austria, born at Bregenz, September 15, 1869, the son of Joseph and Josephine Heinzle, the father a stonecutter by trade. He received his education in the public schools of Bregenz, and was then apprenticed to a tailor, where he learned his trade. Later he traveled throughout Europe for seven years, engaging in his trade in various large cities, and visiting Switzerland, Germany, and other of the central countries. It was in January, 1910, that Mr. Heinzle came to California, locating first at San Diego, where he remained for a short time. He then went to San Francisco, where he established himself in the tailoring business, remaining for a year. An opportunity then presented itself at Colma, San Mateo County, and he transferred his interests there until 1913, when he came to Stanislaus, County, locating at Patter son. Here he built up a good business and prospered, but in 1915 was induced to return to Colma, where he remained until 1920, but in~May of that year, he again returned to Patterson, where he has now established a permanent home. Mr. Heinzle has been married twice, the first time to Miss Caroline Michael, in Bregenz, in 1896, and of this union there was born one child, a son, Frank. The second marriage was solemnized in San Francisco, in February, 1911, uniting him with Miss Anna Zoyer, and two children have been born to them, Josephine and William, both now students in the grammar school at Patterson. On April 26, 1921, Mr. Heinzle became an American citizen. MARTIN OLSEN. — A broad-minded and liberal-hearted citizen who, as a naturalized American, is proud of his adopted country and loyal to the great com monwealth of California, is Martin Olsen, whose good wife has contributed much toward their common success and prosperity. They now live retired about seven miles from Modesto toward the southwest, happy in their environment. Mr. Olsen was born on the Island of Bornholm, Denmark, on June 2, 18.53, the son of Ole Nelson, a native of that same island and a tradesman cobbler and shoe maker. Having thoroughly acquired a knowledge of his trade and art, and having started early in life with a reputation for character of a high order, Mr. Olsen estab lished such a remunerative trade that he was able to employ fifteen men, and so he became rather well-to-do. He had married Miss Severina Choler, a native of the same island, and their union was blessed with the birth of five children, among whom Martin was next to the j'oungest. Martin attended the public school at Roco, Denmark, and when fourteen years old went to work on a farm, where he remained until he was twenty-eight years of age. Then, in 1881, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, and after thirteen days on the ocean, he arrived in New York, after an enjoyable journey. Coming west to Denver, Colo., he spent some years in that state, part of the time working at railway construction; but learning of the far greater opportunities in California, he came out to Modesto, in 1883, and soon familiarized himself with the conditions and prospects in Stanislaus County. Since then he has been able to note the great progress in land valuations alone. For six years he worked for thirty dollars a month on a grain farm, and in association with others, he managed from 2,400 to 3,000 acres. In 1898 he rented land from John Service, and for seven years raised stock, barley and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1409 wheat in Merced County. In 1900 he bought sixty acres, his present place, where he erected a comfortable residence, and having now retired from active farming, he lives in his well-appointed home with his devoted wife. He was one of the first to buy land in this vicinity under the Turlock Irrigation District. At Modesto, July 27, 1887, Mr. Olsen was married to Miss Anne Due, a native of Bornholm, Denmark, who came to America in 1887. They have eight children, and they are all native sons and daughters of California. Andrew W. Olsen is married and has become the assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Ventura. James O. is a successful agriculturist, farming the old home ranch. L. C. Olsen, married, is a citrus rancher at Empire. ' T. M. Olsen, also married and equally suc cessful, is a farmer in Merced County. A. A. Olsen lives at home and devotes him self to farming; while the next youngest is Melvin Olsen, a bookkeeper in Modesto. The latter two both served in the World War. Anna Maria, the oldest, married James Soper, the farmer of Merced, and Myrtle Olsen assists her mother to do the honors of the home, The family attends the Methodist Church in Ceres. Mr. Olsen is a Republican ; but he does not adhere rigidly to party lines in local affairs. MANUEL D. MACHADO.— Near Newman may be seen one of the neat and thrifty ranches that abound in this vicinity and which represents the toil and industry of its owner. As it was necessary for Manuel Machado to go to work early in life, he had but little opportunity to secure an education and it was only through his own untiring efforts that he acquired this finely equipped farm with its good dwelling, farm buildings and fifteen milch cows, and without the assistance of any farm hands he cultivates the land and conducts his dairy business. Born on May 8, 1880, on St. Michael of the Azores Islands, the son of Tony and Mary Machado, farmers of that country, he left the old world for the new when only eighteen j'ears of age, the first two years of his residence in America being spent in Boston doing various kinds of work. In 1900 he crossed the continent for the Golden State, where he was employed by different ranchers until he purchased his present holdings of thirty-one acres, four miles southwest of Newman, devoted to alfalfa and dairying. On February 4, 1914, he was married to Miss Delphina Vincent, born in San Leandro, Alameda County, Cal., daughter of Joe and Isabell (Munyan) Vincent. When only one year old, Mrs. Machado's parents removed to the vicinity of New man, where she was reared and educated in the Canal school. Her mother was also born, in San Leandro, while her father, a native of Flores of the Azores Islands, came to California in the early days. Five children have been born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Machado: James, Manuel, Dell, Cecelia and Frances. In fra ternal circles Mr. Machado is associated with the I. D. E. S. of Newman. ARNOLD KAISER.— A progressive dairy rancher, and one whose scientific methods are the source of profitable interest, is Arnold Kaiser, who was born near Lake Lucerne, Switzerland, on November 23, 1886, the son of Antone and Theresa Kaiser, natives and well-known citizens of the Swiss Republic. They are well-to-do as expert dairy folk and cheese makers, and have a model farm, where Arnold was reared, one of a family of eleven children. Having been well-grounded in the fundamentals of education at the Allweg district school, Arnold Kaiser, with two brothers and his fiancee, Miss Mary Wiirsch, crossed the ocean to America and landed in New York in 1910, soon after which they came west to Butte County, Cal., where Mr. Kaiser's brother, L. A. Kaiser, had already settled several years before. For a few months he attended evening school, in order to acquire English ; but he gained most by private study and wide reading. For three years, Mr. Kaiser engaged in dairying in Butte County, and in the second year of his venture he suffered a heavy loss by fire caused by internal com bustion, when he lost 300 tons of hay. In 1915, he removed to Ceres with some ninety-three head of graded Holstein stock, and located on the Dan Whitmore ranch, where he engaged in dairying for three years, erecting buildings, making many improve ments and raising the standard of and increasing the size of his herd. In the fall of 1918, he located, with his two brothers, Mike and Warner Kaiser, on the alfalfa and 1410 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY dairy farm of 160 acres in Westport, settling there permanently in the following March, and since then they have become widely and well-known as extensive breeders of registered Holsteins, operating under the firm name of Kaiser Bros. Mr. Kaiser is a member of the Milk Producers Association of Central California. The sire of the junior herd is from the Carnation ranch at Seattle, and was pur chased when a calf for $700. There are 140 head of stock, j'oung and old, on the farm, and no herds in California are better cared for. Among the latest modern improvements on the farm are the two 175-ton concrete silos; the ranch is also equipped with an electric power. plant, while Empire milking machines are employed. A fine representative of the Swiss- American, bf whom Stanislaus County may well be proud, Mr. Kaiser as a man of high integrity and intelligence, endeavors to bring about the maximum results by living up to scientific standards. Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser were married in New York on November 23, 1910, the bride having been a daughter of Jacob and Mary Wiirsch, farmers from the same dis trict, that of Lucerne, in Switzerland. Mrs. Kaiser works. with her devoted husband to make California the best home state of the Union, and to advertise Stanislaus County as the section of greatest opportunity. They have one son, Arnold, born December 22, 1913, attending the public school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser are members of the Roman Catholic Church. KARL J. INGEBRETSEN.— The life which this sketch records began ' in Aalesund, Norway, where Karl J. Ingebretsen was born on May 26, 1888, the son of a seafaring man, Hilmar, and his wife, Helga Ingebretsen. He was reared and edu cated in the schools of his native country and then in 1907 migrated to the New- World seeking the greater opportunities of America. Coming directly to San Fran cisco he went to work as a painter, remaining in that city for seven years working for various employers. In 1914 he came to Patterson, where he continued at his trade doing contract work, and in that year was married in San Francisco, on April 12, to Miss Ingeborg Lilleland, the daughter of O. A. and Laura Lilleland. She was born in the vicinity of Stavanger, Norway, migrating with her parents to America in 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Ingebretsen are parents of two children, Hilmar and Arne. Aside from being interested in the paint business Mr. Ingebretsen farms twenty- acres of land devoted to alfalfa and fruit trees southwest of Patterson. In national politics he is an independent voter, supporting the man who, in his estimation, is best qualified to fill the office for which he is aspiring, and in church affiliations is a mem ber of the Lutheran Church of Patterson. Mr. Ingebretsen is a loyal American and always ready to give his assistance to any matters that tend to progress. . LEWIS TUCKER. — A newcomer in Stanislaus County who has already proven himself capable, is Lewis Tucker, a native of Oklahoma, where he was born at Doakesville on July 29, 1876, the son of John Tucker, a cattleman, and his good wife Susan, who were pioneers there when it was part of the Government range known as the Indian Territory. Mr. Tucker was an extensive breeder, and raised large numbers of cattle until the country was divided up and each Indian received a certain quota of land. He then took up grain raising, buj'ing until he had acquired about 2,000 acres of fine Oklahoma land. He died in June, 1912. One of the older of a family of ten children — five boys, five girls — Lewis Tucker attended Spence Academy at Doakesville. After completing the course he helped to run the home farm, which was kept intact until the death of John Tucker, when each member received the share he had inherited ; as a result of which division, Mr. Tucker now has, with what he has bought of others for a homestead, about 410 acres, devoted to general farming. He left home at the age of twenty-one and went into coal mining in Oklahoma, near his home; and he remained in the coal fields for seven years, when he returned to ranching, farming on his 410 acres until he came further west, in 1917. On October 1 of that year, Mr. Tucker reached Modesto, and here took up the creamery work in which he has made himself so proficient. At present, he is foreman qf the casein department of the Milk Producers Association of Stanis laus County, and those who are familiar with his knowledge and the thoroughness HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1411 of his conscientious attention to duty, know to what an extent he deserves credit for the association's enviable reputation for the excellency of its casein products. At Phillips, Okla., on Labor Day, 1903, Mr. Tucker was married to Miss Ida Sanders, a native of Kentucky, where she was born near Louisville, and the daughter of Frank and Mary A. Sanders. Her father came to Oklahoma with his family when she was a young girl, and she attended school at Lehigh. One child has blessed this union, Ronald Lewis, now a student at the Modesto high school. Mr. Tucker is a Democrat, and is a member of the Odd Fellows and the Encampment in Mo desto, and with his wife is a member of Rebekah Lodge. HERMAN VOLLSTEDT. — A thoroughly progressive man of business, who has come to the front in a very short period, is Herman Vollstedt, who was born at Albersdorf, Holstein, Germany, on August 1, 1886, the son of Claude and Theda Vollstedt. His father was a farmer, and also ran a transfer business. Herman attended the public schools at Albersdorf, and then, for three years, studied as an apprentice to learn the tile work, mantel and fireplace construction of the building trade. He next moved into Hamburg for another three years, and during that time he was foreman for contractors in the building of first-class homes. In 1911, Mr. Vollstedt crossed the ocean to New York and spent three months in the New World metropolis, continuing westward to California and settled for a while at Madera, where for two years he specialized in cement work. He then made a trip to Mexico and Texas; but as would be expected, he hastened back to Cali fornia. He was not long in engaging to work for the county on the highway, and he soon became foreman, and under Mr. Annear, the county engineer, he had charge of the preparation work for the grading and laying out of the McHenry Road. After that, he was foreman of the construction of forty miles of county road, and he super vised the construction of the grading of the highway from Waterford to Roberts Ferry, and the Crows Landing and Newman highwajs. In 1918, Mr. Vollstedt established himself at Modesto as an experienced cement contractor, and ever since then he has been seldom without all the work he could do in concrete contracting. On May 15, 1920, Mr. Vollstedt was married at Napa to Miss Norma F. Pat terson, who was born at San Francisco, the daughter of Norman and Henrietta Pat terson. Her father was a native of Rochester, N. Y., and came to California about 1890, and was soon well known as both a construction engineer and a horticulturist. She grew up at Napa, and attended both the grammar and the high school in that pro gressive town. Mr. Vollstedt received his full citizenship papers from Judge Ful kerth in 1920, making him in truth a son of the great American Republic, as he long was in "spirit, and on being admitted to the franchise, he joined the ranks of the Republican party. JOSEPH LAFRANCHI. — A thoroughly competent and dependable dairyman, Joseph Lafranchi is the son of Joseph and Margarite (Olivetti) Lafranchi, both born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland. They were the parents of five children: Orsola, the widow of Mike Punchini, is now living in Sacramento, Cal.; Jesse, resides in San Luis Obispo County; Giacomina, the widow of Cave Wakini, lives in Canton Ticino, Switzerland; Mary is married and living in San Luis Obispo, Cal. ; Joseph. Mrs. Lafranchi died at the age of forty. By his second mar riage, Mr. Lafranchi had six children: an infant died; Judita died when only four years old ; Linda is the wife of Louis Marioni, a hotel keeper, and resides at Sonoma ; Sylvian is in Amador County running a dairy; Ligio is married and works on a dairy farm near San Francisco; Austino, runs an auto truck in Nicasio, Mann County. His second wife having died, Mr. Lafranchi married Mary Petsalio. Joseph, the subject of our sketch, was born August 25, 1863, and upon reaching the age of six, he was bereaved of his mother. For three months of the year he attended the public schools in the neighborhood of his home, while the other nine months were spent in work, when at that age he should have been at play. When ten years old he was a hod carrier, assisting his father, who was a stone mason. He was taken out of school at the age of eleven and began to work "out by the month, herding cows 1412 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and goats. When fourteen and fifteen he worked with his father and learned the stone mason trade, then when nineteen years old, having tired of this drudgery, he left Switzerland and sailed from Havre, France, landing at New York City Decem ber 30, 1882, thence to California and to Guadalupe. For twenty-three years he worked as a milker on several large dairy farms, first on one and then on the other in the vicinity of Guadalupe in Santa Barbara County. In 1905 he went to the city of San Jose and engaged as a milker there for several of the leading dairy farmers. He worked for Andrea Able, a large dairy farmer, steadily for a period of ten years, then went back to San Luis Obispo for two years. In 1919 he worked for a large dairy farmer as a milker in the North Precinct in Stanislaus County, near Eugene, Cal., and from time to time has worked for the Richina Bros., the men with whom he is now employed. He has known the Richina brothers since they became engaged as dairy farmers at Guadalupe and has worked for them from time to time ever since the year 1885. Although his education was very limited, he had learned to read, write and to speak the Italian language while 'in the public schools of Switzerland, and has learned, since coming to California, to speak the Spanish language and to read, write and speak English. He has lived a great deal of his life at the home of the Richina brothers and they consider him one of their best friends. He has become an American citi zen and votes the Republican ticket and is a member of the Foresters. In religious faith he is a member of the Catholic Church. EUGENE A. FUENTES. — A thoroughly efficient manager of the conscientious, dependable sort is Eugene A. Fuentes, who is employed by the Turlock Irrigation Company to run their boarding house and care for their premises and work-stock, consisting of forty mules, at the Turlock Irrigation District's camp, below La Grange. His father was born in Chile, South America, and as Juan de la Cruz Fuentes came to California when he was thirteen years old. He settled in Tuolumne County, and was one of the first gold miners there ; and there he was married to Senorita Forquera, a native daughter, born in Calaveras County, by whom he had five chil dren, two of whom are living. John is employed in the lumber yard at Tuolumne, and Eugene A. is the subject of our sketch. He attended school at Jacksonville, Algerine and Marshall's Flat, at the same time that he was brought up in the Catholic Church ; and his first work was that of a placer miner. Then he entered the service of Henry Adams at Marshall's Flat, and for five years remained steadily with him. During that time he was married to Miss Lupie Soria, a native daughter and the sister of Archie M. Soria, who is head ditch- tender and boss of ditch construction at La Grange. She was born at Modesto; and when she died, in 1911, mourned by many, she left four children: Eugene, Celestine, Margaret and Phyllis. Eight years later, Mr. Fuentes married Mrs. Delia (Cavalli) Gavalian, whe was born in San Jose and had six children, one of whom is still living, Katie, now the wife of Felix Contrarias, and resides with him in Salt Lake City. Mrs. Fuentes is painstaking and considerate, and she is doing much to assist her devoted husband. After five years of farm work, Mr. Fuentes took up lumbering in the woods and work in the saw mills, and proved an excellent chopper and all-around worker, and in November, 1920, he and his wife came to the Turlock Irrigation District camp. two or three miles below La Grange, where they assumed charge. C. O. SHANAHAN. — A young man who hails from Indiana is C. O. Shanahan, who is now operating the J. A. Hindman eighty-acre ranch known as the "Hoosier Ranch," located in East Empire Precinct, Stanislaus County, Cal, half way between Empire and Waterford on the paved county road. He was born in Indiana, February 9, 1898, the son of Dr. Alva A. and Rosetta R. (Jones) Shanahan. His father is a leading surgeon in Grant County, Ind., and is the operating surgeon at the Grant County Hospital, having been at the head of this institution for some time. Grand father James A. Shanahan was a pioneer of Grant County, Ind. He and his father came from Cork, Ireland, and taking a claim, blazed the trail, and cleared the land. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1413 Thus he helped to make the early history of that section, and in later years when the History of Grant County was published, he contributed a number of interesting pages to this work. He fought through the Civil War and was wounded during his service. He died at eighty-six, on January 12, 1921, in Indiana. C. O. Shanahan was the second child of nine children and he grew up at Swayzee, Ind., attending the public schools in his home city and later the Normal School at Marion, Ind. At the age of twenty j'ears he was united in marriage with Miss Floss Cox of Jonesboro, Ind. He engaged as a glass blower in Marion, Ind., making such articles as electric bulbs, lamp chimnej's and glass tumblers. He also farmed for some time in Indiana. In March, 1917, he volunteered for service in the World War, and entered the U. S. Remount Service and was stationed at Louisville, Ky. During this time, while participating in one of the maneuvers, his horse fell on his left leg and broke it, disabling him so that he was unable to serve in this capacity, and he was honorably discharged. He then came to California in 1918 and began to work at the Union Iron Works at San Francisco where there were 10,000 men employed, but he had not much more than started when the armistice was signed and the shipbuilding for the Government came to an end. He then came on to Modesto, and while stopping at the Hotel Modesto, he met Mrs. J. A. Hindman, the widow of one of the leading lawyers of Marion, Ind., an old-time Indiana friend, and find ing that she had land to lease, he took a three-year lease for eighty acres at East Empire. That was in 1919, and 1920 found him making good as a farmer and more than delighted with California and Stanislaus County. Mr. Shanahan's mother is a member of the Friends Church and both he and his wife were brought up in that faith, where they are faithful workers. He was a member of the Eagles in Indiana. PETER BAVASTER.— A son of the hardy little Republic of Switzerland, Peter Bavaster is a self-made man, an orphan from his early childhood, who has won his way through his own efforts, and is today one of the successful dairy farmers of McHenry precinct. He has resided on this property for five years and has brought it under a high state of cultivation and to a great degree of productivity. Mr. Bavaster was born in Canton Graubunden, Switzerland, August 31, 1882. His father, Angelo Bavaster, was a stage driver, and for twenty years drove a stage through the Alps. He married Margaret Bleish, also a native of Switzerland, and they were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter. The mother passed away when our Mr. Bavaster was only four years old, and he was but ten when his father's death occurred. The five orphaned children were taken in charge by a sister of their mother, who received financial assistance from well-to-do relatives of their father, and also from the Swiss Government. They were strictly brought up in the Catholic faith and educated in the public schools, learning the German language. When he was eighteen years of age the spirit of adventure stirred strongly in Peter Bavaster, and he determined to come to America, and in October, 1900, he set sail from Havre, France, landing at New York City, and coming directly to Cali fornia, where he joined relatives and friends in Sonoma County. Here he soon ob tained employment on a dairy ranch, and was so pleased with the conditions he found in the New World that his brothers and sister soon followed his example. 1 he sister, Ursula, returned later to Switzerland, where she is happily married. The brothers are: Frank, a rancher on the Standiford Road, this county, and who was married to Miss Helen Pones, in Modesto, October 6, 1920; Joe, who was accidentally killed by being thrown from a horse in 1908, when he was twenty-nine years of age; Feter, the subject of this sketch; and John, single, and residing in Modesto. After eight years in Sonoma County, Mr. Bavaster came to Stanislaus County and in partnership with his brother, Frank, rented the Hayman ranch, which they suc cessfully operated for nine years. During this time the Bavaster brothers became wel known in the dairy business. In 1915 Peter Bavaster bought his present place of forty acres, where he engaged in dairy farming, running a_ herd of fourteen high grade milch cows and owning a registered Holstein herd sire His place _ is fully equipped with modern machinery necessary for the scientific development of his chosen industry, and has been brought under a high state of cultivation. 1414 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ANTONE AMARANTE. — What splendid things may be accomplished in the providing of a comfortable income through hard, intelligent labor, is demonstrated in the life-story of Antone Amarante, the wide-awake and experienced dairyman, who was born on the Isle of St. George in the Azores, May 4, 1876, the son of Manuel and Mary (Clarry) Amarante, respected farmer folk of that far-away land. The mother is still living at a ripe age, but Manuel Amarante died in 1910. As far back as 1896, Antone Amarante came out to California and settled at Watsonville, where he worked as a farm hand for Frank Sullivan for three years. He next put in five years on Mr. Traft's dairy ranch, where he was required to do many a long, hard day's work; but a turn in the road came when he was able to go to Castroville and lease 120 acres of land, on which he started a dairy, raising grain and alfalfa. His dairy herd grew,to be forty head; and when, at the end of fourteen years, Mr. Amarante left Castroville, he brought his stock to the present place of ninety-one acres four miles southeast of Newman. The tract is favorably located and has proven to be excellent land for alfalfa raising and dairying. His herd, too, has grown to sixty-five head of cows. In 1917, Mr. Amarante purchased a ranch of forty-three acres three miles southeast of Newman, and there he intends in time to live. He has also devoted this ranch to alfalfa, and continues to manage both his own and his leased acreage. On November 23, 1910, Mr. Amarante was married at Elmhurst, Cal., to Miss Anna Garcia, a native of Fayal in the Azores ; she is the daughter of Manuel and Mary Garcia, farmers in Fayal. The former has passed on and the mother is living at the old home. Mrs. Amarante came to Oakland in 1904. Their union has been further blessed in the birth of two children — Edwin and Madeline. Mr. Amarante belongs to both the Watsonville I. D. E. S. and the U. P. E. C. of Castroville, while Mrs. Amarante is a member of the Castroville Lodge, S. P. R. S. I., and the Gustine U. P. P. E. O, being a past president of the former. PETER LIBERINI. — A living example of what can be done on a California dairy ranch is given by Peter Liberini and his family. Mr. Liberini came to California directly from Italy in 1906, and to Stanislaus County in 1910. Here he has estab lished himself in the dairying business, leasing a fine farm of 120 acres, and owning a valuable herd of seventy-five high-grade milch cows, ten good horses, and a full complement of modern farm machinery. His sons are attending the Modesto high school, and helping on the farm in their time that is free from study. Mr. Liberini has been in the dairy business all his life and understands all details of this great industry. When he was eleven years of age he learned to make cheese, and he is an excellent judge of the value of stock and an expert in their care. A native of Italy, Mr. Liberini was born near the city of Brescia, Division of Lombardy, January 8, 1881, a part of that district being for a time under the control of Austria, although the people always spoke the Italian language. He is well edu cated and holds a certificate of graduation from one of the best schools of the province. His father was Bertolo Liberini, a dairy farmer and fisherman, who lived to be seventy- nine years of age. His mother was Mary Balduzzi, who became the mother of eight children, of whom our subject is the fifth. She passed away at seventy-two. It was in January, 1906, that Mr. Liberini came to San Francisco, having sailed from Havre, France, for New York, and thence by rail across the continent, the fame of California being the magnet which drew him from sunny Italy. He had been married to Fiore Cosi in Italy in 1902, but left his family behind him, making the long journey alone, and being joined by them in Sacramento, in 1909, Mrs. Liberini arriving with her two sons on March 6. The following j'ear they came to Stanislaus County, and in 1914 leased the Keeley place, on the Salida-Oakdale Road, where he engaged in dairying until the fall of 1920, when he purchased 130 acres, a part of the old Cottle ranch at Oakdale, where he moved and built his home and farm buildings. He has put in twenty-five acres of alfalfa and is now engaged in dairying. Mr. and Mrs. Liberini and their children are all communicants in the Roman Catholic Church. Two sons, Bert and John, were born in Italy ; Alice was born in San Francisco. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1415 JOHN T. BORBA, JR.— A leader in the growing business circles of Crows Landing, John T Borba, Jr., together with his father, has done much to solve the problem of properly and most cheaply provisioning the residents of that locality A native son, he was born at Pescadero San Mateo County, Cal., on February 16, 1895 the son of John T. Borba, who had married Miss Maggie K. Marshall who was born at Pescadero, a member of an early pioneer's family. The senior Borba came from the Isle of St. George ,n the Azores in 1888, when he was only seventeen years old, and for a number of years worked in San Francisco. Four sons blessed the S P Hn 5fr-,K rbai, J,°hnuT-' Jr- is the first-born' and the others «™ frank P., Henry and Gilbert, all of whom are at home ?i. Mft" aTiingJhe, gra,mTar SCh°°ls °f Pescad«o, John was graduated from the Newman high school and then matriculated at St. Mary's College, in Oakland When in his fifteenth year, he had removed with the rest of the family to Crows' Landing; and on his return from St. Mary's, he engaged, in 1910, in business with his father who had bought a farm of fifty acres near the Orestimba Creek It was under the irrigating canal, so that it was devoted to the growth of alfalfa; and there they built up a fine dairy, with thirty head of milch cows On August 1 1920 Messrs. Borba sold the dairying business to the Avila broth ers, while John T. Borba, Sr., still retained the land, and then they established a nrst-class meat business, running a wagon through the country districts. Having been careful from the beginning to handle and offer only that which is first class they have easily acquired more patronage than they can well take care of, and they' serve customers as far south as Volta, as far north as Patterson, and east to the Stevenson Colony. They buy and kill their own beeves, hogs and mutton. Mrs. Borba is the daughter of John and Elizabeth Marshall, among the best- known pioneers of San Mateo County, hailing from St. George's Island in the Azores. Their son, Frank Borba, enlisted on September 21, 1917, in the Three Hun dred Sixty-third Infantry of the Ninety-first Division, and trained at Camp Lewis; after which he was transferred to the Spruce Division. He reached the grade of corporal, and returned safely and with the coveted credentials for faithful service on January 16, 1919. CHARLIE ERICKSON. — One of the first settlers in his section is Charlie Erickson, who was born near Parsburg, Vermland, Sweden, in 1872. His father died when Charlie was five years old, and the mother and six children were left without means of support, so the family moved to a small place and each member of the family went to work. Thus from a lad he has had to make his own way in the world. It was a mining region and the lads worked for the mining company, washing out the iron ore, meantime attending the public schools for limited periods. Taking up hotel work subsequently, he was thus employed until about the time he was to be called into the army service. Instead, he obtained a permit to immigrate to the United States three days before he was to be called. Arriving in America, he came on to Chicago, reaching there in 1893, and there he was emploj'ed on the drain age canal and on farms in the vicinity, until he went to Minneapolis, where he fol lowed cement working for different concerns. In 1903, Mr. Erickson came to California, remaining at Fresno for the first winter, and then coming to Turlock, where he purchased his present twenty acres, being the first to buy in this section. Going to San Francisco, he was soon on his way to Alaska, where he spent some time on Ophir Creek. When he returned to Turlock, he began at once to improve his place, meanwhile working at Turlock, Modesto, San Francisco and Fresno, contracting cement sidewalks, curbs and foundations. He built the foundations for the Swan, Herald and other buildings in Modesto, and spent one summer in Humboldt County, busily engaged in earning money to pay for the ranch and improvements. After he had accomplished this, he gave all of his attention to the ranch, where he is raising peaches, Zinfandel grapes and alfalfa. The marriage of Mr. Erickson occurred in Oakland, uniting him with Miss Wilhelmina Dahl, who is also a native of Sweden, and working together in harmony they have made a success of life. All these years, Mr. Erickson has contributed 1416 HISTORY OE STANISLAUS COUNTY liberally to the support of his mother in Sweden, and particularly in these last years since he has had a larger income, he has much happiness in being able to provide generously for her wants. She is still living in Sweden at the age of eighty-one years, and in 1900, Mr. Erickson made a trip back to the old home to visit her. A firm believer in the principle of protection. Mr. Erickson is an ardent Republican. ERIC A. NELSEN. — A native of Illinois, born in Chicago on February 21, 1889, Eric A. Nelsen, machinist and rancher, came to California with his parents when only five years of age. Prior to coming West his father, Jacob Nelsen, was for a number of years in the life-saving service at Evanston, 111. After the family was settled in San Francisco the father went on the police force and, having served faith fully for twenty-five years in the police department of that city, is now on the pension list, he and Mrs. Nelsen now making their home at Oakland. Eric A. Nelsen was educated in the Hamilton grammar school of San Francisco and made that city his home until his marriage, which occurred on January 12, 1912, when he was united with Miss Gunda Knudsen, who was born in San Francisco, the daughter of John and Clara Knudsen. Her father was a seafaring man on vessels in coastwise trade and passed away when Mrs. Nelsen was a little girl of four, so she and her sister, Clara, were reared on their grandfather's ranch in Washington near Vancouver and she received her- education in the Portland grammar schools. Mr. Nelsen's first employment was in a machine shop in San Francisco, where he learned the trade with the Sanitary Device Manufacturing Company, then three years with the Oakland Traction Company as a machinist, and another three years with the Great Western Power Company as oiler and fireman, later returning to the Oakland Traction Company where he worked for two years as a blacksmith's helper. In April, 1918, he came to Crows Landing, purchased his present holding of eleven acres of alfalfa land and embarked in ranching, and here he expects in the coming years to spend his entire time and energy. From April, 1918, to April, 1919, Mr. Nelsen and his father operated the Depot Garage at Oakland, but at the expiration of a year disposed of the business and Eric A. Nelsen took a position with the Gilbert & Morgan Garage, at Patterson, as a mechanic. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nelson: Vendell Clare, Char lotte Jennette, Jacob L., and Eric A., the two eldest attending the Bonita school at Crows Landing. In national politics Mr. Nelsen is a Republican and in fraternal circles is a member of Lodge No. 336 F. & A. M. of Fruitvale. CARL B. HEDMAN. — A very enterprising business man who has been helpful in all worthy movements promising both to upbuild as well as build up the commun ity, is Carl B. Hedman, who was born in Smaland, Sweden, on February 13, 1875, the son of Eric Hedman, a native of Dalene, who was employed as expert foreman of the dyeing department of a cloth factory at Alvestad. In that vicinity our subject was reared, while he attended the thorough local public schools; but on account of the death of his father when he was a mere child, he had to go to work very early, and when only thirteen crossed the Atlantic and came out to Colorado. There, at Black Hawk, he went to school for another two and a half years. He then worked as a carpenter for a while, and then found employment in a quartz mill, where in time he was made foreman. After that, he removed to Denver and there, having worked a great deal at pipe work in the quartz mills, he worked for a plumber. In 1912, he made one more important move by migrating to California, and at Turlock found employment as plumber- with the Turlock Hardware Company and for several years had charge of the plumbing. On May 14, 1918, Mr. Hedman started in business for himself, having demon strated that he was a conscientious workman of a high order, and also having widened greatly his circle of friends and acquaintances. He went into partnership with B. H. Beynon and formed the Turlock Plumbing Company, and after securing satisfactory headquarters at 119 Lander Street, installed a first-class stock of up-to-date goods and commenced their present excellent trade in contract plumbing. Most of the best recent public and private buildings in Turlock are in part what they are because of HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1417 the workmanship of these capable plumbers, whose motto has been the simple but ever worthy standard, "the best." Mr. Hedman is appreciated as a loyal member of the Board of Trade, while as a Democrat he seeks to do his duty in good citizenship. At Central City, Colo., Mr. Hedman was married to Miss Amanda A. Warlum, a native of Minnesota, and four children have added joy to their cosy home: Ber nard W. is in the Turlock high school; and the other younger children are Merrill, Doris and Virginia. Mr. Hedman belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also to the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which he is a trustee and treasurer, having been secretary of that active organization. P. J. SWANSON. — The late P. J. Swanson was born in Westergotland, Sweden, and came to Pocahontas County, Iowa, where he did farming until he pur chased a farm and raised grain and stock. In that county, too, he formed domestic ties. On April 4, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss Selma Ekstrom, who was born in Sodermanland, Sweden, a daughter of Carl J. and Augusta C. (Holm- berg) Ekstrom, who immigrated to Iowa when Selma was 18 months old, home- steading eighty acres in Pocahontas County. This they farmed for many years, until they sold and located near Fonda, Iowa, where the father died January 10, 1903. Selma is the youngest of their two daughters ; the elder was Mrs. Ellen Johnson, who passed away in 1889. Selma Ekstrom was reared in Pocahontas County, this being the scene of her first recollections and there she received a good education. Remain ing at home, she assisted her mother until her marriage. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Swanson continued to farm their 240 acres until in 1909 they decided to come to California. "Disposing of their farm, they arrived in Turlock that year and purchased thirty-five acres in the Citrus Tract, which they improved to alfalfa and built a home. Here they ran a dairy and met with excellent success. Mr. Swanson, however, was not permitted to enjoy the fruits of his labors, for he was taken away in 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Swanson were blessed with eight children: Alice is Mrs. E. F. Johnson, who, with her husband and two children, Fern Bernice and Maxine Eldora, resides at Dinuba ; Arthur W. served overseas for thirteen months in a trench mortar battery as a sergeant in the U. S. Army, is married to Ruby Whitefield and now employed in the implement department of Berg's; Oscar R. also served overseas thirteen months in a trench mortar battery ; is now in the employ of Andy Thorsen, Turlock; Carl Edwin died January 16, 1919, of influenza; J. Elmer married Gladys Rhoy and has one child, Carlos Clayton. He owns a thirty-acre farm and also operates his mother's ranch. Then there is Clarence E., Roy L. and Ellen Viola, who live at home. Mrs. Swanson resides on West Main Street, in Turlock, but owns a forty- acre ranch in the Willoughby Tract in Merced County,, six miles southeast of Turlock, which is devoted to raising alfalfa and grain. Mrs. Swanson is a member of the Christian Church in Turlock and participates in all good work. EDWIN LINCOLN VARLEY.— A native son of California, Edwin Lincoln Varley was born in Ferndale, Humboldt County, October 30, 1884. His father, Edwin Varley, was born in Scarborough, England, and came to America when a young man of twenty. Farming occupied his attention in Iowa until he came to Humboldt County, where he was married in Eureka to Miss Ida King, who was born in Visalia. Her father was a pioneer of California, having crossed the plains in an ox-team train early in the gold excitement. She was left an orphan and was raised by Captain Angney, an old Mexican War veteran. She was teaching school in Eureka when she met and married Mr. Varley, after which they engaged in dairying at Ferndale, panning, skimming and churning by hand. Later they brought horsepower into use for churning butter. Selling the farm in 1897, they are now living, retired, in Fern dale, members of the Episcopal Church, while the elder Varley is a Mason This worthy couple had four children, all living, of whom Edwin L. is the oldest. He was brought up on the farm in Humboldt and educated in the grammar and Ferndale high school, after which he entered Ferndale Business College, graduating in 1902. 1418 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Coming to San Francisco, he entered the employ of the Union Iron Works, where he was apprenticed as a machinist. Owing to an injury to his eye he was obliged to rest, having lost the other eye when, as a lad of four, a scissors point penetrated it. After working at odd jobs as bookkeeper and timekeeper, he went to work for the Socrates quicksilver mine in Sonoma County and soon became master mechanic. He continued three years, until the mine closed down in 1906 after the big earthquake. Then he returned to San Francisco with the Bishop Lumber Company as tallyman for three j'ears, until closure of the yard. Then he was fireman at the Fairmont Hotel for six years, resigning to go with the Pacific Lumber Company at Scotia in 1915 as assistant engineer under his brother, Alfred O, who was chief engineer. However, after two and one-half years he returned to the Fairmont Hotel as machinist. Three days later he lost the second finger of his right hand and was laid up for six months. He then went to Scotia and for three months assisted his brother, who was sick, after which he came with Libby, McNeill & Libby at Loleta as chief engineer. This position he held six months, and in 1917 he came to Hughson as chief engineer of the Hughson Condensed Milk Company for two years. Next he installed the machinery for the Borden Condensed Milk Company of Modesto, where he has charge of the plant's engine and machinery. Mr. Varley's first marriage was in Santa Rosa, where he was united with Miss Clara Noble, who was born in Mendocino County, and of whom he was bereaved ten months later. His second marriage was at San Rafael, where he took for his wife Miss Ida Brown, a native daughter of Sonoma County, born at Guerneville, and one child, Margaret, has blessed this union. Mr. Varley is a member of the Episcopal Church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, being affiliated with the lodge in San Francisco. He believes in protection for Amer icans and is naturally a Republican. PHILIP VAN BEBBER. — An enterprising and successful contracting painter and decorator is Philip Van Bebber, born in Maysville, Mo., January 29, 1885. His father, J. S. Van Bebber, was a Kentuckian, who came to Missouri with his parents, and he became a farmer in Dekalb County. He now lives retired in St. Joseph. His wife was Charity Asher, also born in Kentucky, of whom he has been bereaved. Five of their children are living: A sister and a brother are in Nebraska, while Philip, Thomas and Floyd are living in Turlock. Philip Van Bebber spent his early years on the farm in Dekalb County, Mo., meanwhile attending the public school until sixteen, when he was apprenticed to the trade of painter and decorator, after which he worked at his trade in different parts of Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico and Minnesota. On November 13, 1918, he and his wife arrived in Turlock, having driven through in his automobile from Kansas with the intention of locating here. For a time he worked at his trade, and then launched into business for himself in July, 1919, since which time he has met with good success. He painted the new high school and the addition to the Hawthorne school and the Englesby, Osborne, Wahlstrum, Ballard and White residences, as well as numerous others. Mr. Van Bebber was married in Mena, Ark., April 24, 1912, to Miss Frances Pike, born in San Diego, Cal., a daughter of Frank H. Pike, who was born in Farm ington, Mass., and came with his parents to Kansas, locating at Lawrence before the Civil War. Grandfather Joshua A. Pike served in the Civil War as captain in a Kansas regiment and his were the first troops to reach Lawrence after it was raided by Quantrell in 1863. He was very prominent in the affairs of Kansas in those early days, taking a prominent part during the Kansas troubles and aided in making it a free state. When he first entered the ranks he was first lieutenant of Company A, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, and afterwards was captain of Company K, Ninth Kansas Cavalry. His wife was Mary Balcom, who died in 1918, but he is still living in Kansas in his ninety-first year. Frank H. Pike was with the Santa Fe Railroad in Kansas, then was transferred to San Diego, where he continued with the company for sixteen years. He now lives in Shawnee, Okla. Mrs. Van Bebber's mother was Mary L, Huey, born in Mexico, Mo., whose father, Henry Huey, came from Ireland to HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1419 Virginia and then he enlisted in the Union Army for service in the Civil War After the war he moved to Kansas when his daughter, May, was thirteen years of age She passed away at Lindsay, Okla., having been the mother of eight children, six of whom are living, Frances being the next to the youngest Philip Van Bebber joined the Odd Fellows at Kinsley, Kans., but has transferred his membership to Turlock Lodge No. 402. He is a past grand and is now repre- ?3f No0?^ <™l ^dg-' WitH ^ Wif6' he is * member of Pa^ Rebekah Lodge No. 230, of which she is vice-grand, and both are also members of the Security Benefit Association. Mr Van Bebber is a member of the local union No m Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers, of which he has been secretary' He is a Socialist in political views, and in Mena, Ark., as well as Turlock has been prominent in Socialist circles. HENRY VOIGHT.— A native son of the Golden West, born on the Waterford Road, five miles east of Modesto, March 12, 1878, is Henry Voight, whose father, Henry Girard Voight, was born in Germany. As a lad in poor health, he was placed on a whaling ship that the sea voyage might benefit him, and it did. He continued to follow a seafaring life and sailed all over the world. He was on different whalers and had many hard and harrowing experiences, and was wrecked several times Once off the coast of Greenland their vessel was crushed by the icebergs and the crew remained tor a long time on a floating iceberg, subsisting principally on whale blubber until picked up by another ship. He first arrived in San Francisco Bay as early as 1838, ten years before the discovery of gold. He happened into San Francisco again at the time of the gold discovery in 1848, left the ship and rushed to the mines. After mining awhile at Gold Gulch, near Sonora, he went broke. He returned to his former calling and as captain ran a boat between Stockton and San Francisco until the government land was opened for settlement, when he purchased Stanislaus County land on the Waterford Road. Here he improved 240 acres and settled down to farming. Later he purchased two sections of land in Montpellier precinct, where he established a camp and raised grain. In Sonora he had married Mrs. Lizzie (Strope) Yokum (who passed away in 1900), and of their union three children were born, two of whom grew up: Mrs. Dora Hutchings, of near Empire, and Henry, the subject of this review. By her first mar riage Mrs. Yokum had four children, three now living: Mrs. Margaret Johnson of Modesto ; Fred Yokum of Oakland, a fig grower in Merced County, and Mrs. Addie Long of Empire. The father, some time before his death, had divided his lands between the children and at his passing, in April, 1904, was aged seventy-five. He was a Mason and a Presbyterian, a splendid type of the old hospitable pioneer. Loyal to the Stars and Stripes first, last and always, he abhorred military oppression in every form. When Henry Voight was four years, his parents moved into Modesto, so it was there he attended the public school. Having a strong desire to follow an outdoor life, when sixteen he began working as a ranch hand ; but it was not long before his father resumed farming. Then Henry became his right-hand man, continuing until his marriage in Modesto in 1899. There he was united with Miss Rose Kasper, who was born in Modoc County, Cal., a daughter of Mathias Kasper, who brought his family from Modoc to San Joaquin County and continued his life as a stockman. After their marriage Henry Voight farmed on the Waterford Road two years, and m 1901 located on his present ranch of 640 acres in Montpellier, which had been deeded to him from his father. Here he has built his residence and substantial farm buildings and is raising grain, using ten horses and mules for operating the ranch and a McCor mick combined harvester to gather and thresh the grain. Mr. and Mrs. Voight have been blessed with three children: George Girard, Walter William and Ruby Rose. Mrs. Voight is serving as clerk of the board of trustees of the Dickson school district. Mr. Voight is a stockholder in the Farm Bureau Exchange Elevator at Montpellier, is enterprising, liberal and progressive, always ready to assist movements to help the com munity. He served in Company D, National Guard, at Modesto. A believer in pro tection for Americans, he is naturally a Republican in national politics. 59 1420 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY BEN GOMEZ. — -A progressive Portuguese-American who has become successful as a California dairy farmer, is Ben Gomez, the cultivator of upwards of 500 rich acres near the San Joaquin Power & Electric Company's reservoir. He was born in Portugal forty years ago, the son of Anton, and the grandson of Manuel Gomez. His father is dead, but his mother, whose maiden name was Rosa Carea, is still living in her native land. After the death of his father, when he was only ten years of age, Ben had to work incessantly, and he therefore enjoyed no school ^advantages such as most boys have had in his time and country. He was brought up in the Roman Catholic Church, and in Portugal was also married to Margareta Vierra, who was also born in Portugal. They are the parents of six children — Mary is now the wife of Tony Ormondie, a dairy farmer living near Tipton in Tulare County; Gertrude, Tony, Rosa, Frank and Ben. When twenty-seven years of age, Ben Gomez came out to America and Cali fornia, and upon his arrival at San Francisco began to work on a dairy farm as a milker. From the Bay City he went to Tulare County, and thence came to Stanis laus County. He has a three years' lease upon the excellent Joe Moll dairy farm of 450 acres in the Reservoir district, and there has some seventy-five acres into alfalfa, and reserved most of the balance for general pasture land. Mr. Gomez moved onto this ranch with his family in December, 1920, coming from Riverbank, in Stanislaus County, where he had rented a dairy ranch and managed the same successfully for six months, until it was sold. Prior to that he had been in Tulare, Tulare County, for nine years, and with three partners had had a dairy with 120 cows, on the Joe Le Marsh estate. Now, in business for himself and family, he has sixty-five head of cattle, large and small, including one registered Holstein bull, and thirty-five milch cows ; and despite his lack of school advantages, he has been able, with the cooperation of his wife and family, to forge ahead to a very enviable degree of prosperity. The family are members of the Catholic Church at Riverbank, and he and his wife appre ciate, as perhaps some who have had all the advantages they wanted do not, the value of a good schooling, and they are doing their best to give their children the most complete and helpful education within the reach of rural folk. MARCELLUS D. TWIGGS. — A far-seeing and progressive rancher, Mar cellus D. Twiggs, the successful tenant farmer on the Twenty-six Mile Road, north of Oakdale, was born in Wisconsin on May 15, 1883, the son of David E. and Ida M. (Hardy) Twiggs. When he was six years old, his parents moved to Detroit, Mich., and there our subject was reared by his grandparents, Marcellus and Eliza beth (Palmer) Twiggs. They were farmers and had some sixty acres, although Grandfather Twiggs was a cabinetmaker by trade. He was born in Ohio, and was a reserve militiaman there during the Civil War. Great-grandfather Palmer was a large farmer, and a leading spirit in the operation of the Underground Railroad; he maintained a station on his farm, and helped the negroes to get away to Canada. David E. Twiggs was born in Ohio, and was married to Miss Hardy, also a native of Ohio, in Missouri, and they lived on a farm of 160 acres at Meadville, Linn Ccunty, Mo. Marcellus Twiggs attended the country Ohio schools, and on the death of the grandmother, in 1898, he went to Dearborn, Mich., a lad of fifteen, to attend a union grammar and high school. Since then he has made his own way in the world, although his parents are still living, at Canton, Ohio. Four children were granted them. Marcellus D. is the subject of our review. Robert Ethelson resides at Ken more, Ohio, where he is engaged as foreman in the large machine shops of the Inter- urban Railroad Company. Florence V. resides at Canton, Ohio, and so does the youngest of the family, Sydney Edgar. In the midst of his studies at Dearborn, Mr. Twiggs quit school and enlisted in the regular army, at the age of seventeen, joining Company C of the Fifth United States Infantry. He served three years, and was in the Philippines, and he took part in many noted engagements. A portion of the Filipinos surrendered to his regiment in the Abra Province, in the Northern Luzon sector; and his company was compli mented on its having carried on so successfully one of the most arduous movements HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1421 in the Filipino campaign. Having returned to the United States, Mr. Twiggs leceived an excellent discharge, with high honors, in 1903. In September of that year, Mr. Twiggs went into Mendocino County and worked for four years in a lumber camp and sawmill at Willits. Then he went to San Francisco immediately after the earthquake, where he worked at the carpenter trade for a year. During that time he was married, in 1907, to Miss Lola Decrow, a daughter of Sj'lvanus W. Decrow, of San Bernardino County. One child, Eliza beth Lola, has been born to them. Mrs. Twiggs' maternal grandmother was a pioneer of San Bernardino County, and her mother's people crossed the wide plains in early and more hazardous daj'S. In 1908, Mr. Twiggs went back to the East and ran his grandfather's farm until November, 1910, when he returned to California and set tled for three years at Modesto. Then he came on to Oakdale and became a tenant on the Griffin Ranch in 1919, after having been foreman of it for its owner, H. T. Griffin, for a couple of years, from 1917. For 1921 he has 200 acres of barley in prospect, 200 acres alfalfa, and 200 acres in summer fallow, the balance in pasturage. TONY GAMBINI. — Among the Italian-Americans who have contributed toward the rapid and permanent development of California, Tony Gambini, a young man from the Province of Novara, is the owner of a stretch of 160 acres along the Stanislaus River, out of which, since he came here about thirteen years ago, he has evolved a handsome ranch worth perhaps $40,000. He was born on July 11, 1887, the son of Louis and Mary Gambini, substantial farmer-folk in possession of a com fortable place, who are still living in Italy ; and ih that sunny country he grew to maturity. When twenty years of age, he came out to America, sailing from Havre, after having worked for a couple of years in the timber-lands of France ; his brother, Joe, accompanying him across the ocean. They landed in New York on June 15, 1907, and almost immediately came to San Francisco. There he worked for six months in a paint works ; and while he worked and saved his money, he visited Modesto and took a good look at the country surrounding that flourishing town. When he was able to do so, Mr. Gambini rented a dairy ranch at Modesto, and later he came up to Oakdale and rented another ranch from Arthur L. Leitch ; and for seven years he operated a dairy there. In 1919 he purchased his present ranch from Mrs. Margaret E. Cottle — 160 acres on the River Road, originally a part of the famous Cottle grain farm, one of the finest landmarks at Oakdale ; and there he keeps fifty milch cows, a graded Holstein bull, fifty heifers from one to two years old, and eight very large, high-grade, Percheron-Norman horses. He also has two auto mobiles, and the usual other farm machinery, and sells his cream to the Oakdale Cream ery. In 1921 he built a new barn 58x120 for his milch cows and storage of hay. Mr. Gambini is public spirited, a hard worker and an exemplary citizen. His brother, Alisio Gambini, who served in the Italian Army for seven years, with his wife, has recently come over from Italy to join Mr. Gambini. FREDERICK SCHULLER.— A self-made man and successful rancher Fred erick Schuller, on account of his travels and associations, has become considerable of a linguist, boasting a thorough knowledge of German, Roumanian and Hungarian, and also of English, acquired since he came to America. He was born in Austria-Hun gary on September 11, 1866, sent to the best schools near at hand, and brought up in the German Lutheran Church. He served an apprenticeship of five years learning the trade of a hatter, and as a journeyman traveled through Roumama and Hungarj- His father was Frederick Schuller, and he had married Miss Mary Weinnch ; she died when our subject, their only child, was three years old. His father married a second time, and became the parent of two sons and one daughter. In 1890 convinced that the New World would offer him greater opportunities than might be found in his fatherland, Frederick Schuller set sail from Bremen on the steamship "Eider," and landed at Castle Garden, New York City, on November 26 From there he proceeded to Alliance, Ohio, where he worked in a machine shop and made hammers; and in the capacity of an expert machinist, he remained there for seven years Then he put in a year in the foundry of the Morgan Shop at the same place. 1422 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY He first took up farming in Stark County, Ohio, after his marriage, and for nine years rented land on which to operate. In 1907, lured by the still greater prospects in agri culture along the Pacific, Mr. Schuller came out to California, and on November 6 of that year bought some fifty acres of land at Valley Home, Stanislaus County, which he commenced at once to improve. After a while he deeded one acre to the county for road purposes, and now he has forty-nine of such land as thousands would be glad to hold title to. In 1896, he cast his first vote, and gave it to William McKinley; and he has usually voted the straight Republican ticket ever since. In Alliance, September 12, 1896, he was married to Miss Rosa Schmidt, a native of Canton Berne, Switzerland, the daughter of Peter and Anna Marie (Stoller) Schmidt, with whom she came to America when she was only two years old. Two j'ears later, that devoted mother died, at Alliance, Ohio, and there she was brought up by her father. He is still living, at the fine old age of seventy-three, making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Schuller, the father of four daughters and a son. Eight children blessed this union of Mr. and Mrs. Schuller. Tillie married John Wagner, they reside at Oakdale and have one child, William Wagner. Mary is the wife of John Marconi, the dairyman at Oakdale. Frieda married Benjamin Kiesow, an employee of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and they reside at Tracy. Minnie was the fourth in the order of birth. Arthur goes to the high school at Oakdale, and the younger members of the family are Louisa, Elsie and Dora. WILLIAM GABEL. — An experienced cattleman, widely known as a discrimi nating buyer and a conscientious shipper, William Gabel, by giving his business his personal attention, has been making an enviable success. He buys every fall, sells every spring, and ships in large quantities to the Sacramento and the San Francisco markets. A native son — always proud of the fact — William Gabel was born in Calaveras County, about three miles above Knights Ferry, on November 24, 1874, and there he grew up so close to the county line that he went to school at the last- named place. His father, also William Gabel, came direct from Germany to Cali- tornia in 1854, and soon settled at Two Mile Bar, and at Knights Ferry he married Miss Marie Stemm, also a native of Germany. He then became the owner of 730 acres in Calaveras County, which he made his home place, and also 160 acres in Stanislaus County, in the Knights Ferry precinct. William Gabel, Sr., was not only an early cattleman, but a pioneer fruit grower. He planted a six-acre family orchard of all kinds of fruits, including luscious grapes and black and white figs, now proba bly the largest fig trees at the Ferry; and he called his place Two Mile Bar. He lived to be sixty years old, and died in 1888 on his home place. Mrs. Gabel passed away in 1893, aged about fifty-eight. Nine children were born to this excellent couple. Mary became the wife of John Schneider, the upholsterer, and resides at Sonora. Philip lives on the old home place. Minnie married Frank Laughlin, a nephew of J. C. Laughlin of Oakdale. Phil- lipini is now the widow of George McKeag of Knights Ferry. John is on the old home place. Lizzie is the wife of Alonzo Watson, a cattleman at Baker City, Ore. Annie married Sam Baugh, the blacksmith at Knights Ferry. And Jacob, unmar ried, lives at the same place. William Gabel grew up on his father's farm, and very naturally took to farm ing in general; and when twenty-one he commenced to farm grain. He rented Jim Williams' 480 acres and the 160 acres in Knights Ferry precinct, and for from twelve to fifteen years raised grain. He became the owner of a combined harvester and ran it with the aid of from twenty-six to thirty-two horses. He bought the 160 acres after his parents' death, and later still purchased the Jim Williams' 480 acres, making his total area 640 acres. This he has turned into a stock farm. He buys cattle in Mariposa, Calaveras and San Joaquin counties, and Nevada, and he runs about 150 head, which feed on the native grasses. He bought a ranch of twenty-three acres in Booth precinct, and when he was married, built upon and improved it, sowing it to alfalfa; but at the end of three years he sold it. He then built his present bungalow home on F Street, in Oakdale, in 1919. He is an influential member of the California Cattlemen's Association. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1423 In 1914 Mr. Gabel was married to Mrs. Elsie Watson, nee Addis, the daughter of Jacob and Amanda Jane (Beale) Addis. Jacob Addis was born in San Francisco of parents who came from England to New York, and then, on account of the gold excitement, moved West to California and were '49ers. There were six children in the family of Jacob and Amanda Joddis. Elsie, or Mrs. Gabel, was the oldest. Leslie Jacob is a gas engineer and resides in Los Angeles. Maude is now the wife of Rodney Gilbert, a naval attache of the U. S. Legation at Pekin. Edna is a tele phone operator at Ogden, Utah. John Edward is an engineer in Mexico. And Lincoln is a surveyor and resides in Oakland. Fraternally Mr. Gabel is a Mason, affiliated with Summit Lodge No. 112, F. & A. M., at Knights Ferry, and is also a member of the Woodmen of the World at Oakdale. LEVI FRENCH. — A successful poultryman who operates his extensive ranch and hatchery strictly according to up-to-date methods, is Levi French, proprietor of the Oak Grove Poultry Farm in Langworth precinct, just outside of the corporate limits of Oakdale. He was born at Thomson, in Carroll County, 111., on Decem ber 18, 1874, the son of Norman Sumner French, who was born in Vermont, and who married Miss Mary Helms of Carroll County, 111. When eight years old, Levi accompanied his parents to La Moure County, N. D., and there he had the general experience of a pioneer homesteader in the wilds of a Dakota prairie. While in North Dakota, he was married to Miss Lula Barnes, a native of Madison, Wis., who was reared from the age of three years at Fort Dodge, Iowa. When twelve years of age, she came with her parents to North Dakota. Her father was Amos Barnes, a native of England. For ten years, Mr. French taught school in North Dakota. While teaching he homesteaded 160 acres of land. He improved this and as he prospered he bought adjoining land, and when he quit teaching he owned about 1,000 acres of land, in La Moure County, farming there until 1909, when he came to California, leaving behind, as choice property which he still owns, 1 ,000 acres of good farm land. Locat ing in Oakdale, he began the poultry business. Now he owns and occupies for his poultry enterprises some ten acres, seven of which are devoted to the needs of his poultry, and the balance to alfalfa. His incubator capacity is 5,000 eggs and the chicks find a ready sale, mostly locally. He imports each year a number of White Leghorn cockerels, and is thus able to secure the very best strain. He has a complete set of buildings and can house 4,000 baby chicks, and keeps about 3,000 laying hens, the largest poultry ranch here. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. French. George, born in North Dakota, Myra Lucile, Lee Norman, Lloyd Arthur, and Ethel May. Mr. French belongs to the Oakdale Odd Fellows, and his excellent standing is attested by the fact that he is a past grand of the order. Both Mr. and Mrs. French have many friends, who rejoice at their growing prosperity. FRED RIEGER. — A self-made, straightforward man, whose years of hard, successful work have enabled him to retire to a very comfortable affluence, is Fred Rieger, who was born at Wuertemberg, Germany, on June 16, 1857, the son of Jacob and Christiana (Beck) Rieger. They had three children among whom Ired- erick, the subject of our review was the eldest. Then came Johanna, who resides in Germany, the wife of Gottlob Aldinger, a teamster there; while the youngest was Christiana, who married a Herr Hess, a stonemason, also of Wuertemberg. Ihe good father died in Germany in his fiftieth year; and his devoted wife passed away 'when she was sixty. When he was twenty-five, Mr. Rieger sailed from Bremen for New York, where he landed on April 3, 1883, and after a short stay ^Ameri can metropolis, he pushed on to Ackley, Iowa, where he had relatives . A er work ing out on a farm for nine months, in March, 1884 he pushed on to Nebnd», ^d in Adams County he took up homestead land, which he duly proved up and acquired fUU in^Si Mr. Rieger moved on to Arkansas, and in 1907, he came out to the Coast, and since that time he has been identified with this part of the prosperous 1424 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and promising West. He bought sixty acres at what was then Thalheim and recently he bought another twenty acres, one-fourth of a mile southeast of Valley Home. He owns, besides, 374 acres in Arkansas, at Grand Prairie, near Stuttgart, and four lots, with a residence and barn in Valley Home. At Hastings, Nebr., in November, 1884, Mr. Rieger was married to Miss Mary Burkhartsmeir, a native of Wuertemberg, who crossed the ocean with him, as a fel low passenger, when he came to America; and nine children have been granted them. Otto runs the ranch in Arkansas, in which state, on June 2, 1918, his next youngest brother, Charlie, was accidentally killed by a live electric wire. He was married, and left two children. Sophie is employed in San Francisco. Christiana died in Arkansas at the age of five. Hannah is the wife of Ray Ivinson, of Los Angeles. Rosa is a nurse at the Damerori Hospital, in Stockton. Fred married Bertha Walther of Valley Home and is a rancher, and the father of one child. Johnny is in Arkan sas with his brother, while Louis goes to school at Valley Home. Mr. and Mrs. Rieger are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Valley Home, in which flourishing congregation Mr. Rieger is an honored trustee. He takes a live interest in all that pertains to the building up of the community. FRANK LONGIS. — An enterprising French-American who has become a man of affairs in the Oakdale commercial world, is Frank Longis, of Frank Longis & Company, proprietors of the Union Steam Laundry here, conveniently situated at the corner of Railroad Avenue and H Street. He was born at Aertte, in the Basses- Pyrenees, France, on January 2, 1877, the son of Joe Longis, who had a big stock farm. He married Miss Mary Apson, who is still living in France, although our subject's father died there some eighteen years ago. They had four children: Jacques is a policeman in Paris ; Peter is in the laundry business in San Francisco ; Frank was the third in the order of birth ; and Mary is the wife of Pete Moulia and lives on the home place in France with her mother. Frank attended the public schools of his native country, and, his brother Pete having come out to California in 1910, he joined him at San Francisco two years later. For five months he worked in a laundry there, and then, on October 23, 1912, he came to Modesto. There he worked for the French Laundry steadily for eight years, and on December 1, 1919, he moved over to Oakdale, where he bought the Union Steam Laundry of Boom Bros., and then formed the company of which he is the principal owner, having as his partner his brother-in-law, John Galar. The laundry is equipped with the most up-to-date machinery, consisting of a five-roller Troy steam mangle, and a Hoffman and a Troy press, and so is enabled to put out strictly first-class work at popular prices, a service rewarded by the steady increase in trade. At Modesto, on April 25, 1914, Mr. Longis was married to Miss Marie Bergez, a daughter of Jacques and Tube (Casanbon) Bergez, both of whom are still living in the Basses-Pyrenees, the parents of the following children : Jeanne Marie ; Nancy, the wife of John Galar; Marie Louise, Jean Pierre, Andre and Pierre. Mrs. Galar also assists her sister, Mrs. Longis, in the laundry. One child has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Longis, Jennie, now in her sixth year. They are Catholics. SILVIO ROSSINI.— A valued member of the Central California Milk Pro ducers Association is Silvio Rossini, a rancher at Langworth, near Oakdale, a hard worker, ably assisted by his loyal wife, to whom much of the credit for their com bined success as dairy farmers is due. They own thirty-eight acres at Langworth, including the old brick schoolhouse at Langworth, which he bought in November,. 1919, a part of the old Langworthy Ranch. It is really one of the landmarks in the early history of Stanislaus County, and twenty-six acres are in the river bottom of the Stanislaus River and are rich as the Valley. He checked the land and sowed it to alfalfa immediately after purchasing it, and the very first year he cut six crops of alfalfa, from what was seeded about April 1, 1920. He is also running a dairy, and has a string of thirty milch cows with a regis tered Holstein bull. Before buying this farm, he held a five-year lease on three hun dred acres. For three years he operated a dairy on the rented land, and then he HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1425 sold the leases and bought this property. Prior to coming here, he lived at Modesto and ran a dairy for four years; and before that he lived for nine years at Palto Alto ^ ^ SCu Wum hC CTe t0 America fr0m Canton Tici™> Switzerland in 1903 There he was born, on March 3, 1884, and in the Swiss Republic he grew up until his nineteenth year. Mr. Rossini started his career in California as a milker, and worked steadily tor four years for one man and then for five years for another. He was married at Oakdale December 7, 1918, to Mrs. Adelina Albertoni, the widow of S. Albertoni nee Adelina Richina, who was also born in Canton Ticino. She had had four chil dren— Meta, Albert, Helen, Ruby— and they are all living with Mr. and Mrs Rossini, who have one child of their own, named Silvio. Mr. Rossini's father Severro Rossini, is still living in the Canton Ticino, Switzerland, at the age of sixty; but his mother died when he was only eight years old. Mr and Mrs. Rossini were brought up in the Roman Catholic faith, and grew up in the Italian section of tri-lingual Switzerland, and so speak, as their native tongue, Italian. But they are, and have been for years, one hundred per cent Ameri cans^ and just the kind of settlers and citizens, intelligent and prosperous, whom Stanislaus County is proud to welcome. SEBASTIAN C. MONDO. — An able and energetic man who has become a successful horticulturist, is Sebastian C. Mondo of Oakdale. He was born at Betzano, in the province of Turin, Italy, on July 9, 1883, the son of Bartholomew and Rosa (Casalegno) Mondo, owners of a farm of fifteen acres in Italy, the birth place of our subject, where they still reside, and it was here he obtained most of his knowledge concerning horticulture, viticulture, dairying and farming. They were the parents of three children, of whom Sebastian C. was the eldest ; Ezolina, 'still single, is living in Italy; Mario V., who also came to America, is a rancher at Ripon in San Joaquin County. Sebastian Mondo was educated in the Italian public schools, meanwhile helping on the home farm. When eighteen years of age, having heard of the wonderful opportunities afforded in this new country — for he had two uncles here — he sailed from Havre, France, landing at New York on November 17, 1901, then went direct to San Jose, Cal., arriving there on November 25, and has liked the Golden State so well that he has made it his home ever since that date. He began by working in orchards and vineyards on the San Martin ranch, where his uncle, Thomas Casa legno, was superintendent, and continued there two years and with other horticul turists in Santa Clara Valley. In 1913, Mr. Mondo rented 119 acres at Langworth, Stanislaus County, from Thomas Casalegno, whose daughter, Miss Annette Casalegno, he married in 1914. She was the granddaughter of Peter Pellier, noteworthy as the man who introduced the French prune in California. Her father is still living in San Jose. Proving an efficient farmer, Mr. Mondo operated it until 1918, when he purchased sixty-five acres at Langworth ranch, and on January 5, 1920, bought the home place of 120 acres, from his wife's father, this making a total of 185 acres, all in prunes, peaches, pears, cherries, apples, almonds and walnuts, a very nice holding. Mr. Mondo gives his trees the most scientific care, sowing cover crops, which are plowed under for fertiliza tion and he is an expert at pruning. His whole place bears the marks of intelligent attention and is bringing him an excellent income. ENOS BECHIS. — An energetic and highly successful Italian-American is Enos Bechis, the rancher living northwest of Oakdale, whose wife is a native daughter, as was her mother, of French extraction and with the distinction of being the grand daughter of the far-seeing pioneer, who introduced the French prune into California. He is a late arrival in the Oakdale district, having formerly made a name for him self as a rancher in the Santa Clara Valley, but he is none the less welcome, and bids fair to become, through his satisfaction with the Stanislaus County country, as much of a "booster" as anyone of this favored district. He was born in the province of Alessandria, Italy, near Asti, on January 3, 1881, the son of John Bechis, who died in 1426 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Italy twelve years ago. He married Miss Rosa Curutti, by whom he had five chil dren; and when he died he left her a fine farm he had long owned. The oldest son, John, is in Italy; Enos is the subject of our story; Margaret is married and lives in Italy ; A. O. Bechis resides in San Jose ; and J. S. Bechis is a citizen of Redwood City. Enos grew up on his father's farm, and was the first of the family to come to America. He sailed from Havre and landed at New York, in 1899, and on November 7 of that year reached San Jose — a stranger in a strange country, with only seven dol lars in his pocket. It was at that period, too, when there were thousands of the unem- ploj'ed; but he soon got a job pruning the vineyard for Mrs. William Weiner, seven iniles southeast of San Jose, where he worked for seventy-five cents a day and had to pay thirty cents a day for board, or cut wood for three hours. The prospect was blue enough, but Mr. Bechis kept working industriously. In April, 1900, he went to work in the brick yard for sixty dollars per month and his board, and was compelled to do some very hard work; and after six months he went out into the country again on a fruit ranch. When he was twenty-two years of age, he was married at San Jose on November 10, 1903, to Miss Denise H. Mirassou, a daughter of Peter Mirassou, who had married Miss Henrietta Pellier, a daughter of Peter Pellier of San Jose, the horticulturist who brought the first French prunes to California and here cultivated them. His brother, Louis Pellier, was the first florist in San Jose, and came with Peter to California, sailing for six months around the Horn to San Francisco. Mrs. Bechis' mother, now sixty-five years old, was born at Evergreen, eight miles east of San Jose. Peter Mirassou died at San Jose when Mrs. Bechis was eight years old. Mrs. Mirassou was the mother of five children, among whom Denise is the oldest. Peter is a rancher at Evergreen. Teressa is the wife of John Bidou, the rancher at Gilroy. Herman J. is a rancher near San Jose, and John A. is farming near Evergreen. Mrs. Mirassou married again, choosing Thomas Casalegno as her husband, and he is now a retired farmer living in San Jose. He lived at Langworth precinct in Stanislaus County for ten j'ears, and is well-known at Oakdale. After marrying, Mr. Bechis took charge, as foreman, of the Santa Clara Valley Land Company's ranch, known as the San Martin ranch, of 9,000 acres, and in 1907 he became the superintendent. He started the planting there, and set out 4,500 acres in grapes, and the balance in prunes, apricots and peaches ; and at the end of seventeen years, he saw this ranch successfully sub-divided into ten-acre lots and sold. At present, the land is worth from $2,000 to $3,500 per acre. After resigning he bought a ranch of forty acres in Berryessa, devoted to prunes. In 1919 he sold it and bought a ranch of 215 acres at Langworth, which he operated for ten months and sold, and then he purchased a home in San Jose, which he sold on December 21, 1920. He secured his present ranch on February 23, 1920. One hundred ten acres are given up to almonds, ten acres to alfalfa, fourteen acres to apricots, twenty acres to Zinfandel grapes, thirty acres to Muir peaches, twenty-three acres to pears, two acres to cherries, one acre to walnuts. Three children were granted this worthy couple : Ernest J. Bechis, a general favorite, died at Oakdale on November 20, 1920, when he was sixteen years old; Eugene H. has reached his thirteenth year, and Louis A. is ten years old. Mr. Bechis is a stockholder and a member of the California Prune & Apricot Growers Associa tion since organization and is much interested in cooperative marketing for growers. HARTWELL SUMMERS.— A successful Stanislaus County rancher who thoroughly understands the many problems of dry farming, is Hartwell Summers, now living at Oakdale, who has been able to increase his yield of wheat greatly by summer fallowing. He was born near Hill's Ferry, when that was a live place, south of what is now Newman, the son of G. R. Summers, who married Miss Elizabeth Clarke, and both of his parents are now living in San Joaquin County. He grew up on a grain ranch in Merced County, a veritable bonanza grain farm, and so, while attending school, had the best of opportunities, from his twelfth year, of learning the ins and outs of western agriculture. He learned to handle horses and machinery, for fifteen years driving harvesters, and could manipulate as many as thirty-six horses. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1427 Mr. Summers has rented 1,800 acres five miles north of Oakdale whereon he raises grain by dry farming, and he also rents two tracts of land just north of Oak dale — the 400-acre tract belonging to H. T. Griffin, of Oakland, and the 1,360 acres belonging to Charles Mettler of Los Angeles, which he operates together. To carry on these extensive operations, he runs a Holt caterpillar of seventy-five horsepower and a combined Holt harvester known as the Sidehill Holt combination harvester and thresher, with which he can -cut and thresh forty acres a day. He has farmed for twenty-five years, and has raised great quantities of barley and wheat. For eleven j'ears past he has farmed in this vicinity of Oakdale, and before that he was in Merced County, where he was born and reared. He now makes his home in Oakdale, driving to and from his ranch daily. Mr. Summers was married at Farmington, in San Joaquin County, March 24, 1912, to Miss Frances Alders, born at Farmington, a daughter of the late Charles M. Alders of that county; and they have two children — Erla Bernice and Ethyln Jane. Mr. Summers belongs to the Odd Fellows of Farmington, and is a Democrat. GUY JOHNSTON. — A citizen of Modesto who has contributed materially to its upbuilding, Guy Johnston was born in Petoskey, Mich., August 7, 1878. His father was Curtiss Johnston, a New Yorker, who came to Michigan when he followed rail roading, and there married Georgia Sever, who was born in Maine. In 1880, he removed to Freeville, N. Y., where he railroaded and later became a farmer, and was thus engaged until he died, being survived by his widow and nine children, of whom William is sixth. After completing the public school in Freeville, he learned the machinist's trade in the D. M. Osborn Harvester Works at Auburn, N. Y. Four years later he went with Henry & Allen, manufacturers of agricultural implements, where he continued for a period of three j'ears, when he returned to Michigan, locat ing in Wayland County, where, as a bricklaj'er and cement worker, he became foreman. In 1910, Mr. Johnston came to Modesto, Cal., becoming foreman of cement and brick work for Ernest Green, continuing in that capacity until he started as a con tractor of cement and brick work. While with Ernest Green he was foreman on the building of the Hotel Hughson, the Majestic rooming house, Murray & Jones build ing, then the Ward building under W. A. Stevens. Mr. Johnston built the P. J. Griffin building on Tenth Street, and did the brick work on the following buildings : The addition to the high school, the departmental school, Gandy building, Blue Seal building, Tilson building and the Borden's condensed milk factory. Mr. Johnston has a new, modern equipment for mixing and preparing the cement and concrete for his work. He is a member of the Bricklayers' International Union. W. W. GRANT. — A native of Canada, W. W. Grant was born in Ingersoll, Ontario, March 27, 1870. His father, Rev. Wm. Grant, was born in County Glen garry, in the province of Ontario, of Scotch parentage, and was a minister in the Baptist Church until his death in January, 1918. Mr. Grant's mother was Ann Jane Wallace, born in County Armagh, Ireland, coming to Ontario when nine years of age with her parents. She now resides in New Jersey, the mother of four sons, of whom W. W. was the eldest. On completing Ingersoll high school, he obtained a teacher's third-class certificate when sixteen years of age, but did not follow teaching, for having learned cheese making during the summer vacations while working in the Maple Leaf cheese factory at Ingersoll, he continued as a cheese maker in different factories in Ontario for ten years. In 1893 he took a dairy course at the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph, when, after graduating, he became instructor in cheese making at different factories in Ontario, and also inspector of cheese making and of milk from 1894 to 1897, when he came to the States, spending five years in New Jersey, where he was superintendent of the creamery at Reaville and built their new creamery at a cost of $75,000. in 1902 he came to Manhattan, Kans., and became instructor of dairying at the Kansas State Agricultural College and thence to the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, where he was assistant instructor of dairying. Next he was superin tendent of a large creamery at Mitchell, S. D. In 1904 he came to Marshfield, Ore., 1428 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and superintended a cheese factory for three j'ears and during this time, in the win ter of 1905, he was instructor of dairying in the agricultural department of the Uni versity of California at Berkeley, and in the winter of 1906 held the same position at the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis, Ore. In 1906 Mr. Grant was appointed state dairy inspector of California under the State Dairy Bureau and held this post until 1908, when he came to Los Banos, with the Golden State Creamery, developing the sweet cream business for them, for at this time very little was known of pasteurizing cream in California, and he introduced it on the West Side. In 1914 he was cheese maker at Gridley. In 1915 he was at Caruthers, Fresno County, as cheese maker for Carpenter, and when the latter came to Salida, he helped establish the Salida factory. In 1916 Mr. Grant accepted a position with Mr. Gum, the late manager of the Modesto Milk Producers Associa tion, as cheese maker, and has since given his time to building up the cheese making department of this large plant. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows and Foresters. Politically he is a strong Republican and a great admirer of the late Theodore Roosevelt. Mr. Grant has been a liberal contributor to dairy journals and particularly to Hoard's Dairyman. ERICK HALL. — Among the prominent and early residents of Turlock was the late Erick Hall, born in Vestmanslan, Sweden, January 1, 1835. He was a farmer boy and when sixteen j'ears of age was apprenticed and learned the cabinet maker's trade in Stockholm, where he continued the trade until he came to Minnesota with his wife, Charlotte, and their two children, locating in St. Paul, where he followed carpentering and where his wife died, leaving two children, Axel of Oakland and Charles of San Pedro. Some j'ears later, in 1881, Mr. Hall married again, the ceremony occurring in Minneapolis, uniting him with Miss Ingeborg Verme, who was born in Vermland, Sweden. Her father, John Verme, was managef of a manufacturing establishment at Hogfors until he came to Minneapolis, Minn., in 1879, with his wife. One year later Ingeborg Verme also came to Minneapolis, where she met Mr. Hall, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage. Removing to Stillwater, Mr. Hall worked as a carpenter in the iron works and later in the furniture factory connected with the state penitentiary. In the fall of 1903 they moved to Turlock and purchased ten acres on what is now East Avenue, where he engaged in general farming and horticulture until his death, October 17, 1917. He was prominent in the Swedish Mission Church in St. Paul and Stillwater, Minn., and in Turlock. He was well read and was talented as a speaker and frequently filled the pulpit. In Turlock he was active in the Sunday school, was a trustee of the congregation and was one of the founders of the Bethesda Society in St. Paul. Five children were granted Mr. and Mrs. Hall : Esther is Mrs. A. G. Crowell, who has three children, and resides near Turlock ; David, a jeweler in Turlock, mar ried Miss Jennie Johnson of Thief River Falls, Minn., and have one child; Joseph is a jeweler, and married Ida Warren, and they have one child; Harry is also a jeweler, while George is an electrician. The latter two served overseas for a year in the World War. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Hall continues to reside on the " old home farm, her two soldier boy sons making their home with her. Mrs. Hall is a member of the Swedish Mission Church and an active member of the Dorcas Society. JOHN H. HANSON.— A resident of Stanislaus County since 1903, during which time he has been associated with the building up of the agricultural interests of the county, John H. Hanson was born in Grenola, Elk County, Kans., January 24, 1875. His father, Chas. Hanson, a wheelwright, was born in Fyen, Denmark. He served as a soldier in the Danish army in the Slesvig-Holstein War. Coming to New York, he followed his trade and there married Angeline Scott, who was born in West Saugerties, N. Y., whose father was a captain in the Mexican War. They migrated to Elk County, Kans., and there purchased school land and engaged in farming until 1881, when they sold and removed to Boise City, Idaho, and three years later went on to Wallowa, Ore., where Chas. Hanson homesteaded and improved a farm. He died in 1908, and his widow now makes her home at Enterprise, Ore. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1429 Of the family of ten children, John H. is the second oldest of the seven now living; being reared on the frontier farm in Oregon from the age of nine years, and received his education in the public schools of the locality. From the time of his arrival in Oregon, when nine years old, he began to work in the fields, driving teams and riding the range after cattle, becoming proficient at riding, roping and branding, as well as breaking horses. When twelve years of age he entered the employ of Anthony Morgan, continuing with him for seven years. He then followed carpenter ing for a while, but soon again returned to the employ of Mr. Morgan. Mr. Hanson was married in Wallowa County, Ore., January 28, 1903, to Miss Laurine Katterine Ipsen, who was born in Bornholm, Denmark, the daughter of Henrick and Mattia (Larsen) Ipsen, farmer folk. Her father died when she was nine years of age, while her mother is still living in Bornholm. Of their six children, four are living, Laurine being the third oldest, and residing in Denmark until the spring after her father died, when she came to Wallowa County, Ore., to live with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Morgan, receiving a good education in the public schools of Oregon. In 1900, when eighteen years of age, she accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Morgan on a trip to Denmark, visiting eastern cities en route. After a year's trip, they returned home, accompanied by her sister, Miss Andrea Ipsen, who now resides in Salem, Ore. In 1903, Mr. Hanson sold his ranch in Oregon and with his wife came to Modesto at the same time that Anthony Morgan and his family came. For two years he followed the carpenter trade and then joined Mr. Morgan in farming and dairying. He purchased sixty acres near Mr. Morgan's ranch, which he improved to alfalfa. Aside from dairying they raised sheep, horses and mules. They engaged in shipping horses from Oregon to their ranch, which they broke to harness and sold to ranchers in Stanislaus County, and in this way probably brought a thousand head of horses into the county. They continued to farm together until 1921 ; at this time Mr. Morgan wished to retire from business, and Mr. Hanson traded his sixty acres for Mr. Morgan's old home of 140 acres, where he continues dairying and general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have two children, Chas. Henry and Clarence Morgan. The family attend the Christian Church at Ceres, and Mr. Hanson is a member of the Woodmen of the World, while Mrs. Hanson is a member of the Ladies of Dania in Modesto. THE SWEDISH EVANGELICAL MISSION CHURCH OF TURLOCK.— In the spring of 1902 .Rev. A. Hallner came to Turlock and during the summer and fall preached in the Brethren Church to the handful of Swedish people who then lived in Turlock and vicinity. The Sunday school was also begun at the same time, December 18, 1902. The congregation was organized and services were continued in the Brethren Church. The ministers taking turns about preaching were Rev. A. Hallner, Rev. C. O. Sundquist and Rev. P. Drinberg. The original members of the congregation were Rev. A. Hallner and wife, Rev. P. Drinberg and wife, Rev. C. O. Sundquist, A. G. Anderson and wife, C. J. Carl- quist and wife, Henry Lundell and wife, Peter Erickson and wife, and G. R. Larson and wife. The board of trustees were Carlquist, Erickson, Drinberg, Larson and Anderson; the latter was chairman and Mr. Larson was the secretary. Of the orig inal members all are still living except Rev. Drinberg and Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Ander son. Later on Rev. Sundquist was selected the regular pastor and on the arrival ot Rev. J. O. Boden he was also made a pastor, the two preaching on alternate Sundays until Rev. Boden organized the Youngstown congregation and then gave all of his time to that charge. The next regular pastor was Rev. E. M. Carlson, who served about two years, and was succeeded by Rev. Schalander, who also remained two years, until Rev. A. G. Delbon was called as pastor, his arrival being in June, 1911, continu ing until April 20, 1919, when he resigned on account of his health, and was succeeded bv Rev. Carl Anderson, the present pastor. As stated the congregation worshiped in the Brethren Church for a short time, until they found the property of the Methodist Episcopal congregation on the corner of West Main and Lander Avenue was for sale, which they purchased tor ^,UUU, 1430 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and being centrally located, it has, since the rapid growth of the town, become a very valuable property. A new church was built on the site of the old one during Rev. E. M. Carlson's pastorate. During Rev. Delbon's pastorate the congregation grew rapidly and it was found necessary to enlarge the church. The congregation now numbers almost 600, and is the largest Swedish Mission congregation on the Coast. In 1920 the congregation purchased twelve lots on West Main Street, about a block west of their present location, giving them a space of 300x196 feet, on which they plan in the near future to erect a large and magnificent church at a probable cost of $100,000, as they have outgrown the capacity of the present building. The present officers of the congregation are : A. E. Sandberg, chairman ; C. E. Ellsburg, vice-chairman; Conrad Ward, secretary; Walter Moline, vice-secretary; A. P. Klint, treasurer ; Axel Peterson, financial secretary. The trustees are Adolf Johnson, Claus Johnson, A. P. Klint, Otto Johnson and Axel Peterson, while the deacons are J. A. Holmquist, E. M. Carlson, C. O. Moline, Oscar Wenstrand, E. J. Wallstrom, J. D. Hall and August Johnson. The superintendent of the Sunday school is A. W. Persson, and the vice-superintendent is August Gustafson. Edwin Ullberg is organist and leader of the choir. The Dorcas Society is large and well attended, numbering over 100; while the Young People's Society has still larger numbers, and the Sunday school has grown to large and satisfactory proportions. MRS. ANNA CLARIN. — An affable and liberal-hearted woman who has been a resident of Turlock since March, 1913, is Mrs. Anna Clarin, who was born in Dalena, Sweden, a daughter of Charles and Carrie Skoglund, farmers in their native Sweden, who brought their family to Isanti, Minn., when Anna was seven years of age in October, 1865. They were pioneers on an 160-acre homestead, where both parents died. This worthy couple had three children, two of whom are living: Erick makes his home with Mrs. Clarin. The latter attended the public schools in Minnesota, re maining at home until her marriage in 1883 to Jonas Clarin, also a native of Sweden, who came to Minnesota in 1879. After their marriage they engaged in farming the old Skoglund farm until Mrs. Clarin and her brother, Erick, became owners of the place, which they operated until March, 1913, when they came to California. Her oldest son, Robert Clarin, had come to Turlock in 1911 and purchased ten acres for them and here they have since made their home, having improved it to a valuable peach orchard. Mr. Clarin passed away in Minnesota in 1907; aged fifty-eight years. Mrs. Clarin has three children: Robert Clarin operates the home ranch; Ericka is Mrs. Theo. Berlin of Turlock, and Frank, who served in a California regiment in the World War, being stationed at Camp Lewis ; he is now at home. Mrs. Clarin is enterprising and generous and is always ready to do her part as far as she is able to develop and improve the county of her adoption. She is a member of the Swedish Baptist Church of Turlock. SIDNEY C. VANATTA. — A wide-awake, representative business man of Stan islaus County, with plenty of public spirit such as has again and again proven so helpful in the broad and permanent development of the Golden State, is Sidney C. Vanatta, proprietor of the Newman Steam Laundry, which furnishes profitable em ployment to thirteen persons and fine service, with the most modern equipment, for the community. He was born at Muscatine, Iowa, on October 2, 1881, the son of David and Anna (Zeahringer) Vanatta, a grandchild of pioneers who came from Pennsylvania in early days to Iowa, and were among those who first turned the fur rows in the soil of the Hawkeye State. He attended the grammar and high school at Muscatine, and grew up under the stimulating guidance of his father, who was twice sheriff of Muscatine County, in which section he is still living. David Vanatta also served as assessor for twelve years, and his son, Edward Vanatta, succeeded him and held it for ten years. From 1907 to 1908, Mr. Vanatta was engaged in business at Muscatine, and from 1908 for the following five years, he manufactured pearl buttons in the same HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1431 city. In 1913 he disposed of that interest and came west to Denver, Colo., where he was engaged in business for about. two years, but in 1915 he spent five months in Alaska on a recreation trip, after which he returned for a short time to Boise, Idaho. On January 15, 1915, Mr. Vanatta came to Newman and purchased the steam laundry from Messrs. Sheares and Miller ; and since he has taken hold, the business has steadily increased. He endeavors always to give the best, the promptest and the cheapest service (compatible with excellence), and inasmuch as no higher standard could be set, no one could give the public greater satisfaction. Mr. Vanatta's marriage took place on June 9, 1915, when he was united to Miss Emily Vadner, a native of Minnesota. He is a member of the Muscatine, Iowa, Order of Elks, Lodge No. 304, and in national politics Mr. Vanatta is a Democrat,' and is an active member of the Newman Chamber of Commerce as well as the California State Laundrymen's Association. EHLER FRANZEN. — A worthy pioneer still very active and always interest ing, who has had the good fortune and honor, with the devoted cooperation of his wife, a native daughter, to rear a large family, is Ehler Franzen, who was born in Holstein! Germany, on March 13, 1851, the son of Ehler and Ella Franzen, hard-working and conscientious folk who provided well for his common school education. He then learned farming as it was done in that country under his father on the home farm ; and in one way or another he secured the best of preparation for a self-supporting life. In 1880, having luckily decided to come to America, Mr. Franzen selected Cali fornia as his immediate destination. After working a year on a farm in San Mateo County, he settled west of Hill's Ferry, near the present location of Newman ; he took up ranch work with a will. He homesteaded 160 acres of land in the foothills, and preempted a like amount; and for twenty years he lived there, west of what is now Newman, engaged in stock raising, working away industriously, steadily getting ahead, and deserving and earning the esteem and good-will of his neighbors. When he sold out in 1910, he bought twenty-eight acres south of the city limits of Newman, which he has devoted to alfalfa and silage. He erected the necessary buildings, all trim and suited to the purpose, and established a small dairy. The high quality of his products makes it easy for him to command both the best market prices and confidence in all that he offers for sale. At the old Williams home, on February 14, 1900, Mr. Franzen was married to Miss Carrie Williams, who was born on the old Williams ranch, ten miles southwest of Newman, on Garcia's Creek, the daughter of Charles and Caroline (Madsen) Williams, well-known pioneers, born in Sweden and Denmark, respectively. Chas. Williams was a sailor from the time he was fourteen years, and was a pioneer of San Francisco and took part in the Indian war in Oregon. He was an early settler of the West Side and was the harness maker in Hill's Ferry; later he was a farmer. Both parents are now dead. Eight children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Franzen. The eldest is William, then comes Leland, and after that Charles, Alice, Lloyd, Robert, Henry and James. No Californian by adoption could be more patriotic than Mr. Franzen, who finds in the platforms of the Republican party the best expres sion of high civic standards. MRS. LOTTIE HARRIS.— Among the pioneer women of the West Side who have given of their time and best efforts to build up and improve the community — to make life comfortable and conditions more attractive to the people, is Mrs. Lottie Harris, who was fortunate in being reared in an atmosphere of culture and refinement. She is an excellent nurse, with years of experience, and has won for herself an enviable place among the people of the West Side. She has been so successful as a nurse that she has found it necessary to arrange her residence for a private sanitarium, where she can give her patients the greatest comfort and ease. She has built a beautiful home on a convenient corner in Newman, which is surrounded by well-kept lawns, adding to the beauty of her home. A liberal and kind-hearted woman, Mrs. Harris has hosts of friends, and she never tires of showing generosity and dispenses a true old-time California hospitality. 1432 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mrs. Harris was born in Chicago; 111., a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Newell) Lake, natives of Connecticut and England, respectively. Her father came to Chicago when a j'oung man, where he met and married Miss Newell, who had come to Chi cago from England when a child of twelve years. After Mr. Lake died, the mother came to Newman, where she lived until her death. The last five years of her life she was an invalid and Mrs. Harris nursed and took care of her until she passed away. Lottie was the youngest of her two children and was educated in the public schools in Chicago. After school days were over she became Mrs. Chas. Kellogg and removed to Lewiston, Idaho, in 1878, and after five j'ears she made her way to Cottonwood, near Mt. Idaho, and there she homesteaded 160 acres and also preempted a like amount, and in time became the owner of 480 acres, where they engaged in stock raising. In 1892 she came to Newman, a new town then. After spending a short time on the ranch she took up nursing and has followed it ever since. It was in 1912 that she built her comfortable home, which she uses for a private sanitarium. Mrs. Harris' second marriage united her with James Harris. By her first union she had three daughters, two of whom are living: Mrs. Marcia Clement of San Jose, and Mrs. Mettie Stahlman of Newman. By her second marriage she has a son, Eddie Harris, a contractor and builder in Visalia. During the World War, he served in the Twenty-second U. S. Engineers for one year. Mrs. Harris is a member of the Christian Science Society. MICHAEL LEO McDONELL.— A native son of the Golden West who has become a successful rancher in Stanislaus County, is Michael Leo McDonell, born in San Francisco, July 26, 1870. His father, John McDonell, born in Ireland, June 19, 1837, went to Australia in 1861 and followed mining there and afterwards in New Zealand. In 1867 he came to San Francisco, being employed in a furniture store until 1870, when he located in Stanislaus County. He homesteaded 160 acres on Dry Creek and also preempted 160 acres, engaging in stock raising and farming; by pur chase he added to it. Later he disposed of this place and bought the Thos. Maxwell ranch of 700 acres, moving on to it in 1903, farming it until he died, October 30, 1918, eighty-one years of age. He was a generous and kind-hearted man of noble and honorable impulses. He assisted materially in starting the first school in the district and was a strong supporter of the cause of education. He had married in San Fran cisco, being united with Margaret McNamara, also a native of Ireland, who came to San Francisco in 1868. She passed away in 1881, leaving four children: Michael Leo, the subject of this sketch; Mathew, who died at the age of ten years; Catherine is in San Francisco, and James J. is Seattle manager of the Detmer Woolen Company. Michael Leo McDonell passed his boyhood on the ranch on Dry Creek, where he attended the district school, while he also assisted his father at farming and riding the range, continuing with him until 1896, when he made his way to Lassen County and located a homestead and also a desert claim near Standish. After remaining there for two years, he found that the prospect for water for irrigation was not very hopeful, so he sold his claims and returned to Stanislaus County, resuming the occupation of farming with his father until he began cattle raising on his own account, establishing his brand, an M with a bar underneath. He purchased land and became the owner of 400 acres. On the death of his father, Mr. McDonell became the manager of the estate for the heirs. He purchased the forty-acre townsite of Warnersville, adjoin ing his ranch, so he owns 440 acres, all plow land and devoted principally to wheat growing. He operates his ranch with the most modern machinery and implements, including a C. L. Best tractor and a McCormick harvester. He finds the tractor most satisfactory and the best of any tractor for his purpose, and not only harvests and threshes his own grain, but also that of some of his neighbors. In San Francisco, May 17, 1916, Mr. McDonell was united in marriage with Mrs. Annie (Halliman) Fleming, born in Coulterville, a native daughter of Cali fornia, the daughter of John and Eliza (Fagan) Halliman, born in Ireland. Her father came to California about 1850 and engaged in mining at Big Oak Flat and Coulterville. He, however, soon turned to stock raising, in which he was successful, becoming the owner of 800 acres of land. He now lives retired at Coulterville at HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1433 the age of eighty-seven years ; he was a prominent and influential man and very active as a school trustee. The mother, who came to. New Orleans, La., with her parents when six years of age, made her way to San Francisco when she was twenty-four and thence to Coulterville. She is now eighty-two years of age. This worthy pioneer couple had nine children, six of whom are living: Julia, Mrs. Gustafson of Coulter ville; Lizzie, Mrs. Cavel of San Francisco; Thomas of Oakdale; James resides in Coulterville; Ella, Mrs. Bolton, of San Francisco; Annie grew to womanhood on her father's ranch and received a good education in the public schools. She was first married in Sonora to John Fleming, a stockman, who passed away in 1911, leaving her four children: John, who is serving in the U. S. Marines; Julius, in the employ of the West Side Lumber Company; Thomas died at eight years of age; Elizabeth Margaret, who remains at home. Mr. McDonell has always been interested in the cause of education and has served as trustee of Dry Creek school district for many years, and since 1913 has been clerk of the board. He is a member of Oakdale Parlor No. 142, N. S. G. W., and with his wife is a member of Oakdale Catholic Church. JOHN A. LINDWALL. — A man of excellent mind and heart who, aided by his devoted wife, did much to improve the Turlock section, was the late John A. Lindwall, a native of Kalmarlan, Sweden, born September 7, 1853, where he was reared on his father's farm and served two years in the Swedish army. He came to Iowa in 1880, and engaged in farming in Page County, and there he was married December 27, 1884, to Miss Maria Louisa Nilsdatte, also a native of Kalmarlan, the daughter of Nils Johnson, a farmer who, with his wife, spent their entire lives there. She was educated in the excellent public schools in Sweden, crossing the ocean in 1880 to the land of the Stars and Stripes, coming to Page County, Iowa, where she married Mr. Lindwall. After their marriage they farmed for four years until 1888, when they removed to Oakland, Burt County, Nebr., where they farmed and raised stock. Desiring the more congenial climate of the Pacific Coast, Mr. and Mrs. Lind wall located in Turlock in 1902, among the first Swedish settlers, and purchased six acres just south of town, now in the city limits, but at the time never expected the town to be built up to their ranch. They set out an orchard of peaches and a vine yard, but when they came into bearing they found no sale for the peaches and no return for their shipment of grapes and no market for the raisins, so fed them to the horses, and grubbed out the trees and vineyard and engaged in raising grain. They improved the place and built a beautiful and comfortable residence, but Mr. Lindwall was not permitted to enjoy the fruits of his labors, for he was taken away January 20, 1913, mourned by his family and many friends, but particularly by the Swedish Mission congregation, which he had helped to organize and of which he was a faithful member. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Lindwall continues to reside at the family resi dence, looking after her little ranch. They had three childern : Alvin is in the employ of the State Highway Commission; Hulda is Mrs. Rhoades of Turlock; Albert died May 27, 1917, aged twenty-two years. Mrs. Lindwall is now one of the oldest among the Swedish settlers of this region and has aided materially in improving and building up the new Turlock. Like her husband, she is deeply religious and zealous for a high standard of morals. She is a member of the Swedish Mission Church and is an active member of the Dorcas Society and the Ladies' Missionary Society of the church. CHARLES A. LA BREE.— At the age of thirty-six Charles A. Le Bree, through his own perseverance and efforts, has achieved success. He was born in Castro ville, Monterey County, Cal., on December 28, 1884, son of Thomas P. and Catherine (Regan) La Bree, natives of Maine and Canada, respectively. His father, who was a builder by trade, is a Civil War veteran. Charles A. La Bree grew up into man hood in Castroville, was educated in the grammar schools there and made his start in the business world when only eighteen years of age. His first position was with a paint concern in San Francisco and later worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad at San Jose. He then went to work for the Wells Fargo Express Company as express messenger and later was agent at Modesto and Newman. He remained in the employ of the Wells Fargo Company for fourteen years, severing connection with them in 1434 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1917, when he took a position with the First National Bank of Newman. A year later he was made assistant cashier, in which capacity he served until the bank went into the hands of a receiver in January, 1920, since which time he has been assistant receiver, with H. P. Hilliard. Mr. La Bree was united in marriage in San Francisco with Miss Anna Gowan- lock in 1907, who was born in Castroville, Cal., and a graduate of the same school as Mr. La Bree. Her mother is a member of an old highly-respected Scotch family, early settlers in Monterey, Cal. Mrs. La Bree passed away on January 22, 1920, leaving one son, Cyrus Edward, a student of the Newman school. In April, 1920, Mr. La Bree was elected town clerk of Newman, Cal. He is also clerk of the Newman grammar school district, which had an enrollment last season of 415 pupils and employing fourteen teachers. It is of just such men as Charles A. La Bree, who by their own efforts make a place for themselves, that every community is proud and Stanislaus County is indeed fortunate to number him a resident. ROY E. STONE. • — One of Newman's energetic and enterprising young business men, Roy E. Stone, a native of St. Joseph, Mo., was born July 1, 1887, and is the son of Emerson and Emma (Sargent) Stone, and the eldest of a family of ten children, consisting of six boys and four girls. The father's people were early settlers of the state of Ohio, and on his mother's side of the house the Sargents were of good old Illinois stock. Grandfather Sargent was a Civil War veteran and served with distinction in the Sixty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Roy accom panied the parents when they removed from St. Joseph, Mo., and settled in the town of Troy, Doniphan County, Kans., where he received his education in the grammar schools. Assuming life's responsibilities at the age of sixteen, he left home and began to care for himself and acquire the broader education that comes only through the riper experience that life's school offers. Going to Denver, Colo., the lad engaged in the news service on the Moffat Railroad running out of that city, and after spending one year in Denver, came to California, where he settled at Fresno in 1904. He engaged with the Stewart Fruit Company of Fresno and did contract work, making lug boxes and shipping crates. Later he became manager of their pack ing house and remained with the company until 1916, when he removed to Newman, Cal., and started for himself in the grocery business, which has expanded until he is now owner of the largest strictly grocery, vegetable and fruit business in town. His marriage occurred December 6, 1910, at Fresno, Cal., and united him with Miss Hazel L. Robertson, a native daughter of California, born at Goshen Junction, Kings County, daughter of George and Etta (Donner) Robertson. Mrs. Stone com pleted her education at Sanger, Cal., whither she removed with her parents, and was a student in the Sanger high school. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are the parents of two daughters, Barbara and Geraldine by name. Mrs. Stone is a member of the Donner family of early pioneer renown in California. Grandfather Donner was the head of the famous "Donner party" that crossed the plains in early days and whose name is perpetuated in Lake Donner and in the history of the days of the Argonauts. Mr. Stone is a man of liberal views, and on political subjects believes in voting for the man best fitted to serve the people, regardless of politics. He is a member of the Inde pendent Order of Foresters at Newman. AXEL PETERSON. — A progressive man prominent in business and church circles in Turlock, is Axel Peterson, born in Smaland, Sweden, February 15, 1869, where he was reared on the farm and received a good education in his native country. Having reached the age of seventeen, he decided to migrate to the land of the Stars and Stripes, arriving at Ludlow, McKean County, Pa., in 1886, where he eventually found employment in a tannery. In the fall of 1889 he entered the employ of an oil well supply company in Clarendon, Pa., beginning at the bottom and working up, at the same time attending night school. After eighteen months he was transferred to Warren, Pa., and after the same period there was sent to Kane, where he was made assistant manager and still later was made manager of the Kane stores for the company, a position he filled acceptably for about six years. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1435 USl- After eighteen years with the company, Mr. Peterson resigned to engage in b„„ ness for himself. With two others, he formed the Smith Hardware Company, Inc. After giving this enterprise all of his attention for eighteen months, he found his health impaired, so he disposed of his interest and came to Turlock, Cal, and for about five months engaged in the grocery business. During this time he purchased a corner lot on East Main Street and built a residence. In 1908, however, he leased his resi dence and returned to Kane, Pa., and under the firm name of Stoll & Peterson, engaged in the hardware and plumbing business, continuing successfully for a period of ten years. During this time he often wished himself back in the land of sunshine and flowers, and in 1918, unable to longer resist the call of the West, he sold his business and returned to Turlock. He purchased a grocery store and engaged in business in the Geer block and ran it until July, 1919, when he disposed of it. Soon afterwards he purchased an interest in the C. E. Ellsburg Company, to which he gave his time until February 1, 1921, when he sold his interest. Being the owner of 105 feet on East Main Street, he built a new residence in the winter of 1920-21, and in February, 1921, he built a new store building, where he is now engaged in the grocery business. Mr. Peterson was married in Warren, Pa., to Miss Tillie Johnson, a native of Skane, Sweden, and they have been blessed with two children : Harry is a plumber with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Stockton, and Griffin is an electrician in Turlock. Fraternally Mr. Peterson was made a Mason in Kane Lodge No. 566, A. F. & A. M., in Kane, Pa. He has for many years been a prominent and active member of the Swedish Mission Church, being chairman of the board of trustees of the church in Kane, Pa., for many years, and he is now a member of its board of trustees in Turlock. In Kane, Pa., he was city treasurer for many years, up to the time he left for Cali fornia in 1918, when he resigned. Mrs. Peterson is a member of the O. E. S. in Kane, Pa., and the Dorcas Society in Turlock. Mr. Peterson is a Republican. J. WILSON REED, M. D. — Among the recent acquisitions to the professional ranks of Newman is J. Wilson Reed, M. D., a man with a rich and varied experience in his profession in the Northwest and in the Orient. A native of the South, he was born at Delhi, in the northern part of Louisiana, January 19, 1878, and is the son of J. R. and Eliza J. (Cooper) Reed. Dr. Reed received his primary education in the public schools of Gibsland, La. He did preparatory work for a literary course at Georgetown, Texas, and was afterward a student at the University of Oklahoma at Norman, Okla. He then took a literary course at Centenary College, Jackson, La., and took his first medical course in the medical department of the Tulane University. He was afterward a student for three years in the medical department of the Vander- bilt University at Nashville, Tenn., and graduated from that institution with the class of 1907 with the degree of M. D. In that year he went to Korea and Japan, where he did his first practicing, and besides his practice did special construction work for the Southern Methodist Mission. While in Korea he built three mission stations: One at Songdo, one at Seoul, and a third at Choon Chun, remaining in Korea until 1910. The same year of his arrival in the Orient, Dr. Reed was married in Yoko hama, Japan, on November 5, 1907, to Miss Emma Bruun of Red Wing, Minn. Mrs. Reed is a trained nurse, and studied for her profession at Trenton, N. J. She first met Dr. Reed while nursing at the Baptist Orphanage at Nashville, Tenn. The doctor preceded her to Japan, and there a few months later their marriage occurred. After Dr. and Mrs. Reed returned to the United States in 1910, they settled at Victor, Mont., where the doctor practiced until 1912. In that year he went to Alaska and spent the next seven years in the frozen North. He was located at St. Lawrence Island one year, and spent another year at Bethel, on the Lower Kuskokwim River, in Government service with the Department of the Interior. The next year was spent at the Russian Mission on the Yukon, and the following year he was located at Pilot Station, on the Yukon. He spent the next year at Fort Tuna Ledge, a mining camp" on the Yukon, where he engaged in private practice. Another year was spent at Flat, in the Iditarod district, where he was in charge of the hospital for the Yukon Gold Company. In 1918 he returned to the United States and located at Granite Falls, Wash., where he practiced his profession. In March, 1919, he came to San 60 1436 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Francisco, and in June of that year he located in Newman, where he is practicing his profession and is superintendent of the Reed sanitarium. During the late war Dr. Reed was chairman of the Red Cross district work in the Iditarod district, Alaska. During one drive for the Red Cross, $10,000 was raised in ten days, and in one year $16,000 was raised for the Red Cross, this being the greatest amount per man in all the Alaskan districts. Dr. Reed had many alien enemy sympathizers to deal with at first, but by vigorous efforts succeeded in lining up the country strong for the American issue. He has traveled extensively in the Orient, and the presence of himself and his wife at Newman is a distinct addition to the community. In his fraternal affiliations Dr. Reed is a member of the Masons, having been made a Mason in Gibsland Lodge, A. F. & A. M., from which he was demitted and is now a member of Victor Lodge of Masons in Victor, Mont. FRED KNUTSEN. — A self-made man whose enterprise has brought him into prominence ahd made him a man of much influence for good, is Fred Knutsen, drawn to many through his winning personality. He was born at Bergen, Norway, in August, 1878, and there, in that beautiful mountainous country, on the shores of the North Sea, he was reared, the son of a merchant and a man of large affairs. Thus, while he was given a business training, Fred also had excellent public school training. In 1900 he came out to the United States and settled at Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he entered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and two years later he continued his migration westward and came to California. At Turlock he purchased land; and while he was improving it, he worked for the Modesto Lumber Company as foreman in their yard at Turlock. He liked his employers so well, and they were so satisfied with his service, that he continued in that capacity for twelve years, when he started in the grain and feed business. First, he made a partnership with his brother as one of Knutsen Bros., but later they dissolved and Mr. Knutsen continued in business for himself, building up, by hard work and foresight, a first-class wholesale grain and commission trade. In 1915 he bought his warehouse at the corner of Spring and First streets in Turlock, a structure 60x125 feet, or having 7,500 square feet, and he also secured another warehouse at the Southern Pacific track, 60x150 feet in size, with 9,000 square feet of flooring. Be sides handling goods at wholesale, Mr. Knutsen sells grain, feed, coal and wood at retail, and having established himself as an up-to-date, straightforward and thoroughly dependable merchant, never wants for customers. At Fresno, on April 12, 1905, Mr. Knutsen was married to Miss Minnie Hend- rickson, a native of Nebraska, and they are the parents of two children, Bernice and Constance. The family are active, prominent members of the Swedish Mission Church, of which Mr. Knutsen has served as a deacon, and he has been a trustee of Emanuel Hospital since its organization, and assisted materially in its building. He belongs to the Turlock Chamber of Commerce and to the California Fuel Dealers Association. SETH WADE. — One of Newman's best-known residents, and one who has the progressive interests of that city at heart, is Seth Wade, superintendent of the Newman Water Works and chief of Newman's .volunteer fire department. Although there has as yet been no official provision made for a park commissioner, Mr. Wade, with his usual public spirit, has taken upon himself this work, donating his time and services. The eldest of a family of nine children, Mr. Wade was born at Yam hill, Ore., August 19, 1873. His parents were Benjamin F. and Rebecca (Laughlin) Wade, Mrs. Wade's family being pioneers of Oregon, coming there in 1850 from their old home in Missouri. He attended the public schools at Yamhill, but when he was thirteen years old, he started out to make his own way, working on farms in the vicinity of his home for a short time before coming to Stanislaus County, Cal. He turned his hand to various kinds of work on arriving here, finally taking up work on the Newman ranch, three and a half miles northwest of Newman. His industry and capability soon won for him the position of foreman ; he remained eleven years. While on the Newman ranch Mr. Wade helped develop the first irrigation pumping plant in the valley, this being located on the ranch. The well had a ten-inch HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1437 flow and the pump forced out the full capacity of the pipe line ; it was used to irrigate the property known as the Noxen ranch, which was too high to receive water from the irrigation canal. The many years of hard work finally began to tell upon Mr. Wade's health, however, and necessitated a change of occupation, so he gave up the superintendency of the property, and took the position of superintendent of the New man Water Works. This plant is fed from three wells, two of them being 400 feet deep, and the other having a depth of 666 feet, furnishing 600 gallons a minute. A booster pump is used to force the water into a steel aerial tank, with a capacity of 500 gallons a minute. For a period of five years Mr. Wade was the owner of a dairy farm of twenty-three acres, but this he disposed of in 1918. Mr. Wade's marriage, which occurred on August 27, 1904, at Modesto, united him with Miss Esther Mann, a native of Neosho Falls, Kans., who came to Modesto with her parents, W. S. and Rosa Mann, and was educated in the schools there. The father was a veteran of the Civil War, and both he and Mrs. Mann are still living and make their home at Modesto, where they have resided for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Wade are the parents of a son and a daughter: Ray S. is a student at the Newman high school, while Ruth A. attends the grammar school. A Republican in politics, Mr, Wade takes an active part in the civic and political life of the com munity, and is now serving his second three-year term on the board of trustees of the Orestimba Union high school district. In fraternal circles he holds membership in the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. WELTY BROTHERS. — Prominent among the progressive and energetic men who have contri.butedTargely toward making Stanislaus County what it is today must be mentioned Welty Bros., well known throughout the entire West Side on account of their extensive agricultural operations. Their father was Abraham Welty, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born near Bremen, who married Miss Sarah Beery, who was born about four miles from his birthplace ; and as highly esteemed farmer folk they were reared, lived and died in the Buckeye State. The partners in the aforesaid firm are John S. and Noah E. Welty. Noah Welty was born at Bremen, in Fairfield County, Ohio, on February 27, 1864, about two years after the birth there of John Welty; and both boj's attended the common schools at Geneva, Ohio, after which they continued on the home farm until they came out to California. John came first, in 1881, and worked for wages' for nine years in San Joaquin -County ; and five years later Noah left the old home stead and removed, at first to Nebraska, where he worked for a year on a farm near Hayes Center. In the spring of 1887, he went to North Platte, Nebr., and worked until fall on the Buffalo Bill ranch of some 3,000 acres; and after having demon strated his capability in the stock department there, he came out to California while the "boom" was still at its height, and for three years labored at farm work near San Joaquin City before the days of Vernalis. In 1890, the two brothers formed a partnership and rented the old Will Draper home ranch near Newman, consisting of 1,100 acres devoted to grain, at the same time that they took in a third partner, Swan Munson ; and for three years they farmed this land. The partnership was then dissolved, and the two brothers came to Grayson precinct and bought a half-section of land. Since that time they have added some 480 acres, making 800 acres, and this forms what is known today as the Welty home ranch at Vernalis. Later, the brothers bought 914 acres three miles southeast of Vernalis, where John S. Welty makes his home, which they rent out to Reuben D. Poling. They have a fine farm residence, barn and the necessary farm buildings on the home ranch, and there Noah Welty and his family reside, dispensing appreciated hospitality. Recently, the Welty Bros, have purchased section No. 27 and section No. 33, south of the home ranch, arid they also now own eighty acres in San Joaquin County, a part of. the old Naegle-Burke ranch. This eighty-acre tract is in alfalfa and has a pump and private irrigation system. The Welty Bros, erected the Welty building in Patterson soon after the town was started. They are also stockholders in the Bank of Newman and the Modesto Bank, and John Welty is a director in the American Bank of Tracy. Noah Welty 1438 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY was a director in the San Joaquin Valley Bank of Stockton before it became absorbed by the Bank of Italy. In 1905 the Welty Bros, farmed the Love ranch, southeast of the present location of Patterson, at present a part of the Patterson Colony, just east of the old Day ranch; it contained 1,700 acres and it was devoted to grain. They were breeders of mules and had about fifty head on hand until the advent of the tractor, but they now use a C. L. Best seventy-five-horsepower tractor for preparing the land for the crops as well as propelling the Harris combined harvester. The wedding of Noah Welty and Miss Loretta Roberts occurred at Columbus, Ohio, on October 13, 1911, when Mr. Welty was making a trip to his native state. Miss Roberts was born near Zanesville, the daughter of Manley Roberts, her parents having now passed to the Great Beyond. She is the mother of a promising boy, Robert Beery Welty, who attends the Rising Sun school. JOSEPH ETCHETO. — A young man who is taking an active part in the business life and building up of Turlock is Joseph Etcheto, who was born in Ustarits, Basses-Pyrenees, France, April 15, 1890. He was reared on a farm until the age of fourteen, when he was apprenticed at the baker's trade, continuing for three years in the city of Bayonne, ten miles from his old home. Having a longing to try his ' fortune in the lands of the Stars and Stripes, particularly in California, on account of the favorable reports he had heard, Mr. Etcheto's desire was accomplished in March, 1908, when he arrived in Stockton. Looking about, he found employment in San Francisco, and for two years worked at his trade in the French Bakery in that city. Next he attended school for three months and during this time he made good progress in studying English. Then making his way to Reno, Nev., he was employed on the large ranch of Fleming & Ward for three years, and at the end of this time he came to Turlock and immediately purchased the City Bakery from August Sexting, changing its name to the present City French Bakery. It was then located on Front Street, the present site of the Fire Department quarters. In 1916, Mr. Etcheto moved to 116 South Center Street, where he built up a large patronage and did a very successful business, turning out a splendid line of bakery goods. In 1920 he erected a new brick building at 315-317 East Main Street on a valuable lot he had purchased there, and there he installed the latest and most up- to-date methods for a modern bakery, with a capacity of 10,000 loaves a day to meet the demands of Turlock and vicinity. His goods are all retailed in his store, which is well equipped with beautiful fixtures for displaying bakery goods and confectionery. He built the residence he occupies at 332 Elm Street and owns the residence adjoining. In Turlock, July 16, 1916, occurred the marriage of Mr. Etcheto and Mathilda Erreca. She is a native of Buenos Ayres, Argentine Republic, South America, but of French parentage. Coming to Stockton in 1916, it was in the land of sunshine and flowers that she met Mr. Etcheto, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage. This union has been blessed with three children: Pierre Joseph, Raymond and Frances. Fraternally, Mr. Etcheto is a member of the Woodmen of the World. He is enter prising, progressive, and willingly assists all movements for the upbuilding of his adopted city and is an active member of the Turlock Board of Trade. MARTIN ETCHETO.— The proprietor of the Turlock French Laundry and an enterprising and progressive man is Martin Etcheto, a native of Ustarits, Basses- Pyrenees, France, born in March, 1888, where he was reared on a farm. His parents being in limited circumstances, he was early set to work and from a lad helped to sup port the family. When seventeen years of age, he entered the employ of a nobleman for three years, when he enlisted in the Fourteenth Regiment of Artillery in the French Army from Tarbes, serving for two years. Having served the required time, he was honorably discharged and free to leave his country for other shores. In 1911, Mr. Etcheto migrated to California, choosing San Francisco as his location. He purchased an interest in the Pleasant French Laundry, which he ran for four and one-half years. Selling out, he removed to Reno, Nev., where he worked at stock raising and riding the range for a year. In March, 1919, he came to Turlock HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1439 and purchased the Turlock French Laundry, then located on North Broadway, and continued the business. It prospered and grew and he found it necessary to secure a new location, so in the fall of the same year he purchased the present location on South First and erected the new building, 25x120, installing new, modern machinery for the latest and most up-to-date method of laundry work, having ample boiler and electric power capacity. He is meeting with deserved success and is well satisfied with his venture and pleased with the prospects of the town of his adoption. Mr. Etcheto's marriage took place in Modesto September 6, 1913, when he was united with Miss Marie Claverie, also born in Basses-Pyrenees, where she secured a good education in the public schools. Her father had made a trip to California in former years, but returned to his native land and resided until his death ; her mother is still living. Mrs. Etcheto came to California in the spring of 1913. Fraternally, Mr. Etcheto is a member of the Eagles, and politically is a Republican. WILLIAM S. COSTNER.— Starting out at twenty-five with $800 he had saved, William S. Costner has been extremely successful, now owning two valuable ranches in Stanislaus County, one of 540 acres at La Grange, and one of sixty-six acres on the Carver Road, six miles north and one mile west of Modesto, and is well known as a successful farmer and dairyman and a breeder of high-grade horses, mules and cattle. He resides on the Carver Road place, together with his wife and three of his four children ; the fourth child, Earl, is married and resides east of Waterford, where he is a promising young farmer. Mr. Costner is a native of Maryville, Tenn., born March 9, 1858, his father's plantation being sixteen miles from Knoxville. His father was Phillip Costner, a native of North Carolina, and married there to Miss Mary Hayes. They migrated to Tennessee, where the father engaged in farming. Phillip Costner was not a slave holder, but was a strong Union man, three of his elder sons being in the Union Army. He and his family were subject to great hardship during the period of the Civil War, and he was himself taken away to Richmond as a prisoner of war, where he suffered such hardship that his health became impaired and death resulted, probably from starvation. Wm. S. Costner remembers very clearly the privations and distress of the Civil War period, the family being reduced to destitution. There were ten chil dren in the family, eight sons and two daughters, he being next to the youngest. When Mr. Costner was twenty-five years of age he left the home farm and went to Emporia, Kans., where he worked at various occupations for several years, when he was taken with chills and fever, and, in an effort to throw off the malady, came to California in 1885. He improved greatly in health and was so pleased with conditions that he determined to remain, and from 1885 to 1890 he worked for wages, but at the latter date he leased land near Whittier, Los Angeles County, and commenced farming for himself. He was married at Norwalk, September 15, 1889, to Miss Mattie Holliday, the daughter of John Holliday, born in Illinois, who had married Mrs. Sarah (Sitton) Triplett, a native of Missouri, whose father, Brice Sitton, came from England to the States. He made two trips across the plains to California in the days of the gold rush, and then his family joined him, coming via Panama. John Holliday and his wife moved to Texas, where he was a blacksmith and farmer. In 1875 he brought his family to Norwalk, Cal., where he located on a farm. Later he returned to and lived in Los Angeles, where he died in 1917, over ninety-seven years of age, being survived by his widow. She was the mother of seven children, of whom Mattie is the oldest, and was born in Texas, but came to California when only three • j'ears of age and grew to young womanhood in Los Angeles County. Mr. Costner continued to farm near Whittier for a year, at which time he moved to Stanislaus County, , in about 1890. He was employed by L. O. Brewster for one year and by Joseph McGovern for two years, following which he rented and farmed for himself for two years just across the Stanislaus River in San Joaquin County. At the end of this period he returned to Stanislaus County and for six years engaged in stock raising at La Grange, at the close of this period purchasing his present holding of 540 acres there, farming this and additional leased land. He had at this time about 100 head of cattle and as many horses and mules, and was engaged in the breeding of horses and mules 1440 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY for the market, in which enterprise he has been very successful. In June, 1912, he purchased the place on Carver Road, and here he runs a dairy of thirty cows and has about thirty high-grade Hampshire sheep. His main crops are barley and beans. Mr. Costner has always taken a keen interest in fraternal matters and is a prom inent member of La Fayette Lodge No. 65, I. O. O. F., at La Grange, and is also a Woodman. Mrs. Costner is a charter member of La Grange Rebekah Lodge No. 323 and was the first noble grand and has been representative to the Grand Lodge. She is also a member of the Sylvan Club, and the Methodist Church. Politically, Mr. Costner is a Republican and takes an interested part in all elections, and both have served as school trustee, Mrs. Costner having been clerk of the board of Live Oak district for fourteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Costner were blessed with four children, all sons: Lennie, Earl, Rudy and Clair. The two youngest are assisting their father in the operating of the two ranches, as they are still engaged in stock raising at La Grange. JAMES M. NICOLAISEN. — A representative and prosperous grain rancher of Stanislaus County's West Side is James M. Nicolaisen, born in Brenninge, Acroe, Denmark, on December 8, 1883, son of Erich Nicolaisen, a well-known tailor, and Christine (Jorgensen) Nicolaisen. Before coming to his adopted country he worked on farms in Denmark until 1904, when he landed in New York and soon settled in Newman. The first four years he spent on ranches and then he cultivated land which he leased. He first farmed 150 acres near Cottonwood for one year, and for seven j'ears he farmed the 2,000 acres of the San Luis ranch, on which he raised wheat and barley. In 1917 he purchased his present place of 640 acres, part of the Simon New man ranch, west of Newman, on twenty-eight acres of which he raised alfalfa for his own use. The place is improved with residence and farm buildings. He has twenty- eight fine horses and mules, which he raised, and twenty-two fine Holstein cattle. The balance of the ranch he farms to wheat and barley, utilizing a Hauser-Haines combined thresher, which he propels with a Holt caterpillar. In Newman, on March 1, 1908, Mr. Nicolaisen married Miss Sallie M. Jensen, a native-born daughter, her parents being Christ and Marie Jensen, who came to California from Denmark in the early seventies, acquired large, modernly-equipped acreage and became well known in Stanislaus County. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jensen, Mrs. Nicolaisen being second. Mr. Jensen passed away April 6, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Nicolaisen have one son, Everett, a student in Newman school. Mr. Nicolaisen is a Democrat and a member of Newman I. O. O. F. JASPER NEWTON CONNER.— Prominent among the ranchers of California whose years of hard, intelligent work, rewarded by abundant success, entitle them to be considered as builders of the great commonwealth, must be mentioned Jasper Newton Conner, who lives about six miles to the north of Modesto. He was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, on January 1, 1856, the son of Richard Conner, who had married Miss Cynthia Ferguson, also a native of Ohio, and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Robert Conner, the grandfather, was a native of West Virginia, and migrated from there to Ohio, where he became an early settler. He afterwards settled in Knoxville, 111., and there followed agriculture for the remainder of his days. Born and reared in Ohio, Richard Conner farmed for a while in his native state, and in Knox County, 111., continued the same pursuits. He went from there to Missouri, and passed his last years at Kansas City, dying at the age of fifty-four. Mrs. Conner continued to reside with her son, Jasper, and in 1911 closed her life at the age of eighty-five. She was a most estimable woman, and a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Nine children blessed their union, our subject being the fourth. Jasper Conner experienced the hard work and the pleasures of a boyhood on an Illinois farm, and went to the district school. Starting out for himself when he became of age, in 1875, he made for the Black Hills and for a year engaged in mining, but owing to the frequent raids by Indians upon the unprotected miners, he moved on to Butte City. After a short experience in the mines, he bought horses and wagons and commenced to freight on a large scale ; and so successful was he that he ran ten four- horse wagons and employed forty-six horses every day. He transported freight from HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1441 the Anaconda and Garrison mines, and averaged four loads a day of 1.0,000 pounds to * IT i,, , » Tn61 and,ProsPered, and discovered two good mines, the Blue Bird ¦ iS£ t n ' Whl^ ,he S°ld at a satisfa«ory figure. When the railways came in 1893, Mr Conner sold his freighting outfit and pitched his tent at Great Falls, Mont and there he bought 680 acres of land, upon which he raised stock and other wise farmed for two years. , , .In, 1895' t<> safeguard the health of his wife and children, Mr. Conner disposed of his farm in Montana and came to California, and for a couple of years settled at San Fernando In February, 1898, he went to Alaska to try his hand at prospecting, traveling up the Copper River and pushing on as far as the Divide. He found some of the largest copper deposits at that time known, but owing to the dangers of fording streams and scaling precipices, he deemed it useless to file claims, and so returned to ranching at San Fernando. In 1911, Mr. Conner moved to Modesto and bought his home-place of twenty-six acres, devoted principally to alfalfa. At La Cygne, Kans., Mr. Conner was married to Mary Kendall, a native of that state and the daughter of David Kendall, a soldier in the Civil War ; and it was to favor her health that Mr. Conner sought the more genial climate of the Golden State. She died, however, in November, 1896. In February, 1904, Mr. Conner was married for the second time, at San Fernando, choosing for his wife Helen Wisner, a native of Iowa, but a resident of California since 1902. They have had nine children : Daphyne is the eldest ; Otto Dallas died when he was two and a half months old ; then comes Walter L., Gladys H.,- and the others are Violet Pearl, Hazel, Roberta A., and Lenora W., Cynthia Dorothy, the fifth in the order of birth, having died when she was a year old. Mr. and Mrs. Conner are Seventh Day Adventists. EMANUEL HOSPITAL. — Foremost among the number of institutions in Stanislaus County whose worthy motive is the alleviation of human suffering, is the Emanuel Hospital at Turlock, the largest hospital in the county, as well as the most complete building of its kind. Established in 1916 by the Swedish Evangelical Mis sionary Association, the building was begun in the fall of 1916 and was completed in the spring of the following year, opening in June, 1917, with Mrs. J. E. Johnson, a registered nurse, as superintendent. The hospital, as planned, was twice the size of the first building, which was erected at a cost of about $30,000, with a capacity of twenty-five patients. In the spring of 1919, an addition was built with the same dimensions as the first, and at about the same cost. It was opened in January, 1920, the whole building now can accommodate fifty patients. The rooms are well furnished and most of them private, affording the complete quiet and seclusion needful for the best results, and many are equipped with private baths. The whole hospital is most modern in every way, with reception rooms, offices and head nurses' rooms on each floor. There are two fine operating rooms on the top floor, well arranged and lighted with side and skylights, as well as strong electric lights when emergency cases make operating necessary at night. One of these rooms is particularly large, being designed for major operations, while the other is for minor surgery. The sterilizing rooms, supply rooms, doctors' dress ing rooms and bath rooms are all fully equipped with the latest scientific appliances. The obstetricaldepartment is in a separate part of the building, with birth room and nursery supplied with every necessity. There is one large main kitchen, with dishwashing room adjoining, and on each floor are serving and diet kitchens. For the nurses there is a large, well-lighted dining room, very cheerful and attractive. The grounds are large and well laid out, the beautiful lawn, with trees, shrubbery and flowers making the whole very attractive in appearance. The nurses' quarters are in three cottages adjoining the grounds and plans are completed for a new nurses' home, which will be built in the near future. In addition, there is the Emanuel Hospital Training School for Nurses, opened in 1918, having now 20 pupils in training, with four supervising nurses, besides special nurses. The hospital had its inception largely through the efforts of the late A. G. Delbon, who interested people locally and collected the money to finance it. Mr. Delbon served as a member of the board of trustees until his death. The present officers are : 1442 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY President, Rev. Carl Anderson ; secretary, A. E. Sandberg ; treasurer, Edwin Johnson. The directors, including the above, are Charles Dahlquist, A. P. Nylin, S. A. Hult- man, Fred Knutsen, C. E. Ellsburg and Rev. E. N. Train. The city of Turlock can well congratulate itself on being the home of an institution of such, prestige as Emanuel Hospital, its reputation for scientific care of the sick and efficient manage ment having spread far and wide. JACK VENTULETH.— Left an orphan very early, Jack Ventuleth, a native- born Californian, has from childhood made his own way, through untiring efforts and industry. He was born in San Francisco on July 28, 1894, the son of Jacob and Emily Ventuleth. In Gilroy, while attending the grammar and high schools there, he worked after school to pay expenses. Interested in agriculture, he later worked his way through the University of California farm school at Davis. He was then engaged in a creamery near Davis, and in the fall of 1916 came to Newman, to the California Central Creameries. In November, 1917, Mr. Ventuleth entered the U. S. service and trained at Camp Lewis, Wash., then Camp Mills, N. Y., and later Newport News, Va. With the One Hundred Seventh Ammunition Train, Forty-first Division, on April 12, 1918, he sailed overseas, arriving at St. Nazaire, France, on May 10. The Forty-first divi sion was made a replacement division, hence he served with the Thirty-second. At the time the armistice was signed his ammunition train was located at Gondrecourt, from which point he was transferred to Heimbach, eight kilometers beyond Coblenz, until April 23, 1919, when he left Germany, via Brest, on May 1, 1919, on the Louisiana, and received his honorable discharge at the Presidio in San Francisco on May 31, 1919. He returned to Stanislaus County and is now the owner of forty-eight acres a short distance from Newman, devoted to dairy farming. He raises silage and alfalfa and has thirty dairy cows. On July 8, 1919, Mr. Ventuleth married Miss Clara E. Harvey, born in Sonora, the daughter of Joseph G. and Hattie E. Harvey. Miss Harvey's mother is also a native daughter from Rio Vista, Solano County. Joseph Harvey is a native of Detroit, who came to California at twenty-one, in 1888, settled in* Los Angeles and later in the Bay Cities, where, as a contractor, he erected houses in Oakland and San Francisco. For twenty years, however, he has been a dairy farmer near Newman and at present is in the cattle business in Oregon, owning about 500 head on the public range. H. C. FRIES. — An experienced, prosperous San Francisco merchant who gave a new impetus to business at Newman when he opened his well-organized establish ment and displayed his comprehensive stock of hardware, is H. C. Fries, born in the Bay City on February 26, 1885, the son of M. O. and Sophie (Nicholsen) Fries. He was born in Denmark and came to California, rounding Cape Horn by steamer to San Francisco in 1875, where he ran a restaurant. Mrs. Fries, also born in Den mark, belonged to an early California settler's family. Equipped with a public school education, H. C. Fries supplemented his studies, while working, with night school courses in bookkeeping, business arithmetic, mechani cal drawing, and so, as a self-made youth of fifteen, started after his own fortune. He served an apprenticeship as machinist in the Robbins Press and Dye Works in San Francisco, and then took a position as foreman mechanic with the Alaska Packers Association in the Bering Sea, spending three seasons in the frozen North. On his return to San Francisco, Mr. Fries entered the wholesale hardware firm of Baker & Hamilton, continuing for five years, and on March 1, 1920, he came to Newman and bought out Lewis & Byrd, hardware merchants. His wide, intimate knowledge of the hardware business and mechanics enabled him to give satisfaction, with the result that his patrons have steadily increased. At San Franeisco, on July 16, 1907, Mr. Fries married Miss Adele Gaillard, a native daughter, born at Sonoma, to Leon and Marie Gaillard, of Belgian ancestry. Her father was a shoe merchant, and is now retired, and at this writing is revisiting Belgium. Mrs. Fries' mother passed away when she was thirteen; but she was given the best education at the public schools. Two children have sprung from this for tunate union : Earl is twelve years, and Jack is younger by four years. ; HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1443 The international phase, so to speak, of Mr. and Mrs. Fries' marriage is interest ing considering the experience of M. O. Fries, the father of our subject. His parents, on a trip to the old home in Schleswig, were helping celebrate the golden wedding of Grandfather Fries, previous to the late World War. M. O. Fries was at the cele bration ; and having refused to salute a German officer, he was given forty-eight hours to get out of the country — a departure he was not sorry to take. In national politics a Republican, C. H. Fries is active as a director in the Newman Chamber of Commerce. HENRY CHARLES MEIER.— In California, where such a large percentage of the population is made up of people from other states, it is pleasing to meet a man born and reared in this land of sunshine and flowers. Henry Charles Meier was born on August 27, 1883, at Hill's Ferry, three miles from what is now Newman, his parents being Henry F. W. C. and Elizabeth (Miller) Meier. The father is an old Californian, coming from his native Germany in 1871. On reaching California he spent a year at Rocklin, Placer County, working for his brother-in-law. The next six years he resided in San Francisco, going thence to Hill's Ferry, where he worked eight years, settling at Newman in 1888, where he conducted the Newman Hotel. He became interested in the bottling business, and since 1899 has given practically all of his time to it. He has one of the largest plants in this section, a profitable business. There were twelve children in the Meier family, Henry C. being the third. His ¦ education was gained in the public schools of Newman, and then he apprenticed as a plumber under Ed Simpson, one of the pioneer plumbers of Newman, and after he completed his apprenticeship he continued with him until 1910, when he started in- business for himself. He has been very successful, as a thorough workmanship and satisfactory service have each year brought increased patronage. He is located at 109 South O Street. Mr. Meier was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Wilson on December 12,. 1912, at San Francisco; she is a native daughter of Oregon, her parents, C. S. and Sarah Wilson, being engaged in farming. Mr. Meier is of the Foresters of America and of the Woodmen of the World, being a past officer. Politically he is nonpartisan where local measures are concerned. The owner of a well-established business, which he built up through his industry, Mr. Meier stands high in the esteem of his many ' friends During the late war he was a member of the Newman company of fire fight ers organized on the West Side, and through this organization many thousands of dollars' worth of valuable grain and feed were saved. He is an active member ot the * Newman Fire Department. MARIE JENSEN.— The name of Jensen figures prominently among pioneer families in Stanislaus County. Marie Jensen, widow of Chris Jensen, was born at bon- neborg, Alsen Island, Denmark, September 13, 1859, but since the early seventies has lived in California. In Modesto, in 1881, she was united in marriage with Chris Jensen, also , a native of Denmark, who was born in Moen Island July 15, 1855, who also came to California in the early days. In 1879 he leased a large tract from the Newman , Company, on which he raised wheat and barley; but through his thrift he was soon able to purchase a half section of this land at twenty-five dollars an acre, wh ch to this day is the old home place. More land was purchased and improvements made unt, *e Tensen ranch, with its fine modern farm buildings, garage thirty dairy and beef , cattle and a seventy-five-horsepower Holt tractor, is one of the best equipped ranches for , tractor farming in Stanislaus County. Mrs. Jensen's sons Grover and Harvey besides farming the 320 acres in the old home place, work 800 acres of hill land oinng and'thirty acres purchased by their father below the cana devoted *. alfalfa. Mr. Jensen died April 6, 1920, mourned by his family and friends. In his religion he was a Lutheran ; in politics, a Democrat Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs Jensen: James the hu band of Anna Bladt, a native-born daughter of Merced County, near Gustme; Sallie, Mrs Tames M Nicolaisen; Elmer, husband of Fannie Bladt, a sister of the wife of James, j'sen, llsc .born neJ Gustine ; Grover, Harvey and 1 Irene, living ^^utsfn^ who dwells in Newman and who married in Santa Cruz on July, 6,-1.918, Miss Amta. 1444 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Redman, born in Napa, Cal., and the daughter of Louis B. and Ida V. Redman, the father being an early settler of Napa. During the late war three sons of Mrs. Jensen responded promptly to their country's call. Harvey enlisted on October 5, 1917, and served as blacksmith in the Supply Company, One Hundred Sixty-fourth Infantry. He was trained at Camp Lewis, served eighteen months in France, and was honorably discharged on June 4, 1919, at Camp Kearney; Elmer enlisted in December, 1917, as mechanic on aeroplane engines in the Three Hundred Twenty-second Aero Squadron, was stationed at the large aeroplane center in Romorantin, France, and received his honorable discharge in May, 1919; Leslie was in the United States service only three days when the armis tice was signed and soon after was honorably discharged. PETER A. JUNCKER. — On his twenty-seven acres southwest of Newman, Peter A. Juncker is prospering as a dairy farmer through his industry and perseverance. He was born in Vilslev, Denmark, April 11, 1893, the son of Andrew and Caroline Juncker, and a grandson of Peter Juncker, who was a revenue officer in Denmark, attended the grade schools and early assisted his father on his Denmark dairy farm. In 1909, when only sixteen, he emigrated to America to seek his fortune, and came directly to Petaluma from New York, and he worked at dairy farming, but in 1911 came to Newman, working in creameries in Gustine, Bakersfield and Modesto. Preferring farming, however, he went back to it and later purchased his present hold ings of twenty-seven acres, on which he raises alfalfa and keeps twelve cows, handling all the work on the farm alone. His ranch is irrigated by the San Joaquin Canal. In Fresno, on September 20, 1916, Mr. Juncker wedded Miss Christine Olesen, a native-born daughter of Newman, born to Andrew and Carry Olesen. Mr. and Mrs. Juncker are the parents of three children : Andrew, Carl and James. Mr. Juncker is a member of Gustine Lodge No. 22, Dania Order, of which he is past president, while Mrs. Juncker is a member of the Gustine Lodge of Danabrog, in which she is an officer. Both are members of the Lutheran Church. JOHN H. PRIEN. — A truly self-made man, earning and enjoying the fruits of honest industry and integrity in business dealings, is John H. Prien, owner of the largest, best-equipped blacksmith shop in Newman or vicinity. And to say that Mr. Prien is self-made means that he started out for himself at the tender age of twelve, earning his way, learning his trade and conscientiously following it; that down through the years he has adhered to principles of honor, depending only upon his own toil and earning capacity to build up his business and maintain his family. John H. Prien is a native of Germany, born at Heide, in Holstein, July 30, 1883, the son of Frederick and Sophie (Kohlsaat) Prien. His father was a blacksmith, and at twelve John H. was taken from school and apprenticed to learn that trade under his father, which he did with characteristic thoroughness. When nineteen young Prien entered the army, serving in the Ninth Artillery as a blacksmith. Dur ing his three years he served six months in a horseshoeing school in Hanover and six months in a horseshoeing and veterinary school in Berlin. At the end of three years he received his honorable discharge. Then, after two years more with his father, he turned Californiaward. In October, 1907, Mr. Prien came to Newman, where he became blacksmith on the Quinto Ranch, remaining two winters, one of the summers being spent in the blacksmithing business with his cousin, Gustaf Prien, in Newman. In 1911 Mr. Prien entered into partnership with Grant Schornick and they opened a first-class blacksmith shop in Newman, under the firm name of Schornick & Prien, continuing until 1919, when Mr. Prien sold out. Mr. Prien opened his own blacksmith shop, erecting therefor a commodious building at O and Kern streets, which he has fitted out with more than ordinarily complete equipment. This venture has proven very profitable and is in a class by itself in Newman. Mr. Prien and Miss Anna Lorenzen were married in San Francisco, June 19, 1912. Mrs. Prien is a native of Fohr, Germany. She came to California with her brother, James Lorenzen, in 1904, from her native village, where she was educated. Mr. Prien returned to Newman with his bride and they have resided here continuously, HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1445 winning the confidence and respect of fellow citizens. They are the parents of two children, Ernest Lorenzen and Bertha Sophie. Mr. Prien made application to become a citizen soon after coming here and was made a full citizen on June 19 1913 and exercises his franchise under Republican standards. ' Mr. Prien is interested keenly in civic and fraternal affairs and stands at all times for progressive methods. He is a member of the local Woodmen of the World, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Foresters of America. Both Mr and Mrs Prien are members of the Lutheran Church, and he is an active member of the New man Chamber of Commerce. a J°tHiN P0?18^-?,0"!^ the Isle of St GeorSe' at Norte Grande, in the Azores Islands, January 11, 1877, John Borba left the flag of Portugal for the Stars and Stripes, having been in California since he was a lad of seventeen years He is recognized as a splendid type of citizen, giving of his best to his business and to the community. His parents were Manuel and Barbara Borba, the father being a farmer on the Isle of St George, where John Borba attended school and helped his father until the fall of 1894. California's fair fame had already reached his eager young mind, and he soon secured work on a ranch near San Juan, San Benito County where he remained five years, "getting a start." It was in 1899 that Mr. Borba came to Stanislaus County and started farming and dairying for himself, leasing the old Tom Crow ranch near Crows Landing for two years, in partnership with John V. Azevedo, who now resides at Gustine, Merced County. Then Mr. Borba leased Mrs. Crow's ranch, just east of the Tom Crow property, where for seven years he engaged in dairying alone, meeting with success. In 1908 Mr. Borba purchased fifty-five acres near Crows Landing, and a little later an additional fifty acres, making in all an extremely productive alfalfa ranch, where he kept fifty or sixty milch cows. Here he built a residence and farm buildings. In February, 1920, he sold his dairy stock, rented the land and purchased a home place of ten acres immediately north of Newman, where he now resides with his family. Mr. Borba's marriage with Miss Mary M. Avia, a native daughter of California, born in San Juan, San Benito County, occurred October 19, 1903. Mrs. Borba is the daughter of Joseph and Isabell Avia, her father farming near San Juan, where she grew to womanhood and secured her education. Of this union have been born five children, two sons and three daughters: Mamie, Frank, Florence, John and Elizabeth. Politically, Mr. Borba is a Republican; with his family are communicants of the Catholic Parish of Newman, and he is a member of the Foresters of America, U. P. E. C. and I. D. E. S., being a past president in the local council of each; while Mrs. Borba is a member of the U. P. P. E. C. and S. P. R. S. I. HARRY A. TRUEBLOOD. — An energetic, far-seeing and thoroughly wide awake young man whose strong, steady pull has enabled him to make far more progress than the average person and to early attain much enviable success, is Harry A. True- blood, who was born in Indiana, near Indianapolis, the son of L. B. and Sarah True- blood, substantial farmer folks.' His father died when he was fifteen, passing away in Indiana, and then he came out to California with his mother, who established a home for herself and family of nine children at Whittier. When old enough, Harry became a clerk in a hardware store at Whittier, having previously attended both the grammar and high schools at that place ; and on removing to Modesto in 1908, he took up plumbing, steamfitting and sheet metal work, for which he easily demonstrated efficiency. In addition to having made a reputation for ability and conscientious work, Harry has added to his popularity through his genial, attractive personality, and has created a wide circle of steadfast friends, among whom are many of the most desirable patrons. At Modesto, on February 20, 1911, Mr. Trueblood was married to Miss Jessie Van Aken, a native of Kansas, and the daughter of W. H. and Ida Van Aken, who came to Modesto some time ago. In national political affairs, Mr. Trueblood is a Republican, but he never allows blind partisanship to interfere with his support of the best men and the best measures; and he is at all times not only a thoroughbred American, but a good "booster" for Modesto and Stanislaus County. 1446 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY AL. W. JONES. — Modesto, the city of homes and the center of commercial life — an inland metropolis that is ever expanding on broad and permanent lines — owes much to Al. W. Jones for his unrivaled service as caterer in the popular "American Grill," as all know who are familiar not only with his daily management, but with the relation between the ranch, on which he grows the delectables, and the restaurant, where everything is of the best, served to all in the most perfect and tempting and satisfying style. He was born in Carroll County, Ohio, on May 30, 1865, the son of Robert and Elizabeth Jones, and grew up the son of a butcher with an extensive establishment. Up to his sixteenth year, he attended the country school of the district ; and, striking out for himself, has been a restaurateur for thirty-six years. Al. Jones started in Ohio, then went to Minnesota and the Northwest, where he had a restaurant and grill in one town after another. Most of the time, therefore, during the past twenty-five years, has been spent in the Pacific Northwest, and for seventeen years he was near Billings, Mont., where he had stock-ranching interests, after which he was for eight years at Ellensburg, Wash., where he had a grill. In 1917 he came to Modesto and opened the "Jones Grill," and as he has a ranch of twenty choice acres under the Modesto Irrigation District, practically all that he needs for his patrons at the grill he himself can produce upon the farm. He raises his own hogs and poultry, fruit, and cures his own hams and bacon, and what is equally inter esting in this, that all which he raises upon the ranch he is able to dispose of in his restaurant. He emploj's twenty-three carefully trained persons, and may well claim to have one of the finest dining establishments in all the valley. While at Billings, in 1906, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Alice Porter, a native of Knoxville, Iowa, the daughter of Washington Porter, a building contractor. At Ellensburg Mr. Jones was made a member of Lodge No. 1102 of the Elks; in political matters he is nonpartisan. H. J. FAULKNER. — A California agriculturist and viticulturist, prominent in the dairy industry, is H. J. Faulkner, advisory manager of the Gustine Creamery. This creamery is the largest dairyman's cooperative creamery on the West Side and into this modern enterprise Mr. Faulkner has put the best of all that he has had to give ; nor should he have any misgivings as to the fruits of his labors. He was born in Medaryville, Ind., the son of Thomas and Lucy A. (Wayne) Faulkner, natives of Indiana, and removed with his parents to Colorado, where he completed the public school courses, and then entered the State Agricultural College at Fort Collins, from which he was graduated in 1902 with the degree of B.S., next taking a place with the creamery company there, that section being notable for many high-class products. In 1904 Mr. Faulkner came west to Los Angeles as butter maker for George A. Smith. Then he was appointed state dairy inspector from 1905 to 1907, and after that entered the employ of Baker & Hamilton, wholesale hardware and dairy machines at San Francisco, doing special work in the creamery and machinery department. Next he was made manager of the Ceres Creamery from 1912 to 1914, but he again returned to Baker & Hamilton. While with this well-known firm, Mr. Faulkner sold and installed the milk sugar plant for the Milk Producers' Association of Central California at Modesto; and on the death of Mr. Gunn, in January, 1919, he was chosen general manager of the association. There are branches, as at Stockton, where butter is made, and a plant at Oakland ; and the company also owns a large hog ranch, with a wide acreage of alfalfa. The plant in Modesto is striking for its artistic architecture, the buildings standing on grounds beautifully laid out to form a fine landscape. The paramount question of sanitation is strictly attended to, and the butter is worked and molded on white marble-topped tables by workmen distinguishable for their white attire — an appetizing and pleasing sight, likely to act as the best of advertisements. In the fall of 1919 Mr. Faulkner resigned and returned to Baker & Hamilton and remained until the spring of 1921, when he withdrew to devote all his time to his interests. This comprises forty acres, twenty acres near Ceres in Thompson Seedless grapes and a twenty-acre vineyard two miles south of Modesto, nearly all in bearing. This vine- j'ard was improved and set out by Mr. Faulkner on subirrigated land, presenting a HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1447 very beautiful appearance. Since 1920, he has been advisory manager of the Gustine Creamery, to which he gives considerable time. From his home in Modesto he superintends his vineyards. In Colorado, Mr. Faulkner was married to Miss Christene Holmes, a native of that state and the daughter of Mrs. Martha Holmes; and two children— Velma and Warren — bless their home. He is a member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282 of Elks ; was made a Mason in Bay View Lodge No. 401, F. & A. M., of Oakland, and demitted to Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., and is a member of Modesto Chap ter No. 49, R. A. M., and with his wife is a member of Athens Chapter, O. E. S., of Oakland. He is a member of the California Creamery Operators' Association, Keyes local Stanislaus Farm Bureau and the California Associated Raisin Growers. JOSEPH S. WILLIAMS. — The lure of city life has never been able to exert its spell over Joseph S. Williams, for, a native of Stanislaus County, he has been a true son of the soil and has remained on the farm as a grain farmer. Still a young man, Mr. Williams has won a marked degree of success through his own efforts, due to his industry, application and integrity. He was born on his present place, the old Williams ranch, ten miles southwest of Newman, May 14, 1883, the son of Charles and Caroline (Madsen) Williams, both well known throughout the county. The father was a seafaring man who came to Oregon in 1865, where, together with a group of shipmates, he left the sea for the vicissitudes of the West, joining the Oregon Volunteer Cavalry to aid in quelling an Indian uprising. After fourteen months of this excitement, he came south to San Francisco, finally locating in Alameda County, first near Livermore and later near Pleasanton. In 1868 he removed to Merced County and settled on Quinto Creek, and was employed on the Lassen ranch in Stan islaus County. Later he preempted 120 acres, then added to it until his holdings amounted to 314 acres, which form the nucleus of the son's holdings today. On February 1, 1918, at Hollister, Mr. Williams married Miss Blanche Crosby, a native of Nova Scotia, daughter of James K. Crosby and granddaughter of Robt. Crowell, a sea captain who brought her up. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have three sturdy sons: Robert S. and Roger Crosby, twins, and Allen G. Mr. Williams is a true son of Stanislaus County, receiving his education here and remaining afterwards. Besides his own lands, he leases 800 acres, known as the Sharp ranch, making a total of close to 1,200 acres which he farms to barley. He is of the Odd Fellows at New man, and stands high, being a past grand and past district deputy grand master. ANGELO NICHOLAS BASSO. — Varied experiences and associations, with diversified occupations, have given to Angelo Nicholas Basso the conviction that Stan islaus County offers to energetic settlers with keen business judgment opportunities unsurpassed by any other section of the great empire by the sunset sea. Practically all of his memories of childhood cluster around the old home located at La Grange, where he was born September 15, 1889, the son of Angelo and Carmillo (Podesto) Basso, who were counted among the early pioneers to settle in Stanislaus County in the sixties and whose biographical sketch appears on another page. Mr. Basso's father came from the town of Basso, Italy. Angelo, later attending the public schools at La Grange, began his schooling in the Branch district, near home. Becoming a young man, he went to Modesto and for eight years was in the employ of the George P. Schafer Company. After proving himself capable, he became produce buyer for this house and continued in this capacity for four years. When news came of the great World War, he went into the service as an infantryman and was stationed at San Diego, with Company C, Thirty-second Infantry, Sixteenth Division. January 16, 1919, he was honorably discharged and was reemployed by George P. Schafer. On February 23, 1920, Mr. Basso engaged in business for himself and has met with success. Mr. Basso's marriage on September 9, 1917, united him with Miss Martha L. Raemsch, who was born in Newark, N. J., but came to Modesto when she was very small. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Raemsch, now of Modesto. Mr. Basso is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the American Legion. 1448 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY P. D. RAMOS. — True Western energy characterizes the career of P. D. Ramos, the paint and whitewash contractor at Newman. He is a native son of the Golden State, and since a lad of nine has shouldered life's responsibilities. Mr. Ramos was born at Santa Cruz, Cal., October- 22, 1882, the son of Alex Delorm Ramos, a fisher man at Capitola, and Nellie Ramos. Reared in Santa Cruz, he acquired his education in Santa Cruz district and at Gait school. His first seven years were spent in the butcher business, followed by painting and contracting, then in 1900 went to Hollister. Mr. Ramos married Miss Rosie Ferreira, a native of Fayal, Azores Islands, at Hollister, July 22, 1916, and a daughter named Mary was born. Mrs. Ramos was educated in Fayal schools, and spent her first two years in the States at Hollister. Mr. Ramos continued painting at Santa Cruz, Watsonville, and Modesto, and afterward through the valley. After his marriage he lived at Hollister, where his wife con ducted a restaurant, while he continued contract painting. In 1918 he removed to Newman, and built a home, which he sold, and purchased another home on Main Street. Mr. Ramos has built up a good business and has won the regard of all who have come in contact with him since he cast his lot in Newman, where he is known as a man of reliability and integrity. In his political views he is liberal and independent. MANUEL B. SOARES.— A native son of California is Manuel B. Soares, whose father was one of the early settlers hailing from the Azores. He was born at San Rafael, in Marin County, on July 25, 1890, the son of Manuel P. and Rosalina Soares, substantial farmer folk. His father, when twenty years of age, came from the Isle of St. George in 1863, and arriving in California, settled as a dairyman in San Rafael. In 1897 his father sold out and moved to Watsonville, where he bought 363 acres and built up a dairy; he also farmed some, but his main idea was to build up a dairy and run eighty head of cattle. He made butter from cream, and sold the product to M. T. Freitas. of Watsonville. The ranch was near the Big Rocks at San Juan, and Manuel went for three terms to the Watsonville grammar school. In 1901 the elder Soares came to Newman and bought 153 acres one and a half miles south of the town; and he set out the entire ranch to alfalfa. In 1911 he sold the San Juan ranch to Ralph Bryan. Manuel Soares finished his education in the Canal school, south of Newman, and since then has lived on the old home ranch, the eldest of six children, and runs the place on shares. He has a dairy of forty-nine cattle and does the work alone. In 1914, just previous to the outbreak of the World War, he accompanied his father on a trip to the Azores, and while away, leased his farm. Returning to California, he joined his father, a brother-in-law and W. W. Giddings in the management of a dairy of 100 cows on the Jasper Parnell ranch at Ingomar; but after three and one-half years of that experience, he returned to the old home ranch and purchased the dairy business from Mr. Martin, who then held the lease. He owns forty acres of the old home stead, known in the early daj's as the old Gill Mill ranch; and the balance of the 150 acres is in the estate of M. P. Soares, which is administered by Mary Parkes, a sister, and John B. Soares, a brother. On January 10, 1914, while away in the Azores, Mr. Soares was married to Miss Mary B. Santos, a native of St. George, and their happy home life has been given added joy by two promising daughters, Rosie B. and Margaret B. Soares. CHARLES F. CROW. — Influential as a member of one of the largest grain- growing firms in Stanislaus County, Charles F. Crow, senior member of Crow & Chathom, is always interesting because of his progressive ideas, his high attainments in agriculture, and his relation to the forward march of events in Central California. He was born three miles west of Waterford, Cal., on December 7, 1879, the son of William P. Crow, who crossed the plains in 1846, traveling with one of Brigham Young's companies to Salt Lake City. He was not a Mormon, and therefore came on to California; and as a real pioneer of 1847, he was one of the earliest whites in the state, coming before the discovery of gold. He did not go in for mining, but preferred to seek his fortune in catering to the wants of the miners ; and he, therefore, followed the butcher trade at Hangtown, and prospered as a butcher. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1449 He was married at Hill's Ferry in 1854 to Charlotte Dawson, a native of Iowa who had crossed the plains in 1850 with her parents. Then he took up the cattle business on the West Side, and later moved back to Empire, where he farmed for three years; and after that he moved to the old Crow place, below Waterford, where he became a grain farmer. Charles grew up on a grain farm and drove horses and as many as thirty-six mules on a combined Haines-Hauser harvester and thresher; and now Messrs. Crow & Chathom own and operate two sixty-horsepower Best tractors, one Harris auxiliary harvester and a McCormick combined harvester and thresher. They operate the farm of 8,000 acres known as the old "Hickman Ranch," about three miles southwest of Hickman Station ; and such are the proportions and the quality of their harvestings that they are fairly entitled to the credit of being among the most successful of the extensive ranchers in this part of the state. Mr. Crow was married in 1904 at San Francisco to Miss Marie McMahan- and they have two children: Walter Gilbert attends the high school at Hughson ; and Helen Aloise Crow is the younger. Mr. Crow has bought a ranch of 100 acres devoted to alfalfa growing, and there he has built for himself a thoroughly up-to-date country residence, thereby making of the farm a valuable ranch. He belongs to Stan islaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M., at Modesto, Twintown Lodge No. 343 of Water ford, and enjoys an enviable popularity always stimulating to greater service and results. WILLIAM SNOW ORVIS.— A young man well known throughout the South west as a successful cattle grower and shipper, is Wm. S. Orvis of the Orvis ranch in Northern Stanislaus County. He was born in Stockton, November 8, 1893, but grew up on the present ranch. While William was yet a mere lad, his father, C. B. Orvis, encouraged him to start in the cattle business and gave him every assistance, so that by the time he was twelve, he had his own checking account, and was buying and handling cattle. The experience thus gained in his early years has given him a posi tion of prestige among men years his senior. C. B. Orvis is a native of Wisconsin, Fond du Lac County. He came to Cali fornia in 1880, and here he married Mary Adale Snow of Stockton, a daughter of William Snow, who was born in New York and came to California in the fifties. Great-grandfather Snow was born and married in England, then came to America and started west across the plains; but, like many good men in those days, never reached the West, but was massacred by the Indians, who were always on the lookout. Wm. S. Orvis was named for his grandfather, William Snow, eldest of a family of three children: Lydia Jane and Henry Bruce are single and live at home. His father is the owner of large ranches; one consisting of 2,300 acres is rented to A. Gatesman of Oakdale, another of 1 ,000 acres is located two miles south of Thornton ; also a 25-acre apple orchard at San Jose ; and with his son, Wm. S., owns 825 acres at Termines devoted to raising stock, grain and alfalfa. William S. Orvis is operating the ranch of 5,000 acres in North precinct, Stanislaus County, owned by his mother, where he makes his home. As has been stated, with his father he owns the Termines ranch, west of Lodi, on the Sacramento River, comprising 825 acres, which they have reclaimed with other ranches in the Termines Reclamation District. Mr. Orvis graduated from Oakdale high school in 1912 and then took a course at the University of California Agricultural College at Davis, Cal., during the winter of 1912-13. He was married in Stockton in 1917 to Miss Grace Harriette Harper, who was born in Calaveras County, the daughter of Wm. T. and Emma Harper and the second of a family of five. Her father was in charge of the County Hospital at San Andreas, Calaveras County, several years. Mrs. Orvis is a graduate of the Stock ton high school and the normal department of the Heald's Business College at Stock ton. They are the parents of one child, Bettie Ada. Mr. Orvis has bought cattle in Old Mexico, California, Arizona and Nevada, in fact, all over the Southwest, and shipped them to his ranch, where they are fattened, then sold for beef. From his comfortable residence on the ranch in North precinct as headquarters, he superintends his cattle business, and is very naturally a member of the California Cattlemen's Association. A believer in protection, he is a firm adherent of Republican principles. 1450 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY JAMES A. CALLNIN. — An enterprising, successful native son who is doing all he can, while prospering himself, to build up Turlock, in which he lives, and the environing Stanislaus County, is James A. Callnin, who was born at Placerville, historic old Hangtown, Cal., on September 14, 1874, the son of Eugene Callnin, a native of Massachusetts. He came to California in the early '50s by way of Panama, and having followed mining in the Sierras, was working as an aggressive foreman when an accident caused his death about 1882. He had married Miss Mary Wardell, a native of Dundas, Ont., who crossed the plains with her parents in early days. After the death of her husband, she returned with her family to Chicago ; and so it happened that James, the second of three children, attended the public schools of that great city. Having finished his schooling, he learned the machinist's trade and became a brass finisher, working for Adams & Westlake, and finally he removed to New York City, where he started in business for himself. He established a laundry at One Hundred Seventh Street and Manhattan Avenue, and he was there ten years, when he returned to Chicago and at Rosedale, on Ogden Avenue near Taylor, opened a steam laundry. After two years, however, he sold the plant and came back to California. Here, from 1903, he was in charge of the laundry department of the Potter Hotel at Santa Bar bara, and when he resigned he started an up-to-date laundry in Sacramento, at 1220 S Street. In 1909 he sold out that interest and came down to Turlock, where he started the first steam laundry — a success from the beginning. He commenced on a small scale, in an old wooden building; and erected a new building, rather than move, the transition from the old to the new quarters causing a loss of only one day. This new edifice is a cement block, 50x80 feet in size, and the plant is economically arranged, using the condensed steam as water. The laundry has its own well and all up-to-date appliances. It is known as the Turlock Steam Laundry, employs twelve people, and serves eight towns. In 1919 Mr. Callnin took into partnership his son, Donald A. Mr. Callnin is a member of the Board of Trade, and also belongs to the National, the State, and the San Joaquin Valley Laundry Associations. At New York City Mr. Callnin was married to Miss Margaret O'Heir, a native of Connecticut, by whom he has had three children. Donald A. is married and has one child, a daughter, Emeline ; and the other two children are Gertrude and Virginia, twins, graduates of Heald's Business College in Stockton. JOHN A. HOLMQUIST. — A comfortably situated rancher who is enjoying the fruits of years of conscientious work, is John A. Holmquist, who was born in Smaland, Sweden, in 1860, and was reared on a farm, while he enjoyed the best of public school advantages. In 1882, he came to the United States, the first member of his family to reach the land of the Stars and Stripes, --and located at Stanton, Iowa, where later his father, mother, two brothers and a sister joined him. For seventeen j'ears he farmed near Stanton, but in 1899 he removed to Cedar County, Nebr., where he bought a farm on the Knox County line, seven miles from Wausa. There he fol lowed grain and stock raising, and he was also a trustee of schools. On moving still further West to California and Turlock, in 1908, Mr. Holm quist bought thirty acres, all raw land, west of the town ; and having leveled and checked it, he sowed it to alfalfa. He also set out an orchard and a vineyard, and raised melons. In November, 1918, he sold one-half of the place, and he continued to farm the balance ; but he now lives at his comfortable residence on Park Street, Tur lock, where he owns three acres which he farms. Mr. Holmquist made his first trip to Turlock as early as 1902, and since then he has seen the many wonderful changes. While at Stanton, Iowa, Mr. Holmquist was married to Miss Christene Erick son, a native of Smaland, Sweden, a charming and good woman who died at their country home here on October 27, 1918, the mother of seven children: Julia Mary is Mrs. Evar Tornell, and resides on Colorado Avenue, Turlock ; Axel Emanuel is a farmer west of Turlock ; Walter Carl served overseas in the One Hundred Third Infantry, Twenty-sixth Division, and was in the battles of Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, the Argonne and Verdun. He was mustered out on April 21, 1919, and is now back in Turlock, and is farming near Turlock ; Oscar N. was in the One Hundred HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1451 Fifteenth Ammunition Train, Fortieth Division, overseas, and was mustered out on June 30, 1919; he is assisting his father; Ethel Christene is Mrs. Ernest Carson of lurlock; Elvera Anna has become Mrs. Warner Swanson, who lives in Youngstown Colonj'; Emma Sophia presides gracefully over her father's home. Mr. Holmquist was school trustee of Washington district two years. He is a deacon of the Swedish Mission Church, and in national politics a Republican. LOREN W. DAVIS.— Popular among those who have afforded far better and more reasonable facilities for the motorist, Loren W. Davis, the efficient proprietor of the well-equipped Davis Garage at Tenth Street, Modesto, is looked to for further service by all who hope to see Stanislaus County a great rendezvous for automobiles. He is not only a native son, but he was born at Modesto — on October 6, 1892 and like his father, George T. Davis, an early settler of Lodi, who grew up to be an exten sive stockman and farmer, he has always enjoyed the esteem and good-will of those knowing and dealing with him. He married Miss Laura Vivian, and she has been a favorite, as wife, mother, and neighbor. Loren Davis finished the grammar grades of Modesto and then went through the excellent high school there, and in 1907 struck out for himself. He was given an opportunity to work in George F. Young's old Reo shop, with its one and two cylinder cars, and he remained there for two years. Then Mr. Young sold out to A. R. Mires and C. R. Zacharias, of the Studebaker Garage, and Mr. Davis delivered the new cars ordered by customers, remaining with the new firm four years. In June, 1913, owing to a break in his health requiring outdoor work, Mr. Davis went with the Sierra & San Francisco Power Company and worked in its construction department in Stanislaus County. On December 1', 1914, when his father was sheriff of Stanislaus County, he became under sheriff. On January 6, 1918, Mr. Davis again embarked in the garage business, and on January 1, 1920, he completed his large garage on Tenth Street, one of the finest in Stanislaus County. Meanwhile, he had conducted his business temporarily in the J. J. Ferlin Garage, and it is a good indication of the high regard with which he has always been held as a specialist in his field that during this period of partial disorder and inconvenience, his business prospered more than before. Now that he has been able to place every facility at the disposal of both the local and the touring motorist, he bids fair to get his full share of the patronage of the city and county. Mr. Davis belongs to Modesto Parlor No. 11, Native Sons of the Golden West, believes in non- partisanship, and is a first-class "booster" for California, and particularly for Modesto. SYLVESTER LONGMIRE. — An experienced rancher who has met with success in intensive farming is Sylvester Longmire, who was born near Dixon, Solano County, Cal., twenty miles from the Capitol at Sacramento, on November 21, 1855, the son of Daniel Longmire, a native of Indiana, a farmer who came West in one of the picturesque, covered wagons in 1854; and in Northern California he followed agriculture until his death in 1882. Sylvester was reared in the Sacramento Valley, where he went to school, and helped his father on the home farm until 1882, working in the fields or hauling crops in wagons pulled by ten or twelve mules. In 1883, he came into the San Joaquin Valley, and at Gustine, in Merced County, he bought eighty acres. Besides this land, he also rented adjoining acres where he farmed extensively, raising grain. While on the West Side he served on the board of trustees of the Enterprise (now the Gustine) school district for twelve years, being clerk of the board. In 1905, having sold his farm at Gustine, he bought forty acres near Keyes, in Stanislaus County, which he still owns, although he has now retired and has rented the ranch to two of his able sons, who carry on the work successfully. The same inter est in the welfare of the public led him on coming to his new neighborhood to serve for three years on the school board of the Keyes district. In 1917 he moved to Tur lock, where he resides with his wife. On October 20, 1878, Mr. Longmire married at Willows, Glenn County, Cal., Miss Laura J. Bacon, a native of Illinois, the daughter of De Witt Benjamin Bacon. 61 1452 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Nine children blessed this union: Arthur D. is a resident of Chowchilla, Madera County; William S. resides at home; Myrtle May is the wife of George St. Louis of Colusa, where they have two children ; Flora B. is Mrs. J. W. W'assum, the mother of two, of Turlock; Lillian D. married Earl Dunsmore, and they reside, with two children, at Winters; Merritt farms the home ranch; and Clara, the wife of A. B. Curtis, is another resident of Turlock. The eighth is Mabel M., and the j'oungest is John A. Longmire, also on the home ranch. Mr. and Mrs. Longmire are rightly proud of their family. Four of the sons, as well as the father, belong to the Inde pendent Order of Red Men in Turlock. LEONARD STAUDENMAIER.— An experienced and thrifty rancher, whose success and prosperity, evidencing his contribution toward the advancement of agri culture in California, commands necessarily the admiration and good-will of all who know him and his family, Leonard Staudenmaier was born in Wuertemberg, Ger many, on December 15, 1856, and there learned the carpenter's trade, to which he was apprenticed for three years. Then he worked as' a journeyman carpenter in the ancient city of Ulm ; and in 1 895 first left Germany, making his way to Ant werp. From that city he sailed for Canada, and on July 2 landed at Quebec. He was not long in moving west to Winnipeg and Manitoba, where he worked out on farms for monthly wages; and at the end of the year he took a Jiomestead and improved 160 acres, proved up on it and obtained a title, making of the same a hand some ranch such as was a credit to the neighborhood. He became a Canadian citizen. It was fiercely cold in Manitoba, much severer than in the Germany of his former years, when he had plenty of fruit and vegetables and, very naturally, he longed for California, of which he heard so much. He was especially attracted by an advertisement setting forth the advantages in Thalheim; and although he had a good farm of 160 acres, near the town of Morton, where he raised wheat, he decided on the momentous step. In 1906, therefore, he moved southward, and soon bought forty acres of wild land. Later he added a couple of acres, and now, with the aid of his sons, he farms to alfalfa, for the most part, and runs a dairy. He has built there a large silo, and raises corn for it, and also has two acres of peaches. He has erected there a comfortable house for his home, and good outbuildings. While in Germany, in 1892, Mr. Staudenmaier was married to Miss Caroline Kienle, a native of Wuertemberg, like himself brought up in the Lutheran Church and educated in the German schools. Of their children, Wilhelm, the eldest, was born in Germany, and married Miss Ivy Counts, of Tacoma, Washington. He lives in San Francisco and works in Geiber's Motor Truck Factory. During the recent World War, he served for a couple of years in France, and as a member of the infantry became a sergeant. He served in the thick oi»the fight, and was wounded in the left leg; he was in the hospital for several months, and then was honorably discharged. Hans Leonard now runs the home farm ; he enlisted in the Aviation Section of the U. S. Army and served for six months in France and in England. He was in the aero-observation squadron, and was honorably discharged. Elizabeth, the eldest daughter, is a milliner in San Francisco. Albert and Emma are at home. Frieda died at Thalheim when sixteen years old. Paul is in the grammar school, and the youngest child is Henry. Mr. Staudenmaier with his family are members of the Lutheran Church at Valley Home, and politically he is a Republican. RICHARD D. STELCK. — A pioneer farmer and stockman who began at the foot of the ladder and grew to be an excellent judge of land-values and livestock, Richard Detlef Stelck is perhaps the largest taxpayer in Valley Home, until recently called Thalheim, where he owns a ranch of forty-three acres, his home place. He also has another ranch of 160 acres four miles north of Valley Home, a third ranch of twenty acres south of Valley Home. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein on July 3, 1877, and in 1894 crossed the ocean and came to America with a brother, Henry Stelck, now retired and residing at Hartley, O'Brien County, Iowa. For some years he worked out as a farm hand. Then, having married, he rented land for a year in Iowa, and after that, in company with his wife, came out to California in 1903. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1453 Besides working the land which he owns, Mr. Stelck cultivates to barley some fifty acres which he leases; and he raises alfalfa, feed corn and roughage for his stock. He is a thorough stockman, perhaps the most aggressively progressive for miles around Valley Home, as well as the most prosperous, and delights in doing what he can whereby, when he attains an end for himself, he is also, scientifically and industrially, advancing the common weal. Besides his ranches he owns several lots in Valley Home. He came from Crawford County, Iowa, to the section then known as Thalheim, about eighteen years ago, and is therefore a true California pioneer. Mr. Stelck was married at Denison, in Crawford County, Iowa, to Miss Min nie Wolfer, a sister of Frederick Anton Schultz's first wife, and their fortunate union has been blessed with five children. Clara and Malinda are in the Oakdale high school; and the others are Albert Richard, Lilly and Wilma. Mr. Stelck sup ports the platforms of the Republican party, and whenever called upon for public service, gladly does his duty by the community, and in the fall of 1920 he was a member of the trial jury for four months. FREDERICK ANTON SCHULTZ.— A native of Illinois who is making good in California, is Frederick Anton Schultz, one of the first settlers at Valley Home. He was born near Sterling, 111., on March 30, 1881, the son of Carl Schultz, a native of Germany, who was married in Illinois to Miss Amelia Wicherts, a native of Holland. When our subject was a boy, they removed to Ida County, Iowa, and there farmed; and in the Ida County public schools Frederick was educated. When able to support himself, he left home and worked for others; then he rented a farm in Iowa, and when twenty-one years of age was married there. Soon after, in the spring of 1903, Mr. Schultz came out to California; and in the fall of that j'ear, he settled at what was then called Thalheim. The valley was then a wheat field, with a grain warehouse and a switch, and without a depot ; and he has seen it since expand into one of the most promising places of its kind in Stanislaus County. Mr. Schultz himself owns and operates twenty-eight acres at Valley Home in the Thalheim precinct, all well-improved land, his home being only a few rods east of the depot; and besides being an able, experienced farmer, he can operate machin ery, and run a power haj'-press, and also do carpenter and cement work and plaster ing. He studies the problems of agriculture, and is alive to everything likely to make for the upbuilding of the town. Mr. Schultz's first marriage, in Iowa, made him the husband of Miss Bertha Wolfer, a native of that state, a devoted wife by whom he had two children, Louise and Edwin. She died at Thalheim in 1908. Later Mr. Schultz was married to Miss Frieda Laura Volkman, the daughter of F. D. Volkman, the pioneer of Thal heim, and now its oldest living resident. He came here about eighteen years ago, built the widely-known Pioneer Hotel before there was ever a railroad depot here, and from the beginning worked hard to make a town of the place, and to add another American community to the many for which the Golden State is so famous. ALBERT C. MONK. — An energetic, industrious young man, with a pleasing personality and fortunate in the cooperation of his devoted wife, Albert C. Monk is making a cosy and attractive home for his family at his ranch in Langworth pre cinct, two miles west of Oakdale on the State Highway. He was born, a native son, in Stanislaus County, in the Westport district south of Modesto, on February 25, 1885, where his father, Louis Monk, was a pioneer. He was born in Bornholm, Denmark, in 1856, and came to California in 1879. He settled at first in the West- port district, and then in 1891 came up to Oakdale, and soon pitched his tent at Claribel station. There he became the owner of some 700 acres, and for twelve years he went in for dry farming. There, too, Albert drove as many as thirty-six horses, hitched to the combined harvester and thresher. His father sold out in 1912 and moved to Oakdale, passing away in 1914. He had married Miss Minnie M. Monk, and she was also a native of Bornholm, in Denmark, where she was born in 1854. She died two years later than her husband. Two children were born to this worthy couple, the elder being Albert C, the subject of our review, and the 1454 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY younger John L. Monk, proprietor of the Seventh Street Garage in Oakland. Dur ing the World War he was in the Signal Corps, and was sergeant in the head quarters company at San Francisco. Albert Monk attended the Robinson district school until he was fifteen, and in time he became the head man on his father's large farm, and so continued until near to the time of his father's death. In 1914 he was married in Oakdale to Miss Carrie Leidahl, who was born in Voss, Norway, the daughter of Stork and Ingeborg Lei- dahl, who had eleven children. She sailed from Bergen, came to Chicago, later lived in Minnesota, and in 1912 came out to California. Three children have blessed their union, Laurence, Gerald and Ina. After his marriage Albert Monk continued to reside in Oakdale until 1916, when he purchased his present place of twenty-two acres on which he moved and has since made his home. Sixteen acres are planted to almonds, five to alfalfa, and one is reserved for an orchard. It is one of the finest ranches for the size along the State Highway, and its superior qualities are due mainly to the intelligent devel opment of the land. Mr. Monk also owns a smaller place, on Walnut Avenue in Oakdale, which he is developing with equal care. JOHN W. ANTHIENY.— The manager of the Union Oil Company of New man, John W. Anthieny, a native born son, is one of the enterprising young men of his vicinity. In Gilroy, Cal., he was born on May 18, 1891, the son of John J. and Barbara Anthieny, farmers of Switzerland, who came to California in 1885, settling first in Gilroy and later in Newman, where John W. Anthieny, Jr., received his education in the grammar schools. At the age of sixteen he left home to seek his own fortune and for a while did ranch and clerical work. In 1918, becoming inter ested in the oil industry, he drove a truck for the Union Oil Company and one year later was made manager for the company at Newman. He was married to Miss Blanche Smith, also a native-born daughter and the daughter of Grant and Emma Jane Smith, ranchers, who settled in California in the early days. Mrs. Anthieny was born and' grew to womanhood in Los Banos, receiv ing her education there in the grammar and high schools. Mr. and Mrs. Anthieny are affiliated with the Presbyterian Church at Newman and are Republicans. JOSEPH GALEAZZI. — Descended from a distinguished Italian family, Joseph Galeazzi is yet a genuine American, a man of influence and owner of two valuable ranches in Stanislaus County, where he makes is home, eight miles northwest of Modesto. Born at Piedmont, Italy, September 17, 1871, he is direct descendant of Count Galeazzi and from a family well known among Italians. His father was John Galeazzi, a farmer of means, who still resides in his home city, at the age of eighty years. His mother was Piffero Maria, and has been dead for many years. When he was twenty-three Mr. Galeazzi came to America, locating first at San Simeon in San Luis Obispo County, where he worked on a farm. Later he went into Del Norte County, where he met his wife, then Miss Katie Edgerton, a native of Barrington, Cook County, 111., where she had resided until she was eleven. Her father was Brainard Edgerton and her mother was Matilda Graham, the latter passing away in 1880 when Mrs. Galeazzi was only eleven years old. Her father was well and favorably known in Cook County, 111., where he served as justice of the peace for many years. The Judge and his family came to California and settled in Del Norte County, where he became owner of a ranch of 320 acres, and where the daughter grew up, and where the father passed away in 1901. The Edgertons trace their ancestry back to a distinguished old English family, three brothers coming to America from England in the seventeenth century and locat ing in Harkness County, N. Y. An old chair made in England in the sixteenth century is one of the treasured heirlooms of the family, and Prof. C. L. Edgerton, of Los Angeles, a brother of Mrs. Galeazzi, has in his possession a teacher's certifi cate granted to the maternal grandmother, a Miss Jane Cady, of Harkness County, N. Y., who had taught school in Rome, N. Y. Mrs. Galeazzi's father, Judge Edgerton, was a stanch Republican and a veteran of the Civil War and a G. A. R. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1455 man. Three of her direct ancestors were in the War of the Revolution : Capt. Jede- diah Edgerton, Michael Van de Bogart, on her mother's side, who came from Hol land, and a Mr. Tully, also on her mother's side. Mr. and Mrs. Galeazzi have made four trips to Italy since their marriage, which have been a source of much pleasure to the California girl. They are the parents of two sons, John, now in the Modesto high school, and Brainard, of grammar school age. _ Their present home place consists of sixty-seven acres on Beckwith Road and it lies just across the road from the fifty-eight acres which constitute the second ranch owned by Mr. and Mrs. Galeazzi. These places are well stocked with fine high-grade Holstein cattle, numbering a hundred, including eighty milch cows, and a registered Holstein herd sire. A partner in the dairy enterprise, and half-owner in the stock and equipment, is Manuel M. Souza. JOSEPH PAIONI. — A prominent representative of the Italian-Swiss colonies in California, and an adopted son very loyal to America and the Golden State is Joseph Paioni, a dairy farmer of the Prescott precinct, who owns thirty-seven acres where he liyes at the corner of Dale Road and Plaindale Avenue. Born in Canton Ticino, in Switzerland, on October 25, 1869, from a boy he exhibited that intelli gence which made it certain that he would some day get to the front. His father was Peter Paioni, who had married Mary Biaggi and they were farmer folk in their native land. Joseph, therefore, grew up on a farm, and as a lad learned the ABC, and even something more, of agriculture. His mother died when he was fourteen, leaving four sons and a daughter. The eldest in the family, Joseph was also the first to come to America, setting forth into the world with a good elementary schooling obtained in the grammar grades of the Swiss Republic. He left Switzerland in January, 1889, sailed from Havre, and landed at old Castle Garden in New York City, after which he came West by railway to San Francisco, reaching the Bay City in February, , 1889. He went up to Crescent City, in Del Norte County, and for two years worked on dairy farms; and then he came south to Santa Barbara County, and ran a livery stable at Guadalupe, continuing there for fourteen years. While there, he was married, in Januaiy, 1899, to Miss Rosa Luiselli, also a native of Canton Ticino, Switzerland, a daughter of Joseph and Josie Luiselli, where she was reared. She came to Guadalupe, Cal., in 1891, where she had a sister living. In 1911, Mr. Paioni removed to his present place near Modesto, a fine ranch of nearly two score acres. He has not only bought this, but he has paid for it, and is entirely out of debt; and so prosperous has he become, through hard work and foresight, that he is able to keep forty cattle — one registered Holstein bull, thirty milch cows and nine heifers. He is also renting forty acres of alfalfa near Salida, which he devotes to dairying. Mr. and Mrs. Paioni's married life has been unusually happy, and their joy has been increased by the birth of four children: Romildo has charge of the Salida place; Willie, Charles and Albert. Chas. Paioni, a brother of Mr. Paioni, a resi dent of San Jose, is at present in Switzerland on a visit, where he accompanied I. P. Rossi. Mr. Paioni was made a citizen while a resident of Santa Barbara County and is a stanch Republican. JACOB L. OHMART. — A Hoosier who has made good in California and once again afforded an illustration of the contribution by the East toward the development of the West, is J. L. Ohmart, who was born near Bluffton in Wells County, Ind., on November 20, 1865. His father was Noah Ohmart, a native of Ohio, a farmer by occupation, who had married Miss Catherine Crompacker, a native of Virginia; and they migrated to St. Clair County, Mo., in 1873. Mr. Ohmart was a man of sterling Christian character, a natural leader and philanthropist ; and in addition to following agricultural pursuits, he gave some of his time to preaching. In this good, unselfish work on behalf of his fellowmen, Mr. Ohmart was loyally assisted by his pious wife, who came of a well-established family of Pennsylvania-Dutch, her parents having migrated to Virginia and North Carolina in the beginning of the nineteenth century. 1456 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Having remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, Mr. Ohmart was mar ried in St. Clair County to Miss Emma Belle Roerick, who was born near Plymouth, Ind., and when seven years of age went with her parents to Missouri, where she was later married. One child was born to them, a son, Clarence, now a rancher at Denair. In 1891, Mr. Ohmart removed to Los Angeles, Cal., following his experience of several years at farming in Missouri, and in time he took up his residence at Pomona, where for twelve j'ears he engaged in general hauling, house-moving and other contract work. He also was interested in citrus culture and continued to operate in that field until 1912 when he removed to Stanislaus County and concluded to stop a while at Denair. Since then, with continued good health, he has enjoyed a marked degree of success in both general farming and the dairy industry. He belongs to the Stanislaus Farm Bureau and the Tri-County Farm Bureau Exchange. He is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Ohmart, who are members of -the Christian Church at Turlock, in 1910 adopted a baby seven months old, the daughter of Robert Duckworth, a life long friend who had lost his wife ; and they named the child Ona. She is now attend ing the Denair school. Mr. Ohmart's son, Clarence, has a very enviable military record. He enlisted at San Francisco on May 29, 1918, and within three months was serving overseas in the Four Hundred Forty-eighth Motor Truck Company as a cook. He toured Southern France before his return, and on July 29, 1919, received his hon orable discharge. He is now in partnership with his father in the ranch management. HANS KROGH, JR. — Hans Krogh, Jr., is one of the prosperous, energetic j'oung men of the community, and a native son of the Golden State. He is the son of Hans and Marie Krogh, who came to California in 1876, settling at Hill's Ferry. The father took an active part in the early development of the county, helping, among other things, to put through the irrigation canal which has made Newman one of the most productive and prosperous dairy sections on the Pacific Coast. Mr. Krogh, Sr.; purchased eighty acres under the irrigation canal, where he made his home and reared his family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, all well and favorably known in the community. The splendid public schools of the county, including the Newman high school, gave Hans Krogh, Jr., the right sort of start in life, and at the age of twenty-three he is well on the road to success. He was born on the old home place, August 14, 1898, while his brother, Howard, with whom he is in partnership, was born Decem ber 3, 1900. At an early age these two young men started out for themselves, rent ing the John Smith ranch, owned by the Simon Newman Company, located seven miles southwest of Newman. This ranch consists of 640 acres, devoted to grain raising. The brothers had assisted their father in operating this ranch for four years, and in 1917 they leased it themselves and for the past three years have farmed it with merited success. They also raise stock, including cattle, horses and mules, sup plying their own farm animals from their herds. Mr. Krogh is a member of the Odd Fellows of Newman, and past president of the Dania Order. ALEXANDER M. BOGGS.— Even before the lure of gold had lifted its entic ing finger to the world in 1849, the parents of Alexander M. Boggs, one of New man's most successful grain ranchers, had found their way across the wide plains and reached California in 1846, settling in Napa County. They were George W. and Alabama (McMeans) Boggs, and were for many years actively identified with the growth and development of the country, doing their full share to transform it from a wilderness into the garden which their descendants now enjoy. Alexander M. Boggs was born in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, February 5, 1879. When he was seven years of age his parents came to Modesto where the father engaged in farming, renting the Winters Ranch of several thousand acres. For a number of years he prospered, but a series of droughts forced him to give up farm ing for a time and engage in other occupations. Later he returned to agricultural pursuits. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Modesto and at an early age started out in life for himself. He came to Newman in 1898 and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1457, leased the old Al Crow ranch at Crows Landing, which he still farms. This ranch consists of 2,000 acres of splendid grain lands, and is under a high state of cultivation and fully equipped with modern tractors, implements and barns. The marriage of Mr. Boggs and Miss Jenette Kneibes was solemnized in August, 1905. Mrs. Boggs is a native Californian, her parents coming to California at an early date and settling in the San Joaquin Valley, where Mr. Kneibes engaged in farming. Later they removed to Newman, where Mrs. Boggs was born. They have three children, Florence Evelyn, Luella and John. Mr. Boggs is a patriotic American in the truest sense of the word. He enlisted at the time of the Spanish-American War in B Troop, Fourth Regular U. S. Cavalry, and saw active military service, being for more than a year in the Philippine Islands. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party. He is a member of Modesto Lodge No. 1282 B. P. O. E., and takes an active part in the affairs of the Native Sons of the Golden West as a member of Orestimba Parlor at Crows Landing. FRANK P. WOODS. — A successful dairyman who may well be proud of the pioneer record of his father, who was a hale and hearty man at the age of eighty-nine, when he died, December 27, 1920, is Frank P. Woods, ranching to the southeast of Newman, who was born, a native son, near Salinas, in Monterey County, on January 10, 1873, the son of Joe and Mary Woods. The father, a native of Pico Isle, in the Azores, came to the United States and California in 1852, at the age of twenty- one, and for twelve years he was a seafaring man, employed on a merchant ship. After that he took up mining in the Mariposa and the Idaho gold mines, and then he spent four years at Santa Cruz, after which he went to Watsonville. He spent the last twelve years of his life with his son, Frank. The mother also died at her son's home in 1918, sixty-seven years old. Frank Woods attended the district school, and after that he chose ranch work as his daily occupation. He entered into partnership with his father, and continued in business with him until 1904, when he came to Newman. At present he is farming some forty acres of alfalfa and running a dairy farm with thirty head of milch cows and about forty head of young stock. He raises all his own j'oung stock and runs them on the range southwest of Newman, and they are stock worth looking at. On October 5, 1914, Mr. Woods was married in Newman to Miss Agnes Borba, a native of Honolulu and the daughter of Antone and Mary (Amesburg) Borba. Mrs. Woods' father was a merchant of Honolulu, and after his wife died in 1908, Antone Borba and his daughter, Agnes, made a trip to Azores and then to different cities in the East, and finally to California, and while visiting relatives at Newman, Miss Borba met Mr. Woods, the acquaintance resulting in their marriage. Mrs.. Woods attended St. Anthony Convent, Honolulu, where Antone Borba still lives. Mrs. Woods is a member of S. P. R. S. I. and the U. P. P. E. C, in Newman. Mr. Woods, who is an ardent Republican, is a member of the Watsonville Portu guese lodge of the I. D. E. S., and also the Newman lodge of the U. P. E. C, and in each organization he enjoys a decided popularity. ANTONIO S. BETTENCOURT.— A very enterprising young man who by operating extensively with rich alfalfa land and a fine herd of well-selected cows is doing his part to build up the important dairy interests of Stanislaus County, is Antonio S. Bettencourt, who was born at Beira, on the balmy Isle of St. George, in the Azores on April 19, 1893. His parents were Frank and Mary Bettencourt, worthy farmer folk who sent him to school at Beira at the same time that they trained him in practical, self-respecting work on the farm at home, and so sensibly prepared him to take care of himself when grown to grapple with the world. At the promising age of eighteen, he broke away from the familiar environment of his birth and crossed the ocean to America. For three years he hired out as a farm laborer, and after having spent fourteen months at Dixon, he removed to Crows Landing. Here he rented 178 acres of alfalfa on the San Joaquin River, south of the Orestimba Creek, and started a dairy; and such was his success in a field where he was thoroughly informed, that he saw his herd grow to number 120 cows. 1458 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY When the war broke out, Mr. Bettencourt left the management of his ranch to his brothers and sister, who had also come to America, and on November 3, 1917, entered the service of the U. S. Army. He trained for two months at Camp Lewis with the Ninety-first Division, and in January was transferred to the One Hundred Fifty-eighth Infantry, Fortieth Division, and continued his training at Camp Kearney, Cal. On August 11, 1918, he sailed for France, and there he remained with the same division during his foreign service. The last three months he spent in Bordeaux, and then, on May 3, 1919, he returned to the United States. It was four years ago when Mr. Bettencourt's brother, Frank, and sister, Rosa, came from St. George to gladden his heart, and a year ago, when a kindly Fate gave him back to them, safe and sound, from the war-stricken Old World ; and in March, 1920, the other brother, Joaquin, arrived from the Azores. Mr. Bettencourt was married in January, 1921, to Olipia Enos, also born in the Azores. CHARLES R. ZACHARIAS.— The family represented by Charles R. Zacha rias, rancher of Patterson, is one identified with the pioneer history of Stanislaus County. Charles R. Zacharias, whose name heads this sketch, was born on December 27, 1882, near Grayson, about two and a half miles northwest of where Patterson now stands, the son of Charles and Emma Zacharias, the father having been born in Mary land, resided for a while in Michigan, migrating to the mining district of California in 1862, where he worked in the Folsom mines for a number of years. In 1873 he homesteaded land in the Grayson precinct, which he added to and improved until, at the time of his death, which occurred in 1905, he had acquired 3,500 acres of grain land on the West Side. The mother also passed away in the same year. Charles R. Zacharias received his early education in the grammar school of the Haight district, no longer in existence, later attending the high school of Modesto, had two years' training in the University of California and graduated from the Oregon University as a civil engineer in 1908. After completing his education Mr. Zacharias engaged in the garage business in Eugene, Ore., for one year, and then returned in 1910 to Modesto, where he had the agency for the Studebaker cars from 1910 to 1916, and in connection therewith operated a repair shop. Having an interest in the home ranch together with his brothers, Ralph H., Wilbur W. and Chester J., he returned to Patterson and took up ranching. Having had a short military training he responded to the call for volunteers and in September, 1918, departed for Camp Taylor, entering the officers' training camp for the field artillery; he was still in camp at the time the armistice was signed and received his honorable discharge in November, 1918. He is a member of the American Legion of Modesto. In political matters he gives his support to the Republican party, "and in fraternal circles is a Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 11, Eugene, Ore., and Modesto Lodge No. 1282, B. P. O. Elks. ARNOLD KILCHER. — A Swiss-American who, having swung away from the oldest and one of the most interesting Republics in the world, has enthusiastically identified himself with the land of his adoption, is Arnold Kilcher, who was born in the canton of Basel, Switzerland, on November 25, 1866, the son of Jacob and Margaret Kilcher. His father was an industrious and well-situated farmer who favored the education of his family; and Arnold enjoyed the best grammar school advantages in a country famous for its common schools. When a young man, he struck out into the world, crossed the ocean and came to America. Near Pittsburgh, Pa., he found work for a while on a farm; but he received only eight dollars a month in wages, and at the first opportunity moved on westward to Indiana, where he con tinued agricultural labor. There he had a chance to resume his studies, in the public schools, and not only to acquire English, but also to get a better understanding of American institutions. When he moved again, it was to go into McPherson County, Kans., and there near Moundridge he pitched his tent for the first time. He pur chased a threshing machine and for the following eighteen seasons threshed grain for the Kansas farmers. He also attended school again, such was his ambition to improve himself, and he took a course at a commercial college. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1459 Mr. Kilcher then went to Oklahoma and succeeded in securing a quarter-section claim in the Cherokee strip. He proved up on the claim and staj'ed there until 1900; and then, having come under the spell of distant California, he sold what he had,' and came out to the Pacific Coast. He arrived in Los Angeles, but attractive as was the Southland, he went north to Salem, Ore. There he bought a farm of 140 acres, and embarked in grain and cattle-raising; but at the end of two years he sold out and came back to California and Fresno. He purchased forty acres of raw land, and set out with his own hands twenty acres to grapes, while he devoted the balance to grain and miscellaneous farming. At the end of three years, he sold that ranch and went to Colton, in San Bernardino County, where he became caretaker of an orange grove for three years. He next cared for a thirty-acre grove at San Bernardino for two years, and then he moved to San Fernando, where he rented 178 acres. Sixty acres were in grapes, and fifty in alfalfa, and the rest of the land was used for the raising of grain ; and with that undertaking he busied himself for a year. From San Fernando Mr. Kilcher moved to Modesto, where he rented forty acres of alfalfa near Claus; but at the end of the year, that is, in 1919, he came to Patterson Colony and purchased twenty acres of alfalfa. He placed twenty head of milch cows there, and established one of the best dairies for miles around. Mr. Kilcher is known as a well-informed, thoroughly up-to-date farmer, pursuing the latest, most scientific methods, and his products are therefore popular. On Thanksgiving Day, in 1911, Mr. Kilcher was married at Colton to Miss Mary Fry, a native of Switzerland, who was born near the scene of his nativity. Her father was a wagon-maker and, it is needless to say, one of the best in all the canton. Two children — Paul and Ellen — have blessed this fortunate union ; and they are both among the bright pupils of the grammar school at Patterson. In national poli tics a Republican, Mr. Kilcher is too broad-minded to allow partisan preferences to interfere with his energetic support of whatever is thoroughly endorsed by the com munity as best for local needs. While at Salem, Ore., he joined the Masons. S. G. WALLACE.- — A public-spirited citizen, and one who is much interested in the development of the great resources of the state and also in the preservation of our historical landmarks and mementoes, is S. G. Wallace, well-known hotel man and farmer, who has been a resident of the Patterson district since 1916. Mr. Wallace is exceptionally familiar with the great state of California, knowing southern and northern sections equally well, and being an enthusiastic booster for every part of the commonwealth. Mrs. Wallace is descended from one of the early pioneer families, and Mr. Wallace himself has made the state his home for more than thirty years. He is a native of Illinois, born at Peoria, December 4, 1866, the son of William H. and Charlotte Ann Wallace. The father was a farmer and of Scotch descent, and was the first white child to be born in Knox County, Illinois. When S. G. Wallace was only a year old his family removed to Cass County, Mo., where the father bought land and became a farmer on an extensive scale. The public schools of Garden City, near which the family lived, provided means for his education, and later, after he was out in the world for himself, he completed a busi ness college course at Omaha, Nebr. When he was eighteen years of age, Mr. Wal lace left home and struck out for himself, going to Talmage, Nebr., where for six years he worked for wages on various farms, saving his money and during that time completing his education. It was during the summer of 1891 that he determined to come to California, and landed in San Francisco on October 31 of that year; he then went down to San Jose, where he became associated with the San Jose and Santa Clara Street Car Company, remaining in their employ for a year. He then spent some time going from place to place, being for a time in Southern California, located principally near Pomona and Riverside, and also spending considerable time in the northern part of the state. He found no place, however, which he liked better than the central part of the state, and returning to San Jose, he was there married to Miss Jessie McDermet, on May 24, 1894. Mrs. Wallace is the daughter of J. W. and Amelia McDermet, her father being one of the early pioneers, having come to California in 1868 from Ohio, where 1460 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY he was a prosperous farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have one child, a daughter, Pearl, residing at home with her parents. Following his marriage Mr. Wallace remained for several years in San Jose, employed in various enterprises during that time. In 1900 he settled down to farm ing, in which he was very proficient, and bought a ten-acre farm in Kings County, near Lemoore. He soon sold this and bought thirty-one acres devoted to diversified farming and the raising of alfalfa, and farmed it successfully for seven years. He then went to Los Gatos, where he became proprietor of the Beckwith Hotel, and for the succeeding ten years he engaged in the hotel business with great profit, making in that time a wide circle of friends throughout the state. In September, 1916, he sold his Los Gatos interests and came to Patterson, pur chasing a ten-acre place on Locust Avenue, just south of Pomelo, and devoted to the raising of alfalfa. Mr. Wallace has become interested in the raising of turkeys, and has met with such marked success that he is now known as one of the most extensive turkey raisers in the county. In the fall of 1920 he produced for the market more than 150 fine birds. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wallace take an active interest in social and civic affairs, and are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Wallace is a Repub lican in his politics and takes an appreciative interest in governmental affairs of the county, state and nation. Fraternally he is a popular member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Woodmen of the World, being affiliated with the Los Gatos lodges of these orders, and he has held all the various chairs. HENRY HUBER. — A pioneer of California, Henry Huber has been a resident of this state since 1877, well over forty years. He has been intimately identified with its growth and development, and has seen the great changes which have taken place in this county during those years, transforming it from a grain and cattle country into a land of beautiful homes, orchards, meadows, vineyards, all under a high state of cultivation, and threaded everywhere with wide, well-kept streets and boulevards. Mr. Huber is a self-made man in the truest sense of the word, and has wrought through his own industry and application, until he is now one of the prosperous and highly esteemed men of the community, residing at Patterson, where he is one of the engineers of the Standard Oil Company. He was born in Wuertemberg, Germany, near Apolingen, January 25, 1869. His father was Christ Huber and his mother Sophie (Russ) Huber, both natives of Germany. The father was a farmer, but under the iron heel of militarism, served in the army in Bismarck's day. He came to California in 1877,- when the subject of this sketch was but ten years of age, making the journey by the Isthmus of Panama. The family located for a time in Santa Clara city and later at Los Banos, where they remained for a year and a half. They then went to the Hill's Ferry vicinity, where, in 1880, they bought a farm between Hill's Ferry and the present location of Newman. Here our Mr. Huber spent his days attending the Hill's Ferry school and helping his father on the farm. But the farm did not appeal to him, and when he was fifteen years old he determined to start out for himself. Accordingly, answering the call of the city, he went to San Francisco and took up the blacksmithing trade, specializing first as a wheelwright, and later mastering the trade of general blacksmithing, becoming a proficient workman in all lines. Later he went to Tacoma, Wash., and for three years followed his trade there. He then returned to Stanislaus County, working at his trade at Newman, until May, 1907, when he again went to San Francisco, where he engaged in the teaming business, remaining but a short time until he again returned to Newman. For a short time he worked at his trade, and then became associated with the Standard Oil Com pany, with which he has since remained. In 1907 he was transferred to the Emerald Station as engineer, and located in Patterson, where he has since made his home. Mr. Huber was married in San Francisco, January 25, 1902, to Miss Nellie J. Geoffroy, a native of Kansas, but a resident of Newman since her early girlhood, and educated in the Newman schools. They have one daughter, Helen. Mr. Huber is an enthusiastic booster for Stanislaus County and a firm believer in the glory of its future. He is a true American and always may be counted upon to aid and cooperate in every way for the general welfare of the community. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1461 MRS. L. ROESSLER. — Interesting among the women who are active in suc cessfully advancing the valuation of California land, Mrs. L. Roessler is the enter prising owner of the seventeen-acre tract called the Anderson Subdivision at Crows Landing, which will undoubtedly in time be included in the town area. She was born in Tuolumne County, Cal., the daughter of Walter Bacon, who helped Mr. McPike drive cattle across the plains in 1849, and who later married Miss Diana Conway, one of a party to cross the plains in a prairie schooner drawn by ox-teams in 1850. From Tuolumne County, Mr. and Mrs. Bacon moved to Modesto when our subject was nine j'ears old; and there she attended the grammar schools. In Modesto, in 1886, too, she was married to Samuel Anderson, a native of Den mark, who had come to America when he was eighteen, had stopped for a while in Ohio, and then came to Modesto, where he worked for Sorenson & Peterson, who had the brewery. In 1889 Mr. and Mrs. Anderson removed to Crows Landing and here they lived until 1911, when Mr. Anderson died. He was popular as a member of the Knights of Pythias. On December 28 of the following, year, Mrs. Anderson married G. F. Roessler, a native of Kentucky, who had come to California when he was fifteen years of age. He became a blacksmith and for years has followed that trade. For a number of j'ears before coming to Crows Landing, he had shops in various places, particularly in Nevada, and on arriving here, he established a partnership with Joe Polo and com menced the business, successful from the start, which he now conducts alone, while Mrs. Roessler gives her attention to the subdividing of the Anderson Tract. A large meeting hall has been built there, and unusually attractive inducements made to those who would settle, improve and help develop the acreage. Two children blessed the first union of Mrs. Roessler, and both of the sons had the honor of serving their country in the late war. Walter S. Anderson, who is with the Valley Ice Plant at Modesto, entered the service in May, 1918, as a member oi the One Hundred First Cavalry, trained at Camp Kearney, and became first ser geant; and he returned home in 1919, just one year from the date he had enlisted. James Emery, who is associated with the oil company at Patterson, enlisted in the California Volunteers, trained at Atlanta and also became a first sergeant. CHARLES S. LEE.— Numbered among the loyal citizens of Patterson, who have at all times the community's interest at heart, is Charles S. Lee, who has always been a leader in carrying to a successful completion any plans for the general welfare of his vicinity. He was born on December 9, 1855, while the family were residing in Iowa, the son of William E. and Esther Lee. The father was a native of West Virginia, who came to Iowa in 1849, engaging in farming there on preempted land and later becoming a Methodist minister. Having obtained the rudiments of his education in his native county, Charles S. Lee completed his studies in the Tipton, Iowa, high school and a commercial college at Davenport, in that state. Removing to Kansas in 1879, he homesteaded in Lane County in the western part of the state, for one year and. then engaged in the stock business with his brother, William Lee, a printer by trade, who had previously oper ated a printing shop in partnership with John Rider at Wilton Junction The brothers continued as stock raisers, owning 150 head of cattle which they kept on the Government range, until 1886, when, owing to the heavy losses they sustained, caused by the blizzard of that winter, they were compelled to seek another occupation From 1886 to 1888 they operated the business they had opened on the Smoky Hill River and also had charge of the post office there. Coming to California in 1910, Charles S. Lee lived for two months at Oakland and then removed to Hollister for a short time, finally settling at Patterson, and in the fall of that year purchased a ten-acre alfalfa ranch on Apncot Avenue and an acre of land adjoining the city limits of Patterson on which his home is situated. In 1914 he disposed of the ranch, retaining his homestead. For four seasons he was engaged in carrying the school children from the Patterson colony to the Patterson grammar school and from 1917 to March, 1921, was with the Mineral Products Company. 1462 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY On February 25, 1888, in Gibson, Kans., Mr. Lee was married to Miss Hattie E. Upjohn, who was born in Decatur County, Ind., near Greensburg, the daughter of Robert E. and Rhoda A. Inscho, her father being a native of England who came to America in the early days and who passed away when his daughter was eighteen months old. Mrs. Lee was reared and educated in the county of her birth and in 1879 re moved with her mother and stepfather to Kansas, where they settled in Trego County, the latter engaging in raising grain and stock on a quarter section of school land which he had acquired. Mr. and Mrs. Lee are the parents of the following children : Jessie F., the present Mrs. Owen of Huntington Beach ; William Robert, a resident of Fresno; Charles Rosco, living at Brea; Warren Clayton at San Dimas; Ella May, Mrs. Ralph Loomis of Tulare ; Esther Rhoda, living at home ; and Lillian Margaret, a student at the high school of Patterson. In politics, Mr. Lee supports the Republican party, and in religion is a member of the Methodist Church. ERICK A. ERICKSON. — A native of Sweden who has become a loyal and patriotic American and a prosperous and highly esteemed citizen of Stanislaus County, is Erick A. Erickson, owner of a valuable twelve-acre fruit and dairy ranch at Patter son, where he has made his home for ten years past. Mr. Erickson came to America when he was a young man of twenty-three years, and has made this country his home since then. He has built a comfortable modern residence, barns and other outbuildings, and keeps a dairy of ten cows. He is recognized as a man of substantial worth, progressive and keenly alive to all that is for the welfare of the community. The son of Erick and Christine Erickson, and born in Gefle, Sweden, August 24, 1865, Erick A. Erickson spent his boyhood days on his father's farm and in attendance at the public schools at Jarbo. Until he was twenty-three years of age he resided at home, assisting his father in the management of the farm, but in 1889 he determined to strike out for himself in the new lands across the sea. Accordingly, he bade fare well to home ties and eventually found himself located at Enterprise, Kans., where for the succeeding ten years he was employed in farm work, acquainting himself with the language and methods of the American people. Here he met Miss Anna Larson, like himself a native of Sweden, and they were married at Enterprise, April 26, 1899, and spent their honeymoon in a trip to their native country. Mrs. Erickson is the daughter of Lewis and Gritta Larson, her father a farmer in Sweden, owning property in the same section as Mr. Erickson's father. Following their return from the visit to Sweden, Mr. and Mrs. Erickson settled again in Enterprise, where Mr. Erickson engaged in the livery business successfully for the next nine years. Disposing of his interests at that time he engaged in sundry occupations at Enterprise for the next eighteen months, and in July, 1911, came to California and located almost at once at Patterson, where he bought his present home place. In October his wife joined him, and they have since made this their home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Erickson are members of the Swedish Mission in Patterson and contribute largely to its support in a multitude of ways. Mr. Erickson is a Republican in politics and takes a lively interest in all matters of government, standing squarely .for clean and efficient administration in all things. He is a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers' Union, and of the Milk Producers' Association. JOHN TOBIAS. — There is no other modern industry which has made such rapid and tremendous strides in advancement in every way as has the motion-picture business, and John Tobias, at present manager of the Patterson moving-picture theater, has been in the exhibition end of the moving-picture business since an early date in the industry, and has met with great success. He is a native of Poland, born at Warsaw, July 7, 1888, the son of Bernard and Bertha (Gross) Tobias. The father was a large merchant in Warsaw, and here our Mr. Tobias received his educa tion, graduating from the Warsaw high school at the age of nineteen years. Conditions in Poland have been hard for the ambitious young men of all classes, and so, as soon as he was of legal age, young John Tobias set sail for the land across the sea, arriving in New York in 1900. Here he spent two years with a large under wear establishment, Birkenfeld-Strauss Company, as shipping clerk. At the close of HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1463 this period he took up the study of chemistry and while pursuing his studies he engaged in the motion-picture business. He at first had a theater at Long Island City, where he prospered, and later bought another location in New Rochelle, where he remained for two years, meeting with much success. He then bought a photoplay house at Port Chester, N. Y., where his success continued. After eight years spent in New York, most of that time being given pver to the motion-picture business, Mr. Tobias came to California and settled in Oakland, where he continued in this field. His first play house in the new location was the Sequoia, at Twenty-fifth Street and Telegraph Ave nue, one of the first motion-picture houses in Oakland, which he retained for a year and a half. He then bought the New Divisidero at Haight Street and Divisidero, which he soon sold at a splendid profit. In March, 1920, he came to Stanislaus County, and located in Patterson, pur chasing the local cinema theater. Up to that time the schedule had called for only two shows a week, but Mr. Tobias immediately changed that, introducing city methods in all details, including a nightly show, with frequent change of program. During the summer he has had a delightful open-air performance, but the fall sees him in com fortable new quarters, modern and well equipped to show the best of films obtainable. Mr. Tobias has made a careful study of the entertainment business and of the needs of the public, and desires to give the best in entertainment at all times. He purposes to establish a chain of photoplay houses throughout the northern end of the county, including Patterson, Gustine and other centers, and to bring here the high- class films that will meet the demand of the local public for high-class entertainment. AXEL P. FOSBERG.— A native of Michigan who has found favorable condi tions in California for the exercise of his ability and who, in developing his own interests, has forwarded materially those of others, is Axel P. Fosberg, a resident of the Geer Road district north of Turlock. He was born in Ishpeming, Mich., on January 11, 1879, the only son of Peter Fosberg, now deceased, who once made a tour into Nebraska, where he purchased a farm of 160 acres. Soon after, he jour neyed on to Colorado, to work in the mines until spring; but during the winter he was accidentally killed. His wife, who was Eva Johnson, became Mrs. Carl Norman after Mr. Fosberg's death. When he was two years old, Axel was taken by his mother and a sister to Min den, Kearney County, Nebr., and there he was reared in his step-father's home. He had plenty to do, and while still very young learned to know hard work; and when thirteen years of age, he started out into the world for himself. He worked out by the month until he was twenty, when he took a job for a year in the railroad shop at Newcastle, Wyo., prior to his going to Spokane, Wash. After that, he went here and there in the Northwest for the next fifteen years. He then took up a homestead area near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and on proving up and selling out, he decided to come to the Pacific Coast. In 1916, he reached Turlock, and before long he was the owner of ten acres in the Geer Colony No. 2, to the northeast of Turlock. In this venture, Mr. Fosberg has become very successful, and it is not surprising that his experience has made him a genuine "booster" of Stanislaus County, and one of the most welcome members in the Farm Bureau, and the Farmers Union and United Growers Association. He is also a stockholder in the T. M. & G. In many ways, Mr. Fosberg has shown his public-spiritedness, and he and his family are esteemed by all who know them. While at Spokane, on January 4, 1905, Mr. Fosberg was married to Miss Helen R Wirtner who was born in Solon, Iowa, on February 6, 1880, but reared and schooled in Nebraska, where her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wirtner, now reside. A naturally accomplished lady, she attended the high school at Minden, secured a certificate and later taught in Idaho and also in Montana Six children were born to them: Raymond is the eldest; then come Marion L., Harold A., and Kenneth P while the youngest are the twins, Maynard A. and Eva Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Fosberg belong to the First Baptist Church of Turlock, and in politics they support the Prohibition party. 1464 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY JOHN E. GUSTAFSON. — A newcomer in Stanislaus County who is making a success of his farming enterprise, is John E. Gustafson, owner of a fine ranch of forty-one acres on Almond Avenue, southeast of Patterson, where he is engaged in raising alfalfa and Egyptian corn. He is a native of Sweden, born in Christianstad, March 6, 1875, the son of Nels and Carry (Pearson) Gustafson. His father was a farmer, and the early days of our subject were spent on the farm, with what schooling could be snatched in the brief terms offered in the local schools. In 1880 Nels Gustaf son left his family in Sweden and came himself to America to make a home for them. He located in Polk County, Minn., where he homesteaded a quarter section of farm land near Mcintosh and proved up on his title. It was nine years before he was able to send for his family, but in 1889 they joined him on the home farm. John E. Gustafson remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty- two, and then homesteaded a quarter section for himself in Clearwater County. Minn. It was all hardwood timber land, and he proved up on it, clearing a portion and rais ing corn and barley. After receiving his title he left the ranch to try to get ahead financially. He took a position on construction work with the Grand Trunk Railroad in Canada and for six years, from 1909 to 1915, he worked with this road and with rhe Canadian Northern in the construction of their new lines, opening up and de veloping frontier lands. It was in 1915 that Mr. Gustafson came to California, locating first in Shasta County, where he was employed in highway construction work for the summer. In the fall he came to Stanislaus County and helped to build the narrow-gauge railroad from Patterson west to the mineral mines in the hills. Believing in the future of the farming industry in this vicinity, he arranged to trade his quarter section in Minnesota for his present property here. He has improved this land, making it especially attrac tive and profitable. Mr. Gustafson is keenly interested in social and industrial questions and condi tions, and believes in fair dealing and cooperation in all human relations as the means of adjustment of the present troubled relations between labor and capital. Politically he is a conservative Socialist, and takes a keen interest in all public questions. He is industrious and hard working, frugal and progressive, a type of citizen which the state and county is glad to welcome, and is especially interested in early California history and in the preservation of landmarks and historical points of interest. HENRY FRANCIS CRABTREE.— A native son intensely interested in ranch ing and fruit culture, who has made a special study of Stanislaus County soil, is Henry Francis Crabtree, who was born near Lodi, June 13, 1861, the son of I. J. Crabtree, born in Kentucky, of an old Southern family. He was one of twenty- three children, by a second marriage, the son of John Crabtree, who served in the Revolutionary War. As a young man, he came to California in 1852, crossing the plains by ox-teams, and after four years at Coloma, settled near Lodi. In 1859, I. J. Crabtree married Miss Sarah Haller, a native of Montgomery County, 111., and the daughter of Henry Haller, who came to California in 1856 by way of Cape Horn, and settled as a farmer near Lodi. I. J. Crabtree followed stock raising and farming, bought a farm of 1,900 acres which he made famous as the Crabtree Ranch, and duly stocked it, and after selling it, nine years ago, he located at San Francisco, where he died in 1913, aged eighty-five years. Mrs. Crab tree still resides there, the mother of five children, four living. The eldest of the family, Henry Francis was brought up on a farm, and edu cated at the public schools. He attended Heald's Business College at Sacramento, from which he was graduated in 1879, when he returned for a while to assist his father on the ranch. Then he engaged in general merchandising at Clements, in San Joaquin County, and when he opened a store at Wallace, he was also postmaster. Next he was a merchant at Comanche, in Calaveras County, and soon after he had a good store at Amador City. For nine years he was in the hotel business at San Francisco; and although, having had no insurance, he lost all that he had through the earthquake and fire, he rebuilt the Hotel Dale, and continued prosperously. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1465 In 1915, Mr. Crabtree came to Modesto, leased the Hotel Tynan, and has been its proprietor ever since. He remodeled and refurnished the building, and made of it a first-class inn. In January, 1919, he turned the hotel over to his two sons, who now conduct it, desiring to devote his time to land deals. He has owned and improved several ranches, and sold each one at an advantage. He still owns 150 acres four miles east of Modesto, devoted to an orchard and a vineyard, where he makes a specialty of Tuscan cling peaches and Thompson seedless grapes. While at Gait, Sacramento County, in 1884, Mr. Crabtree was married to Miss Lou Harvey, a native of that town and the daughter of Charles W. Harvey, a pioneer who crossed the plains with an ox-team. Three children blessed their union: Edith, who is Mrs. Treidler of San Francisco; Irving Jackson, who served in the U. S. Army in the late war; and Harvey H., who was in the U. S. Naval Reserve force serving overseas. The two sons are now proprietors of the Hotel Tynan. For twenty years Mr. Crabtree was an Odd Fellow, and now he is a mem ber of the Modesto Lodge of the B. P. O. Elks. For many years, also, he was a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West. He is a live wire in the Modesto Chamber of Commerce, and he belongs to the Hotel Men's Association. HENRY PELUCCA. — The village of Sonogno, in Canton Ticino, southern Switzerland, was the birthplace of Henry Pelucca, proprietor of the popular Europa Hotel at Modesto, Stanislaus County, Cal. He was born October 8, 1875, in that picturesque agricultural and pastoral region. Switzerland is a trilingual country, French, German and Italian being spoken, some of its inhabitants using all three languages, but Ticino, the southernmost canton, is the only one which is completely Italian in nature and speech. Tourists who visit Lugano, the largest town in Canton Ticino, situated on the picturesque Lake Lugano, account it as enjoying one of the most charming situations in Europe, lying in the foothills of the Alps with its beauti ful orchards and vine-covered slope, amid which nestle picturesque white villas. Henry Pelucca's father, Pasquale Pelucca, now deceased, was a farmer in Ticino. The mother, Angiolina (Martella) Pelucca, who is living, resides on the old homestead. Henry was brought up on the farm and educated in the public schools of his native country. In 1892, at the age of seventeen, he came to Salinas, Monterey County, Cal., and was employed in dairy work at Salinas and Castroville for thirteen years, then, on account of ill health, returned to his native country, where he soon regained his health. He remained with his mother on the farm four years, then returned to California in 1909 and came to Modesto in November of that year. Soon after this, in partnership with his uncle, Stephen Martella, he purchased the lot at the corner of Ninth and F streets, erected a building and engaged in the hotel business. This is the present site of the Europa Hotel. In 1913 the old building was moved and they erected a new two-story brick, 80x60 feet, on the same site. After the death of his uncle, Henry Pelucca continued the business. In San Francisco Mr. Pelucca was married to Miss Annie Ferrini, a native of Ticino, and they are the parents of three children, Emil, Lois and Henry, Jr. Mr. Pelucca is among Modesto's worthy and enterprising citizens and has built up an excellent hotel which he runs satisfactorily and successfully. In his fraternal rela tions he is a member of the Druids and of the Swiss Mutual Benevolent Association. ALFRED P. ANKER. — A successful and progressive business man of Modesto is Alfred P. Anker, a native of the kingdom of Denmark, where he was born at Ronne, in Bornholm, in 1887. His father vyas H. P. Anker, a farmer who became a business man and engaged in conducting a livery and handling feed. He died in 1917. His widow, Auguste Anker, still resides in Denmark. They had three children, two of whom— the subject of our review and his sister— are still living. Alfred was brought up in Ronne and attended the public schools, including the gymnasium or high school, and when fourteen he was apprenticed to a butcher, continuing at that trade for four years. In 1905 he came to Modesto and was employed on a grain ranch, learning to raise grain in California fashion. For eighteen months he drove big teams in the grain fields, and measured up with his associates in the hard work. 1466 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Mr. Anker was then employed for eighteen months in the butcher shop of Case & Hards, in Modesto, known as the Independent Market, and when he quit, he went to work for W. R. Van Vlear in the City Market, where he continued until, with T. J. Gotte, in February, 1917, he bought out Van Vlear. Under the management of the new firm, Anker & Gotte, the City Market entered on a still more prosper ous career. It is equipped with a cold storage plant of five and a half tons, and is furnished with modern appliances, including electric power. In 1919 Mr. Anker purchased twenty acres a mile west of Modesto, across the Tuolumne River, and there he has just completed new slaughtering houses with a cold-storage plant having a ten-ton ice machine. It has a capacity for seventy-five bead of beeves, together with a large number of sheep and hogs, and as electricity is also used here, and there is an automatic water system, it is very sanitary. There are well-arranged stockyards with ten large corrals and sheep pens, the whole equipped in the most up-to-date fashion. Mr. Anker has also started a meat market on I Street, between Fifth and Sixth Streets, known as the I Street Market, which is enjoying good patronage. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and also of the Mer chants Association. In 1915, at Modesto, Mr. Anker was married to Miss Hazel Coffee, a native of that city and a daughter of John Coffee, an early settler well-known as a rancher and a horseman. They have two children, Marjorie and Alvanice. In 1914, Mr. Anker returned to Denmark for a visit, arriving there on July 31, and after three months spent there, he came back to the country of his adoption and his beloved Cali fornia. He is a popular member of the Bornholm branch No. 114 of Dania, of which society he has been both secretary, for two years, and president. WILLIAM J. SILVA. — As a native son of California, and the son and grand son of early pioneer families of prominence, "Billy" Silva, as he is popularly known among his friends, falls heir to those sterling traits of character for which the pioneer settlers of this state are noted. As manager and one of the owners of the Silva Garage of Modesto, he is the moving spirit of the finest auto sales room and machine shop in the San Joaquin Valley. When the call of the nation came for men to defend her honor in the great World War, Billy Silva was among the first to respond, enlisting in the Motor Transport Service in September, 1917, and seeing service at San Francisco, Camp Fremont, and at Jacksonville, Fia. His ability and service won for him an appointment to an officers' training camp, and he had but sixteen days more training before receiving his commission as second lieutenant when the armistice was signed. He is a live member of the local post of the American Legion. Mr. Silva is not only a native son, but a Stanislaus County boy, as well, having been born at La Grange, February 21, 1892, the son of Joe and Sarah (Fanning) Silva, his father being one of the big stockmen of that section of the county and an early California pioneer, having come to California and settling at La Grange at an early date. The mother is herself a native daughter, her father having crossed the plains with an ox team in 1848, coming from New York City and locating in this part of the state, where he was joined in 1852 by his wife, who made the long and perilous journey around the Horn, to San Francisco. W. J. Silva grew to young manhood bn his father's stock ranch at La Grange. He was ever energetic and independent in thought and action, and at the age of four teen years he began to work on the ranch for his father, preferring this to attending the district school. When he was eighteen he worked on the construction of the Turlock Irrigation District and made and saved enough money to give himself a complete course in the Heald's Business College at Stockton. He then returned home and worked for his father until he reached his majority, and in 1912 came to Modesto where he has since been engaged in the automobile business. For a time he worked for Mires & Zacharias as floor man, being later promoted to salesman. But his executive ability was alive and his business sense keen, and in 1916 he organized a company to go into a garage machine shop, and to take over the selling agency for Studebaker cars. This business he managed until he enlisted in September, 1917. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1467 The Studebaker Company sent Mr. Silva to their technical school at Detroit, Mich., and during his service in the army he was in almost every state in the Union.' After returning from military service he reorganized the Silva Garage Company] the business being owned by Mr. Silva and W. C. Shackleford, and the building by Mr. Silva, W. C. Shackleford and C. M. Maze, with Mr. Silva in the active man agement. The building contains 20,000 square feet of floor space, giving ample room for offices, sales and supply rooms, show rooms, etc., with a garage capable of accommodating a hundred cars. The machine shop is one of the best equipped in the state, and is in the hands of especially skilled mechanics. The garage handles a full line of Studebaker cars. Always keenly awake to the opportunities of the future, Mr. Silva has been one of the first to see the commercial value of the airplane, and to foster its development along commercial lines. Modesto was the first city to have a municipally owned aviation field, and Mr. Silva is enthusiastic over the possibilities offered through the utilization of this means of transportation for business purposes, and feels certain that the agency for which he holds a sales contract, the first of its kind in the county, will mean a big thing to his own business and to the community at large. Mr. Silva is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Modesto, and had charge of the Armistice Day Parade for the American Legion, on November 11, 1920, on which date a gala celebration was held here. He is also an Elk and a mem ber of the Knights of Columbus, and is regarded as one of the progressive citizens. OTTO E. SWANSON. — Successful to a degree beyond that of the average rancher, Otto E. Swanson enjoys an enviable status among the Swedish-American residents of Stanislaus County, most of whom have found their lines falling in pleasant places, and all of whom have striven to add something toward the development and the prosperity of the state. He was born in Sweden on March 9, 1874, the son of K. P. Swanson, a farmer, who migrated to America with his family in 1880 and as a sturdy pioneer settled in Hamilton County, in the northwestern part of Nebraska. Otto was reared on his father's farm, where he had to work very hard for a boy, although he also attended the public school. He remained at home until he was twenty-three, and then, striking out for himself, he removed to Haxtum, Colo. There he was married to Miss Emily Stearn, who was born in Iowa, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Stearn of Turlock, now living retired. Three children were granted Mr. and Mrs. Swanson — Raymond, Viola and Sylvia. In 1908 Mr. Swanson came to Turlock, where he has continued to reside as a prosperous farmer. He owns fifty-three acres near Hughson, and the Santa Fe Rail road bounds the northern line of his farm. He belongs to the Stanislaus Farm Bureau and the Tri-Counties Farm Bureau Exchange, and is always ready to participate in any movement tending to advance the interests of California agriculture. Mr. and Mrs. Swanson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Hughson, and find pleasure in all good work for the upbuilding of their community. WITT J AM H. FOWLE. — A self-made, public-spirited man who has the satis faction, after years of hard work, of owning a trim little ranch of twenty choice, productive acres in the colony of the old Sperry grain farm, is WTilliam H. Fowle, a native of East Ontario, Canada, where he was born in Fort Witby on April 23, 1865. He was the son of B. F. U. Fowle, a native of England and a member of a family of the English nobility, who was an officer in the Canadian Guards, in Ontario. He married Miss Lucy J. Smithers, also a native of England. When he was five years of age, his parents brought him to the United States, and from the age of fourteen he has supported himself. He attended the public schools and then entered the office of the Western Union, where he served his apprenticeship in learning the profession of an operator. After that, he took up railroading and commercial telegraphy, and some years later he came to Los Angeles from Western Kansas and entered the Santa Fe service; and in 1909 came to Denair. Mr. Fowle, as president of the Denair center, has served on the board of the Earm Bureau and a member of the Tri-counties Farm Bureau Exchange, and he is 62 1468 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY now serving his fourth term as chairman of the National Farm Loan Association. He was also recently elected a director of the Milk Producers of Central California, Inc. He is a member of the Associated Dairymen of California, Inc. When Mr. Fowle married, he chose for his wife Miss Sadie B. Winchell, who was born in Nebraska, and reared in Southern California. Four children have blessed their union. Eula Grace is a student; while the younger members of the family are Stella D., Robert V., and Julia Alice Fowle. Stanislaus County may well be proud to number among its inhabitants such broad-minded, progressive citizens as Mr. and Mrs. Fowle, who in turn are happy that their lines have been cast in pleasant places. WILLIAM H. HERR. — A substantial citizen who is ever ready to put his shoulder to the plow and strive for the best and most lasting interests of the com munity, is William H. Herr, who was born near Dover, in Stewart County, Tenn., on December 29, 1876, the son of John and Mary (Shifferly) Herr, natives of Ohio who had been living in Tennessee for eight years. After that they moved back into Ohio, and in Allen County, William received his early education. He attended the public school and after he had attained his majority he spent two winters at the Ohio Normal University, working during the summers at the painting trade. He was given a teacher's certificate in 1896. In 1899 Mr. Herr moved to Central Kansas, and there for three years he taught school. Then, in 1905, he came out to California and Stanislaus County; and settling at Denair, he bought eighteen acres of the Gratton Tract north of the latter place. He engaged in general farming, established a dairy and began to raise some fruit. He joined the California Peach Growers Association, the Milk Producers Association of Central California, and also the Farm Bureau. Mr. Herr married, at Nickerson, Kans., Miss Matilda Witmer, the daughter of Jacob Witmer, a pioneer of Kansas and California, and now living retired at Denair; and this fortunate union has been productive of two promising children, named Dwight and Miriam. Mr. and Mrs. Herr have been alert to make their home life all that was desirable ; but they have left undone nothing which could be accomplished by public-spirited citizens for the life and welfare of the community. During the World War Mr. Herr served as a committeeman and did commendable work. NELS P. NELSON. — A Swedish-American citizen who, as an enterprising, far-seeing and successful rancher, has found what he wants in life not far from Denair, in Stanislaus County, is Nels P. Nelson, who was born near Skane on Octo ber 4, 1863. He was reared in the same province until he was fifteen years of age, and there sent to school and confirmed as the son of Per and Anna (Jornson) Nelson, who also came from that locality. Per Nelson was a farmer, and so it happened naturally enough that while still a mere boy, Nels learned the hard work of the farm ; but he soon left home and went to a neighboring town, and there started to learn the wagon-maker's trade, and what he acquired by way of technical knowledge was very thorough and of such a nature as to be helpful to him later in life under conditions more strenuous and trying. At the age of twenty-four, Nels traveled westward to America, and soon after arriving in the New World settled in Minneapolis, where he was employed as a coachman. Eight years later he removed to San Francisco, continuing in that employ ment. Since then he has mined in Alaska, and he has also served as foreman of a sugar plantation in the Hawaiian Islands. In 1909, Mr. Nelson located near Denair on a tract of some twenty acres of raw land, which he has developed, by hard,. intelli gent labor, into a typical irrigated California farm. He is a member of the Central California Milk Producers Association. On May 16, 1906, Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Anna Swanholm, who was born in Sweden on October 10, 1875, the daughter of Per Swanholm, a professor who married Miss Joana Person. She had come to America in 1891, and had reached San Francisco in the fall of 1898. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are now members of the Swedish Lutheran Church of Turlock. Mr. Nelson was made a citizen of the United States in 1901, at San Francisco, and since has been a Republican. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1469 ALVARO M. SOUZA.— An experienced, practical dairyman who has not only established himself, but has helped to develop the dairying industry in California, is Alvaro M. Souza, who was born on the Isle of St. George, in the Azores, on Novem ber 22, 1886, the son of Manuel M. and Mary M. Souza, both natives of the Isle of St. Michael. He spent his boyhood in the balmy land by the sea, and when seven teen years of age came out to America to seek his fortune. He sought out a brother already in San Francisco and located there with him, and having mastered a good. deal of English, he took up a business course. He next went into Monterey County and was there identified with dairy enterprises. For three years he was in the grocery trade at Los Banos, in Merced County, prior to going to the Imperial Valley in 1911; and on returning to Merced County, he successfully re-engaged in dairying. In November, 1909, Mr. Souza was married to Miss Rose Silveira, who also came from the Isle of St. George, and they now have three children. Mary is a stu dent and the younger ones are Alvaro M. and Jorge. In 1916 Mr. Souza became a citizen of the United States, in Merced ; and soon after Mr. Souza began to march with the Republicans. Mr. Souza belongs to the I. D. E. S. and the U. P. E. C. ; and Mrs. Souza is a member of the S. P. R. S. I. FELIX RADA VERO. — Among the enterprising young men of Stanislaus County is Felix Radavero, of the Modesto Tallow Works, in the Waterford pre cinct. He was born in the Alessandria-Cabella district of North Italy, July 4, 1892, the son of Giovanni Radavero, who married Virginia Demergaso, and died from influenza in Italy on January 6, 1919. Our subject grew up in Italy, and when seventeen years of age he came to California and reached San Francisco on April 9, 1909. He had as his capital $150, and he lost no time in seeking and obtaining work on a farm nine miles from San Francisco, where he worked out by the month. After a year in the fields near the Bay City, he came to Eureka, in Humboldt County, and there engaged to work for the Samoa Lumber Company, remaining there for two years in various capacities. He met with a serious accident, however, when an engine ran into the section men's car on a trestle, narrowly escaping death. Con valescing, he worked in San Francisco for the next five years. Mr. Radavero worked steadily, saved his money, and four years ago came to Modesto, and here started the rendering enterprise, forming with John Varni, Jim Varni, C. Toccalino, and Andrew Izola, the Modesto Tallow Works. Finding a chance to get a better location at Waterford, the partners used their surplus to pur chase the tract of seventy-six acres upon which they have built an up-to-date render ing works, near which Mr. Radavero resides with his family. The young men have become expert in their line, and two trucks are kept going to every portion of the county. The rendering plant is conveniently arranged and substantially constructed. The hides are preserved in salt and sold to the highest bidding buyer. The fats and tallow are sold to soap manufacturers, while the bones and dried meats are pur chased by manufacturers of fertilizers. Mr. Radavero was married at San Francisco in 1920 to Mrs. Margaret Cramaglia, a native of San Francisco; and they have one child, a baby girl named Virginia. JAMES PEARSON. — A progressive rancher whose success has stimulated others to renewed efforts, is James Pearson, of Empire. He operates eighteen acres of well-improved land at East Empire; and Mrs. Pearson acts as principal of the Empire Union Grammar School, where she has charge of the instruction in the sev enth and eighth grades. Mr. Pearson was born at Oakville, Gray's Harbor County, Wash., the son of Thomas Pearson, a Canadian by birth, who hailed from Ontario and had a hop yard in Western Washington, where our subject grew up, and worked at farming. After a while, he came down to California and Santa Rosa with his parents. Mr. Pearson lived at Santa Rosa for three years, and while there laid out Pearson's Addition, one of the attractive subdivisions of Santa Rosa's attractive environs. It was then that they moved to Oakland, and from that city Mrs. Pearson, whose maiden name vvas Jane McKinzie, a native of Barcelona, Spain, of Scotch parents, went North to visit 1470 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY her four sons; and while in Washington she died of apoplexy at the age of fifty-eight years, leaving six children, of whom James is fifth in order of birth. After a residence of eight years at Oakland, Mr. Pearson came down to Stanis laus County in 1912 and bought eighty-four acres north of Modesto on the Carver Road, unimproved land which, with the assistance of our subject and another son, he developed. In 1917, however, he was called upon to lay aside the cares of this world, and he passed away at the age of sixty-seven years, mourned, as was his devoted wife, by all who knew them. James Pearson attended the public schools at Oakville, Wash., and also, for a while, the school at Santa Rosa. At Modesto, on September 3, 1914, he was mar ried to Miss Lillian Lewis, born near Seattle, Wash. Four years later, on March 1, he bought his present place, and he has just finished his dwelling, and also his garage and tank-house. They have one son to share their home with them, James Vernon. Lillian Dorothy, their first-born, died when she was two years old. Mrs. Pearson is a member of the State and County Teachers Associations. Empire is proud of its new grammar school house, erected at the considerable cost of $76,000, and it is also proud of Mrs. Pearson, the well-trained educator, under whose principalship the school is fast taking rank with the best in the country. She graduated from the Santa Rosa high school, and from the San Francisco Nor mal ; she taught for a while in Sacramento and Yolo counties before coming to Stanis laus County; and she added to her experience of the most practical kind by teaching in the Oakdale Union grammar school, leaving only because of Empire's urgent call. JESSE MENDONZA. — About three miles southwest of Modesto, in one of the choicest sections of Stanislaus County, the thirty-acre dairy farm of Jesse Mendonza is located. Mr. Mendonza was born thirty-one years ago at Santa Cruz, in the Azores Islands, where his father owned a small place. He is the son of Manuel and Mary Mendonza, and his parents are still living in the old home. One of a family of eight children, his two brothers and four sisters still reside in the Azores. Mr. Mendonza was twenty years of age when he came to America, landing at New York, May 15, 1909. Acquiring a knowledge of the English language after his arrival in the country, he soon began to make a financial success in his new home. He worked as a handler of freight, loading and unloading ships, and also at the occupation of farming. He then came to Fresno, Cal., where he worked on dairy ranches in Fresno County about four years, and in 1917 came to Modesto and in October of that year purchased twenty acres of land and engaged in dairy farming. In 1918 he added another ten acres to his holdings and now has thirty acres of choice land. He has seventeen cows and one registered Holstein bull, and in 1919 built a silo with a capacity of seventy-five tons of silage. His marriage occurred in 1913, and united him with Miss Anna Vincent, of Fowler, and they are the parents of two children, named Pauline and John. America is ever ready to welcome to her shores such men as Mr. Mendonza, who become help ful citizens, whose industry and frugality add to the wealth of their adopted country, and whose determination and force of character cause them to realize their expecta tions in the land of opportunity. STEVE BRAVO.— A hardy son of the little Republic of Switzerland who has made good in the larger Republic to which he brought his inherited principles of liberty and truth early in life, is Steve Bravo, of Salida precinct, where he owns a dairy ranch of eighty acres on Beckwith Road. Mr. Bravo was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, April 12, 1871. His par ents were Ciprano and Teressa Bravo, the father being a farmer. There were in the family four sons, three of whom are now living in California, and two daughters, one died in Switzerland, and the other, Mrs. Ravelli, is in Stanislaus County. Mr. Bravo received his education in the public schools of his native canton, and at the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, serving for three years. When he was seventeen he answered the call of the land across the seas, and reached California in 1888, coming first to Marin County, and for Sixteen years residing in HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1471 Marin and Sonoma counties, most of which time he was employed in the dairy busi ness. It was in 1905 that he came into Stanislaus County and rented a ranch nea^ Crows Landing. A few years later, in 1911, he bought his present property in Salida precinct, where he has since made his home, having developed a splendid dairy ranch of his eighty acres, which he now leases to M. Ravelli, his sister's husband. Mr. Bravo has taken an active interest in matters which concern the welfare of the community, and is one of the stockholders of the First National Bank of Salida. He is a communicant of the Catholic Church. MANUEL M. SOUZA.— Of the many sons of Portugal who have come to Stanislaus County in recent j'ears, none is more worthy of note than Manuel M. Souza. He bade good-bye to his mother, whose mainstay he had been since the death of his father when he was a lad of nine years,' and set his face toward the Western World when he was twenty-two years of age, landing at Boston, Mass., February 19, 1915, reaching Modesto on February 26, of that same month. He secured employ ment and soon had earned an enviable reputation for being a good worker and a dependable employee, and his services were sought by the best farmers in the com munity. For two years he worked for Mrs. Ella Maze on her large farm near Modesto, and now has a partnership arrangement with Joseph Galeazzi, whereby he operates a dairy in Hart precinct, having acquired an undivided one-half interest in eighty cows, besides young stock and a registered Holstein bull, numbering some 100 head in all, with ten head of work horses, and all necessary farm tools and equip ment with which to operate the two farms belonging to Mr. Galeazzi. Mr. Souza was born on the Island of San Miguel, of the Azores, June 28, 1893. His father, Frank M. Maderios Souza, a dairy farmer, died in 1902, at the age of forty-eight. The mother, Marie G Souza, is still living on the home place at the age of fifty-one years. There were three children in the Souza family, Manuel M., the subject of this sketch; Marie G., wife of Manuel Almeda Caoto, and Frank M., both in their native land. After his father's death, M. M. Souza helped his mother to run the little place and early became familiar with dairy methods and was trained in the value of responsibility and dependability. He had six years in the public schools, and served two years in the Portuguese artillery. Since coming to Stanislaus County he has become known as a young man of integrity, well-informed and hard-working. INNOCENTE RAMAZZINA.— A citizen of Patterson whose diligent work has enabled him to acquire a fine alfalfa ranch, demonstrating what one may do under the favoring environment of California life, is Innocente Ramazzina, who was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, on December 27, 1861, the son of Joseph Ramazzina, a blacksmith, and his good wife Madaline. He attended the grammar school of his home district until he was fourteen, the fourth of a family of nine children, and then he learned the stonecutter's trade, serving an apprenticeship for three years. When twenty years of age, he crossed the ocean to America and came direct to California, and settling in San Luis Obispo County, he worked for two j'ears on a dairy ranch at twenty-five dollars a month. He then went to Paso de Robles, where he worked on a grain ranch for Mr. Benson, spending six months with him and receiving thirty dol lars per month. He gained something else there, however, for there he learned to speak English. Next he went to Guadalupe, in Santa Barbara County, and for fif teen j'ears worked on a dairy farm. Mr. Ramazzina's first venture for himself was made when he rented 1,000 acres and had a dairy of 140 cows. He also farmed grain and hay for six years, but had to quit on account of the two dry seasons, in 1894 and 1897. He then worked again for wages, this time as a section hand on the Southern Pacific Railroad at Guadalupe, but at the first turning of the road, he rented a near-by farm of 200 acres and con tinued to manage it, for a couple of years, although he received only forty cents a hundredweight for his barley. Removing to Santa Maria, he spent the succeeding seven and a half years with the Union Sugar Company in their factory and after that took up dairying again, supplying Santa Maria for five years with milk. He leased eighty acres of alfalfa at ten dollars an acre, and had thirty head of cows, and he ran 1472 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY the dairy until 1911, when the Santa Maria River washed out the Santa Maria water pumping station, and threatened the raising of alfalfa with drought. Mr. Ramazzina then sold out his dairy and came to Patterson, where he bought eighty acres on Orange Avenue and built a dwelling and barn. At the end of four j'ears, he traded with the Patterson Ranch Company and secured sixty acres at the corner of Elm and Lemon avenues, and this place he has since greatly improved,' de voting the land to alfalfa. At Santa Maria, on November 30, 1893, Mr. Ramazzina was married to Miss Mary Crespini, a native of the same district in Switzerland in which her husband was born, and the daughter of Batista Crespini and his wife, Carmelia. Seven children have blessed their union: Emma, a graduate of the Patterson high school, who was also graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, is an instructor in Spanish and stenography in a commercial school in San Francisco. Edith is training for the work of a nurse in the French Hospital at San Francisco. Elvio, Leah and Tilden are at home. Cesira is a student at the Patterson high school, and Walter is a grammar school pupil. VALENTINE CAPAUL. — A rancher who has so well improved his opportuni ties that he has become a successful dairyman is Valentine Capaul, who was born in Southern Switzerland, in the Canton Graubunden, on October 5, 1885, the son of George and Mary Capaul. He attended school for only a short period, and when eighteen years of age came across the ocean to the United States, made his way to California, and settled in Humboldt County, working on a farm at Ferndale for wages, for a j'ear and a half. Then he went to Colusa County, putting in from six to seven years as a farm laborer, and from there he removed to Placer County and for a couple of years worked on a dairy farm near Colfax. Then he went into the lum ber camps in the Placer hills, and for three years worked to get out logs. In March, 1915, Mr. Capaul came to Patterson Colony and rented a fann of thirty acres on the county road between Sycamore and Elm streets, where he soon de voted twenty acres to alfalfa, and for three years maintained fifteen cows. He then rented forty acres on Poplar Avenue, north of Walnut, and set aside twenty-five acres for alfalfa, and gave the rest up to dry farming. He continues to manage this farm, and now has a dairy of twenty-two head of stock. At Reno, Nev., on August 26, 1910, Mr. Capaul was married to Miss Christine Smith, a native of Switzerland, where she was born about twenty miles from Mr. Capaul's own home, and the daughter of Stephen and Christine Smith. Four chil dren have added joy to the lives of this worthy couple — John, George, Joseph and Fred ; and they are all attending the grammar school at Patterson. The family attend the Roman Catholic Church, and Mr. Capaul seeks to improve the standards of good citizenship by standing pat upon the platforms of the Republican party. WALFRID KNUTSON. — An enterprising, experienced builder and contractor who has been at Patterson since the time when it was founded, is Walfrid Knutson, the well-known Republican leader and prominent member of the Lutheran Church. He was born at Raugenda, Sweden, on July 10, 1879, the son of Knut Erickson and his good wife Volberg, His father was a farmer, but a very progressive man, and he favored giving the lad the best grammar school education possible. At eighteen, he commenced to farm for himself, taking 300 acres near Raugenda, and for ten years devoting himself to general agricultural pursuits. On October 10, 1900, he was married at Raugenda to Miss Christine Selander, a native of his home district who had had practically the same schooling and could therefore best understand him and his work and ambitions. Her father, John Selander, was also a farmer, so that she was familiar with the duties and pleasures of farm life. In 1906, having sold out his interests in Sweden, after the death of his wife in 1903, Mr. Knutson came to America and settled at Seattle, Wash., where he again took up farming. He rented a ranch of ten acres and for three years raised cabbage- seed for the Lilly Seed Company of Seattle. He then took up the carpenter trade and worked at that for two years, making a success in the new field from his first engage- HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1473 ment. In 1911, Mr. Knutson removed from Washington to California and at Pat terson hung out his shingle as a contractor, and he has lived here ever since. A year after he came, he bought five acres of raisin grapes on Ward Avenue, west of Pat terson, and in 1919 purchased fourteen acres of alfalfa on the same avenue. On April 1, 1913, Mr. Knutson married for the second time, at Patterson, choosing for his bride Miss Julia Hansell, a native of Crookston, Polk County, Minn., and the daughter of C. C. Hansell, the well-known pioneer. He had already had two children by his first wife — Anna, a graduate nurse in the French Hospital at San Francisco, and Alex, who is in the employ of the Standard Oil Company at Newman ; and has since been blessed with three more, Thelma, Marian and Robert Kenneth. ROCCO RAVELLI. — A worthy representative of the foreign-born residents of Stanislaus County, and one who has seen service in the late European conflict, is Rocco Ravelli, the son of Raymondo and Mary Ravelli, farmers of North Italy, in the province of Sondrio, where he was born on August 3, 1887, educated in the common schools of that district and where he lived on his father's farm until he was seventeen years of age. In 1904, Mr. Ravelli migrated to this country to better his condition, coming directly to California, where he worked for the first twelve years on dairy farms in the vicinity of Crows Landing, being for a time employed by Attilio F. Gervasoni. Wishing to get into business for himself, he at first leased 200 acres, a portion of the George Stewart ranch, three miles east of Crows Landing, almost all of which is devoted to alfalfa and at the present time he has about 100 head of cows on the ranch, selling his output to the Carnation factory at Gustine. On September 20, 1917, he entered the U. S. service, was sent to Camp Lewis for training, and on July 6, 1918, sailed with the Three Hundred 'and Sixty-third Infantry, Ninety-first Division, from Hoboken, N. J., landed in Glasgow and went across from Southampton, England, to Havre, France. He served during the entire war with this outfit and after the armistice was signed was stationed in Belgium until he returned to the United States on April 1, 1919, being honorably discharged at the Presidio in San Francisco, Cal., on April 26, 1919. Mr. Ravelli is a member of the American Legion. MANUEL GARCIA. — An experienced rancher who daily demonstrates the value of steady-going industry, is Manuel Garcia, who was born on August 26, 1875, on the Island of Pico, in the Azores, the son of Jose and Mary Garcia, both of whom are now deceased. In 1893 he came out to California and settled in Alameda County, and for five years he engaged to work for others as a laborer. About May 1, 1899, Mr. Garcia commenced to work on a dairy farm on shares ; and such was his success with the undertaking that by May, 1908, he had purchased a tract of forty acres near Keyes, in Stanislaus County, where he now owns twenty acres more, northwest of Turlock and leases in addition considerably more land. At Santa Clara in 1899, Mr. Garcia was married to Miss Mary Enos-, who was born in Alameda County on September 2, 1883. Ten children were born to this fortunate union. Augusta Josephine is the wife of A. A. Ramos, and the mother of one child. Florence V. is Mrs. A. R. Gorge, and they have one child. Manuel C. Garcia is a rancher, and so is John E. And Marie E., Frank, Joe and William are students, while Alice and Floyd are the little ones at home. Mr. Garcia was made a citizen of the United States at Modesto in 1913, and thereafter joined the Republi can party. He belongs to the U. P. E. C. and the I. D. E. S. and has been a mem ber of the Woodmen of the World for twenty years. Mrs. Garcia belongs to the S. P. R. S. I. and the U. P. P. E. C. VALENTINE COTTA. — A native son of the Republic of Switzerland, Valen tine Cotta is the son of a California pioneer, and the love of the sunny land over looking the Pacific was early instilled in Valentine's heart by the reminiscences of his father He has resided at Empire, this county, where he owns a valuable nlty- four acre farm under a high state of cultivation, since 1911. He is a true American in views and in spirit, and is one of Empire's most successful dairy farmers. Mr Cotta was born in Corippo, in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, December il 1868 the son of Bartholomew and Mary (De Carly) Cotta. His parents are both 1474 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY still living in their native Canton Ticino, the father now past eighty-five, and the mother past seventy-five. His father, now a retired capitalist, was actively engaged in mining enterprises and dairy farming for many years. He early made a trip to the gold fields of Australia, later returning to Switzerland, where he was married. Leaving his wife there, he came to California and ran a dairy farm in Marin County and later in Sonoma County for a period of years, meeting with great success. Re turning again to Switzerland to visit his family, he found it impossible to be satisfied there, and made a second trip to California, remaining from 1884 to 1894, during which time he again engaged in dairying in Marin and Sonoma Counties. Since 1894 he has made his home in Switzerland. Valentine Cotta grew to young manhood in his native canton, receiving his edu cation in the local public schools, which were conducted in the Italian language. He learned the trade of carpenter, at which he worked until he came to California. He was married in Corippo, Switzerland, to Miss Rose Silacci, of Canton Ticino, in 1891. Shortly before this time he had been elected secretary of the town of Corippo. It was in 1895 that Mr. Cotta determined to come to California. He bade farewell to his wife and family, whom he left in Switzerland for the time being, landing at Castle Garden, New York City, May 16, 1895. Being already in love with California through the tales of his father, he came through at once to Salinas, Monterey County, arriving on May 22, and that same day went to work. For five j'ears he was employed with V. Marcetti, at Gonzales, Monterey County, at the end of which time he bought a dairy leasehold near that place and engaged in dairy ing for himself. As soon as he was established in this independent undertaking, he sent for his wife and the little daughter, Palmyra, and they joined him there in 1901. For the following ten years he ran this farm, managing a dairy of 120 milch cows, and meeting with great success. In 1911 Mr. Cotta came to Stanislaus County and bought his present home place a half mile southwest of Empire, and here he has developed an attractive country home. Over this household Mrs. Cotta presides gracefully, with ability and charm. There are two daughters, Palmyra, who came with her mother to California, and Marie, a native daughter of the Golden West. Mr. Cotta lost no time in becoming a citizen of his adopted country, taking out his naturalization papers in Salinas, Monterey County. Politically he is a Republi can, and an advocate of clean party government and business methods in civic and national administrations. He is a member of the Stanislaus County Farmers Union, the Federation of American Farmers and of the Milk Producers Association of Central California, and California Peach Growers, Inc., and preaches cooperation. MANUEL A. AZEVEDO. — An enterprising and influential Portuguese-Ameri can who has the distinction of being the first person of Portuguese birth to exhibit at either a State or County fair in California, is Manuel A. Azevedo, who was born at Pico, in C'alita, among the Azores, on February 19, 1890. His parents were Manuel and Mary Azevedo. Manuel grew up to help his father on the farm, at the same time that, for a couple of seasons, he attended the local school. Having entered on his teens, Manuel ventured across the Atlantic, first stopping at a farm near Fall River, Mass., where he worked for six years for wages. At the age of nineteen, he started a retail milk business in Fall River; and he did sufficiently well that he kept at it for two years. His wages at the beginning were only eight dollars a month, and this was advanced, toward the end of the six years, to twenty dollars; from which it will be seen that although he worked very hard, he had not been able to accumulate very much when he needed capital of his own. When Mr. Azevedo had attained his majority, he came West to California, and for a month or so he worked for a Mr. Morris on a dairy in Kings County, and then he came to Patterson and continued dairying for a year. He next bought a haj'- baler and for two j'ears baled hay for farmers in the Patterson Colony. With a brother, who had come to California in 1914, he then bought fifty acres of alfalfa land on Lemon Avenue, and after two years he sold his portion for $7,000, or much more than was paid for the land. He then purchased a ranch of forty-six acres on Sycamore Avenue, and after holding it for only two months sold it at a profit of HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1475 $5,000. He next bought a sixty-acre ranch at Sycamore and Magnolia avenues and after holding it for three days, sold it at a profit of $7,000. Following these invest ments which, by the way, indicate very fairly the possibilities of Stanislaus agricultural land, Mr. Azevedo bought 173 acres on Sycamore Avenue, north of Magnolia, and there he has placed 250 head of stock, the property really of four partners all inter ested in common in a dairy project. On a part of the ranch, facing on Fruit Avenue, Mr. Azevedo owns twenty head of young stock and twenty-five pure Holsteins. One of the four partners referred to is Estacio J. Oliveria, a native of Pico, where he was born on March 8, 1890, the son of Estacio and Maria Oliveria. He went to the common schools at Pico for four seasons, and when he was twenty-one came to America and Sacramento, and for a year worked for wages on a dairy farm. Then he removed to Hollister, and for seven years was a valued farmhand in the dairy of W. McCloud and J. L. Lean, and also did orchard work at Hollister. In 1918 he came to Patterson, worked for a year for wages, and then bought an inter est in the Azevedo dairy. He is a member of the I. D. E. S. of Hollister. During the past year Mr. Azevedo has given his attention in particular to the raising of pure-bred Holstein cattle, having obtained his stock originally from the Bridgeford herd at Patterson, and he took five head of pure-breds to the Sacramento fair, in the fall of 1919, and won the first prize on the junior yearling bull, the sec ond prize on the junior yearling heifer, and the third prize on the junior bull. He took the same number of cattle to the San Joaquin County fair and won the first prize on the junior yearling bull, the first prize on the junior yearling heifer, the first prize on the junior heifer, the second prize on the junior calf, the second prize on the junior bull, the first prize on the grade sire, and the first prize on the calf herd. At Fall River, Mass., during his seventeenth year, on February 19, Mr. Azevedo married Miss Mary Ferry, a native of Terceira, Azores, and daughter of Joaquin and Mary (Viera) Ferry, and six children have been granted them: Manuel, Alice, Joaquin, George, Serfina, and John. Mr. Azevedo took out his citizenship papers in Massachusetts, and since then he has marched in the ranks of the Republican party. He belongs to the U. P. E. C. of Patterson. SERAFEIN S. CORREA. — Prominent among the prosperous Portuguese- Americans in California, Serafein S. Correa was born in Fayal, in the Azores, on October 7, 1888, the son of Antone Correa, who had married Katherine Silveira. His father was a farmer, and Serafein spent his boyhood at home on the farm, work ing hard and attending school only one year. When he was fourteen, he bade good bye to the balmy isles and sailed for America. Reaching the United States, he came directly to California, and for three j'ears worked for wages in the service of the Niles Nursery, at Niles, in Alameda County, receiving only ten dollars a month at first. He then spent two years in school at Alviso, after which he returned to the Niles Nursery, in August, 1909, where he worked for another seven or eight months. Then he went to San Francisco, and for a couple of months was with the Ludiman's Nursery. This led to his going to Bur lingame and working for Mr. Tevis, the financier, under Henry Mej'er, the head gardener. At the end of two years, Mr. Tevis sent him to Lake Tahoe to continue in his service from May until October. Another move, to Bakersfield, still kept him in the employ of Mr. Tevis, five miles west of the town, in the winter, and the next spring he again returned to Lake Tahoe, to handle the Tevis place in the summer, after which he once again went back to his former work in Bakersfield. While at Bakersfield, Mr. Correa transplanted the largest tree known to have been moved up to that time — an English walnut tree measuring eighteen inches in diameter and weigh ing thirty-five tons — and he also transplanted two Italian cypress trees measuring forty-five feet in height. In 1912, Mr. Correa settled at Hughson in Stanislaus County, and went into the dairy business with his brother-in-law, Antonio Victorino, renting an alfalfa farm of sixty acres, and for ten months they conducted a dairy there with thirty cows. In 1914 Mr. Correa came to Patterson and rented twenty acres of alfalfa land on Walnut avenue, west of Sycamore, and for four years, operating alone, he had a 1476 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY dairy of twenty cows. He then rented forty acres of alfalfa on Eucalyptus Avenue, and enlarged the dairy to twenty-five cows. In the fall of 1919 he bought sixty acres on Eucalyptus, east of Elm, and there he has since resided. At Oakland, on May 28, 1912, Mr. Correa was married to Miss Ida Rasmus sen, a native of Southern Sweden, and the daughter of a miller by trade. Three children have been given Mr. and Mrs. Correa: Reynold and Oscar attend the Pat terson grammar school, while Ernest is at home. A man of exceptional activity among his fellow Portuguese, Mr. Correa is a member of the U. P. E. C. and the I. D. E. S., and in both he has been an officer, and as such has been able to accomplish a deal of good, stimulating a greater interest in American civic life and problems. In national politics he is a Republican. PAUL W. CARLSON.— The youngest son of Abel and Ella Carlson, the well- known residents of Turlock, Paul W. Carlson was reared, in Nebraska, where he attended the public school at Chappell; for at that time his father, always a man of service and enviable position, was treasurer of Deuel County, and there made a home for his family. Paul's boyhood days were also spent on his father's farm. He was born in Deuel County, on March 6, 1887; and at eighteen years came to California. The year previous, Paul's parents had settled in Turlock, on their farm three miles to the northwest of the town, and thither he went and resumed his ranch duties with his father, who was engaged in dairying for the first four years of his resi dence in Stanislaus County, and so experienced has he become that he has managed the farm of eighty acres — of which he owns the half — for the past ten years, with the exception of the two years when he served in the U. S. Army. Responding to the call of his country, Mr. Carlson enlisted on December 11, '1917, and served in the ammunition train; and on February 11, 1919, he was honorably discharged at the Presidio. He is a member of the American Legion. On June 21, 1920, Mr. Carlson married Miss Ellen Carlson, who was born in Brule County, S. D., on July 23, 1893. Mrs. Carlson is a member of the First Baptist Church of Turlock, and Mr. Carlson is a member of the Turlock Masons. Interested in public affairs, Mr. Carlson served as a member of the Board of Trus tees of the Monte Vista School District, and he is a member of the Farm Bureau, and loses no opportunity to advance the interests of the California agriculturist. MRS. ALICE M. PROUTY.— An interesting, highly esteemed daughter of the Buckeye State whose success as a farmer anyone might wish to attain to, and whose long years of steady application have been crowned with comfortable retirement, is Mrs. Alice M. Prouty, who was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, where she also went to school, leaving her studies only when impaired health made it necessary. She is the daughter of Samuel Brownrigg, a pioneer in Hamilton County who had married Miss Sarah Williamson, also a native of Ohio; and both of her parents were fortunate in commanding the high regard of the many who knew them. In 1886 Miss Brownrigg was married to Wallace H. Prouty, and they resided together in Ohio for many years. He was born at Worcester, Mass.,. on August 16, 1845, attended the public school, and early in life engaged to work in a manufactory in bis native town. He was ambitious, however, to be a railroad man, and when the opportunity presented itself, he became a brakeman on the Massachusetts Central Trunk Line ; and having risen to the responsible positions of general passenger agent and chief clerk for two companies, he gave the best part of his life, or twenty-five years, to railroad work, which he came to thoroughly understand. Located at Newport News, he was for a number of years general passenger agent for the Newport News and Mississippi Railroad ; and at Cincinnati for fourteen years he was chief clerk for the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton. This railroad work gave him great satisfaction. In 1892, owing to failing health, Mr. Prouty came West with his family and settled in Santa Clara County ; and there, for eleven years, he engaged in farming on a small scale. Then he accepted a clerical position at Solomon, Kans., for two years. In 1906, the family moved to Keyes, Stanislaus County, and Mr. Prouty purchased forty acres of the old McHenry Tract, on which now stands Mrs. Prouty's home. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1477 He was among the earliest to build in that locality, and for a number of years he lived there while his eldest son, William F. Prouty, was engaged in general farming and dairying. He himself did some office work for the Grange Company, at Modesto. He died on January 31, 1912; and shortly before his death he sold twenty acres of the farm, leaving twenty acres which he willed to his widow. Four children were granted Mr. and Mrs. Prouty, and they received a thorough Christian training through their mother's example and attention. William Francis lives at Orin, Wash., is married, and has two children ; Wallace H. is both man ager for his mother and a farmer on his own account at Keyes ; Sarah Alina attends the Modesto Business College, and C. Russell Prouty, who lives at home, is farming leased land situated near that of his mother. Mrs. Prouty belongs to the Free Metho dist Episcopal Church at Turlock, and is ever busy with church and humanitarian work, a firm believer in unostentatious charity. She has always been devoted to the cause of temperance, has voted the Prohibition ticket, and has left no stone unturned in both Ohio and California to abolish the sway of King Alcohol. ANTONE R. VIEIRA.— A successful rancher of the Turlock district is A. R. Vieira, who was born on the Isle of Flores, in the balmy Azores, on June 9, 1862, and now resides a mile to the north of the town on Colorado Boulevard. He passed his boj'hood on his father's little farm, and then tried the life of a sailor, which he fol lowed for five months. Arriving in New York in 1880, he came on West to Cali fornia, and in the fall of the year reached Watsonville. For some j'ears he lived and worked in the Santa Clara Valley, and for another period of years he labored and advanced at Fresno and in the San Joaquin Valley ; breaking the arduous routine with a trip back to the old Azores home in 1889. On his return to the United States, in 1890, he was married at Boston to his sweetheart, Miss Maria Louise Vieira, a life long acquaintance, who had come to America to join him. In 1900. Mr. Vieira came from" Santa Cruz County to Ceres, and for a period of four years worked on the Whitmore ranch. In 1904, he purchased thirty acres in the Crane Colony, near Turlock, and since then he has engaged in general farming there, carrying on for himself also a thoroughly up-to-date, sanitary dairy. He has recently added a tract of twenty acres to his holding, making his total area fifty acres. A self-educated man, Mr. Vieira has made his way, step by step, in the New World, and what he has accomplished reflects creditably in the highest degree both upon him self and the community in which he lives. Fourteen children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Vieira's prosperity. Frank, the eldest, is deceased. Mary is the wife of A. J. Lawrence and the mother of two girls. Antone, a resident of Merced County, is married and has one son. Anna is Mrs John Bettencourt, and resides with her husband and little girl in Merced County Louise and her husband, Arthur Vieira, have their home at Turlock. Evangeline Mrs. Carlos Pereira, lives at Escalon ; and the younger members of the family are Mildred, Joe, Willie, Josephine, Hazel, Mabel, Ida, and Evelyn. Mr. Vieira belongs to the U. P. E. C. and the I. D. E. S. lodges. ERMINIO PETERPOSTEN. — A Swiss-American who has well maintained the reputation of the sturdy, industrious and frugal sons and daughters of the mountain Republic in their contribution to the development of the Golden State is E Peter posten, who was born on October 17, 1891, the third son of Angelo and Rosie (Torn) Peterposten, both natives of Canton Ticino, Switzerland. Mr. Peterposten was a dairyman and a farmer of experience and repute; but he was something more: as a patriotic, public-spirited citizen, he served his country as a soldier in the National Guard Mrs. Peterposten lived until 1906, the mother of several devoted children. In 1907 E Peterposten crossed the Atlantic with his father, following a brother and a sister who had come out here some years before. Soon afterward, two brothers ^ three sisters also joined them. They came to California, and M^terj^ went to Plumas County, where he was engaged on a dairy ranch After a while he acquired interests in the Sacramento Valley, where he established a dairy at Gait, which he managed successfully until his coming to Stanislaus County, in 1918. 1478 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Now he is the owner of forty-eight acres near Hughson, where he has engaged since 1918 in the raising of thoroughbred Holstein cattle. His attainments in this field have been such that when he exhibited at the Patterson Fair in 1920, he received a number of ribbons, which gave him great satisfaction. He is also a stockholder in the Lambert Stock Remedy Corporation of Modesto, and a newly-elected director in the Central California Milk Producers' Association. As a member, too, of the com mittee on the Calf Club of the Stanislaus County Holstein Breeders, he shows his abil ity as a leader, and it is not surprising that he has become one of the county's finest boosters. In 1920 he sold out his stock interests to good advantage but expects to re-enter that field in the near future. In August, 1912, at San Francisco, Mr. Peterposten was married to Miss Emilia Fillippi, a native of Switzerland, who came to America in 1910 and located at her sister's, in San Francisco. In 1914, Mr. Peterposten was made a citizen of the United States, at Sacramento, and not long afterward he joined the Republican party. When ihe World War involved the United States, Mr. Peterposten supported all the loan and Red Cross drives ; and since then he has shown his appreciation of the advantages of life in the New World by attending the night school at Hughson. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows. MANUEL J. FRAGO. — A wide-awake, successful rancher is M. J. Frago, who was born in Flores, in the famous Azores, on March 6, 1877, and is now comfort ably situated, about two miles north on Colorado Boulevard, in Turlock. His father was Jose, and his mother Mary C. Frago, and he spent his boyhood as a sheep herder on his father's ranch. There he not only had plenty to do, but he learned many things which were useful to him later when, far from home, he worked to estab lish himself and to attain independence. When twenty-two years of age, he came to America and located in Montana, and for six years he worked in that state in the cattle industry, spending his time on the ranges and stock farms as a laborer. There, again, he accomplished something more than the mere earning of his monthly wage: he learned a good deal about American life and agricultural ways and got ready for migration to the Pacific Slope. During this time he made a trip back to the Azores. In 1905, Mr. Frago reached California and Turlock, and soon after he pur chased forty acres of raw land which, by very hard work, he has improved from raw land to a fine, productive ranch. He has made a number of desirable improvements which reflect his experience and taste, and attest to his prosperity. While in the Azores, in 1898, Mr. Frago was married to Miss Maria J. Gloria, and four children have blessed their fortunate union. Maria has become the wife of Joseph Vasconcellos, and the younger children are Joseph, Adelina and Zelda. Mr. Frago for twenty years has been a faithful member of the U. P. E. C. JOE D. CORREIA. — An energetic, prosperous farmer who well deserves all the good luck that has come his way, is Joe Dutra Correia, who was born at Castello, Branco Parish, Fayal Island, in the Azores, the son of Jose Dutra Correia, a very- respected farmer, who had married Miss Maria Ramos. These worthy parents, being both industrious and frugal, were able to bring up their family with exception ally good care. Joe D. Correia attended the local school, but reached only the third grade, for in 1887 he was obliged to quit in order to help his father work their small farm. At times, too, he worked out for neighbors, at from twenty to twenty-five cents a day, and this hard work was welcome, for it increased the needed income. On June 18, 1890, Mr. Correia said good-bye to his home and crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel bound for Bedford, Mass. There, after a hard voyage, he arrived on July 18, for by accident the vessel ran short of provisions, being buffeted about by the adverse winds. He did not stay long in New England ; but on July 22 started for California. On the night of July 27, the train was wrecked, and many of the pas sengers were killed. Fortunate in himself escaping, Mr. Correia reached Carmel in Monterey County on August 1, and stopped with his sister there, Mrs. Victorino. On August 21 he commenced to work on a dairy farm near Salinas, where he remained for thirteen months at fifteen dollars a month, when he returned to Carmel to take a HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1479 position in a dairy. He remained there for three years, at twenty-five dollars a month ; and in 1896 he bought a half interest in a dairy in Monterey County, joining in part nership with his brother-in-law, Joe Victorino, but the venture was unprofitable on ac count of the hard times. Having received his citizenship papers in 1900, Mr. Correia returned home in 1900 to visit his parents, and on August 24 returned to California. In 1901, Mr. Correia moved to Gracey, Stanislaus County, taking his dairy with him ; but owing to an epidemic among the cattle that year, he lost many of his cattle, and in 1902, he came to Crows Landing. On September 4, 1905, he bought sixty-six acres, and on February 14, 1910, he added the adjoining forty-two acres. At Oakland, on June 24, 1906, Mr. Correia was married to Miss Mary Alvernas, the daughter of F. A. and M. A. Alvernas, and on March 3, 1910, he took his wife and baby, and once again returned for a visit to the Azores, sailing for California on March 14 of the next year, and arriving here fourteen days later. In 1912, he bought sixty-five acres more of land, and eight years later he purchased another twenty acres. Now he has a home ranch of 193 acres of land. Four children have blessed the wedded life of Mr. and Mrs. Correia: Joe is fourteen years of age; Evelyn is nine; Earl is two years younger, and Elizabeth is five. Mr. Correia decided, j'ears ago, that the platforms of the Republican party suited him best. The family attend the Roman Catholic Church. FRED W. N. SIEM. — A practical, scientifically informed agriculturist who has been more than ordinarily successful, thereby demonstrating the value of preparation, foresight and conscientious attention to details, is Fred Siem, who was born in Heide, Schleswig, Germany, on December 20, 1858, the son of Reimer Siem, who was a stock dealer, later active in Hamburg, to which city he removed. There were six children in the family, and one is in America. The second eldest, Fred, was brought up on a farm near Hamburg, and sent to the public schools in Northern Germany. He learned the ins and outs of the stock business, as well as the butcher's trade, and followed that line until 1890, when he sold out and crossed the ocean to America, ending his journey in California and at Turlock. Here he engaged in the butcher trade, but he soon branched out into the stock business, and bought and shipped cattle, sheep and hogs. He also engaged in grain raising for some years, and owns a valuable tract of land in Stanislaus County. Still he has remained principally a stock dealer, and one of great importance to the San Francisco market, his good judgment, honesty and valuable connections enabling him to gather together and ship there just what is needed. While still at Hamburg, Mr. Siem was married on June 2, 1879, to Miss Caroline Lange, a native of Plon, near Kiel, and they have had two children, who have blessed their happy home life. Ernest is in the stock business with his father, and Augusta has become Mrs. Burkhardt and helps preside over the home of her esteemed parents. HUBERT G. KUMLE. — How much practical experience is required to make a success of gold-dredging Hubert G. Kumle, one of the ablest superintendents in that field in California can tell, for he directs the La Grange Gold Dredging Company, rated as among the most successful concerns now operating, notwithstanding the fact that it has met and wrestled with a number of perplexing situations. Mr. Kumle is a native son, having been born at Brownsville, Yuba County, Cal, on June 21, 1880, the eldest of six children. His father Peter Kumle, was a native of the same town in Yuba County, and he married Julia Page, who was born at Indiana Ranch, in Yuba County. Peter Kumle's father was John Kumle, a native of Wuertemberg, Germany who came to America stopped for' a while in New York State, and from there sailed around the Horn and in 1851 landed at San Francisco. He had been married in Germany; and settling at San Francisco, he proceeded to establish himself as a stone and brick ma son while he also went in for gold mining. Ed Page, the maternal grandfather was born in Indiana and became a pioneer of Yuba County He crossed the great plains from the Hoosier State with ox-teams, and reached California in 1851, and the next year he was married at Indiana Ranch. His father was born in France, and 1480 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY came out to Indiana to join the French colony there. One of the Pages was once mayor of Paris, France. Peter Kumle died in 1891, but his faithful widow still lives at Sacramento, in her sixty-sixth year. Hubert Kumle grew up in Yuba County, where he attended the public schools, after which he studied at the Stockton Business College. Later, he completed the courses in mechanical engineering and placer mining in the International Correspond ence School ; and then he started as a quartz miner at Indiana Ranch. Next he went to Forbestown, where he found employment as a quartz miner, and then to Brown's Valley, where he was employed in the same way. Next he entered the service of the Bellevue Mining Company, in Sierra County as a placer miner, and after that to Oroville, where he worked on the third dredge ever operated in California. Mr. Kumle was next engaged for ten years with the pioneer dredger king of California, W. P. Hammon, at Hammonton, in Yuba County, and rose to be dredge foreman. Then he went to Folsom City, Sacramento County, where he engaged as foreman and superintendent for the Natomas Company, from 1913 to 1918. He came to La Grange in 1918, and at once associated himself with John G. Barker, of the Hotel Richelieu in San Francisco, who is the chief stockholder, and also president and general manager of the La Grange Gold Dredging Company. As has been stated, the Company has been very successful, although it has had much to contend against. On January 31, 1921, the company's dredger capsized, the hull having evidently sprung a leak, or become water-logged. The company is now building a new dredger, which will be ready for dredging about January 1, 1922. In 1902, in Wyandotte, Cal., Mr. Kumle was married to Miss Minnie Lothrop, a native of New York, and they have had six children. Hubert Reginald works on a dredge at Folsom City. Harold is a student at the Modesto high school. And Donald, Bernice and Bethel are pupils in the grammar school. A daughter, Una, died at Hammonton when she was eighteen days old. In 1919 Mr. Kumle bought a resi dence at Modesto. Mr. Kumle is a noble grand of the La Grange Lodge No. 65, of the I. O. O. F., and he is also a member of Rose's Bar Masonic Lodge No. 89, F. & A. M., at Smartville, in Yuba County. GEORGE W. BOWLES.— Newcomers to the Hickman precinct, George W. Bowles and his interesting family are making a decided success of their farming the historic Dallas Ranch there with its 175 rich acres. He himself is a native son, and was born near Cambria, San Luis Obispo County on November 7, 1870. His father, Caleb Bowles, a cousin of Senator Hearst, left Missouri in 1851, and reached Ne vada County, Cal., in 1852. There he followed mining, and in San Francisco he married Ellen Patton, a native of Missouri, who came to California about 1864. She crossed the Isthmus of Panama with the Appersons, parents of the late Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, and as Mrs. Hearst and Ellen Patton were girlhood friends, they continued friends through the lifetime of the California philanthropist, who each year sent Mrs. Bowles some carefully-selected gift, and received in turn, from the Bowies', the best turkey anywhere obtainable, and despatched just in time for Thanksgiving. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bowles continued to live at Birchville, Mr. Bowles having mined for eighteen years in Nevada and Placer counties. Then he moved down into San Luis Obispo County, near Cambria, and for five years was active there in dairy farming ; and later he was a dairyman in San Simeon, where our subject grew up, save for two or three years in Contra Costa County, where Mr. Bowles died, in 1891, aged sixty-one years. He owned a farm of 365 acres at San Simeon and 360 acres in Contra Costa County. Mrs. Bowles still lives at Ripon, Cal., seventy-nine years of age. There were three children in the family. Margaret is now Mrs. Martinelli, a dairy farmer at Ripon. George William Bowles is the subject of our story. And Phoebe, named after Mrs. Hearst, is the wife of Bethel Coates, a rancher of Contra Costa County. George went to the district schools, but owing to his father's failing health, he was compelled, when sixteen years old, to leave off studying. He was descended, however, from good old English stock and the grandson of Judge Bowles, a judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri, and being thus well endowed by heredity, he started HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY i481 out resolved on "making good." While living in Contra Costa County he was mar ried in San Francisco, and then he moved to San Luis Obispo County, and for ten years farmed there on the home ranch owned by himself and his mother He then put m seven years at New Almaden in Santa Clara Valley, dairying at I'd bTs A """"« S?k. md oljowing general farming on a ranch owned by him and his mother. In 1915 he traded their Santa Clara stock farm for 250 acres in the Hickman precinct, one mile east of Hickman, and here he has lived with his family ever since, his interest in the ranch being 175 acres. At present he is engaged mainly in general or mixed farming, although dairying is also an important sourcf of his income He is planting fruit trees and vines, and in a few years his farm will no doubt contain arge vineyards and orchards, since this part of Stanislaus County is fast becoming a truit section, with an ample water supply for irrigation. When Mr. Bowles married he took for his wife Miss Anna Kaiser, who has long been to him a helpful companion. Mrs. Bowles was also born near Cambria, the fw'tl ^ E- and 5W11? (D°ty) KaiSEr' b°rn in Canada and Sacramento Grandfather Kaiser moved his family to Canada from the States for a few years and while they resided there Wm. E. Kaiser was born. Later he came to New York then to California, where he married. Both now reside in Santa Cruz. They had three children, Mrs. Bowles being the eldest. They have seven children to a'dd to their happiness: Mary is the eldest; then come Annie, Nelson, Anderson, George Washington, Phoebe Jane; and last, but not least, Samuel. Hospitable always the Bowles home is a center of good will and good cheer. MICHAEL E. ANGELO.— An enterprising young business man of Modesto who is making such a success under his environment that he is confident Modesto and Stanislaus County will grow to far larger proportions and wealth, is Michael Angelo, one of the proprietors of the San Francisco Fruit Market, a native of classic Greece,' He was born, reared and educated at Tripoles, where he remained until 1904, when he determined to come across the ocean to the New World. In August of that year he arrived at San Francisco, and ever since he has been as devoted as any native son in endeavoring to advance the welfare of the Golden State. He had become well established in the grocery trade in the Bay City, and was making of it the same success as has characterized all of his operations; but in 1914 he saw a good opening in Modesto, and selling out his interests at San Francisco, he came inland and started the fruit business long identified with his name. He opened a store on H Street, between Tenth and Eleventh; and when the Farmers National Bank was removed from the corner of H and Tenth streets, he leased the location and set up his establishment on his present site. From the beginning, Mr. Angelo. has been carrying a large assortment of fruit ; and as much attention is given to the arrangement of his stock, and also to the order and neatness of the store, the whole forms a beauti ful and pleasing site, and is notable also as the largest store of its kind in the county. Mr. Angelo has fully demonstrated his strong confidence in the future of the city by investing extensively in city property; and in 1916 he took into partnership with him Thomas Giahos, a fellow-countryman, and since then they have conducted their fruit exchange as the San Francisco Fruit Market, meeting with more and more favor and patronage on the part of the public. WILLIAM C. HEISEL. — A man of excellent character and sterling worth, William C. Heisel has succeeded through intelligence, hard work and perseverance aided by a devoted wife, and is considered one of the prosperous ranchers of the Empire neighborhood. He was born in Dauphin County, Pa., near what is now Hershey, Februaiy 19, 1858, the son of John and Fannie (Conrad) Heisel, born in Germany and Pennsj'lvania, respectively. John Heisel served in a Pennsylvania regiment in the Civil War. Leaving Pennsylvania when our subject was only eight years of age, they settled at Shannon, Carroll County, 111., on a sixty-acre farm. They were the parents of nine children, William C. being the oldest of the family. At an early age he aided his parents providing a living, beginning by working out by the month when he was seventeen years old and continued this for the next ten j'ears. Having 1482 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY heard of the opening of land in Western Kansas, he went there and took up a 160- acre homestead and a 160-acre tree claim at Hill City, Graham County, Kans, which he proved up in seven years time, his property advancing a great deal in value. On April 6, 1890, Mr. Heisel was married at Edmond, Norton County, Kans., to Miss Anna Doolittle, who was born in Leavenworth, Ind., a daughter of Alonzo and Mary (Todlock) Doolittle, also natives of Leavenworth. The father served in an Indiana regiment in the Civil War, and now makes his home at Broken Bow, Okla. Her mother having died when she was only two years old, she lived with her Grand mother Tadlock in Indiana, until when nineteen she came to Kansas with an aunt and uncle. Mr. and Mrs. Heisel continued to live in Kansas for the next seventeen years, then in 1907 moved to Butte Valley, Siskiyou County, Cal., but only lived there a j'ear, when they moved again, this time to Chico, Cal., and spent another year there before coming to Empire, Cal., September, 1909, where they have made their home. After making several trips to this territory looking over the different places which they thought might prove to make a satisfactory home, they decided upon Empire, and bought twenty acres here. There were seven children: Nina E., Dee L., Grace, Wealthy, Inez, Mary, Frances, born at Chico, and Anna Kathryn, born at Empire. They have made all the improvements, building the house in which they live, and most of the land is planted to small grain and peas. Mr. Heisel was compelled to give up some of his activities about two years ago, owing to a nervous breakdown. His son, Dee L., who ran the farm while his father was ill, also served his country during the late World War, spending eleven months in the service at Camp Lewis, later receiving an honorable discharge ; Nina is the wife of John Worth, rancher, residing west of Empire, and they are the parents of one child, Lena. Grace is the wife of Rev. C. Ernest Davis, a minister in the Church of the Brethren at Live Oak, Cal. ; they have two children, Phillip and Barbara. Wealthy is the wife of B. J. Forsman, a rancher at Hickman, Cal., and is the mother of three children, Clyde, Donald and George. Dee L., Inez, Mary, Frances and Anna are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Heisel stand high in the Church of the Brethren at Empire, where for many years he has served as deacon. During his residence in Kansas, Mr. Heisel served on the schol board, and was the clerk for many years. JOHN GULART. — What the energetic, ambitious young man has been able to accomplish in the California commercial world is well illustrated in the career of John Gulart, who came from the Azores as a mere boy, mastered English, acquired title to several ranches and has firmly established himself as a successful business man. He was born at Norte Grande, St. George Isle, on June 12, 1897, the son of Joac and Mary Gulart, and arrived in California in 1912, when he settled at Benicia, Solano County. He attended the graded schools near Benicia, at the same time that he worked on a dairy ranch ; but after seventeen months he removed to Gridley, where he continued both ranch work and his schooling. In 1914, he went to Crows Landing, in Stanislaus County, and for sixteen months he hired out there on a ranch. Mr. Gulart's next step marked a decided advance. In 1916 he accepted a position as traveling representative of a portrait-making gallery, and for two years he covered Humboldt County, Visalia and Santa Cruz and their environs, and the Sacramento Valley; and in 1918 he came to Newman, taking up real estate and life and fire insurance, and in this field he has been an aggressive leader ever since, writing policies elsewhere than in his residence district, and easily controlling the local field. Mr. Gulart has been successful in other material respects than in his realty and underwriting ventures. He has come to own sixty acres of alfalfa in Patterson, and fifty-five acres across the river in Stevenson. Both of these farm properties are suffi ciently good to reflect creditably on Mr. Gulart's judgment in investing in them. On June 12, 1919, Mr. Gulart married Miss Freda Zwissig, a native of San Francisco and the daughter of John and Josephine Zwissig. Her father was a dairy man, and came from Switzerland in the middle eighties, bringing to America with him a valuable knowledge of the dairying industry. Mr. Gulart is a popular member of the Foresters of America, and with his wife has a wide circle of friends. HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1483 GEORGE NIELSON. — Well known and highly esteemed in his community for his integrity of character is George- Nielson, a grain rancher of Stanislaus County. He was born on April 15, 1875, on Alsen Isle near Sonderborg, Denmark, and is the son of George and Carrie (Clausen) Nielson, his father being a stone and brick mason of Alsen Isle. He was reared and educated in the land of his birth and when only fifteen years of age went forth to seek his own fortune. He came to America in 1890, coming to California. The first ten j'ears in the land of his adoption were spent working for Miller & Lux, ranchers at Los Banos. He then started farming for himself in the hills, west of Los Banos, leasing from 700 to 2,000 acres of land. He next farmed on the Alvarado Ranch of Simon Newman, near Los Banos Creek, and later his present place of 800 acres, known as the Fred Bartch ranch. His time and attention has always been given entirely to grain raising and he owns a Holt sixty-five horsepower tractor and a Hauser-Haines combined harvester, and com plete equipment necessary for farming on a large scale. Desiring again to see the land where his boyhood days were spent he took a trip to Denmark in 1906-07, where he spent some time among old friends and neighbors. After his return in April, 1907, in Newman, he was married to Marie Albertson, a native of Aeroe Isle, Denmark, the daughter of Capt. E. N. and Ellen K. Albertson, her father being a sea captain on a merchant marine sailing vessel engaged in coast ing trade. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nielson : Ellen, Mabel and George. Mr. Nielson' is a Democrat and a member of the I. O. O. F. of Los Banos. ANTONIO D. REZENDES. — An excellent representative of the dairy farmers of Stanislaus County, is Antonio D. Rezendes, a loyal Californian and one of the most public-spirited citizens working hard to develop and expand the favored Golden State. He was born on the Isle of Santa Maria, in the balmy Azores, on August 25, 1870, the son of Victor and Anna Rezendes, and until his seventeenth year he helped his father, who was an expert stonemason, after which time he left home for America. Striking west for California, he came first to Marin County, in 1887, and for seven years hired out to work for wages on a dairy ranch near Tomales. He then leased 666 acres of pasture and hay land near that place, and ranged there 100 cows. He also went into the chicken business, and raised some 3,500 laying hens. After hav ing been thus engaged from 1894 until 1906, Mr. Rezendes sold the entire holding and gave up his lease. For the next two years, he rented a farm of 412 acres in the same vicinity, and starting anew to raise poultry, he again had some 2,000 laying hens. He also raised and bought cattle until he had seventy-five head of cows on his place. In 1908, he again sold off his stock and then he bought a grain farm of 320 acres near Fallon, and once more started to stock up a ranch. He had a smaller dairy, with only thirty head of cattle, but he soon owned 2,500 laying hens. When he finally sold out, in 1915, he came to Crows Landing, in Stanislaus County, and bought forty-eight acres of alfalfa east of Crows Landing; and on this ranch he had a dairy with forty head of cows. In 1918, he sold out his Crows Landing ranch and came to Patterson, where he bought eighty-three acres on the corner of Sycamore and Pomegranate Avenue ; the pasturage is of alfalfa, and he has sixty-three head of the finest milch stock obtainable. Mr. Rezendes has been twice married. On June 21, 1896, he was united with Miss Anna Gasson, a native of Tomales, and they had four children— Antone, Ange lina Dora, and Frank. On January 17, 1911, Mr. Rezendes married Miss Anna Moura, who was born at Santa Maria, in the neighborhood of Mr. Rezendes' birth place in the Azores; she was the daughter of Joseph and Umbelena Moura, and her father was a farmer. She came to America when she was in her twentieth year; and now she has a son, named Daniel. Mr. Rezendes, who took out his citizenship papers ;n 1895— an event in his life of which he is naturally very proud— has handsomely improved his eighty-three acres, some of the finest alfalfa land in all Stanislaus County and has erected there a fine bungalow, a large barn, and other farm buildings In 1899 he took a trip to his native land, returning to America with his mother and brother, Joaquin; his mother stayed only a short time, and then went back to Portugal. In 63 1484 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1903, she came out to America again, and this time she brought a daughter, Mary. In 1905, Mr. Rezendes again took a trip of two months to his native land. In national politics, he is a Republican; but he is too broad-minded to adhere to party lines when it comes to supporting any local measure or local candidate having the approval of those competent to judge, and he is ever ready to "boost" for the com munity or locality in which he lives, labors and prospers. CARL H. MEDLIN. — A young, but enterprising and public-spirited citizen of Stanislaus County is Carl H. Medlin, the eldest son of David G. Medlin, who for a score and a half of years operated the famous old Day Ranch. He was born in Sum ner County, Tenn., in 1849, came to California in 1875, bringing after him his father and mother, Green L. and Eliza Medlin, and settled at Crows Landing. In 1885 he married Miss Clementine Frances McMurtry, of Tennessee, and six years later he bought a half section of land one mile west of Crows Landing. They had eleven children, and our subject was the second in the order of birth. He was born on the old Day Ranch on November 28, 1887, went to the Bonita grammar school, and then took a course at the Modesto Business College. After a profitable boyhood on the home ranch, he struck out at the age of sixteen, and for a number of years hired out to others for ranch labor. In 1912-13 he farmed the old Buck Ranch belonging to Mrs. Morton, and as he cultivated some 1,500 acres' devoted to grain, he had plenty of responsibility and added a. deal to his experience. In 1912 he was about the only farmer in the vicinity of Patterson to pull a har vester; and although crops generally were small, Carl had a bountiful return, and one that he could point to with modest pride. For the past year, he worked the Jennie Purvis ranch near Westley; and he might have continued there, had not the ranch been sold. Now Mr. Medlin's main enterprise is teaming, for which he is ready and able to enter into contracts; and while he does all kinds of team work, he makes a specialty of leveling and checking land for irrigation. On August 15, 1911, Mr. Medlin was married to Miss Clara Rose, a native of Modesto and the daughter of Herbert and Ella (Allen) Rose, early California set tlers who came from Iowa; an attractive lady who has proven the best of wives. Mr. Medlin belongs to the Elks of Modesto — Lodge No. 1282 — and also to the Crows Landing Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West. FRANK BORGES, JR.— A native son of California, Frank Borges, Jr., has become an influential leader among the Portuguese and a progressive, representative resident of the Patterson Colony. He was born near Elmira, Solano County, on March 16, 1889, the son of Frank and Mary Borges, worthy farmer folk who came from St. George, in the Azores. His father migrated when he was only sixteen years old, and for years he worked hard for wages in Solano County at any kind of work that he could obtain, until gradually, by frugality and saving, he accumulated enough to purchase ten acres near Elmira. When our subject was nine years old, Mr. Borges removed with his family to Concord, in 'Contra Costa County, and there the lad attended the Oak Grove school. Mr. Borges became a prosperous stockman, operating extensively, and the boy spent his early days on his father's ranch. When Frank Borges was a young man, he leased 640 acres in Contra Costa, near Concord, and for three years followed dry-farming. In 1913, he came to Patterson and bought forty acres on Eucalyptus Avenue, east of Sycamore, which he devoted to alfalfa ; his father became a silent partner with him, and together they made the invest ment. He built a fine farm residence, a large hay and also a cow barn, some small farm buildings, a tank-house, and a garage, executing the work himself and thereby getting just what he wished. At Patterson, on November 22, 1917, Mr. Borges was married to Miss Virginia Souza, a native of Terceira, in the Azores, and the daughter of John and Mary. Souza. Her father, who is still living in Patterson, was a dairy farmer, and she followed him to California shortly after he came here in 1915, to better his fortune. One daughter, Virginia, has blessed this union of Mr. and Mrs. Borges. Mr. Borges is a Republican in national politics, but a broad-minded, non-partisan worker HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1485 in favor of the best men and the best measures, for the local community. He belongs to both the U. P. E. C. and the I. D. E. S. of Patterson, and has been an officer in the U. P. E. C. and a delegate to the Oakland convention of that fraternity. He was also a delegate to the Santa Cruz convention, the past year, of the I. D. E. S., both of these honors evidencing the confidence and good-will of his friends. JEAN GABAIG. — Jean Gabaig, the enterprising tailor at Patterson, where he has been established in a successful business since 1911, has made many friends in Patterson and the surrounding country, through his genial, courteous manner. Mr. Gabaig is a native of France, born in the beautiful Basses-Pyrenees district, December 15, 1860. His parents were Pierre and Anna (Soule) Gabaig, his father being the guardian of the forests for the French government. Here, in the shadow of the great forests, Jean Gabaig spent his childhood and youth, attending the public schools dur ing the winter and in the summer working with his father among the great trees. But the quiet life of the mountains did not satisfy the ambitious thought of this j'oung Frenchman, and in 1886, he determined to come to the New World, coming directly to San Francisco, where he worked at various undertakings for many years, learning the manners and customs of the country and mastering the English language. In 1899 he came into Stanislaus County, locating at Newman, where he opened a French hand laundry, which he conducted successfully for twelve years. Newman was a very new town in 1899, and Mr. Gabaig was associated with many of its early enterprises and undertakings, and is well and favorably known there. In 1911 Mr. Gabaig disposed of his thriving business in Newman and came to Patterson, where he established a paying tailoring business, together with a pressing and cleaning shop. The marriage of Mr. Gabaig occurred in Modesto, in October, 1899, uniting him w"ith Miss Leonie Paau, also a native of France, born near Rodez. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gabaig are now citizens of the United States and true Americans, taking an interest in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the country, giving their undivided support to policies for the development of their community and toward the establishment of its industries. JOSEPH V. ROSE. — Adjoining the county highway on the south and the San Joaquin River on the east is situated the farm of one of the community's thrifty and industrious ranchers, Joseph Rose, who was born on August 3, 1879, on the Island of Fayal of the Azores, the son of Vincent and Francisca Rose. He came to his adopted country when eleven years of age to join his father, who had been in Cali fornia two years. Three years later the father returned to Portugal to join his wife, who had remained in that country, and after a few years they both came to California. They eventually returned to their native country and while there Mrs. Rose died. Mr. Rose now makes his home in San Jose. Joseph V. Rose went to work on a ranch in Santa Clara County and continued as a work hand for several years, making, his own way in the world and early estab lishing a home in San Jose. His next move was to San Mateo County, where he con ducted a grain, hay and stock ranch near Redwood City. From there he came into Stanislaus County in 1913 and here he has since made his home. For a time he operated on the Morris Ranch, four miles from Crows Landing, and at the present time he, in partnership with two Nunes brothers, have 100 acres in alfalfa and a herd of ninety cows and are meeting with merited success in their enterprise. Mr. Rose also leases the Mills-Taylor Ranch of 780 acres. In 1905 Mr. Rose made a trip back to his native land ; in February of the fol lowing year he was united in marriage with Miss Adaline Domingos, the daughter of Francisco and Maria Domingos. The former was an expert blacksmith and owned a shop in the Island of Pico. Her mother is now a resident of Lompoc, Santa Barbara County. Mr. and Mrs. Rose came back to Santa Clara County, where he had already established a home, and resided there until coming to Stanislaus County. They are the parents of three children : Joseph, Alfred and Frank, all students m the Bonita school. Mr. Rose is a member of the I. D. E. S. of Crows Landing. 1486 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY ANTONIO ENOS. — Among the prosperous farmers of the Hughson district is Antonio Enos, who was born in St. George, on the Azores Islands, December 27, 1864, the son of Antonio and Gustina (Conda) Enos. Antonio was the fourth child born of their ten children, and his boyhood was spent on his father's farm in the Azores and there he worked until, when a lad of seventeen, he came to America. Landing in Boston, he remained there six months, but having heard glowing accounts of the resources of California and the wonderful opportunities for young men, he decided to journey on to the Western coast. Arriving in California in 1882, he settled at Livermore and worked two years for Manuel Joaquin Soares on a grain ranch. He later worked nine years on a farm there for J. D. Smith, then with the savings he had accumulated, he bought 160 acres of grain land near Livermore. Some four years later, on May 10, 1896, he married in Pleasanton, Cal., Miss Mary Lopes-Silva, a native daughter of the Golden State, born in Virginia City, Cal. Her father, Frank Lopes-Silva, was born on St. George Island. He went to sea when a lad of twelve years, following it for many years, sailing into many of the important ports of the world. On a trip around Cape Horn he arrived in San Francisco, Cal., in the early fifties in a sailing vessel. Leaving the sea, he engaged in mining. Later he purchased a farm at Pleasanton, where he resided until he died in March, 1906. He had married Rita Menzes, who preceded him two years, passing away in 1904. Mrs. Enos is the second oldest of eight and was educated in Pleasanton. After farming his grain ranch for seven years, Mr. Enos disposed of it and for a short time was engaged in baling hay. In 1906 he came to Stanislaus County and purchased eighty acres of land three miles northwest from Hughson, and three years later purchased forty acres more in the same locality, which he improved to alfalfa and engaged in dairying. Leasing these two ranches in 1916, he purchased his present place of thirty-six acres, one mile north of Hughson, where he engages in dairying. He is also interested in other ranch property in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Enos are the parents of nine children : Mary is Mrs. Antone Costa of Hickman ; Antone is a graduate of the Modesto Business College, and is engaged in ranching near Ceres; Joseph is attending school and lives at home ; Lena is the wife of Manuel Costa, a farmer near Salida ; Rosa, Frank, Emily and Eva are at school, and Grace at home. In political affairs Mr. Enos gives his support to the Republican party, and is a mem ber of the Milk Producers' Association of Central California. Fraternally he is a member of the U. P. E. C. and the I. D. E. S. in Modesto, being ex-secretary of the latter, while Mrs. Enos is a member of the S. P. R. S. I. and the U. P. P. E. C. of Hughson. Mr. and Mrs. Enos have done their share to help the community. PIO GORTARI. — Interesting as one who has been more or less of a transient, working here and there and never stopping for any length of time in one place, a thrifty, wide-awake native of the Basses-Pyrenees, Pio Gortari is today the fortunate owner of one of the finest ranches in the Patterson Colony. He is a Spaniard by nativity, having been born on July 11, 1887, the son of Fermin and Maurice Gortari, who sent him for six years to the district school ; and he worked on his father's farm until he came to America in 1903. Arriving in San Francisco, he went inland to Marj'sville and there accepted work as a sheep herder for Mr. Tehista for six months at twenty dollars a month; and after that he put in a short time on various other ranches. While with Antone Inda as his sheep herder, near Stockton, he broke his arm, and was laid up for a month; and then he spent a month in San Francisco, after which he migrated to Sweetwater, Nev., and there helped to run another sheep ranch. Returning to Stockton, he-was employed for a year by Mr. Iparrazirre on his alfalfa ranch, shifting from there to Reno, Nev., after which he went to Terris, Utah, and was a sheep herder for Pete Larson for two years. He next spent a short time in Ogden, Utah, then at Salt Lake, and later went into Idaho. Mr. Gortari had a brother at Elko, Nev., who had come to America in 1902, and he went there to visit him, and having renewed old associations, he moved on to American Falls, Idaho, where he served as a sheep herder. Tiring of that, he went into HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1487 Wyoming and worked for fourteen months at Rock Springs in a coal mine ; and then he engaged with Mr. Hualde at Los Angeles to help care for the orange grove he owned at Brea. He stayed in Southern California for three years, and next changed to Arizona, where he worked for four years in sawmills at Phoenix and Flagstaff. After another period in Stockton, he came to Patterson. Here he arrived in 1915, and he at once went to work for John Barbesta on his dairy farm. After that he bought forty head of cows and rented forty acres on Almond Avenue, east of Sycamore, where he ranched for three and a half years. He then bought the sixty acres of fine alfalfa land on Magnolia and Sycamore avenues, where he has nine acres in fruit and maintains a dairy with seventy head of cattle. While at Flagstaff, Ariz., Mr. Gortari was married on May 13, 1910, to Miss Frances Sarlange, also a native of Spain, who was born near Mr. Gortari's birthplace. Three children have blessed their married life, Lillian, Gario and Nellie. NICHOLAUS BERGMAN.— A successful rancher who has done honor to the land of his birth and also the land of his adoption, is Nicholaus Bergman, a native of Vermland, Sweden, where he was born on September 3, 1854, the second youngest son of Axel and Gustava (Peterson) Bergman, both natives of the same province of Sweden. Nicholaus was reared on his father's farm, attended the district school, and „ at the age of fifteen, was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. When old enough to do so, he took up the work of a drayman and expressman, and in time owned a team himself, with which he worked in the city during each summer, and in the lumber camp during the winter. He served two years in the Swedish army. In 1881, Mr. Bergman crossed the ocean to America; and having located at Chicago, he learned the moulder's trade. As a result, he put in twenty-seven years in iron foundries in that city, and during all that period, he was absent from Chicago only eight months, when he took his brother, who was ill, to the West for his health. Returning from Minnesota to Chicago, he worked steadily at his trade until 1908. In that year, he came out to Turlock and located on thirty-seven acres which he rapidly improved and then sold. Later, in 1914, he purchased twenty acres in Geer Colony No. 2, and of this area he has since sold ten acres. With the remaining area he has been able to do quite well; for two years he was president of the United Growers of Turlock, through that service proving himself a very representative citizen. In 1886, at Chicago, Mr. Bergman was made a citizen of the United States, and seven years later, in the same city, he was married to Miss Ida M. Lofquist, who first came to America in 1887. One son, Harry E. Bergman, blessed the union. Mr. Bergman, as a Republican, supported the movement for Prohibition, and as chairman of the trustees of Swedish Mission Church he has done much good work. WILLIAM MORRIS. — An energetic, successful rancher, highly esteemed for his intelligence, integrity and force of character, and fortunate in his years of ex perience as foreman on important undertakings, is William Morris, by birth a native of Wales, in which country he was born at Cardiganshire on February 20, 1865. After completing the schools of his birthplace, he followed farming and coal mining. In January, 1888, he sailed from Liverpool, and after reaching New York City came on to California, arriving at Modesto on February 19. He went to work at La Grange, where he mined for a year and then was employed on ranches north of Modesto. This kind of occupation, however, did not satisfy him, and when the Modesto Irrigation District contracted with the late Oramil McHenry for the build ing of its main ditches, Mr. Morris became foreman of the job, and in that responsible capacity had charge of the work for practically two years, or from start to finish. That work completed, Mr. Morris went to Nevada and became foreman tor the San Francisco Construction Company, which was building canals from the Truckee and Carson rivers to Fallon, Nev., a task of two years. He next went to Half Moon Bay, and became foreman for the Ransom Construction Company, which was grading for the railroad running southward from San Francisco; and it so happened that while stationed at Half Moon Bay, in April, 1906, he saw the city of San Francisco consumed by fire. Continuing with that company, Mr. Morris went into the 1488 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY stricken city after the earthquake and for two years, as foreman, was busy rebuilding. In July, 1908, he came back to Modesto with his good wife and began the work of improving the thirty acres which he had bought in 1906. In San Francisco, in May, 1908, he was married to Rose Jones, a native of Woodford County, 111., who has entered heartily into those undertakings by which he has more and more identified himself with the best interests of the locality. He has built a commodious home, a tank house and barns, and has planted ten acres to Calimyrna figs, putting the re mainder into alfalfa. Mr. Morris is a live member of the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau and leaves unturned no stone to help advance California husbandry. He is an advocate of good American citizenship, and is a Republican by preference. MANUEL V. BRAZIL. — Among the many hard-working Portuguese whose industry and abstinence have brought their own rewards, Manuel V. Brazil has suc ceeded in acquiring a fine ranch of forty acres of alfalfa, well situated on Eucalyptus Avenue, east of Sycamore, in Patterson. He was born on the Island of St. George, in the Azores, on October 13, 1882, the son of Manuel and Rosa Brazil; and although his schooling was limited, he made the best of the opportunities that came his way. He spent his early days on his father's farm, and when seventeen came to America. He was fortunate in coming direct to California and so more quickly to get into touch with the many advantages here. For three years, at Point Reyes, he worked on a dairy farm, and then for years at various occupations in Marin County. In 1906 he rented a farm of 1,000 acres near Point Reyes, and on it he conducted a dairy with thirty head of cattle. This farm he continued to operate until the spring of 1915, when he bought forty acres at Patterson, situated on Eucalyptus Avenue, east of Sycamore, devoted to alfalfa, and there with thirty cows he maintains a first-class dairy. At San Francisco, in March, 1903, Mr. Brazil was married to Miss Mary Doras, a native of the Azores, where she was born on the Island of St. George, the daughter of Joe F. and Rita Doras. Her father died in St. George in 1918, but hei mother is still living at the old home. Four children have been granted Mr. and Mrs. Brazil ; and they are Mamie, Nellie, Zomers and Manuel. Mr. Brazil is popular in the U. P. E. S. and the I. D. E. S. of San Rafael. JOE MENDES. — Many evidences of tireless effort and prosperity are to be found upon the fine ranch of Joe Mendes and S. C. Dalby, one mile west of Newman. Joe Mendes is the eldest of a family of nine children, all of whom, with their parents, who recently returned from Portugal, reside and work on the above mentioned ranch. Mr. Mendes was born near Carranca, Brazil, on July 13, 1892, the son of John M. and Verisma K. Mendes, the father having been interested in stock raising in Brazil. They are the parents of the following children: Joe, the subject of our sketch ; Frank, Tony, Louis, Manuel, Joaquin, Amelia, Mary and Julia. When Joe Mendes was eleven the family removed to Portugal, where he received his early edu cation. At fourteen he came with his father to America, but after a three years' stay in the States the latter returned to Portugal, while Joe Mendes remained in California and made his own way by doing ranch work. His first employment was on the Hutchinson ranch and then on the Sherman ranch for the next eight years. In 1919 Mr. Mendes formed a partnership with S. C. Dalby and together they cultivate 160 acres, have thirty cattle and raise many hogs for the market. In addition to being interested in the above ranch, Mr. Mendes is the owner of a large herd of cattle which are fed on the range, later taken on the ranch and fattened for beef. MANUEL J. BRUM.— Born under the flag of Portugal, in Pico, of the far-off Azores, on October 25, 1880, Manuel Brum, now a prosperous farmer near Patter son, heard many glowing tales of California from his father, who made four trips to the Golden West, returning each time to Portugal. This father, also Manuel Brum, was a farmer in the Azores Islands, and made his first trip to California in 1861, when he engaged in farming in Alameda County. He returned to Portugal after each of his trips to the Pacific Coast, and on one of these trips he married Mariana Home, and for a number of years farmed in his home district, where the son was born. When HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY i489 our subject was three years of age his father came again to California, leaving his fam I,, y^ ' ,"? Wf g°r,f°r a "Umber °f y£ars> so th^t the earliesf re ol^ tions of the son include tales of the far-away land, reconec After an uneventful boyhood spent on his father's farm, and in attendance a. ab fo awidTrfi°edsy0oUfngdManUel B/Um' ^ ^ father M°™ h™' -swered to th call for wider fields of endeavor and opportunity and also came to America, when he was seventeen years of age, and has remained in the new land, becoming nfo „ loyal and patriotic citizens. He located first at Mariposa, Mass., where for three years he worked in the sawmills, and in the fall of 1900 came on to California and settled ,n Humboldt County, near Arcadia, where he secured employment on a dairy farm in which work he was very proficient. Later he went into the mining districts in Shasta County and for a year was employed at the Cap Rock Mine, follow ing which he went to Tonopah, Nev., and was for five years employed in various enteronses in the mines there. In 1910, Mr. Brum turned again to farming, entering into partnership with i<. bemas, in the dairy business, near San Lorenzo, Alameda County. Here he stayed tor a year of successful endeavor, and in 1911 he came to Patterson and purchased thirty acres and later twenty-two acres devoted to the raising of alfalfa. This prop erty is located on Fig Street, just off Locust Avenue, in one of the very desirable parts of the district. He has built a comfortable cottage, together with dairy barns and other outbuildings, and is improving his place in many ways. Mr. Brum's success is the direct result of his hard work and honest industry, and is much deserved. WILLIAM W. HIGGINS.— An active factor of wide influence in the milk- producing industry in California is William W. Higgins, the popular tenor who enjoys the_ fame of one of rare natural musical gifts and exceptional training. Side by side with his discharge of heavy responsibility as master mechanic of the Milk Producers Association of Central California at Modesto, he directs many of the musical enterprises for which Modesto, as a home and educational center, has become noted. He was born at Bangor, Maine, on January 20, 1866, the son of Edwin G. Higgins, a native of Maine and a farmer, who had marriedMiss Abigail Frances Mower, also a native of Maine. She was a lyric soprano, and was a noted singer throughout Eng land, and^ was doubly interesting as a descendant of the famous Misreal family of Spain. These worthy folks had three boys, the eldest being Clarence E. Higgins, now farming on the old New England homestead ; our subject was the second in the order of birth, and F. J. Higgins, his younger brother, is his assistant. William grew up on the home farm near Bangor, and at sixteen years of age, when he had finished his grammar school courses, he was apprenticed at the Muzzy Iron Works in Bangor, as a machinist, for a period of four years. At the completion of his apprenticeship, he came out to Helena, Mont., in 1886, and he was a machinist in a manufacturing plant where mining machinery was made. In 1894 he came to Chicago and entered the service of the National Biscuit Company, and he helped to produce the first Uneeda Biscuits. In 1907, he resigned and entered the employ of the R. T. Crane Pipe Company, and was their operating engineer. Their engines and boilers represented over 4,000 horsepower, and the position was one of such responsibility that it is not surprising that his health was there broken. Upon the advice of physicians, he came to California, and after looking the ground over thor oughly, he bought a ranch in the Prescott district, forty acres of stubble field, which he improved to alfalfa, so that he could engage in dairying; and with the outdoor life his health returned. In 1912 he rented the ranch, and accepted the position of master mechanic for the Modesto Creamery. It was then a very small concern, but it has grown to be the largest in the state. Since then all the new machinery and boilers have been installed, and they now have a large and admirable power plant. In Modesto, he has made many improvements in the way of labor-saving machinery, having previously had experience and success in that direction. In Chicago, for exam ple, he invented and patented an automatic oven stop, which he installed on a royalty for two years; and he also invented a packing table and a traveling spout, both of which are now universally used. He was thus able to make several investments in 1490 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Chicago which have proven fortunate, and the proceeds therefrom he has reinvested in Stanislaus County, which he considers one of the best agricultural sections in the world. While in Chicago, Mr. Higgins was married to Miss Mary Ellen Crane, a native of that city, and they have two children living: Eileen is an accomplished pianist and pipe organist, serving as organist at the St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church; and Irvine is a fine cornetist. Mr. Higgins is also an accomplished musician. He was second musician and assistant leader in the Seventh Regiment Band in Chicago, and he was a member of the Seventh Regiment, Illinois National Guard, for three years. He is leader of the Modesto American Legion Band, which has thirty pieces, and he is also leader of the Modesto School Band of sixty pieces, accomplishing such good work that in September, 1920, he was able to take first prize at the State Fair and in 1921 again took the first prize at the above-mentioned fair. He is a fine tenor singer, and as leader directs the St. Stanislaus Church choir. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and to the Loyal Order of Moose. W. A. HARTER. — In each community are found men of business enterprise whose activity and progressiveness place them in the front rank of the real builders and promoters of the prosperity of the county, and W. A. Harter stands prominently forth as a leading citizen and man of affairs in the thriving city of Modesto. One of California's native sons, he was born at Sonora, Tuolumne County, October 8, 1860. His father, James Harter, a native of Little Falls, N. Y., was a baker by trade and plied his vocation in his native state until he came to San Francisco via the Isthmus of Panama in 1850, settling in Sonora, where he engaged in mining as well as operating a bakery business. For nineteen years he was engaged in the attractive mining business, removing to San Francisco in 1869 he entered the employ of the Kimball Manufacturing Company. Remaining in San Francisco but one year, in 1870 he removed to Modesto, when the town was in its infancy, and opened the first baker's shop in the place, continuing the business until he retired. He passed away at Modesto in 1909. He was united in marriage with Miss Charlotte Tibbetts, also a native of Little Falls, N. Y., who passed away at the family home in Modesto in 1883. They were the parents of three children, two of whom are living, the subject of this sketch being the youngest of the family. W. A. Harter received bis preliminary education in the public schools of San Francisco, Stockton and Modesto, afterwards attending the Pacific Business College at San Francisco, from which he graduated. He then entered the Modesto Post Office under Postmaster James Swain. However, he remained in this connection but a short time, then entered the store of Mr. Brusie, the grocer, where he remained six years, becoming thoroughly conversant with every branch of the business. He then established a grocery business of his own on Tenth and H streets, continuing for five years. At the end of this time he sold his interest in the business and entered the store of De Yoe and Riggs, furniture dealers. He was thus employed for several years, and while there, in 1893, was elected city clerk of Modesto, retaining the office about ten years. In 1903, when the Farmers and Merchants Bank was organized, he entered the employ of the bank as bookkeeper, and the following year, in 1904, was made assistant cashier, and later promoted to the position of cashier. He was also a stockholder and director in the bank and at the first election after the death of Mr. High, in January, 1914, was elected president of the bank, and continued as manager of the institution. The bank at that time was located on H and Tenth streets, but during August, 1917, they removed to more commodious quarters at the corner of I and Tenth streets, the building undergoing a thorough remodeling and being fitted with new and modern fixtures to accommodate the increasing clientele. The bank began business with a capital of $75,000, and later was affiliated with the Security Savings Bank of Stanislaus County and the capital was divided, the Farmers and Merchants Bank being capitalized for $49,500, and the Security Savings Bank for $25,500. Mr. Harter was retained as president of both banks and when the Bank of Italy absorbed the two banks, on February 1, 1917, it became the Modesto branch of the Bank of Italy. Mr. Harter was chairman of the Modesto advisory board and HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1491 manager of the bank, but the amount of work in the two positions was found to be too much for one man, and a manager was elected separate from the chairmanship. In May, 1920, Mr. Harter resigned his position to accept a position with the First National Bank of Modesto as cashier and vice-president. When the First National was sold he was made vice-president, a position he is now filling with the same care and ability always displayed by him. In 1900 Mr. Harter purchased unimproved land in the Turlock district and set out the first peach orchard in that district. While waiting for his peach trees to come into bearing, he raised alfalfa, which proved a successful crop. He disposed of this property in 1918 at a good profit. The marriage of Mr. Harter occurred in Modesto and united him with Miss Emma F. Fulkerth, also a native of California, born at Stockton, a daughter of A. S. Fulkerth, ex-sheriff of Stanislaus County, whose wife passed away in 1912. One child blessed this union, a daughter, Blanch C, a graduate of the Modesto high school, who became Mrs. A. B. Wickman of Modesto. In his religious associations, Mr. Harter is a member of the Christian Church. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and is a member of the United Artisans. While he has been busily engaged with important financial affairs, he has also taken an active part in civic matters and has built up an enviable reputation as a highly respected, reliable and honorable citizen. FRANCIS MARION FELLOWS.— A successful "old settler" who is now enjoying the fruits of his long and strenuous exertions is Francis Marion Fellows, who was born near Little Rock, Ark., on February 8, 1863. His father, Marion, who was also a native of that state, saw service in the Civil War, and was accidentally shot in 1865. In 1871, Mrs. Fellows, who was Elender Williams before her marriage, brought her family of three children to California, driving an ox team across the plains. They settled at a point about two miles south of what is now Modesto, and there she reared her family. When the railroad came and Ceres sprang up, she bought a lot at that place and built a hotel, and while conducting it successfully, married Elias P. Fletcher. After a while they removed to Auburn, Placer County, where they made a homestead by clearing a mountain ranch, and where Mr. Fletcher died. After his demise, Mrs. Fletcher returned to Modesto, in 1907, and here she resided until she died in October, 1918, in her eighty-fourth year. By her first marriage she had three children : Mary, Mrs. Carter of Modesto ; William N., who died in 1872; and Francis, or Frank, as he is familiarly known, the subject of our review; while by her second marriage, Mrs. Fletcher became the mother of two children, both of whom are living: Dora, who is now Mrs. Wares of Oakland, and Miss Florence Fletcher of Modesto. When only eight years of age, Frank crossed the great plains to California, stopping over for the winter in Texas, and he attended the public schools at Ceres and in Placer County. He helped Mr. Fletcher clear up his farm, and in 1879 he re turned to Stanislaus County, where he was in the employ of grain farmers, driving big teams in the grain fields. ,,.,. On September 9, 1884, Mr. Fellows was married at Ceres to Miss Dora Whit ney, who was born in Santa Clara County, Cal, the daughter of Warren Whitney, a native of Michigan. He had there married Rachael Pepper, and they came to California by way of Panama, and settled at Hollister, where he was in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad, during the period of its construction He acted as foreman for the company and superintended much important work. Eventually, he settled near Ceres, where he now resides on a farm. Mrs. Whitney died at Hol lister, the mother of three children, two of whom are still living. After his marriage, Mr. Fellows farmed at Ceres for a couple of years, raising grain, and then he removed to Berenda, in Madera County, where for ten years he fan a grain farm of four sections of land. On his return he bought a ranch oi 442 acres at Salida, and there he farmed for grain until the canal came when he checked th Ld and put in thirty acres of alfalfa. In 1-909 Mr. Fellows sold out and located in Modesto, building his handsome residence at the corner of Eleventh and L streets, 1492 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY and here he has resided ever since, active as a Democrat in national politics. A gifted daughter, Leila, is Mrs. S. H. Cappe of Ripon ; while a son, Warren Melbourne, who served in the great war, resides at Chico. GREGORIO YRIGOYEN.— Gregorio Yrigoyen is a son of Spain, born in Aincioa, in the Province of Navarre, and reared in the beautiful Basses-Pyrenees Mountains, near the boundary line of France. He has been engaged in farming and stock raising all his life, and now owns a valuable ranch of fifty-four acres on the Waterford Road, four miles east of Modesto. Mr. Yrigoyen was born September 22, 1876, the son of Francisco and Tomaso A. Yrigoyen, both natives of the Basses- Pyrenees. • The father died when Gregorio was but five years of age and the mother kept the little family, consisting of the son and a daughter, Magdalina, together until the time of her death, when the son was fifteen j'ears of age. The sister, Magdalina, is now married and resides in Spain. The estate was settled when Gregorio Yrigoyen was eighteen and he then began his career as a farmer. He worked for wages in the Basses-Pyrenees country, in both France and Spain, but fired by tales of American lands, be set sail from Havre, France, in 1901, and landed at New York City in due course of time. He came almost directly to California, going first to San Francisco, where he worked for wages for thirteen years, learning the manners and ways of the new country and mastering its language. During this time, in 1907, he was married to Miss Segrinda Goni, also born in Spain, in the Basses-Pyrenees, and came to California after she was grown, Following his marriage, Mr. Yrigoyen began to look for an opening for an inde pendent venture of his own, and eventually went to Crows Landing, where he rented land and engaged in dairy farming for three years. In 1917 he came to Modesto and bought his present property, which he has greatly improved, and where he is engaged in dairying and general farming. He is rated as one of the successful men of the county, standing high in his community. Mr. and Mrs. Yrigoyen are the parents of eight sons and daughters: Josephine, Jose, Madeline, Martin, Basilia, Horneto, Hendrika and Francisco. Of these, they have had the misfortune to lose one, Basilia,. who was drowned three years ago, at the age of sixteen months. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yrigoyen are devout members of the Catholic Church, into which faith their children have been baptized. ABRAHAM JOHNSON. — A young man who by energy and close application has made a success is Abraham Johnson, who was born in Tonsberg on the east coast of Norway, April 16, 1885. He is the son of John and Anna (Hansen) Johnson, natives of the same place, descended from an old family, who for generations had engaged in husbandry. His father was a well-to-do farmer, residing on his place until his death in 1917, being survived by his widow. To this worthy couple were born two children; the eldest a daughter, Ingeborg, now Mrs. Courtright, who resides in Norway, and Abraham, the subject of this review. He was brought up on the home farm and educated in the local schools. From his fourteenth to his seventeenth year he devoted all of his time assisting his father, then decided to immigrate to the United States. Mr. Johnson arrived in California in 1902, found employment on a grain ranch near Oakland and tackled the job of driving a ten-horse team, until he came to Stanislaus County and remained in the same line of work for four years. Next he went to San Francisco, where he did teaming for a year, then for three years he was likewise engaged at Menlo Park. Next he was in the employ of the Hammond Lumber Company at Eureka, in Humboldt County, until 1910. Mr. Johnson made a trip back to his old home, going via Boston and New York, visiting his parents, friends and kindred. The call of the West beckoned to him, so after spending nearly a year at his old home he returned to California in 1911, first to Merced County, He drove a team on the Bledsoe ranch for a year, then worked for Mr. Bromley in Hickman Township. Mr. Johnson chose a life partner in Stockton in 1915. His bride, Miss Anna Johnson, was also from Norway's east coast, having come to California in 1898. He leased land and farmed at Ryer in Merced County until 1919, when he purchased HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1493 his present place of 320 acres in Hickman Township, where he is engaged in rais ing grain. He is liberal and kindhearted, ready to do what he can to help improve and build up the country of his adoption and in this he is assisted and encouraged by his estimable wife, and they are giving their three children, Arthur, Ruth and Stanley, the best educational advantages the community affords. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were ¦ reared and are active in the Lutheran Church. EDWARD WILLEFORD.— The agent for the Union Oil Co. at Turlock is Edward Willeford, who was born in Verona, Boone County, Ky., February 22, 1875. Grandfather John Willeford was born in Kentucky, February 14, 1802. He married Elizabeth Fullenlove and they removed to Indiana, but later returned to Boone County, Kentucky, where he was a farmer and stockman. He was a Whig and Republican. His father, James Willeford, was born in Indiana. He married Nancy I. Hughes, a native of Kentucky, of Scotch descent, but of an old Virginia family. Wm. Willeford, like his father, was a Mason and strong Union man. Edward, the youngest of their four children, received his education in the public schools. He assisted his father on the home farm until, in his twenty-second year, he married Miss Stella Rust, who was born in Gallatin County, Ky., a daughter of Wm. Rust, a farmer in Kentucky. They purchased a farm near the old house, and did general farming, but being in the famous tobacco belt, specialized in tobacco. In 1912 they sold the farm and removed to Los Angeles, and in 1913 came to Merced, where they bought a farm. Two years later, however, Mr. Willeford be gan working for the Union Oil Company and has continued this connection. When the new distributing station was built at Turlock, he was sent here by the Union Oil Company and placed in charge, as agent. The business has grown from 200 gallons to 2,000 gallons a day, requiring three large trucks for distributing. Mr. and Mrs. Willeford have five children: Cecil, Mrs. Gleason, of Merced; Grace, Mrs. Looney, of Merced ; Stella, with the Whitman Dry Goods Store ; Stanley and Dorothy. He is a staunch Republican, and Mrs. Willeford is a member of the Christian Church. WALTER E. STEVENS.— Born in Lisbon, N. H., April 30, 1865, Walter E. Stevens comes of an old and prominent New England family. His grandfather, Solomon Stevens, was a native of Barnet, Vt., born in 1787. He married Sallie Cushman, of the seventh generation in descent from Robt. Cushman, who came from England in the ship Dumbarton in the Mayflower group to Plymouth Rock in 1620. The family afterwards drifted to Vermont. The Stevens family also traces back to England, coming from Devonshire, and were among Massachusetts' early settlers. Walter's father was also named Solomon, and was born in Barnet, Vt. He was interested in livery and stage lines, as well as in the hotel business in Lisbon N. H., in the days when they were called taverns. His business was in northern Vermont and New Hampshire and later in Boston. However, he spent his last days in Barnet, where he died at the home of our subject, when he was aged seventy-five. Walters mother was Anne Elizabeth Evans, born in Lyndon, Vt., a daughter of Horace Evans, also born in Vermont, who was a hotel man and was high sheriff ot Cale donia County, Vt., and in charge of the jail at Danville, in which city he was born. He married Ann Walker, of that state. Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Stevens also spent her last days with her son Walter at Barnet. She was the mother of five children Walter was brought up and attended school in the various places his parents lived in, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He finished his education in Somerville near Boston, after which he was a clerk in various commercial lines in Boston and then ,n northern Vermont and New Hampshire, finally locating in Barnet. About 1895 he began as an electrical worker, helping to build the first electrical plant there. In St Tohnsbury, Vt., June 15, 1898, Mr. Stevens married Miss Isabelle Jean Guthrie whe w bo m ¦' West Barnet, the daughter of Robt and ^ Janette Lidde Guth e Lives of Ryegate, Vt., 1837, and Glasgow, Scotland, 1830 respectrvely. The ktter came with her parents when a child to Ryegate. Grandfather Wm Guthrie was m"rird in Scotland to Agnes Hastie and on coming to Vermont, followed 1494 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY farming. They came to California and lived with Mr. and Mrs. Stevens until their death. The father died November 5, 1911 ; the mother, March 10, 1916. Of their six children, Mrs. Stevens was next to the youngest and was educated in Barnet public schools and at McAdoe's academy. It was in 1907 that the Stevens family came to California, arriving in Turlock on December 23. There was no electrical equipment in town, so he followed other work. In 1909 he built his present residence. In that year, too, he entered the employ of the Yosemite Power Company, as an electrician, continuing nearly six years. In July, 1914, with his family he made a trip back East, returning in December of that j'ear, since which time he has engaged as an electrical contractor, having done the electrical work on Turlock's principal buildings. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Stevens has been blessed with one child, Herbert Guthrie, who is also an electrician and assists his father in business. Mr. Stevens was made a Mason in Passumpsic Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., St. Johnsbury, Vt., and is now a member of Turlock Lodge No.. 395, F. & A. M. He was a member of Caledonia Chapter, Royal Arch, but is now with Modesto Chapter. Mr. Stevens and his family are active Methodists, be being' trustee at the time of the building of the Turlock Church. Politically he is a strong Republican and is a member of the Sierra Electrical Contractors Association and the Turlock Progressive Club. CLARENCE JOHNSON. — A contracting painter and paperhanger who is making a success is Clarence Johnson. He was born in Westergotland, Sweden, at tended school until he was twelve when he came with his parents to Minneapolis. At fifteen he was apprenticed to the tailors' trade, but later became a contracting painter in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Braham, until 1902. He then came to Turlock when the town and surrounding country was just beginning to rise from a desert waste. He purchased lots and built a residence and here he has been a contracting painter ever since. As he has erected eight houses here and sold all but two, Mr. Johnson has earned civic laurels. He has painted some of the best buildings in Turlock, among them the first high school, first bank, and some of the finest residences. He is the oldest painter and had the first paint shop in Turlock. Mr. Johnson has also handled considerable realty and properties. The marriage of Mr. Johnson occurred in Santa Cruz, when he was united with Miss Esther Nordell, a native of Minnesota, a cultivated and refined woman. Mr. Johnson has made two trips to Minnesota to visit his kindred and friends. His father has passed on but his mother is living at the advanced age of eighty-nine. Mr. Johnson was made a Mason in Turlock Lodge No. 395, F. & A. M., having held the office of tyler. He is a Democrat and with his wife attends the Swedish Mission Church. Both are highly esteemed for their generous impulses. JAMES GODLEY. — One who has established an enviable record and possessed of splendid qualities in the handling of men, and carrying out plans for development, improvement and construction is James Godley, foreman of the Noxen ranch, north of Newman, for the Simon Newman Company. He came to California in June, 1892, from his native Ireland. He was born in County Kerry, in 1873, a son of Thomas and Johanna (Leen) Godley, farmer folks in the Emerald Isle, until their demise. Besides our subject, two of his brothers, Thomas and David, are also in California, and reside in Siskiyou County. James spent his boyhood on the farm and received a good education in the local schools. When in his later teens he became interested in the Pacific Coast region, his desire to come here was realized when he was nineteen. He sailed from Queenstown, May 26, 1892, on the steamer Teutonic, and from New York City came directly to Stockton. There he was in the employ of the Southern Pacific for nine months, after which he proceeded to Siskiyou County for another nine months. He was made fore man at Dunsmuir on the Shasta division for the Southern Pacific. Here he demon strated his ability to keep his section in excellent shape, the evenness of the roadbed and the smooth riding of the trains over his territory attracting notice. After twelve years he resigned to come to Newman in 1906, and entered the employ of the Howard HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1495 Cattle Company, where he gave valuable and well directed service for six years. Then he joined the Simon Newman Company organization. After three years on the Lenora Stock Farm, south of Gustine, he was transferred to the Noxen ranch, where he has since given the company his undivided time. Since 1920 he was foreman of the ranch. Noxen ranch embraces a large acreage, all under irrigation. Several hundred acres are under the canal and the balance irrigated from three huge ekctric pumping plants with a combined capacity of about 6,800 gallons a minute, splendidly equipped. The whole ranch is devoted to raising alfalfa and cattle growing. There is a large dairy of several hundred cows and herds of pure bred Herefords and Holsteins as well as high grades of the same breed. Mr. Godley is never idle in seeing that the stock is cared for properly and irrigation accomplished, so his natural traits of industry, energy and stick-to-it-iveness are a valuable asset. He is a Democrat in national politics. J. M. ROLLO.— Born in Romano, Italy, on December 29, 1883, J. M. Rollo was the son of John Rollo, one the proprietors of a cafe at Orviato. He died in 1887, being survived by his widow, who passed away in 1917. This worthy couple had six children, all living in the United States, but only our subject and his brother, Antonio, are in California. He received a good education in the local schools. When seventeen he entered the Italian army, serving three years in the Fourth Company, Sixty-seventh Infantry, when he was honorably discharged as sergeant, June, 1904. In 1905 he came to New York City, gradually drifting westward. He engaged as traveling salesman in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Tennessee, and throughout the Middle West, until 1917, he located in Sacramento, from which city as headquarters he traveled, selling Italian products throughout California. In the fall of 1920 he located in Modesto, employed with Peterson & Company, in the sale of Hudson and Essex automobiles, until February 1, 1920. In partnership with bis brother, Antonio, he started a grocery on the corner of H and Fifth streets, under the firm name of Rollo Bros., American-Italian Grocery, making a specialty of imported goods. His partner and brother, Antonio, was born in 1887 and served three years in the Sixty-fourth Italian Regiment. In 1915 he came to Sacramento, where he remained until he enlisted for service in the World's War in the Three Hundred Sixty-first Regiment, U. S. Infantry, Ninety-first Division, serving overseas. He went over the top six times, serving in the St. Mihiel sector, the Argonne and the Meuse; was wounded six times and lay for three days and three nights in a shell hole, with his com rades dead about him. There he was found by U. S. troops and was carried out by German prisoners and sent to the hospital, where he remained four months. He still carries two bullets in his legs. In May, 1919, he was honorably discharged in San Francisco. He received the silver medal and over-the-top button. In 1913, in Italy, Antonio Rollo married Miss Seraphina Scalori. J. M. Rollo, in Baton Rouge, mar ried Miss Lena Crarollo, who was a native of Louisiana. He is a member of the Elks and both are Catholics. A SJOSTRUM. A business man who is meeting with success in the painting and contracting line in Turlock is A. Sjostrum, who was born in Kalmarlan Sweden December 2 1874 where he received a good public school education. After his school days he worked for the local match factory and in other mills until he came to the United States. Arriving in Minnesota in 1893, he located in Nicollet County and followed farm work until he studied the painting and decorator s trade. When proficient he engaged as a contracting painter and soon afterwards he located in Chicago His splendid work and the care with which he completed his contrac s won him a large patronage and his business career there stretched over a period of twenty vears Then he located in Turlock. On Wry 1, 1913, occurred the marriage of Mr. Sjostrum and Miss Agnes Tohn^n wno was a native of Chicago, where her parents were early settlers and there too she received her education in the public schools. They have been blessed with four hildren: Leone, Ruth, Eva and Arlene. Mr. and Mrs. Sjostrum are uoh memberTof the Swedish Lutheran Church and are Democrats in national politics. 1496 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY WILLIAM SACHAU. — Of European stock, William Sachau was born near Taudern, Schleswig, November 28, 1865. His father, Frederick Sachau, was a butcher and cattleman and was a man of prominence and influence in Taudern, where he and his wife, Wilhelmina Sund, spent their lives. William is the second of their eleven children, receiving a good education in the public schools. As a lad he learned the butcher's and stock business. When seventeen he came to America, arriving in Fond du Lac, Wis., in the spring of 1882. In 1883 he came to Oakland, Cal., and was employed at the butcher's trade there and in San Francisco, meanwhile attending night school. In 1888 he began business for himself, establishing a meat market on Twenty- third Street and Fourteenth Avenue, Oakland, and was the first butcher in Oakland to kill his own beef. Later on he was in business on Pacific Avenue, near Park Street, Alameda. Then he was stock buyer for the Oakland Meat Company for six years. In 1914 he again opened a meat market on Twenty-third Street and Fourteenth Avenue, Oakland, where he built up a large business, which he later sold to advantage, although the business is still known as Sachau's market. In 1912 he located in Riverbank, where he bought forty acres devoted to alfalfa and bought and sold cattle and hogs as well as shipping. He also owned ranches in Kern and Madera counties. Selling in December, 1919, he located in Turlock, having previously become interested with Mr. Rowe, whom he had known in Alameda. He now makes his home on his three and one-half acre ranch on East Avenue. The firm is Rowe & Sachau, pro prietors of the California Market. Mr. Sachau has charge of buying the stock and outside business, while Mr. Rowe has charge of the retailing, the market being cen trally located on West Main Street. In Oakland, February 9, 1890, Mr. Sachau married Miss Lauretta Johansen, also born near Taudern, Schleswig. She is a daughter of Lauritz and Fredericka (Mat- tiesen) Johnson, merchants in that country. Coming to Chicago in 1882, Mrs. Sachau spent a year there and in 1883 came on to Oakland, where she met and mar ried Mr. Sachau. Fraternally, Mr. Sachau is a member of Fruitvale Lodge No. 49, Odd Fellows, and of the Board of Trade. JOHN COLEMAN RUSSELL.— A veteran of the Civil War, John Coleman Russell was born in New Castle, Butler County, Pa., in 1838. His father, Wm. Russell, was born in England, and immigrated to Pennsylvania and later to Oregon, Ogle County, 111., and still later to Bureau County, 111. He followed contracting and building and spent his last days in Cass County, Iowa. Mr. Russell's mother was Sarah Coleman, who was born in Beaver County, Pa., and her father, Wm. Cole man served in the War of 1812. John C. Russell grew up in Illinois, until fifteen, when his parents located in Iowa, receiving a fair education in the primitive schools of that day. He was a fine shot and did much hunting, a sport in which he was very successful. He was married in Webster City, Iowa, December 3, 1857, to Mona A. Prime, born in Johnson County, Ind., a daughter of John and Rebecca (Hulto) Prime, born in Massachusettes and South Carolina, respectively. The Prime family is traced back to Plymouth Rock Colony of 1620, while grandfather William Hulto served in the War of 1812. John Prime was a tanner in Indiana, then removed to Nevada, Story County, la., where he farmed until his death at eighty-four years. Mrs. Prime studied medicine and practiced very successfully until her death, at the age of fifty-two. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Russell began farming in Iowa. On August 13, 1862, Mr. Russell enlisted in Company K, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was in fourteen battles, among them Nashville, Franklin, Pleasant Hill and Ft. Blakely. In the latter engagement he was reported missing, but came in with three prisoners. He was mustered out in August, 1865. During these years Mrs. Russell had been running the Iowa farm. Soon after the war they moved to Arapahoe, Fur nas County, Nebr., where they homesteaded and in time came to own 400 acres of land. When they sold this, they built a hotel, at McCook and continued as proprietors until they came to California in 1893. Purchasing a farm at Anaheim, eight years later they removed to Lemoore, and in 1906, came to Turlock, where they have since HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY 1497 resided. Mr. Russell has built six different residences in Turlock, but sold all but two of them. They have celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary, an event enjoyed by about 200 of their friends. Of their eight children, six grew to maturity: Wm. Oscar resides in McCook, Nebr.; Eva A. is Mrs. Fewell of Turlock; Rebecca, Mrs. Calvin, died here; J. P. lives at Birminghan, Ala.; Matie I. is Mrs. Moss of Turlock; G. A. also resides in Turlock. They adopted a boy, Chester Guy Russell, when three years old, now an electrician at San Dimas, Cal. They are Seventh Day Adventists, and politically are Republicans. Mr. Russell is a member of the G. A. R., while Mrs. Russell is a mem ber of the Woman's Relief Corps. ANDREW BRODINE. — Among the substantial men of Turlock was the late Andrew Brodine, who was born in Vestmanland, Sweden, January 15, 1855, where he was reared on a farm. When twenty-one years of age he came to the United States, and soon after his arrival he located in Buffalo County, Nebr. He was married in Kearney, that state, June 9, 1887, to Margaret Valine, a native of Vestmanland, Sweden, a daughter of Lewis and Anna (Olson) Valine, farmer folks, who brought their family to Kearney, Nebr., where the mother died, while the father spent his last days with Mrs. Brodine, passing away at the age of eighty-six years. Of their five children Margaret was the third oldest and received a good educa tion in the excellent public schools of her native land. Coming to Nebraska, she renewed the acquaintance of Andrew Brodine, which resulted in their marriage the next year. They located on a homestead of 160 acres in Elm Creek Township, which they improved and as they prospered they bought more land,- until they had 480 acres in one farm, and also owned an 800 acre farm at Chappell, Nebr., which they rented to others. On the home farm they were engaged in raising corn, hogs and cattle in which they were very successful. In 1908, on account of Mr. Brodine's broken health, they sold their holdings and located in Turlock, Cal., purchasing city property and a ranch of twelve acres southwest of town, and here Mr. Brodine resided, enjoying the California climate until his death, May 17, 1911. He had always been an active and prominent member of the Swedish Mission Church, having served as trustee of the church at his former home. Mr. and Mrs. Brodine had four children, two of whom grew up, Bada, who assists her mother to preside over the home, and Abel. After her husband died, Mrs. Brodine resided on her farm until 1913. She sold the place and made her home in Turlock for a few years, until she purchased a ten acre ranch one mile southwest of Turlock, which she devotes to general farming. Mrs. Brodine, like her late husband, is very enterprising and progressive and is well and favorably known. She is a devout member of the Swedish Mission Church, and contributes liberally to its benevolences. PHILIP LATZ. — The ranks of the first generation of native Californians are dwindling rapidly, but many who were born in the Fifties are still in our midst, and among these Philip Latz, Modesto's pioneer dry goods merchant, is numbered. Mr. Latz was born in San Francisco January 9, 1856, and is the son of Simon Latz, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1837 and settled in New York. In 1845 Simon Latz removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and became a trader in furs in that city. He next went to New Orleans where he engaged in the tailoring business, and in 1851 sailed for California via the Isthmus, landing in San Francisco in that year, where he became a clothing merchant. While in New Orleans he married Miss Bena Rodman, and here the two eldest children, Samuel and Benjamin, were born. In April 1851 Simon Latz and family, with Mrs. Latz's sister-in-law and her brother, Hyman Latz, 'started for California via the Isthmus of Panama. Mrs. Simon Latz passed away in 1856, when Philip, the youngest child, was a babe six months old. Samuel the oldest son, died in 1918. For forty-five years he was general salesman and manager for Rothblum and Company at San Francisco. Benjamin resides in Portland Ore. is a capitalist and is interested with the Seeleg-Dresser Company, grocers of that city. Philip, the youngest son, was brought up by his aunt, his moth er's sister, who afterward became his stepmother. 1498 HISTORY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY Philip attended the public schools of San Francisco and began clerking in the retail clothing store of Coleman Brothers on Montgomery and Washington streets in that city. Later he was with the wholesale clothing house of Ash Brothers, and still later with Banner, the wholesale clothing merchant. He was afterwards with the A. B, Elfeldt Wholesale Clothing Company, and remained with this firm ten years, then went on the road as a traveling salesman for a wholesale hat house. Following this he went into the retail shoe business for himself on Kearney street, San Francisco, then sold his interest and came to Modesto November 13, 1884, where he went into part nership with Alex Meyer in the dry goods business, starting a new store in the Tynan Hotel block on H street. Mr. Latz was married in San Francisco March 25, 1885, to Miss Estelle Mayer, a native of that city, and they became the parents of three children. The oldest son, Sylvain S., married Miss Caroline Marks of San Francisco, and they have one child, Cecil M. Leonard is married and resides in Modesto, and Rodney died at the age of four years. In 1898 Mr. Gorrell, now deceased, built the building that the Latz dry goods store occupies in Modesto, for Meyer and Latz. In 1899 the partnership was dis solved and in 1902 Mr. Latz purchased the building from Mr. Gorrell and rebuilt it from a one-story to a two-story store building, designed for a first class city dry goods store. It is a two story and basement brick, fifty by 140 feet in dimension. Latz's does the largest business in Modesto and carries the largest stock of exclusive dry goods in that city. In 1891 Mr. Latz built a commodious two-story residence at 903 Fif teenth street, where he resided until removing to San Francisco upon his retirement from business. While his business has prospered phenomenally under his wise admin istration there were times in the past when the business outlook was discouraging, prices were low and wheat went down fifty-five per cent, but his courage did not fail. Economy and industry stemmed the tide and he came out victorious. Mr. Latz is a stockholder in the First National and in the Union Savings banks of Modesto. In his diversions he is fond of fishing and the movies, and is a decided baseball enthusiast. Since Mr. and Mrs. Latz removed to their native city, San Francisco, the manage ment of the Modesto store is in the hands of Mr. Latz's sons, Sylvain S. and Leonard. The business, however, will continue under the proprietorship of the father, whose enthusiastic interest in Modesto is unabated. Mrs. Latz has ever been a loj'al help mate, is a devoted wife, a loving mother, a kind neighbor, and has thousands of warm friends in Modesto who regret her departure.